Welcome to the RPM Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 16th December...only two editions after this one to round off the year. So, it's getting wintery and a bit Christmasy....over to....
"Here's my 3 for the week. Best wishes to all RPMers as usual."
Christmas Dream performed by Perry Como - "I heard this one on Ken Bruce's show this week. Apparently used during quite a creepy film called "The Odessa File" about ex-SS personnel on the rise in post-war Germany based on the novel by Freddie Forsyth. The song was written for the film by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and for me it borrows a lot from Presley's "Wooden Heart" squeezebox accompaniment. Perry Como dominated light entertainment offerings on bbc radio and tv in the late 50's/early 60's and played a big part in getting The Osmonds noticed in this country but it was a long time ago and we shouldn't carry grudges for that long."
Death Of A Clown by Dave Davis - "This song was released as Dave's first solo single but was co-credited to the brothers and included on the Kinks album "Something Else". I was reminded of it when I was sorting through a small collection of LP's released in the 1980s and 1990s by See For Miles Records based in Maidenhead. The collection consisted of LP's filled with tracks included on E.P.s (Extended Play 45's usually containing at least 4 tracks for the benefit of youngsters) by a huge variety of bands and artists. All the LP's in this series had extensive sleeve notes - lots of fascinating facts. The Kinks released enough E.P's to warrant two albums of E.P. tracks (as did several other bands). Pity Dave didn't do a bit more writing.
I believe I succeeded in managing to collect the whole series that were issued on vinyl athough there were a number of other artists who had their E.P. tracks released on CD but not vinyl. Luckily they didn't bother pressing Mrs Mills output - I don't think I would have had the heart to go further than Petula Clark, Russ Conway and Michael Holliday! Here's a link to Discogs if anyone is interested in seeing the whole series."
https://www.discogs.com/label/410638-The-EP-Collection-Series
I'm In Love Again by The Animals - "And also from the E.P. collection series I pulled The Animals. From "The Animals Are Back" E.P. I chose this song. When I found it on Youtube I was very surprised that it was unexpectedly different to the Domino version. Although this songs writing credits cite Domino and Bartholomew the Animals version doesn't bear any relationship in either word or form to Fats's original 1956 release. How did that happen?"
"I've been remembering some of the vinyl albums I sold back in about Y2K, and have not heard since. I've previously mentioned Johnny Copeland's "Copeland Special" in this regard, but here are samples from three more records that I rated highly but have not replaced. Let's start with America's National Poet..."
Let Me Be The Clock by Smokey Robinson - "...from his 1980 album "Warm Thoughts," which did not sell particularly well but was, I think, a superior record to the big hit that followed the next year. ("Being With You," with the hit single of that name).
Looking For An Echo by The Persuasions - "...from their 1977 album "Chirpin'"... So you see, there WAS something going on in 1977."
Goodbye to a River by Rattlesnake Annie - "...from her self-titled album of 1987, but which I believe she wrote some years previously. The song was adopted as an anthem by West German Greenpeace."
"Good health and best wishes to one and all."
"Dear RPMers, I’ve heard a few songs performed live this week that I thought, ‘must remember that for RPM’ and then promptly forgot them. So instead here’s a track from Radio 3 that caught my ear the other morning, one of the songs I’ve heard performed this week, and a very hot off the press Grace Petrie seasonal number (contains explicit lyrics — as you might guess from the title — so by all means avoid if not to your liking).
With all good wishes."
In The Stillness composed by Sally Beamish, performed by The Gesualdo Six -
The Moving On Song performed by Calum and Neill MacColl, Chris Wood, Karine Polwart -
I Just Want The Tories to F*** Off by Grace Petrie -
"Hi RPMers...hope you are keeping warm !! Here's my three."
Black Like Me by Spoon -
Strolling Down the Highway by Bert Jansch -
"I’m so fed up with cold and ice – I need a tropical break!
Keep a sunny disposition everyone. Warmer weather is on the way next week.
Cheers."
