Top Of The Pops Vol 20

Once again we've hit the jackpot with this latest album in a truly fabulous series. Look at some of the great current hits on this L.P., hits that have been made famous by international superstars. Hits like "Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum", "Another Time Another Place", "Spanish Harlem" and "I'm Leavin' ".

Our Hallmark artistes, both vocal and instrumental, have really excelled themselves. So, if you're in the mood for a pocketful of smash topliners, just grab this album (not forgetting to pay for it on the way out!), rocket yourself to your digs, and settle down for a trip to the stars through this Superb Hallmark disc.

We believe it will make yet another No. 1 for us; so. pop fans, help us do it!

Tracklisting

Side 1

1. Mamy Blue
2. Butterfly
3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
4. Another Time Another Place
5. Sultana
6. The Witch Queen Of New Orleans

Side 2

1. Maggie May
2. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum
3. I'm Leavin'
4. Spanish Harlem
5. Keep On Dancing
6. Simple Game

SHM 755 1971

Y Viva Espana

This 1973 Spanish album is in great condition, but has no details on the sleeve.



Here's all I know:


Tracklisting;

Cara A

1. Y Viva Espana (Eviva Espana) (Caerts/Rozenstraten/DeGomez)
2. Taka Takata (Al Verlane)
3. Oh, Oh July (Jaen/Vangarde)
4. A Sevilla (de Marchena)
5. Espana Cani (Marquina)

Cara B

1. Ojos De Espana (Kaempfert/Mapel)
2. El Mosquito (Krieger/Dansmore/Manzarek)
3. Popcorn (Kingsley)
4. A Malaga (de Marchena)
5. El Gato Montes (Penella)

Gramusic, S.A. - Avenida de Portugal,175 - Madrid - 11

GM222 1973 Estereo Compatible

Stereo Special

The Revolutionary sound that puts you in the centre of the music.


The Hiltonaires with extra percussion play for your dancing and stereo listening pleasure.

This stereophonic recording was originally produced in an acoustically perfect studio equipped with Telefunken microphones that were placed within the band to enhance the "pin-pointing" of the musical effects scored in the program.
The performance was mixed and amplified to a four trtack Sculley Tape Machine runnin at 30 I.P.S. The four track program was then edited and reduced on am Ampex No. 300 two track stereo machine for subsequent transfer to disc on a Neuman heated stylus cutting lathe. The maximum frequency response of the original performance has been faithfully maintained through use of the latest quality controls to give you this program of exciting stereo dimensions.

Recorded Under Direction of D. L. Miller

Tracklisting:

Side One

1. The Happening (Frank Devol)
2. My Bonnie (L. Muller)
3. Yellow Rose Of Texas (L. Muller)
4. Tiritomba (L. Muller)
5. Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da (Lennon-McCartney)
6. Go Tell It On The Mountains (L. Muller)
7. Little Brown Jug (L. Muller)
8. John Brown's Body (L. Muller)
9. La Bostella (L. Muller)
10. Lili The Pink (L. Muller)

Side Two

1. The House Of The Rising Sun (L. Muller)
2. Londonderry Air (L. Muller)
3. Clavelitos (L. Muller)
4. Cheriza (L. Muller)
5. Barcarole (L. Muller)
6. Humoreske (L. Muller)
7. Felice (L. Muller)
8. Caro Nome (L. Muller)
9. Mexican Hat Dance (L. Muller)
10. La Cucaracha (L. Muller)

MER342 1971

"I Believe"

While the presentation remained in the same style as other budget records produced by Pickwick at the time, this attempt to enter the religious market had a major difference - original artists!

A collection of mostly older artists I'm guessing this came out in 1971 due to the catalogue number. No dates are specified on the cover or disc labels.

Track Listing:

Side A

1. I Believe - Frankie Laine
2. It's No Secret - Anita Bryant
3. These Hands - Johnny Cash
4. If I Can Help Somebody - Doris Day
5. Ave Maria - Jim Nabors

Side B

1. Climb Ev'ry Mountain - Ray Conniff & The Singers
2. He - Andy Williams
3. Abide With Me - Patti Page
4. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Mahalia Jackson
5. You'll Never Walk Alone - Roy Hamilton

Hallmark/Pickwick SHM730 (1971?)

Best Of The Bossa Novas

Back in 1970 Scottish musician Duncan Lamont made this Bossa Nova recording for Music For Pleasure.


