Posts Tagged ‘Scott Walker’
Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
US Picture Sleeve: Front (above) / Back (below)
Listen: My Ship Is Coming In / The Walker Brothers
My Ship Is Coming In / The Walker Brothers
I will never forget the Friday night I walked into Two Guys Department store with my parents. As usual, I headed straight to the record department while they proceeded to do some weekly shopping. The singles were displayed all along the the tops of the album bins, each in their own metal rack holding about 25 copies. I wish I had photos.
There in brilliant full color, was the above Walker Brothers picture sleeved single, ‘My Ship Is Coming In’, a solid 25 copies freshly unboxed. I could hardly breathe. They looked fantastic in bulk. The sleeve just radiated about one hundred times more intensely than anything else in sight, like a messiah. I still get tingles looking at the cover. It brings me right back. I owned it minutes later.
I could not get home fast enough, freaking out in the dark car, holding this masterpiece but only getting to glimpse at it as we passed under traffic lights and street lamps. God knows how many times I played it that night. It was not guitar based British beat, but instead sounded like music grownups listened too. Yet clearly there was something addictive in it’s air. I decided then and there, I was going to love this record. That was that. I did then and I still do.
Years later Scott Walker would reveal that while all his contemporaries in London were modeling themselves after American blues greats, his attention was focused on becoming the next Eddie Fisher. How genius was this guy?
Listen: The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore) / The Walker Brothers
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) / The Walker Brothers
The world was not ready for the followup to ‘My Ship Is Coming In’. Mine certainly wasn’t. How could The Walker Brothers possibly up the perfection of that record? Then along comes ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)’, a flop a few years earlier for Franki Valli. He and The Four Seasons had loads of great records, and he’s no slouch in the vocal department. But Scott Walker he is not, no one is.
I swear, this record can still stop me in my tracks when it comes up on the ipod or BBC’s Radio 2. I heard it on the 60′s Sirius radio channel aboard a JetBlue flight recently. As diverse and truly exciting that the many other songs were, this just grabbed the prize unchallenged.
I saw Matt Pinfield the other day. He had Matt & Kim on his morning WRXP radio show, so I went along. Pinfield is the most kind hearted and passionate music fan, really knows his stuff, loves records. We worked together at Columbia and got connected at the hip. Somehow the subject of ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)’ came up. Almost in unison, we both blurted out nearly identical sentences.
“This may be the greatest single of all time.”
Deservedly, it spent a month at #1 in the UK. See the three consecutive NME charts below, reprinted from 40 YEARS OF THE NME CHARTS. Despite not one US TV appearance or live show, it did get played here and had a decent chart run, peaking at #13 in BILLBOARD. It should have, at least, gone Top 10 but given the many singles that never ever charted, there’s some contentment in it’s placing.
Tags: 40 Years Of The NME Charts, BBC Radio 2, Billboard, Franki Valli, Matt & Kim, Matt Pinfield, NME, Philips, Scott Walker, Sirius, Smash, The Four Seasons, The Walker Brothers, WRXP
Posted in 40 Years Of The NME Charts, BBC Radio 2, Billboard, Eddie Fisher, Franki Valli, JetBlue, Matt & Kim, Matt Pinfield, NME, Philips, Scott Walker, Sirius, Smash, The Four Seasons, The Walker Brothers, WRXP | No Comments »
Saturday, December 28th, 2013
SWEETIE BRA EP / Various Artists:
Side 1:
Listen: Introduction – Zabadak! / Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
Introduction
Listen: I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die / The Herd
I
Side 2:
Listen: Come Next Spring / Scott Walker
Come
Listen: My Colouring Book / Dusty Springfield
My
No, it’s not an ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS artifact, it’s the real deal SWEETIE BRA EP from the British Exquisite Form Brassiere Company in 1968.
If you’re like me, you didn’t know the record existed. I stumbled on a copy years ago, digging through boxes rather early at the Portobello Road Saturday flea market. And by rather early, I mean it was still dark. Getting there at the crack of dawn was, and still is, the only way to find the cardiac arresting level items at low prices or more probably at any price.