"So, we hurtle towards another Christmas through freezing fog, frost and the threat of snow..... and it's only December 11th as I type this!! Hopefully this week's selection of instrumentals from my compilation collection will get the blood pumping! They're raw and (if you turn up the volume) LOUD, so roll up the carpet, ditch the slippers and get rockin' to these three slabs of primal surf."
Dick Dale and the Del-Tones- 'Let's go trippin'' (initially US only 7" single released September 1961. Deltone label. This from 'Golden Summer' double LP released 1976. United Artists label.)
" 'King of the surf guitar' was the title he was given and with this disc he shows just why he was such an important figure on US rock in particular. Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Eddie Van Halen, Brian May and many others all list him as being a formative influence on their playing and his pioneering work with the Fender Company saw amplification take great strides in the early to mid sixties (see Week 15 2022 for a refresher) plus his unique playing style ushered in the brief, but popular, surfing music era dominated by the Beach Boys. That band of brothers (and cousins and neighbours) cut their live teeth with ten minute slots at Balboa's Rendezvous Ballroom between Dale's monumentally loud (for the time) sets where the crowd were so tightly packed that a new 'dance' was invented consisting of standing in one place and stamping your feet, later to become known as the 'surfers stomp'. Born in 1937 to a Lebanese father and a Polish/Belarussian mother, Dale began playing the piano aged nine, transferred to the trumpet at eleven before he moved onto the ukulele after developing an interest in Country music. His Lebanese uncle taught him to play the Tarabaki goblet drum and it was this rhythmical style of playing, utilising both the rhythm and lead roles, which he incorporated into his playing style when he moved to his first ($8) guitar. Dale was naturally left handed but unlike, say, Hendrix, he did not restring the guitar, merely learned how to play 'upside down', even continuing to do this when he eventually changed to a 'proper' left handed guitar. His live career started in Quincy, Mass, country and western clubs in 1954 but when his family relocated to El Secundo, Calif, he soon became a well known figure on the beach, thanks to his natural ability as a more than proficient surfer. He began playing at the Rendezvous Ballroom in 1959 when he approached the management of the Ballroom to hold regular dances at the rundown establishment after his gigs at the local ice cream parlour became dangerously overcrowded. Despite there being a 'no alcohol' and 'dress code' clause for his gigs, even the Ballroom soon became overcrowded as more than 5000 crammed into a space licensed for no more than 3000 and the gigs soon attained almost legendary status during the early sixties. Dale formed the Deltone label in 1959 and released a string of rockabilly/rock and roll singles until unleashing this monster in late 1961, although the song had been a live favourite since 1960, and it achieved a number four placing on the local LA charts and, surprisingly perhaps, reached a more than credible number sixty on the Billboard Top 100. Thanks to this success it was left to one of his support groups, formerly the Pendletones but by now known as the Beach Boys, to popularise surf music. Dale's follow up single, 'Miserlou', based on a well known, much recorded Arabic melody, followed and Dale's contract was picked up by Capitol in 1962 and he began appearing in various 'beach movies' and on the Ed Sullivan show. His career stalled thanks to the 'British Invasion' and the first of several serious illnesses, this time colorectal cancer, and he retired from music for several years. In 1979 his career was again interrupted when he almost had to have a leg amputated following a water borne infection which developed after a minor cut became infected whilst swimming. This led to Dale becoming an active environmentalist and, following his recovery, he became a regular 'guest' on tours with Stevie Ray Vaughan and others. The nineties saw his profile increase thanks to 'Miserlou' being featured in 'Pulp Fiction' and he also supplied a new instrumental to be played on Disney's Space Mountain roller coaster ride. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and in 2000 his music was entered into the Library of Congress Hall of Records. There were further inductions into the Nashville Country Hall of Fame and Huntington's Surfing Walk of Fame but his many health issues, including diabetes, kidney failure, and vertebrae damage forced him to continue playing live to pay his medical bills. He continued to tour until just before his death in 2019 and we were lucky enough to see him at Leed's tiny Catholic Centre in the nineties........... a great night..
