SINGLES
THE BAMBOO
SHOOT--The Fox Has Gone To Ground/ There And Back Again
(Columbia)
GEORGE BEAN-Bring Back Lovin/ Floatin (CBS)
THE BEATLES-Lady Madonna/ The Inner Light (Parlophone) #1
BEE GEES-Jumbo/ The Singer Sang His Song (Polydor) #25
BLOSSOM TOES-Ill Be Your Baby Tonight/ Love Is (Marmalade)
ALAN BOWN-Story Book/ Little Lesley (MGM)
JOHN BROMLEY-What A Woman Does/ My My (Polydor)
HANS CHRISTIAN-All Of The Time/ Never My Love (Parlophone)
CIRCUS-House Of Wood/ Do You Dream (Parlophone)
JOE COCKER-Marjorine/ New Age Of The Lily (Regal Zonophone) #48
THE COLORS OF LOVE-Im A Train/ Up On A Cotton Cloud (Page
One)
CROCHETED DOUGHNUT RING-Maxines Parlour/ Get Out Your Rock
& Roll Shoes (Deram)
THE DAKOTAS-I Can't Break The News To Myself/ The Spider And The
Fly (Philips)
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP-After Tea/ Moonshine (UA)
SIMON DUPREE AND THE BIG SOUND-For Whom The Bell Tolls/ Sleep
(Parlophone) #43
EASYBEATS-Hello, How Are You? / Falling Off The Edge Of The World
(UA) #20
ELLIOTTS SUNSHINE-Is It Too Late/ Cause Im
Lonely (Philips)
ANDY ELLISON-Fool From Upper Eden/ Another Lucky Lie (CBS)
THE END-Shades Of Orange/ Loving, Sacred Loving (Decca)
THE FIRE-Fathers Name Is Dad/ Treacle Toffee World (Decca)
FLEETWOOD MAC-Black Magic Woman/ The Sun Is Shining (Blue
Horizon) #37
FORTUS MENTUM-Saga Of a Wrinkled Man/ Mr Partridge Passed Away
Today (Parlophone)
FRUIT MACHINE-Cuddly Toy/ Follow Me (Spark)
THE GROOP-Lovin Tree/ Night Life (CBS)
HOLLIES-Jennifer Eccles/ Open Your Eyes (Parlophone) #7
HONEYBUS-I Cant Let Maggie Go/ Tender Are The Ashes (Deram)
#8
ICE-Ice Man/ Whisper Her Name (Maria Laine) (Decca)
IDLE RACE-Skeleton And The Roundabout/ Knocking Nails Into My
House (Liberty)
KRIS IFE-This Womans Love/ I Gotta Feeling (MGM)
INCREDIBLE STRING BAND-Painting Box/ No Sleep Blues (Elektra)
PAUL JONES-And The Sun Will Shine/ The Dog Presides (Columbia)
KIPPINGTON LODGE-Rumours/ And She Cried (Parlophone)
LEMON TREE-I Can Touch A Rainbow/ William Chaulkers Time
Machine (Parlophone)
THE MUD-Up The Airy Mountain/ Latter Days (CBS)
NASHVILLE TEENS-All Along The Watchtower/ Sun-Dog (Decca)
NIRVANA-Rainbow Chaser/ Flashbulb (Island) #34
THE NITE PEOPLE-Morning Sun/ Were You There (Fontana)
THE ONYX-Youve Gotta Be With Me/ Its All Put On (Pye)
PENNY PEEPS-Little Man With A Stick/ Model Village (Liberty)
PLASTIC PENNY-Nobody Knows It/ Just Happy To Be With You (Page
One)
PROCUL HARUM-Quite Rightly So/ In The Wee Small Hours Of Sixpence
(Regal Zonophone) #50
RUPERTS PEOPLE-I Can Show You/ Ive Got The Love (
Columbia)
THE SMOKE-Utterly Simple/ Sydney Gill (Island-Unreleased)
STATUS QUO-Black Veils Of Melancholy/ To Be Free (Pye)
ROD STEWART-Little Miss Understood/ So Much To Say (Immediate)
SUNDRAGON-Blueberry Blue/ Far Away Mountain (MGM)
SYMBOLS-A Lovely Way To Say Goodnight/ Pretty City (President)
TURQUOISE-53 Summer Street/ Tales Of Flossie Fillett (Decca)
WEST COAST CONSORTIUM-Colour Sergeant Lillywhite/ Lady From
Baltimore (Pye)
YARDBIRDS-Goodnight Sweet Josephine/ Think About It
(Columbia-Unreleased)
YOUNG BLOOD-Green Light/ Dont Leave Me In The Dark (Pye)
ALBUMS
THE
MOVE-Move (Regal Zonophone) #15
HAPPENING!