I was on a mission that morning, having anticipated it all for a few days leading up. We were staying at the then hopping, now closed, Pembridge Court Hotel, with a back door entrance that literally spilled out onto the starting tip of Portobello Road.
What a place that hotel was. The manager Valerie had two gentle orange cats that happily visited the room and would occasionally stay the night if allowed. Her staff delivered sandwiches with tea and cakes at any hour. It was like staying at a great aunt’s house in old time Ennland. Corinne and I were loyal guests for years, we loved it there.
So on that particular morning, I schlepped out on my own before dawn, flashlight in pocket, to mingle with the aggressive dealers in search of their next slice of income and the collectors, in search of their next fix. No idea why I even pulled the record out of this sleeve to have a look, I guess it was an exercise in being thorough. To my surprise and pleasure, four of my favorite acts were featured. This was clearly a promotional item via some sort of relationship between the bra company and Philips/Fontana Records, given that all the artists were from the company’s roster and the actual label was the Philips signature deep shade of blue.
An amusing introduction starts Side 1, then leads into ‘Zabadak!’, a December 28th landmark in my measly little existence of a life.
Tags: Absolutely Fabulous, Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich, Dusty Springfield, Fontana, Philips, Scott Walker, Sweetie Bra EP, The Herd
Posted in Absolutely Fabulous, Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich, Dusty Springfield, Fontana, Philips, Scott Walker, Sweetie Bra EP, The Herd | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
Listen: When The Sun Comes Shining Thru’ / Long John Baldry
When
Long John Baldry, as with Georgie Fame and Alan Price, was another guy from the early 60′s London blues and soul club circuit. Then known as Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, he and his band can be found on numerous schedules from The Flamingo and The Marquee clubs, double billing with several similar up and coming American RnB music enthusiasts, all hell bent on reinterpreting their worshiped heroes.
Like with yesterday’s post, he too took a more commercial route as the 70′s approached, successfully achieving mainstream pop hits in England. A switch of labels in both the UK and US, as well a change in musical style and the recruitment of Tony Macaulay as producer resulted in ‘Let The Heartaches Begin’, which went to #1 in Britain during November of ’67. A year later, ‘When The Sun Comes Shining Thru”, written by Manfred Mann’s lead vocalist Mike D’Abo, went Top 30, although neither caught much traction in America.
Around ’68, Tony Macaulay began cornering many of my favorite records, either as writer, producer and in some cases, both. Current day British pop had become his forte with Scott Walker, Pickettywitch, The Marmalade and The Foundations amongst his successes. I guess he had a sound, and quite frankly, in my world, these two were a perfect pair.
Come ’71 though, Long John Baldry had reverted back to his original boogie woogie style, as he called it. Teaming up with Elton John and Rod Stewart as producers, both struggling newcomers in the early 60′s but by then successful superstars, afforded their old friend some decent US traction. Good for John Baldry of course, but for me, the music wasn’t as much fun nor more memorable than that period anchored by Tony Macaulay and ‘When The Sun Comes Shining Thru”.
Tags: A&M, Alan Price, Elton John, Flamingo, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, Manfred Mann, Marquee, Mike D'Abo, Pickettywitch, Rod Stewart, Scott Walker, The Foundations, The Marmalade, Tony Macaulay
Posted in A&M, Alan Price, Elton John, Flamingo, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, Manfred Mann, Marquee, Mike D'Abo, Rod Stewart, Scott Walker, The Foundations, The Marmalade, Tony Macaulay | Comments Off
Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Listen: There Goes The Lucky One / Jackie Lee & The Raindrops
There
Stumbled on this single early on, around ’74. I’d had plenty of radio station scores by then, with no idea there’d thankfully be many, many, many more to come in life. I don’t know of a better high to be honest. Probably similar to most other addictions, you’re always craving the next fix. Well it’s moments like finding a Jackie Lee & The Raindrops single in a healthy stack of dj 7′s that’ll keep you on the drool.