'Golden Summer' is a fairly standard double compilation but it does include several scarce goodies including The Marketts 'Balboa Blue', The Frogmen 'Underwater', Anette Funicelo's 'Beach Party' and a real jewel with Jack Nitzsche's 'Lonely Surfer' alongside many of the 'usual suspects' of any album of surfs greatest hits. A decent buy between £2 and £6 just for those four rarities."
Mysterians- 'A-Bomb' (initially US only 7" single b-side to 'Wild Man' released 1965. Zordan label. This from 'Strummin' Mental Vol 5' US release 1986. Link Records)
"And, sticking with 'surf'..... later than Dick Dale and, for sure, nowhere near the close harmony songs of the Beach Boys. Released on the tiny, and short lived Zordan label the group appeared to have originated from the Chicago area. There were a few other releases on the label, another Chicago outfit called The Royals with '2000 AD' in 1965 and The Travel Agency' with 'Jailbait' in 1967' but the Mysterians (not the famed '96 Tears' hitsters ? and the Mysterians) may have had two other releases, 'Loraine' on the Sterian label in 1966 plus a further release, '(Theme from) The Fuzzy Ones' on the Jorel label in 1968, or it's possible there were three 'Mysterians' in the Chicago area around the same time. This release carries a composer credit of Rabka Sobanski on both sides whereas the Sterian release is credited to the Mysterians and the Jorel lists J Burke and E L Hensley. One thing for sure, this single is currently rated at around £360 on the 45cat website ............ and to quote Woody Woodpecker, 'Errrrr, that's all folks'!!!!! (Ever wonder where I get all this info from??? I just hope it's always of some interest???)
'Strummin' Mental Vol 5' is the final release of the series of wild instrumentals. Sleeve notes by Link are generally as informative as possible bearing in mind most of the releases are 'one offs' but occasionally, when the researchers are facing a brick wall, they are not above making up the odd tall tale (e.g. Did Ron Thompson really write 'Switchblade' following a dream of a future where Page, Clapton and Beck all invent psychedelia and progressive music to the detriment of garage rock?? I suppose in those trippier times it was just possible but......!!) Tracks are taken from 1960 to 1966 and reflect the crossover between the instrumentals of the late '50's/early '60's and the burgeoning US garage rock scene with one or two groups also appearing on Link's sister label, Crypt, who will feature next week courtesy of the 'Back from the grave' series. Copies should be around £17 to £20 but prices can go up to the £30 mark."
Tim Tam And The Turn-Ons– 'Ophelia' (initially 7" b-side to 'Wait a minute' released February 1966. Palmer label. This from US 'Surfers Mood.18 Wet Ones From The 60's ' LP released 1989. Romulan label)
"Here's a rarity that actually garnered a UK release!!! Quite who at Island thought the neo-doowop/Four Seasons on speed of the top side stood a chance in 1967 against The Beatles, Procol Harum, Englebert Humperdink etc is difficult to visualise at this remove but, certainly, it was a brave release. This twangy b-side would have sounded out of date in 1963 and, in fact, doesn't feature the T.T.&T.O's at all, but nevertheless, the single sold well in the group's hometown of Allen Park, Michigan and also reached a credible number 76 on the Billboard Top 100. The group were formed at Allen Park High School and consisted of Rick Wiesend (AKA Tim Tam, after a Kentucky Derby winning racehorse whilst The Turn Ons was a direct reference to Timothy Leary's famous phrase) , Danny Wiesend, Don Grundman, Nick Butsicaris, John Ogen, and Earl Rennie. Tim and Co went on to record a further brace of (unsuccessful) singles before Tim/Rick split the group and recorded a 'garage' style single ('I feel so bad') in 1967 as Rick Reason and the Satellites. And so the wheel turned full circle as 'Ophelia' was actually a demo recorded by school friends the Satellites and utilised in order to gain a release for the 'Wait a minute' single. There were no further solo releases from Tim/Rick and the Satellites failed to improve their commercial success even after they changed their name to Blue Feeling in 1969.