Best Of The Bossa Novas



Track Listing:

Side A

1. Desafino (Slightly Out Of Tune)
2. A Man and a Woman (Un Homme et une Femme)
3. Sunny
4. Meditation
5. Manha De Carnaval
6. How Insensitive (Insensatez)

Side B

1. The Girl From Ipanema (Garota De Ipanema)
2. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)
3. One Note Samba (Samba de Una Nota So)
4 The Shadow Of Your Smile
5. Call Me
6. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)

SIT60049 1970

Top Of The Pops Vol 33

Pop Fans! Here's volume 33, our latest TOP OF THE POPS album, packed with twelve of the punchiest hit tunes of the day!

That's the promise on the blurb, of course these albums were budget priced imitations of the 'hit tunes of the day' by unknown session musicians.

This is the newest in my collection and I've not heard it yet. I will be looking forward to 'Pick Up The Pieces' and 'Monster Mash' when I get a USB record player.

Track Listing:

Side A

1. Angel Fingers
2. Skywriter
3. Rock On
4. Young Love
5. Oh No! Not My Baby

Side B

1. Ooh Baby
2. Everything Will Turn Out Fine
3. Angie
4. Pick Up The Pieces
5. Monster Mash
6. The Dean And I

SHM835 1973

The World Of Easy Listening #1

"The World Of Easy Listening" - how dull the world would be without the magic of music! Though we don't always realise it with the pace of modern living, music is often there in the background, calming our nerves and subtly raising our spirits.

This series has been designed, either for enjoyable listening, or for use wherever background music is desired. The melodies featured - some instrumental, some vocal - are modern imaginative arrangements by leading musical directors.

Track Listing:

Side A

1. Me And My Shadow
The Johnny Howard Orchestra
2. Up, Up and Away
Primo Scala and his Accordian Band
3. Call Me
The Les Reed Sound
4. The Last Waltz
The Johnny Howard Orchestra
5. Always True To You In My Fashion
Jose Pirata and his Orchestra
6. Albatross
The Laurie Steele Combo and Chorus

Side B

1. There's A Kind Of Hush (all over the world)
The Les Reed Sound
2. Everyone's Gone To The Moon
The Ivor Raymonde Orchestra and Chorus
3. Tea For Two
The Ray Miranda Orchestra
4. La Dolce Vita
Gordon Franks and His Orchestra
5. Brazil
Gordon Franks and his Orchestra
6. You Made Me Love You
The Johnny Howard Orchestra

SPA 289 1973

Funky Frauleins 2009

Female beat, groove, disco, funk in Germany 1968- 1978.

Ja, we can! Groove girls, beat queens, disco divas and funky frauleins ask you for a dance. Check out the delicate charm and booty shaking beats of the likes of Hildegard Knef, Vicky Leandros, Heidi Bruhl, Caterina Valente and many more. These gals got groove!

Side A

1. Topsy Kuppers: Sagen Sie, Frau Zimmermann
2. Su Kramer: Die grune Witwe
3. Marianne Mendt: Jeder Hat an andern Schmah
4. Heidi Bruhl: Berlin
5. Heidelinde Weis: Hans Emmerich
6. Roberta Kelly: Sunburst
7. Vicky Leandros: Dein Brief
8. Olivia Molina: Das Zahlenspiel
9. Hildegard Knef: Ich wart auf die Nacht

Side B

1. Evelyn Kunneke: Kikilala Hawaii
2. Peggy March: Dancin' Daddy
3. Sandra Haas: Kleiner Mann
4. Jane Morel: Special Agent
5. Renate Kern: Der Wasserman
6. Caterina Valente: Blueberry Hill
7. Shirley Thompson : Goldene Insel
8. Marianne Rosenberg: Ich will dich fur Immer
9. Lotte & Leherb: Irre gut

LP930791 2009 www.bureau-b.com

Let's Dance Latin

With The Trio San Jose

All music has rhythm; the music of Latin America is rhythm! Rhythm is on top and melody fills in the gaps.

It is the music of lazy movement in a warm climate, made up of sounds that reflect the rhythms of nature - the whirr of the grasshopper, the reluctant clop of a mule's hooves on cobble stones, the erratic croaking of frogs in the swamps at night, the strangely vocal pipings of native birds like the cenzontle - the native thrush of Guatemala.

One still feels in the sultry beat, the spirit of the jungle where the drum was a means of communication, and the impulse behind strange religious rites and dances. In those remote days, and even nowadays in the jungles of South America, where civilisation is still discovering pockets of primitive life, the instruments used were as weird and exotic as the music they produced. Llama skulls, jaguar claws, deer hooves, dried butterfly cocoons and human bones. The shapes and sounds survive in the modern rhythm instruments, now mass produced in city factories. Even in the most sophisticated Latin American music one feels the impulse of the primitive spirit, perhaps more than in any other modern musical language.