By then, I’d become completely familiar with parent label fonts and layouts, so easily spotted this release as being part of the London Records group. During the 60′s, London distributed loads of small labels, and some larger ones as well, like Deram or Hi.
Anything from London was primo by me, and often meant the act was UK based, given London was indeed the American arm of British Decca. True to form, Jackie Lee, although originally from Ireland, was by then living in England. That was close enough. ‘There Goes The Lucky One’ really sounded like a mix between girl group and late fifties doo wop, plus I wrongly believed the record was from ’65 or so. As it turns out, ’62 was it’s year of release and Jaylee appears to have been a custom imprint. Jackie Lee clearly had a friend high up in the US operation. A custom label and a picture sleeve in 1962, someone worked miracles at the yearly London/Decca confab.
Jim Palmaeri, one of my pals at Discount Records where I worked at the time, fell in love with this. He’d often borrow it for weeks on end, and I became militant about it’s return continually. Despite not having heard the record for years, the chorus suddenly popped into my head, and I was singing it aloud Friday night. Then a dreadful stomach pit formed. Where was the record? I’d been playing the American Jackie Lee’s ‘Baby, Do The Philly Dog’ and ‘The Duck’ just a few nights prior, but didn’t recall seeing it. Checking verified the worst. Jackie Lee & The Raindrops weren’t there between the other Jackie Lee and Leapy Lee. Fuck.
An even greater fear then entered my mind. Did I get the single back from Jim that crucial last time he borrowed it?
Hold on, I did get it back, remembering that during a trip to SXSW in the 90′s, I stumbled on an empty picture sleeve at the record collector’s show which, for years, was part of the annual convention. Upon returning to New York, I reunited the record with it’s sleeve, but hadn’t recalled seeing it since. So the remainder of Friday evening had me wandering about slightly agitated.
Saturday morning, returning home from some early junking with a few new scores to file, I settle in front of the shelves to start alphabetizing and what do I see halfway along the wall section containing the L’s but ‘There Goes The Lucky One’. The records had separated a bit down the line from Leapy Lee to reveal the misfiled Jackie Lee & The Raindrops single. A cold sweat of adrenaline waved over me, and then I could not play this record fast enough. All in all, a happy ending.
Listen: White Horses / Jacky
White
Now I was on a roll. I needed to know more about this single, and what do I discover but this Jackie Lee is indeed the same person who recorded ‘White Horses’ for Philips in ’68, as Jacky.
I had followed it’s chart ascension at the time, quite intrigued by both song title and artist. Plus I was a sucker for anything on Philips. When ‘White Horses’ eventually reached a UK # 10, I got nuts for a copy, a US pressing of which was miraculously scored at Walt’s Records on Salina Street, in their non-hit record rack banished to the back wall of the shop.
By now, I was mowing lawns, cleaning the hallways and foyer of a small apartment building every Thursday after school, plus working weekends at the Chittenango Thruway Restaurant, meaning my visits to Walt’s weren’t limited to one 7″ purchase any longer. ‘White Horses’ came back home in a stack that included The Hollies ‘Jennifer Eccless’, Scott Walker ‘Joanna’, The Small Faces ‘Lazy Sunday’, Grapefruit ‘Dear Delilah’ and The Love Affair ‘Rainbow Valley’.
Remembering facts for my chemistry tests: useless. Remembering details about records: piece of cake.
Tags: Decca, Deram, Grapefruit, Hi, Jackie Lee, Jackie Lee & The Raindrops, Jacky, Jaylee Records, Leapy Lee, London Records, Philips, Scott Walker, The Hollies, The Love Affair, The Small Faces, Walt's Records
Posted in Decca, Deram, Grapefruit, Hi, Jackie Lee, Jackie Lee & The Raindrops, Jacky, Jaylee Records, Leapy Lee, London Records, Philips, Scott Walker, The Hollies, The Love Affair, The Small Faces, Walt's Records | Comments Off
Sunday, May 29th, 2011
Listen: O Lucky Man / Alan Price
O Lucky Man / Alan Price
Tried watching this on Netflix a few nights back, no luck. Despite so many films getting streamed on the site, it doesn’t really apply to the music ones yet. Not enough of them that is. I have a feeling it will be decades before they get around to DATELINE DIAMONDS. But rejoice, they do have the Scott Walker film.