'Surfers Mood.....' collects a multitude of obscure surf tracks, from the Link Wray influenced title song, the (surely) Dick Dale styled 'Siboney' to the fast 'n furious 'Moonshot'. The album seems to average around £20 but there are copies on Discogs at the moment for a monumental 150 Euros!!!! Phew😳!!!"
"Sad to see the passing of Jet Black of the Stranglers. What a strange backstory he had........... a successful ice cream van business, the Jackpot off licence inGuildford (home to the nascent Stranglers) and a thriving home brewing company when that was en vogue in the early seventies. Plus, he even patented an electronic drum pedal which can be placed remotely from the bass drum and still allow the drum to be played. Talented guy but, in some of the interviews, a trifle 'tetchy'!!!!
Here's an example from 2012: https://www.punkglobe.com/jetblackinterview0812.php
Here's a general, non RPM related question............ has anyone else received a private pension pot statement since the 'Kamikwasi' budget?? Hmmmmm.............
Stay Well."
"Hi! Despite Christmas nearly being upon us, something from the Sahara to warm our hearts, and to balance the next, a wintery wonder... perhaps a little something to sing whilst clearing our collective windscreens on these chilly mornings."
Old Jacky Frost By The Wilderness Yet -
"And finally a song which has recently become a staple at local sessions! I have heard it performed live twice in the last fortnight! Last night it was lead by Tony Bayliss and belted out with the able aid of Ken Connor and the massed folkies at the monthly Jewell Session in The Crown, Fakenham."
Last Man To Fall by LongShoreDrift -
"But I do believe that Jayne has selected the release which should top the charts on Christmas Day!"
"Hi folks. Hope you're all well. Enjoyed watching AKA Trio at the Acorn in Penzance last Saturday night, so here's 3 by them. Have a great weekend."
AKA Trio -
Joy (Live) -
Choix de joie (Live) -
"Hi Everyone, Season's Greetings to you all!"
Toss The Feathers performed by The GOJJJ - "As Anto is once again an usher at the 'Thursford Christmas Spectacular', he gets a few perks and was therefore able to take Tom and myself along to the show on Tuesday night. This tune was part of the very impressive 'Riverdance' section of the show involving the full orchestra (and, of course, a million dancers!). This is the nearest version I could find that had the verve and spirit of the Thursford Orchestra."
"I'm not sure about the credit at the end of the video which states 'Composed by The Corrs'; I was always under the impression that it was a traditional Irish tune (a reel).
("Yep...and collected by Francis O'Neill and included in O'Neill's Music of Ireland, published 1850. The Corrs did record a fine version on their Forgiven, Not Forgotten album.
Coincidentally, I've just learnt this tune on banjo....a fiddle player at a local folk night plays it, plus I know another tune, completely different, but also called Toss the Feathers which I was going to pair it with to give a mega Toss the Feathers set. Tim.")
I have an LP by Horslips (Book Of Invasions) from 1976 which incorporates the main theme of 'Toss The Feathers' into a song called 'Sword Of Light'. Hence, I was prompted to play..."
Sword Of Light by Horslips -
Closing Time by Fairport Convention - "Talking of 'interpretations' which, in a way I was, here is Leonard Cohen's classic given the Fairport treatment. It's from the album 'Jewel In The Crown', very much a Curate's Egg but the good bits are very good indeed!?!"
"It's all gone a bit wintery and atmospheric this week...."
Steal Softly Through Snow by Smoke Fairies - "Smoke Fairies Wild Winter album got it's traditional seasonal airing this week..."
Silver Birch by Spell Songs Singers - "I've listened to both Spell Songs albums this week and was tempted to choose the Snow Hare song from the first album after seeing four hares on a field nearby the other day...but I think I've chosen it before. So here's another snowy song from album two..."
"Brrr....I reckon we need a "little something" to warm us up now...."
Drops of Brandy performed by Stockton's Wing - "Played this tune this week with some chaps who have a local ceilidh band..."
'Til Next Time...