- "Sgt
Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" wins four
Grammy awards, including best album of 1967 and best
album sleeve.
- "Shes
Leaving Home" is named best song of 1967 at the Ivor
Novello Awards. "Whiter Shade Of Pale" is the
most successful UK song overseas, while "Grocer
Jack" is novelty song of the year.
- Middle Earth club is
forced to move from its home in Covent Garden after
a Police raid (3rd). The "Death March" and the
"Z Cars Theme" were played on piano as the law
searched dancers and groups. The club re-locates to the
Roundhouse in Chalk Farm but its days are numbered.
- Turquoise are signed
to Decca who announce that the group are recording the
songs for a film, "If That Was A Hard Days
Night, What Do You Think This Is?"
- Ace Kefford leaves
The Move owing to his "serious nervous
condition".
- Liverpool group Focal
Point sign a publishing deal with The Beatles Apple
Co.
- Songwriter Graham
Gouldman joins The Mindbenders, replacing bassist Bob
Lang.
- The initial line-up
of Roundabout fails to gel and Jon Lord and Richie
Blackmore recruit Ian Paice and Rod Evans, both ex-Maze,
and Nick Simper, ex-Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.
- Donovan contributes
several songs to the soundtrack of the movie Poor
Cow.
- The Hollies start
work on a new studio album but the sessions grind to a
halt with most of the tracks left unused or unfinished,
including Graham Nashs "Marrakesh
Express" which is later a hit for Crosby, Stills and
Nash.
- The Herd sign up to
appear in the feature film "Otley" which stars
Tom Courtney.
- Mike Stuart Span are
approached to appear at and also write the theme music
for the Brighton Arts Festival (27th April-11th May).
- Tintern Abbey are
signed to Spencer Davis Management. Its announced
that they will have a new single released by Deram on
April 19th, titled "How Do I Feel Today". The
single does not appear.
- Bill Wyman protégés
The End begin recording their debut album at West
Hampstead studios (19th). The record is completed by late
June but is not released by Decca until December 1969
("Introspection"). By then everyone had lost
interest, including the group, who re-emerged (with a
different vocalist) as Tucky Buzzard.
- Eddie Phillips and
Bob Garner leave Creation. Original vocalist Kenny
Pickett returns in place of Garner and Ron Wood plays
guitar on a German tour.
- Mabel Greers
Toyshop audition for MCA Records but are rejected for
being "too psychedelic".
- The Beatles espousal
of Transcendental Meditation causes arguments within the
pop world. American singer PJ Proby expresses his
contempt for the cult but Moody Blue Mike Pinder quickly
rises to the defence of The Beatles and the Maharishi,
slamming Probys ignorance.
- The Lemon Tree make a
special film for US TV to promote their "William
Chalkers Time Machine" single. Mike
"Supersonic" Mansfield is the director of the
clip, which is filmed at Essos Refinery in
Southampton.
- Bassist Bob Lang quits The
Mindbenders and is replaced by Jimmy O'Neill from The Uglys.