Back when current, O LUCKY MAN, the film, resided somewhere near HAROLD & MAUDE in the cult movie space. Nice thing was, the soundtrack sold slow and steady, week after week. I know, I was working at a one stop then. I was sure most of the folks buying the soundtrack had no idea they were actually getting a great album as well as their musical connection to the film, or that Alan Price had a history of flawless singles prior.
‘O Lucky Man’ was not only a UK A side but a US one as well. How it escaped any radio or sales success in either territory is one of the world’s great wonders to wonder about.
Listen: Poor People / Alan Price
Poor People / Alan Price
Just like The Troggs ‘Wild Thing’ from ’66, when the US single coupled their follow up, ‘With A Girl Like You’, as it’s flip side, so too was the US story of ‘O Lucky Man’, with American Warner Brothers deciding hastily to make their B Side ‘Poor People’.
Being so strong a song, as well as a film highlight, meant Warners UK chose ‘Poor People’ as their second single from the soundtrack. Again, not a blip of achievement anywhere. I barely remember either track even getting a review.
By no means a judgement on the quality of these two songs, or the entire soundtrack, which at present, has remained in print for 38 years.
Tags: Alan Price, Dateline Diamonds, Harold & Maude, Scott Walker, The Alan Price Set, The Troggs, Warner Brothers
Posted in Alan Price, Dateline Diamonds, Scott Walker, The Alan Price Set, The Troggs, Warner Brothers | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
Listen: Cry Me A River / Marie Knight
Cry Me A River / Marie Knight
Hey thanks Vicki Wickham, for keeping this one since the 60′s. Yes, it was part of her 45 collection that I was gifted by Saint Vicki herself last fall.
You know, I love you Vicki Wickham.
Let’s talk about Vicki Wickham. We first met in ’89, when she managed Phranc during her Island days. I remember exactly where we first shook hands: backstage at the Beacon Theater, in the the very stairway where Ahmet Ertegan took his last spill. Phranc had just hired her, and was at that time on tour with The Pogues.
I was actually meeting thee Vicki Wickham. The one that booked READY! STEADY! GO!, managed Dusty Springfield, co-wrote ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ with Simon Napier-Bell, produced Labelle. The one who not only booked the infamous Saville Theatre series, brought the Motown Review to England, worked at Track Records with The Who, Thunderclap Newman, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Marsha Hunt, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, John’s Children, and yes, The Cherry Smash; but also knew Scott Walker…and Brian Jones. I was nervous and in awe. Vicki Wickham was a higher form of life.
Fast forward. Nowadays, we meet often for lunch, on 9th Ave and 44th Street at Marseilles, possibly her favorite restaurant. She always orders the asparagus omelette and eats about half. I grill her for details: RSG, The BBC during the 60′s, Rediffusion Television, Top Of The Pops not to mention every band and everybody she ever encountered. Did she visit the Immediate Records office, Deram, Philips, Fontana. What was the Ready Steady Go canteen like, did she know Tony Hall, Steve Marriott, Inez Foxx, Joe Meek, Dozy. When did she last speak with Andrew Loog Oldham, P.P. Arnold or Madeline Bell…..we cover, discuss, judge and trash tons of people. Yes, we are guilty. Needless to say, there’s never a loss for topics.
On one such occasion last year, she mentions having just found boxes of 45′s in storage, and the only one she can remember seeing in the whole bunch was the Bessie Banks ‘Go Now’ UK A label pressing. Was I interested in the lot? That’s like asking Alago, Duane, Joe and I if we’d like a free bump in the VIP bathroom at The Ritz in the 80′s. Ahh, yeah.