The final veneer was added by the Spanish conquerors who brought their exotic flamenco rhythms, the sultry poetry, and the strong influence of their guitar-strumming, castanet-clicking music. A great deal of erudition is expended on sorting out the diverse elements of Latin American music, Indian, Negro and European. It's indolent vitality is the heart-beat of a continent; a throbbing pulse of which the whole world has become aware. It's intoxicating qualities are guaranteed to excite an Eskimo just as much as a native born Mexican.

Even the names of the dances and songs are rhythmical and evocative. Some of them are worth rolling around the tongue just for the fun of it - marinera, sanjuanito, zamacueca, chacarera and guaracha. The briefest and snappiest seem to have appealed most to European ears, the tango, rumba, samba and conga.

This record is designed for universal pleasure. But it has all these subtle elements involved and it would be an insensitive soul that, while revelling in the rhythmical exuberance of a delightful number like O Pancha, failed to feel something of the primitive excitement beneath it all.

Peter Gammond

An Ariola Recording. - Cover photograph by courtesy of Rose, Morris & Co Ltd.

The Word Record Club Limited

Parkbridge House

Little Green

Richmond

Surrey

Para Viga Me Voy
Babalu
La Novia
Rumba Tambah
Perfidia
O Pancha
Maria Delores
Moliendo Cafe
La Violatera
Angel D'Amore
Asi-Asi-Asi
Cucurrucucu Paloma
Mi Bella Flor
Adios

T 314 - no year given

Golden Latin Brass

The Lush Stereo Sound of
Golden Latin Brass
Played by The Royal Latin Orchestra

Before the conquest of South America in the 16th century there were large highly developed civilisations where Brazil and Mexico now lie. Their customs and cultures were quite different from those of the Spanish who conquered them and who subsequently imposed their own customs. The Spanish also brought negro slaves from Africa to work on the plantations. The musical sum of these conflicting influences is the unmistakeable sound of Latin American music, depending largely on it's intricate cross rhythms and strong syncopations for it's uniqueness. In fact, Edmundo Ross, one of the first men to introduce the music of Latin America to this country insists that "The melody section is unimportant. It can still be effective played on a broken down piano so long as the rhythm section is strong."

The first of the Latin dances to become popular was the Tango, which swept the world just prior to World War One. But it was when the Rhumba arrived in the ballroom straight from it's native Cuba in the early 1930s that Latin-American music and rhythms became firmly entrenched as international favourites. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced 'The Carioca', from Brazil came Carmen Miranda, the Brazillian Bombshell, and with her came The Samba. The Conga established itself as a favourite party dance.

Latin American orchestras flourished, Xavier Cugal, Roberto Inglez, The Lecuona Cuban Boys and then, in the 1950s, along came the great Perez Prado who added to the standard Latin American instrumentation a biting brass section that was strongly influenced by the swing bands of the U.S.A. From this combination came the Mambo and the irresistable Cha-Cha-Cha.

This is the sort of sound you will hear in this album - all the wild heat and tingling excitement of "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White", "Patricia", "Mambo Jambo" and many other favourites captured in vivid stereo. If thid doesn't get you, you'd better reserve your place in the cemetary before it's too late!

Side One

1. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (Luoiguy)
2. Mambo Jambo (Prado)
3. Mucho, Mucho, Mucho (Spina)
4. Patricia (Prado)
5. Mambo No. 8 (Prado)
6. Cu-Cu-Ru-Cu-Cu Paloma (Mendez)

Side Two

1. Mambo No. 5 (Prado)
2. Chivirico (Marquez)
3. La Virgen De La Macarena (Monterde)
4. Sweet And Gentle (Portal)
5. Frenesi (Dominiguez)
6. La Comparsa (Casado)

MFP STEREO 1359 - 1968

Focus On Phase 4 Stereo

14 sound spectaculars - each track a unique experience in sound, specially chosen for the thrill of listening. A thrill that has placed Phase 4 Stereo firmly at the top; a position maintained through constant pioneering of the latest technological innovations.

The fourteen numbers on this record demonstrates the success that Decca's engineers have achieved, and the overall effect of utilising individual detail produces an uncanny sense of spatial realism unapproached by conventional disc standards.

Recorded Sound at it's best, this sampler disc is just an appetiser for the exciting repertoire in the Phase 4 catalogue. Everything is in Phase 4 stereo - orchestras, vocal groups, big bands, marching bands and latin bands, music from around the world, from stage and screen. From waltzes to rock 'n' roll, not forgetting the concert series of familiar classics and the many sound effect spectaculars.

Here now is your chance to experience a small part of the magnificent Phase 4 story.