- BBC TV "All
Systems Freeman"-Alan Bown, The Lemon Tree,
Ruperts People (1st), Spencer Davis Group (8th),
The End, The Symbols (15th), Procol Harum, The Hollies,
The Herd (22nd)
- Southern ITVs
"New Release" series is re-scheduled and
networked to the entire UK. The show is also re-titled,
now being called "Time For Blackburn"-The Move,
The Troggs (2nd), Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (9th),
Procol Harum, (16th), Spencer Davis Group, The Merseys
(23rd), The Lemon Tree, The Nite People, Andy Ellison
(30th)
- BBC1 TV "Dee
Time"-Grapefruit (9th), Easybeats (23rd)
- BBC TV "Whistle
Stop"-Simon Dupree & the Big Sound (29th)
- German TV "Beat
Club"-Moody Blues, Traffic, Manfred Mann, Nirvana,
Sharon Tandy (9th)
- BBC SESSIONS-Alan
Bown (23rd, Saturday Club), Blossom Toes (31st, Top
Gear), Bystanders (4th-8th, Pete Brady-25th-29th, Jimmy
Young), Cymbaline (11th-15th, Jimmy Young),
Donovan (9th,
Saturday Club), Easybeats (23rd,
Saturday Club), The End (20th, Night Ride-31st, Top
Gear), Fairport Convention (3rd, Top Gear-18th, David
Symonds), Fleur de Lys (30th, Saturday Club),
Grapefruit
(1st, Joe Loss Show-7th, Pop North), Roy Harper (17th,
Top Gear), The Herd (23rd,
Saturday Club), Hollies (25th, Radio One Oclock--26th,
Pop Inn),
Honeybus (11th-15th, David Symonds), Idle Race
(11th-15th, David Symonds), Incredible String Band (6th,
Night Ride), Kaleidoscope (4th-8th, Pete Brady),
The
Lemon Tree (14th, Pop North-16th, Saturday Club),
Marmalade (4th-8th, Pete Brady-11th-15th, Jimmy Young),
Mindbenders (6th, Parade of the Pops-28th, Pop North),
Moody Blues (11th-15th, David Symonds-30th, Follow The
Stars), The Move (8th, Joe Loss Show-25th-29th, Pete
Brady), New Generation (10th, Top Gear), Orange Bicycle
(4th-8th, Jimmy Young), Plastic Penny
(25th, David Symonds), Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
(11th-15th, David Symonds-21st, Pop North-25-29th, David
Symonds-30th, Saturday Club), Spectrum (22nd, Joe Loss
Show), Spencer Davis Group (4th-8th, Jimmy Young-28th,
Pop North), Spooky Tooth (17th, Top Gear),
Status Quo
(30th, Petes People), Cat Stevens (2nd, Saturday
Club-7th, Pop North), The Symbols (27th, Parade of the
Pops), Traffic (3rd, Top Gear-9th, Petes People),
The Troggs (2nd, Petes People-4th, Radio One
OClock-4th-8th, David Symonds-13th, Parade of the
Pops-25th-29th, Jimmy Young), Tyrannosaurus Rex (13th,
Night Ride-24th, Top Gear), Yardbirds (16th, Saturday
Club--10th, Top Gear)
- Download Radio Caroline
International Roger Day Show 2nd
March
WATCHING!
- The Bee Gees play The
Royal Albert Hall backed by a 67-piece orchestra. This
gig kicks off their UK tour. Grapefruit are support and Dave Dee Dozy
Beaky Mick & Tich are "Special Guest Stars".
- Donovan and
Tyrannosaurus Rex play at the Royal Albert Hall in
support of the Imperial College charity carnival (21st).
- Also scheduled to be
held at the Royal Albert Hall is the Mad
Hatters Ball (1st), featuring Manfred Mann,
Plastic Penny, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Glass
Menagerie etc etc, however the show is cancelled at the
11th hour because "Advance bookings were
insufficient to make the event an economic
proposition".