Vicki, you ARE a saint, and a beloved friend.
And you turned me on to Marie Knight. Praise be.
Tags: Andrew Loog Oldham, Bessie Banks, Brian Jones, Cherry Smash, Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich, Deram, Duane Sherwood, Dusty Springfield, Fontana, Immediate, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Island, Joe Meek, Joey Ramone, John's Children, Labelle, Madeline Bell, Marie Knight, Marsha Hunt, Michael Alago, Motown, Musicor, P. P. Arnold, Philips, Phranc, Rediffusion Television, Scott Walker, Simon Napier-Bell, Stateside, Steve Marriott, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Ritz, The Who, Tony Hall
Posted in Andrew Loog Oldham, BBC, Bessie Banks, Cherry Smash, Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich, Deram, Duane Sherwood, Dusty Springfield, Fontana, Immediate, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Island, Joe Meek, Joey Ramone, John's Children, Labelle, Madeline Bell, Marie Knight, Marsha Hunt, Michael Alago, Motown, Musicor, P. P. Arnold, Philips, Phranc, Ready Steady Go, Rediffusion Television, Scott Walker, Simon Napier-Bell, Stateside, Steve Marriott, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Ritz, The Who, Thunderclap Newman, Tony Hall | Comments Off
Monday, January 24th, 2011
Listen: Sorted For E’s & Wizz /Pulp
Sorted For E's & Wizz /Pulp
Dave Bedford from Fire Records in London became quite a good friend during my days with Island in the early 90′s, as I’d be in town for two or three week stays at a time. We had, and still do have, similar tastes in both the past and present. Logically, he and I share a vinyl addiction but more importantly, a natural chemistry about so many things. Kind of like that occasional person you meet and within hours, feel as though you’ve known your whole life.
Never did Dave make a suggestion about a band that wasn’t eye to eye with my tastes, so when he nudged me rather relentlessly about seeing Pulp in December ’91, somewhere along Portobello Road near the Rough Trade shop on Talbot, in a small pub, I was interested. Apparently, they were looking to get out of Fire and really worth checking out.
Why not? Howard was in town, so I suggested we all meet up there, see the band and have some food together. Howard brought David Field and a few friends as well. Everyone was in.
Before leaving the Island office, I asked a some of the A&R guys to join. Pulp were deemed damaged goods at that point, having gone from indie label pillar to post for several years, treading water and considered to be at a low point of no return career-wise. My invitations were met with disinterest and I’m sure a few rolled eyes once I turned away. No worries, I was planning my exit a few months down the road to start The Medicine Label. Just trying to be nice fellows.
The pub was miserably empty when Pulp went on, maybe thirty people tops. Most dwindled off after a few songs, even our posse, sans Dave Bedford, decided to go down the road for a drink and wait for us to finish having a look.
I was in awe. They seemed fantastic. Dave was right. Jarvis (one of the best radio presenters in the world at the moment btw) doing his routine, fitted out in a wide wale brown hip hugger corduroy suit replete with white belt. Literally straight out of a Scott Walker photo essay, no surprise there.
Next day in the office, I couldn’t shake the previous night’s show. They were clearly too English to try working with for US only, and the London office were sternly not interested. No one was waiting for me to walk away before rolling their eyes now. So I just drifted off rather defeated, accepting I was born in the wrong place, wrong time to do anything professional with Pulp, just needed to be content staying a fan.
Six months later, I was setting up my label through Warner Brothers in Los Angeles, and the new regime at Island UK were signing Pulp.
Good for them. For my money, the band’s first proper Island album was DIFFERENT CLASS, a picture perfect creative culmination of all their new found confidence yet not so distant hardships at being kicked about for years. DIFFERENT CLASS become a stake in music history’s timeline.