Tony D'Amato (Artists and Repertoire manager, Phase 4 Stereo)

Side 1

I Love Paris (Porter) - Stanley Black
A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Reid/Brooker) - Ronnie Aldrich
El Cumbanchero (Hernandez) - Los Muchacambos
I've Heard That Song Before (StyneCahn) - Harry James
The Skaters Waltz (Waldteufel) - Will Glahe
Lover (Rodgers;Hart) - Les Paul
Washington Post (Sousa) - Band Of The Grenadier Guards

Side 2

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Trad) - The Keating Sound
La Bamba (Trad) - Edmundo Ross
Limelight (Chaplin;Parsons) - Frank Chacksfield
The Avengers (Johnson) - Roland Shaw
Two Guitars (Trad) - Werner Muller
More (Newell, Oliviero, Ortolani) - Ted Heath
Camptown Races (Foster) - Eric Rogers

BPS1 - 1968

Beatles, Bach & Bacharach Go Bossa

You probably never realised that The Beatles, Bach and Bacharach wrote some marvellous Bossa Novas! Mind you, they didn't sound quite like Bossas when first performed, although some of them very nearly did. But all the titles we chose for this album were, potentially at least, great Bossa Novas.

Alan Moorhouse, who created these very special arrangements, and directed the hand-picked musicians who played them, described this set as "Happy Bossa". After all, he said, the Brazilians who started it all were happy, carefree people, and when they played their original Bossa rhythms, all they were thinking of was a good time!

Alan and I chose three Bach, Four Beatles and five Bacharach compositions. Two of the Bach pieces must be very well known to you already. Air On A G-String accompanied a very famous tobacco advert on T.V. Minuet in G has already had a taste of honey as a smash hit called "Lover's Concerto" by The Toys. Musette in D may be new to you at first hearing, but you'll be surprised how catchy it becomes.

The Four Beatles numbers (including George Harrison's Something) are already well known to you, but they sound really fresh and inviting in their smart new Brazilian style.

As for Bacharach, a great number of his compositions could actually have been written just for this album. We've chosen Trains & Boats & Planes, Do You Know The Way To San Jose, This Guy's In Love, I'll Never Fall In Love Again and I Say A Little Prayer.

Alan has presented these famous songs in a number of refreshing new ways-mixing flute, flugelhorn and a girl's voice to produce a beautifully mellow, haunting sound; tenor sax improvising gently around the main theme; electric harpsichord lending a new and unusual timbre rarely heard in this context; and of course a full, driving rhythm section that keeps your feet tapping.

So, if your party ever looks like sagging in the middle, switch on to The Beatles, Bach & Bacharach in Bossa beat-and give the party a swinging new lease of life!

Bill Wellings

Side One

Fool On The Hill (Lennon/McCartney)
Something (Harrison)
Air On A G-String (Bach arr. Moorhouse)
Trains and Boats and Planes (Bacharach/David)
Yesterday (Lennon McCartney)
Minuet In G (Bach arr. Moorhouse)

Side Two

Do You Know The Way To San Jose (Bacharach/David)
With A Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney)
This Guy's In Love (Bacharach/David)
I Say A Little Prayer (Bacharach/David)
I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Bacharach/David)
Musette In D (Bach arr. Moorhouse)

Photography Brian Tyler - Design Clare Osborn

MFP 5206 - 1971

Skillex Ep

Come Out Tonight (Laverne) - Kenickie
c/w How I Was Made (Laverne/Du Santiago)

1995

Fierce Panda first foray for Kenickie. Not a hit, Fierce only do limited runs of breaking artists, highly collectable but not well known reaching #152!

Here we have the gang again (Lauren, Marie, Emma and X) just before breaking through and becoming media darlings.

No videos to upload but I will make some!



Listen to Come Out Tonight and How I Was Made on Last FM

That Lady

That Lady (Part 1) (The Isleys) - The Isley Brothers
c/w That Lady (Part 2)

1973

Oriinally performed in 1964 it took the Isleys nine years to record it, giving it a more latin and rock feel than previously.

Ronald, Rudolph, Ernie and Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jnr. and Chris Jasper are credited on the recording, but who knows who all the people are on the recording below!

Let's Stay Together

Let's Stay Together (Mitchell/Green/Jackson) - Al Green
c/w Tomorrow's Dream (Mitchell Green)

1971

Albert Greene released this song in the early seventies to great acclaim and success, still ranked by Billboard as 60th best song of all time.

Everlasting Love

Everlasting Love (Cason/Gayden) - The Love Affair
c/w Gone Are The Songs Of Yesterday (Goodband/Tait)

1967

Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden wrote this oft recorded song and first had a hit in 1967 with Robert Knight. The Love Afair released theirs late the same year, appearing on the christmas Top Of The Pops that year and reaching #1 in January 1968.