- Marquee- The Gods
(2nd, 16th, 23rd, 30th), Glass Menagerie (2nd), The Nice
(4th, 11th, 18th, 25th), Nite People (7th), Grannys
Intentions (7th, 28th), Ten Years After (8th, 22nd), Open
Mind (9th, 21st), The Attack (11th), Procol Harum (12th),
Spooky Tooth (12th), Skip Bifferty (14th, 28th), The
Klubs (14th), Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (15th), Jethro Tull (15th, 29th), The Exception
(18th), Timebox (19th), Marmalade (21st), The Iveys
(23rd), Still Life (25th), John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Taste (26th), Mud (30th)
- Middle Earth-- Spooky
Tooth, Tintagel (1st), Sam Gopal Dream (2nd), Fleetwood
Mac (8th), Jeff Beck Group, Tyrannosaurus Rex (9th),
Pretty Things, Fairport Convention, Action, Blossom Toes (13th), Family,
Picadilly Line, Attack, Doctor K's Blues Band, Pete Brown's Poetry Band
(14th), Family, New Nadir, Green Ginger (15th),
Pink Floyd, Juniors Eyes (16th), Moody Blues, Clouds
(22nd), The Nice, Tintagel (23rd)
- Cromwellian-Fleetwood
Mac (4th), Spirit Of John Morgan (11th), Ten Years After
(18th)
- Speakeasy-Traffic
(10th), Gospel Garden (21st)
- Whisky A Go-Go-The
Shiralee (14th), The Cortinas (21st), Art Movement (23rd)
- Addington, Tangerine
Club-The Move (23rd)
- Assrigg Conservative Club- Gods
(26th)
- Barking College-Bonzo
Dog Doo Dah Band (2nd)
- Bath Pavilion-Plastic
Penny (4th), The Troggs (11th), The Status Quo (18th), The Move (25th)
- Battersea Town Hall- Chicken Shack,
Black Cat Bones (21st)
- Bawdy, Royal Naval
Air Station-The Troggs (7th)
- Beckenham, Zodiac Club- Ten Years
After (28th)
- Whitla Hall,
Belfast-Pink Floyd (14th)
- Bexley Black Prince- Fleetwood Mac
(17th)
- Aston University,
Birmingham-Yardbirds, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
(8th)
- Birmingham Elbow
Room-Sam Gopal Dream (7th), Fairport Convention (14th), Monopoly (16th)
- Birmingham, Langley
Baths-The Troggs (1st)
- Birmingham Perry Bar,
Crown & Cushion-Plastic Penny (10th)
- Birmingham Shenley
Green Youth Club-Moody Blues (5th)
- Birmingham Town
Hall-Manfred Mann, Moody Blues, Spencer Davis Group,
Picadilly Line (13th)
- Bletchley Wilton
Hall-Jeff Beck (23rd)
- Boston Starlight Ballroom-Terry
Reid's Fantasia (16th), Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, Tuesdays
Children (23rd)
- Bournemouth
Ritz-Plastic Penny (6th), Gods (15th)
- Brighton, Sussex
University-Manfred Mann (2nd)
- Bristol Locarno-The
Symbols (14th)
- Bristol
University-The Troggs (6th)
- Catford Witchdoctor- Original Dyaks
(16th)
- Chelmsford, Corn Exchange- Ten Years
After (23rd)
- Chester ABC-Bee Gees, Grapefruit (30th)
- Colville Country House- Gods (27th)
- Coventry New Inn- Gods (14th)
- The Red House,
Coventry-Kaleidoscope (24th)
- Star, Croydon-Jethro
Tull (18th),
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (25th)
- Dartford, Victoria
& Bull-Jeff Beck (8th), Ways & Means (9th)
- Derby
Locarno-Tremeloes (28th)
- Dorking Halls,
Surrey-The Herd (21st)
- Dumfries Town
Hall-The Troggs (22nd)
- Dunfermline
Kinema-The Troggs (24th), Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (31st)
- California Ballroom,
Dunstable-The Measles (1st), The Herd (2nd), Two Of Each
(8th), The Symbols (9th), The Move (16th), The Toast (22nd), Status Quo (23rd)
- East Ham Central- Bert Jansch, John
Renbourn (15th)
- Edmonton Cooks Ferry Inn- Spooky
Tooth (18th), Marmalade (25th)
- Epping, Wake
Arms-Marmalade (24th)
- Ewell Tech
College-Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (9th), Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy
(30th, supporting Herbie Goins)
- Exeter
University-Manfred Mann (19th)
- Folkestone Leas Cliff
Hall-Manfred Mann (23rd)
- Grantham Cat Ballou- Peter Green's