“Sorted For E’s And Wizz’, having maybe the best title ever for a song and despite being spotlighted by the mainstream press as obviously drug related, hurled itself to #2 in the UK singles chart. Not initially, which was frustrating, but eventually pressed on 7″ vinyl, the single finally graced the library shelves. Fun and funny as it is, there’s some chilling lyric bits and all too true. A desert island single. Hands down.
Listen: Disco 2000 / Pulp
Disco 2000 / Pulp
Fuck me, did this sound good compressed as hell via Radio 1′s signal and coming out of the car dashboard. Those opening chords had every shotgun seat occupant diving for the volume dial. Involuntary reaction.
Listen: Disco 2000 (7″ Mix) / Pulp
Disco 2000 (7
I seem to remember this single mix being done for the US. God knows why. I mean, the band came over and supported Blur in ’94, thereby building a nice following and deserved airplay, but of course radio…..
The Blur / Pulp tour played at New York’s Academy. Remembered this well, it was Corinne’s birthday, September 29, 1994. Seeing Pulp was a perfect present, she loved them from day one. Only problem being she wanted to do something or other straight afterwards, hence dragged my ass out just as Blur were hitting their third number. Bummer, but it was her birthday.
Listen: Disco 2000 (Motiv 8 Discoid Mix) / Pulp
Disco 2000 (Motiv 8 Discoid Mix) / Pulp
Nice thing about the above ‘Disco 2000 (7″ Mix)’: it gave Island an excuse to press up a jukebox single, basically the trend amongst the labels at that time. These singles were low end design, paperless label, large center hole and very limited, literally for jukeboxes.
It was coupled with ‘Disco 2000 (Motiv 8 Discoid Mix)’, a near eight minute techno club version that made it’s way onto a rather nice promo 12″ some months earlier. The 12 was played a lot, like a real lot, in the house on the Dual stacking turntable I’d bought at the Warner Brothers Records used equipment sale for employees. $10, and still works like a charm to this day.
One of Pulp’s crowning moments was headling an all day event at Finsbury Park on July 25, 1998. It was a Saturday, I desperately wanted to get back home after a week in London, but decided it could be worth pushing my flight back by a day. Turned out being one of my better decisions in life.
Tags: BBC Radio 1, Blur, Dave Bedford, David Fields, Dual Turntable, Fire Records, Howard Thompson, Island, Jarvis Cocker, Movit 8, Pulp, Rough Trade Shop, Scott Walker, The Medicine Label
Posted in BBC Radio 1, Blur, Dave Bedford, David Field, Dual Turntable, Fire Records, Howard Thompson, Island, Jarvis Cocker, Motiv 8, Pulp, Rough Trade Shop, Scott Walker, The Medicine Label | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Listen: Movement / LCD Soundsystem LCDMovement.mp3
2004 was the year when ‘Movement’ turned some sort of corner between me and LCD. I had remembered ‘Losing My Edge’ from ’01, really loved it for a minute, but was mostly annoyed that I didn’t have the 7″. Turns out I did, as it was recently rescued from one of the never ending ‘Need To Be Filed’ boxes.
But ‘Movement’ was my first real favorite by James and his posse. Good and noisy, a bit tuneless, beautiful chaos, as The Psychedelic Furs were once described. Always did appreciate those occasional Mark E. Smith vocal moments too.
Listen: Daft Punk Is Playing At My House / LCD Soundsystem LCDDaftPunk.mp3
If ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’ had been LCD Soundsystem’s debut, I’d have been worried. Well not really, but they should’ve been. As it turns out, the band were five years into their career, so the apparent novelty was absolutely tolerable. Let’s face it – the idea is good, it’s fun. I still play it often.
James Murphy gives Suicide props on stage, mentioning both Alan and Marty’s genius. Pretty accurate so far, and then he throws in a Scott Walker shout out. If the band weren’t so good live and established, I’d be suspicious of it being politically correct name checking to gain traction. My belief is it’s not. An honorable man, that James Murphy certainly appears to be, and one I’d invite over to play singles if the moment ever presented itself.
