Listen: Questions I Can’t Answer / Heinz
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I discovered Heinz a good bit after the fact, in the early 70’s. His original band, The Tornados were of some interest, ‘Telstar’ being a noticeably eerie hit when I was a little guy – but I remember being scared of it, which was pretty cool.
Year later, I came to connect Joe Meek, who produced ‘Telstar’, with a few other singles of very similar ambience, The Cryin’ Shames ‘Please Stay’ and The Honeycombs ‘Have I The Right’ in particular. I stumbled upon a US 7″ of ‘Just Like Eddie’ by Heinz on the old purple and white London label indicating it’s pre – 1965 release – and put down the 25¢ for it in a junk shop somewhere off Salina Street in Syracuse’s not so nice part of town. What a surprise, it was great – and had that name, Joe Meek, listed as producer. My curiosity grew.
Now there are endless stories of interest surrounding Joe Meek’s legend, I have a few of my own.
Enamored with his history, I recall vividly getting off an evening arrival flight into Heathrow with Corinne, dropping our stuff off at the hotel, dragging her right into a cab and heading for 304 Holloway Road, where both his infamous studio and even more infamous suicide took place. It was by now very late and in the cold November drizzle, we stood for a good 15 minutes while I awaited a sign, some communication, anything at all from Joe Meek. This guy was so into the extra terrestrial, certainly he had to know I was there and religiously serious….but disappointingly, nothing happened, so back to the hotel I got reluctantly dragged.
The exact time was the very early morning of November 23, 1988, two days before the Wembley Record Fair, sadly a thing of the past. I recall that date as much of the fair was spent scouring the dealer stalls for Joe Meek related singles, coming home with quite a few, including this ‘A’ label of ‘Questions I Can’t Answer’. As soon as this baby hit the turntable, I was addicted.
Search out some Heinz photos, dyed blond hair adding to his nicely twisted look.
Listen: Heart Full Of Sorrow / Heinz
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I began amassing a headful of Heinz trivia and detail – all his singles becoming obsessions. I wasn’t ready for the greatness of ‘Heart Full Of Sorrow’ when I stumbled on a crazy rare US pressing in Dallas. It looked beautiful, almost like new, still shiny. When I finally got home a few days later, it was the first thing I played – recall that bit vividly.
Holy Christ – this production took all of Joe Meek’s techniques and turned them to eleven. It is amongst his very best work. Despite it’s dated sound, all the technology of today’s recording possibilities can’t touch documenting the fear, paranoia and loneliness in Joe Meek’s brain like this can. Classic Joe Meek. Classic Heinz.