Fleetwood Mac (31st)
- Hammersmith Folk Centre- Mike
Absalom (14th)
- Hampstead Klook's Kleek- Marmalade
(26th), Graham Bond Organisation (27th)
- Crawdaddy, Hampton
Court-Pink Floyd (16th), The Nice (23rd)
- Hemel Hempstead
Pavilion-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (13th)
- Park Hall,
Hereford-The Herd (15th), The Move (22nd)
- Hinckley
Georges Ballroom-Tremeloes (30th)
- Hounslow Folk Club- Ralph McTell
(14th)
- Ipswich Baths-The
Move (11th)
- Isleworth, St Marys College-Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Ways And
Means (2nd)
- Kettering Tin Hat Club- Aynsley
Dunbar's Retaliation (23rd), Chicken Shack (30th)
- Kidderminster Dancing Club- Gods
(17th)
- Leicester De Montfort
Hall-Spencer Davis Group (5th)
- Leicester
University-Chris Farlowe, Timebox (2nd)
- Leeds University-The
Nice, Spencer Davis Group, Tony Rivers & The
Castaways (9th)
- Leeds Victoria
Hall-Bee Gees, Grapefruit (29th)
- New Grafton Rooms,
Liverpool-Pink Floyd (20th)
- Liverpool
University-Traffic (9th)
- London Avery Hill
College-Manfred Mann (29th)
- London City College- Crazy World Of
Arthur Brown, The Attack (15th)
- London College of
Printing-Timebox, Amboy Dukes (30th)
- London, Greenwich
Town Hall-Status Quo (4th)
- London Holborn
College-Manfred Mann (30th)
- London Imperial College- Spooky
Tooth (16th)
- London International
Hall-Spencer Davis Group (8th)
- London, Lee, Old Tiger's Head-
Gordon Giltrap (15th)
- London, Les Cousins- Ron Geesin,
Ralph McTell (20th, 27th), Davy Graham, Michael Chapman, Mike Cooper (23rd)
- London, Manor House Bluesville- Ten
Years After (15th)
- London Nag's Head- Aynsley Dunbar's
Retaliation (25th)
- London Northern Polytechnic- The
Gods (22nd)
- London Old Brompton Road, Don
Quixote Club- Strawbs (24th)
- London Royal Festival
Hall-Incredible String Band present a Mystical
Pantomime (30th, "Special Guest Appearance" by Tim
Buckley)
- London Tottenham Court Rd Horseshoe-
John Martyn (17th), Clive Palmer, Ralph McTell, Anne Briggs (24th)
- Loughborough Town
Hall-Plastic Penny (2nd-cancelled owing to flight delay
after bassist Tony Murray got married in Dublin!)
- Maidstone unknown venue- The Toast
(23rd)
- Manchester
Sloopys-Moody Blues (9th)
- Manchester Palace
Theatre-Bee Gees, Grapefruit (31st)
- Manchester, Princess
& Domino-The Move (31st)
- Manchester Tech
College-Pink Floyd (9th)
- Dreamland,
Margate-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (9th), The Herd
(16th)
- Merthyr Tydfil
ABC-Plastic Penny (24th)
- Middlesbrough Excel
Club-Spencer Davis Group (3rd)
- Central Pier,
Morecombe-The Herd (1st), The Move (29th)
- Morecombe Winter
Gardens-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (6th), Plastic
Penny (22nd)
- Nantwich Civic
Hall-Plastic Penny (9th)
- Nelson Imperial
Hall-Spencer Davis Group (2nd), Troggs (9th), Plastic
Penny (23rd), Gary Walker & Rain (30th)
- Newcastle City
Hall-Small Faces, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, The
Symbols (19th)
- Newcastle Whisky
AGo Go-Status Quo (15th), The Herd (22nd)
- Newport Athletic
Club-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (1st)
- Norwich Industrial
Club-Procol Harum (29th)
- University of East
Anglia, Norwich-Jeff Beck Group, Pretty Things, Pyramids
(27th)
- Nottingham Baths
Hall-Status Quo (8th)
- Nottingham Beachcomber- Penny Peeps
(24th)
- Nottingham Boat Club- Penny Peeps
(8th)
- Langley Mill Working
Mens Club, Nottingham-Kaleidoscope (21st)
- Nottingham Rowing
Club-Status Quo (3rd), Jeff Beck (24th)
- Nottingham
Sherwood-Traffic (5th)
- Oxford Headington
Tech College-The Move, Moody Blues (1st)
- Stage Club,
Oxford-Pink Floyd (15th)
- Town Hall, Oxford-The
Herd (18th)