Tags: Alan Vega, EMI, James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem, Mark E. Smith, Marty Rev, Scott Walker, sui, The Psychedelic Furs
Posted in Alan Vega, EMI, James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem, Mark E. Smith, Marty Rev, Scott Walker, Suicide, The Psychedelic Furs | No Comments »
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Listen: Spooky / Gary Walker & The Rain GaryWalkerSpooky.mp3
Is it possible to record a bad version of ‘Spooky’ – especially when Scott Walker is producing, or even just in the studio sharing oxygen with you? Before The Walker Brothers crumbled at the seams and eventually broke up, drummer Gary Walker was making solo singles – the first two, ‘You Don’t Love Me’ and ‘Twinkie Lee’, both becoming UK hits and as importantly, both produced by Scott Walker.
Shortly after that official breakup, Gary Walker & The Rain began what was to be a very desirable and highly collectable band. Members included Joey Molland, who prior was a member of Immediate Records recording artists The Masterminds, and after the breakup of The Rain, Badfinger.
I saw Badfinger in those days, they supported The Moody Blues. Despite their Beatles connection and Beatles sounding singles, I went along anyways – after all, it was two UK bands in my dull hometown of Syracuse. I recall speaking to the band after their set, for some reason they were all wandering around the audience looking depressed. Maybe it was bad acid.
Had no idea then he’d been a member of both The Masterminds and Gary Walker’s band. Lucky for him or the poor guy would’ve ended up running for cover.
Listen: Come In, You’ll Get Pneumonia / Gary Walker & The Rain GaryWalkerPneumonia.mp3
An even more interesting member of the lineup was Charlie Crane – a very unsung musical hero of mine. Lead singer with The Cryin’ Shames (UK not US band), it is indeed his voice on their Joe Meek produced anthem ‘Please Stay’, posted elsewhere on this blog. Search it out just to see how incredible this guy’s voice was and additionally, what a terrific compliment it made to that particular tune.
Most likely by accident, seems every single Gary Walker & The Rain released had a connection to another worthy band or artist. In this case, they were neck in neck with The Easybeats’ version of the song, released a bit earlier on United Artists and selling a few more copies, but just a few. Great song, deserved better result regardless of the version.
Listen: Francis / Gary Walker & The Rain GaryWalkerFrancis.mp3
This B side to ‘Come In, You’ll Get Pneumonia’ was always a favorite and of great interest amongst collectors. Seems the garage fuzz fanatics find it a must. I don’t see the musical connection but do love the track.
Listen: Hello, How Are You / Gary Walker GaryWalkerHello.mp3
From ’69 to ’75 we jump with Gary (who in the intern was a motorbike messenger delivery fellow – so the unofficial story goes). Having left his Japan-only success, The Rain, behind him now for six years, out of nowhere pops, oddly enough, another Easybeats cover, ‘Hello, How Are You’. Nice idea – I wonder in hope, can we expect ‘Friday On My Mind’ any day? Why not and what a treat that’d be.
In keeping with the aforementioned famous friends attachment, this version was produced by Allan Clarke from The Hollies. Not sure who’s playing on it. Any ideas are welcome.
Tags: Allan Clarke, Badfinger, Charlie Crane, Gary Walker & The Rain, Immediate, Joey Molland, Philips, Polydor, Scott Walker, The Beatles, The Cryin' Shames, The Easybeats, The Hollies, The Masterminds, United Artisits
Posted in Allan Clarke, Badfinger, Charlie Crane, Gary Walker & The Rain, Immediate, Joey Molland, Philips, Polydor, Scott Walker, The Beatles, The Cryin' Shames, The Easybeats, The Hollies, The Masterminds, United Artists | No Comments »
Monday, August 17th, 2009
Listen: There Goes My Baby / The Drifters DriftersThere.mp3
Listen: There Goes My Baby / The Walker Brothers WalkerBrothersThereGoes.mp3
Speaking of The Drifters, as I did in my previous post, one of their Ben E. King written hits, ‘There Goes My Baby’, not only stands up on it’s own, but shows that a great song interpreted well can sometimes even get better. Hate to be politically incorrect, but my opinion is just that when it comes to The Walker Brothers version of ‘There Goes My Baby’.
Don’t misunderstand, I like both, maybe it’s just The Walker Brothers’ haircuts, my official diagnosis of having terminal Scott Walker disease or probably my admitted lack of Doo Wop appreciation. Why theirs wasn’t released as a 7″ in the UK remains a mystery to me. Those Ivor Raymonde ‘Night Of Fear’ leaning orchestral riffs just take the cake. John Franz, what were you thinking?
Tags: American London, Ben E. King, Doo Wop, John Franz, Philips, Scott Walker, The Drifters, The Walker Brothers
Posted in Ben E. King, Doo Wop, Ivor Raymonde, John Franz, London American, Philips, Scott Walker, The Drifters, The Walker Brothers | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
I got a fantastic email today from a reader in France, Bands Michel, who alerted me to a site whereby you can read just about every BILLBOARD from the 50′s, 60′s and onwards. These are mesmerizing. Scrolling through the weekly singles reviews whereby they predict records that will achieve Top 20, Top 60 or simply a ‘Chart’ placing alone is worth the visit. Most of the greats are in that later section, although many a ‘should have been a hit’ record features in the other two as well. Not to mention stunning full page tip sheet adds for singles by The Herd, The Who, Mary Wells, Scott Walker, Ike & Tina Turner, The Small Faces, multi artist adverts for Mercury, Okeh, Motown, Fontana, Deram, Ric Tic, Bang, Sue Records plus hundreds and hundreds more. Do yourself a favor:
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE ARCHIVE
Tags: Bang, Billboard, Deram, Fontana, Ike & Tina Turner, Mary Wells, Mercury, Motown, Okeh, Ric Tic, Scott Walker, Sue Records, The Herd, The Small Faces, The Who
Posted in Bang, Billboard, Deram, Fontana, Ike & Tina Turner, Mary Wells, Mercury, Motown, Okeh, Ric Tic, Scott Walker, Sue Records, The Herd, The Small Faces, The Who | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
Listen: Doctor’s Orders / Sunny SunnyDoctors.mp3
Basically Sunny has loads of history. Solo artist, one half of Sue & Sunny (both of whom were also members of The Brotherhood Of Man) and background voice on many, many, many hit singles (Dusty Springfield, Elton John, The Love Affair, Lulu, Mott The Hoople, T. Rex, Tom Jones, and Joe Cocker to name but a few bigger ones). She’s probably on more records than even she can remember – let alone you or me.
Often associated with the Cook & Greenaway writer/producer team, it was their song ‘Doctor’s Order’ (co-written with Geoff Stephens, himself claim to a long list of song credits: The Applejacks, Manfred Mann, Scott Walker, Dave Berry, Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters) that became a favorite for literally months in ’74. As into rock and soul as I was in ’74, the occasional pop track would bite me hard. I was never comfortable that Sunny’s version didn’t become the US hit version, it was better and smoother than Carol Douglas’. Rest of world though, the crown went to the awesome Sunny. I want to meet her someday.
Tags: Carol Douglas, CBS, Dave Berry, Deram, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Epic, Frank Sinatra, Geoff Stephens, Joe Cocker, Lulu, Manfred Mann, Mott The Hoople, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Scott Walker, Sue & Sunny, Sunny, T. Rex, The Applejacks, The Brotherhood Of Man, The Carpenters, The Love Affair, Tom Jones
Posted in Carol Douglas, CBS, Dave Berry, Deram, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Epic, Frank Sinatra, Geoff Stephens, Joe Cocker, Lulu, Manfred Mann, Mott The Hoople, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Scott Walker, Sue & Sunny, Sunny, T. Rex, The Applejacks, The Brotherhood Of Man, The Carpenters, The Love Affair, Tom Jones | No Comments »