- Portsmouth
Locarno-The Symbols (21st)
- Portsmouth Tech
College-Moody Blues (6th)
- Purley Orchid
Ballroom-Status Quo (11th)
- Reading
University-Moody Blues (15th)
- Retford College- Yardbirds (23rd)
- Salisbury Alex Disco- Dantalian's
Chariot (9th)
- Sheffield Sorby
Hall-Moody Blues (8th)
- Southampton
University-Yardbirds (2nd)
- Stevenage Locarno-The
Symbols (13th)
- Stoke, Golden
Torch-Status Quo (10th)
- Stranraer Kinema
Ballroom-The Troggs (23rd)
- Streatham Locarno-The
Symbols (25th)
- Swindon unknown venue- The Toast
(26th)
- Tolworth Toby Jug- Aynsley Dunbar
Retaliation (20th), John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (27th)
- Twickenham, St
Marys College-Status Quo (9th)
- Uxbridge Brunel University-
Fleetwood Mac, Frugal Sound (15th)
- Uxbridge Burtons- Amboy Dukes (23rd)
- Wallasey Tech
College-The Herd (23rd)
- Walthamstow Tech
College-Jeff Beck (22nd)
- Wembley Empire
Pool-Procol Harum, The Move, Cat Stevens, Simon Dupree
& The Big Sound, Flowerpot Men, Spencer Davis Group,
Easybeats etc (24th-Daily Express Record Stars Ball)
- West Bromwich
Adelphi-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (2nd), The Move
(23rd)
- Westminster
College-Ten Years After, Elmer Gantrys Velvet Opera
(1st)
- Weston Super Mare
Winter Gardens-Moody Blues (2nd), Procol Harum (23rd)
- Whittle RAF Base- Gods (19th)
- Wolverhampton Tech
College-Jeff Beck Group (30th)
- Wood Green Fishmonger's Arms-
Fleetwood Mac (19th), Ten Years After (26th)
- Wood Green Starting Gate- Sandy
Denny (17th)
- Woolwich
Polytechnic-Pink Floyd (22nd)
- Worthing Assembly
Hall-Plastic Penny (7th)
- Worthing Pier-Status
Quo (28th)
- Yeovil Liberal
Hall-The Move (7th)
- York, St Johns
Hall-The Move (30th)
REVIEWS
Bee
Gees
Jumbo: The
Bee Gees explode with a mightily atmospheric beat number. Lyrics are up to the
Gibbs' usual high standards and remain imaginative and poetic, but the
overwhelming romanticism of songs like "Words" is replaced with a
bashing off-beat and some wailing Blues guitar which reminds of some of Jeff
Beck's earlier work. Like the Walrus and Mighty Quinn, Jumbo joins a rapidly
growing band of mystery figures. Presumably he is an elephant, but he could be
an Eskimo. Either way he sounds like a monster...of a hit!
Blossom
Toes
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight :
Basic interest in this disc lies on the fact that it's a Bob Dylan composition.
And to their credit, Blossom Toes do it full justice. Doesn't have the same
immediate impact as "Mighty Quinn" because it's not such a forceful
number. It's in the country blues idiom, with an easy going jog beat - and a
flowing backing of acoustic guitars, harmonica, and piano.
Alan
Bown
Story Book : Sounds like
they've got diarrhoea. Sounds like the sort of music they play for heart
operations on the television. Pink Floyd, is it? Don't like it very much.
Probably one of those records that grows on you. Got some good things in it. I
would be stupid to pretend that I understood it though. One of these records
that is a bit vague but could be meaningful. It's a bit pointless really. But
who said that pop music had to have a point, except to dance to. Definitely a
hit.
Joe
Cocker
Marjorine: A
very "London" sound about all this--y'know, hip Cockneys. The scene is
full of them. A Denny Cordell production and a song that sounds like the scene
shifters march from the Theatre Royal, Stratford. Not a hit, but interesting.
Crocheted
Doughnut Ring
Maxines Parlour : These boys
generate a fascinating sound, strongly steeped in classical influences - with
flutes, piano prelude and fugal harmonies. Interesting lyric, too. All things
considered, an intriguing disc. Well worth hearing.
Andy
Ellison
Fool From
Upper Eden: Andy has a distinctive, quavery voice, and a penchant for solid
organ and drum backings. He rocks along with groovy abandon and threatens to
become one of the upheavals of '68
Fire
Father's Name Was Dad : A
rumbling, twangy backing, crashing cymbals emphasizing the thundering gallop
beat, and a lead singer who sounds like the Troggs Reg Presley. The lyric's
novel, but otherwise it has nothing special to offer.
Herd
I Don't Want
Our Loving To Die: Gone are the bells of doom and mammoth orchestras. This time
it's The Herd all the way, and a smash follow-up to their first hits. The tune
is instantly commercial with some beautiful vocal harmonies. Organ and piano
ripple through the intro behind some choral type singing, then they are off on a
shouting, joyful rave-up that will blast them to the top.
Honeybus
I Can't Let Maggie Go : Very
pleasant melody line. Bound to get somewhere. Very nice arrangement. It
titilates the musical fancy. They've got a nice sound. It's got a bit of folk
influence.
I Can't Let Maggie Go :
Having heard the Honeybus on Top Gear several times, I have considerable respect
for this talented group. And I like this new record, showcasing the boy's
ear-catching harmonic blend. Attractive lyric, encased in a simple yet
spellbinding scoring. The rhythm simply can't be ignored - and yet it's not
overwhelming.
Paul
Jones
And The Sun
Will Shine: A mighty team of young talent has been assembled to ensure Paul has
a hit. The Gibb's wrote the song, Peter Asher produced it and Paul's ex-Manfred
Mann colleague Mike Vickers arranged and conducted the orchestra. Name-dropping
aside, it's Jones' best effort in months, and cries out for hit status.
The
Move
The Move
(LP): They have taken their time and the results justify their care. Most groups
would have been delighted to have any one of the 13 tracks as a single. Their
strength lies in their instantly remembered melodies and anarchic lyrics plus
uninhibited, zestful performances. An excellent album.
Procol
Harum
Quite
Rightly So: Fade in organ, then fade out Procol Harum. It's a nice song, well
formed, with that great wailing guitar they feature so well on numbers like
"Repent Walpurgis". But for a lot of people the sound will be too much
like their last hits.
Rod
Stewart
Little Miss
Understood: Michael D'Abo wrote and produced Rod's first solo effort in quite a
while and it's imaginative enough lyric and arrangement-wise to get him off the
ground, which he deserves as a stalwart on the scene, who seems to have been
unlucky for too long.
Ruperts
People
I Can Show You: Man or
woman? Got a nice voice, whoever it is. Sounds like it's got more potential than
they have been allowed to use. Be nice if they are a new group that the
producers would allow to plough their own path. The only groups who are allowed
to use their own inspiration are the groups who have made it. It sounds a nice
record.
I Can Show You: When
Rupert's People first started out, they the poor man's Procol Harum - largely
because of the use of the cathedral like organ. On this new one, although the
organ provides an effective richness to the backing, the boys break into mid
tempo. The soloist handles the vocal with weird wraith like chanting and
swirling effects giving the disc a haunting - almost supernatural - quality.
Good performance, but needed a stronger tune.
Status
Quo
Black Veils of Melancholy:
It's often said that the 2nd chart entry is much more important than the
first - because, until an artist repeats his initial success, no one can tell
whether or not he's just a one hit wonder. So this is the moment of truth for
can they repeat their "Matchstick Men" triumph with this new one? Yes,
I think they can. Mind you, it's not as good as the last one, and on the debit
side are the un-necessarily gloomy title and the difficulty one has in
comprehending the lyric. Otherwise, the sound is as tingling and electrifying as
their first hit - complete with wowing organ and quivering twangs.
Sundragon
Blueberry Blue:
Two gents with an attractive name, and an attractive sound. Inventive production
makes use of various effects like harp in the backing which stomps along with
healthy vigour. The tune sounds uninspired on first hearing, but gradually
insinuates into one's consciousness with cunning ease.
Turquoise
53 Summer Street: Here's a
new group generating an ear catching sound, sprinkled with falsettos and carried
along by a penetrating organ - flecked backing. Although not strong in melody,
the performance is well above average, and the absorbing story - in - song holds
the interest.
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