Steve Ellis, Rex Brayley, Lynton Guest, Maurice Bacon and Mick Jackson were 'The Love Affair' during this period - although I'm not sure who's in the line up below from 1993.


This has the A and B sides so start half way through if you want 'Gone are the songs of yesterday'

Abraham, Martin and John

Abraham, Martin and John (D. Holler) - Marvin Gaye
c/w How Can I Forget (Whitfield/Strong)

1969

Written by Dick Holler (Snoopy Vs The Red Baron) about the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy. Originally performed by Dion (Runaround Sue), Marvin Gaye took this version to No. 9 in the U.K.

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel Pt. 1 (St. Lewis/Perren) - Tavares
c/w Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel Pt. 2 (St. Lewis/Perren)

1976

Written by Keni St. Lewis and Freddie Perrin this was a huge smash for the Tavares brothers - Ralph, Pooch, Chubby, Butch and Tiny, reaching UK No. 4.

Originally called Chubby and the Turnpikes, they even boasted Aerosmith's Joey Kramer on drums at one point!

Punka (picture disc)

Punka (Laverne/X) - Kenickie
c/w Brighter Shade Of Blue (Laverne/Du Santiago)

1997

Not a big hit but still one of my favourite all time bands, Lauren Laverne, Marie Du Santiago, Emmy-Kate Montrose and Johnny X punked it up in the late 90's and this re-release of debut single 'Punka' came in this picture disc version as well as two Cd's. While I already owned the first 'Punka' I bought all three new versions too. Sad.

Whilst the drummer in the band, the guitar solo in this song was played by Johnny X (Pete Gofton) and not the girls, although live versions had the girls playing a version of it. The B side gave a hint to their new direction with the second album, a softer side than the youthful punk of 'Get In' while the A side was a stalwart Kenickie classic.

Here's the picture disc:

Side A
Side B



This postcard came with the CD release

Take These Flowers Away

1. I Fell Out Of A Tree 2. Good Morning Sunshine - Lauren Laverne
c/w 3. To Have A Home (Demo) 4. Some Kind Of Other Presence
All tracks by Lauren Laverne

2000

Ex of Kenickie, Lauren Laverne (real name Laverne Cecilia Gofton, now Fisher) released this Ep and these are among very few solo recordings after her debut album was shelved.

This Ep was produced and engineered by her brother Pete Gofton (Johnny X).

She is now better known as a presenter on BBC6 Music and as a t.v. presenter from 'The Culture Show', 'Transmission', and many other shows, and as panellist and guest or voice over artist on even more!

I was, of course, a massive Kenickie Fan, you'll find more Laverne and Kenickie 7"s coming up, although mostly by then I was buying CD's and more modern things are mostly collectibles!

Currently I can find none of the above tracks on the internet, I'll work on that!


Photograph taken on 28/04/1999 at Highbury Garage, London

He Ain't Heavy . . . . He's My Brother

He Ain't Heavy . . . . He's My Brother (Russell/Scott) - The Hollies
c/w 'Cos You Like To love Me (Hicks)

1969

Number 3 hit in the UK for this band from Manchester who continue to record and perform today.
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Johnny Scott and produced by Ron Richards.



Listen to "'Cos You Like To Love Me" on Last FM.

Bongo Rock

Bongo Rock (Epps/Egnoian) - The Incredible Bongo Band
c/w Bongolia (Botkin Jnr.)

1973

Michael Viner organised this troupe from surrounding musicians during down breaks from recording B Movie music. Recording mostly hits of the time but with a lot of percussion - Suits me!

Now famous mostly through early hip hop who sampled them, most notably the 'Apache' break, an extended middle 8 in their version of the 'Shadows' song.

The artists varied according to who was available at the time, and it's rumoured even Ringo Starr played on some recordings. . . . .

Bongo Rock 1973
Uploaded by missbachus. -

Bongolia 1973
Uploaded by missbachus. -

One Nation Under A Groove

One Nation Under A Groove Part 1 (Clinton, Shider, Morrison) - Funkadelic
c/w One Nation Under A Groove Part 2

1978

Probably Funkadelic's best known single, written by George Clinton, Walter Morrison and Garry Shider.

Funkadelic as a band included at any given time:

George Clinton
William "Bootsy" Collins
Mickey Atkins
Harold Beane
Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey
Ron Bykowski
Catfish Collins
Rodney Curtis
Ray Davis
Ron Ford
Mallia Franklin
Lawrence Fratangelo
Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood
Glen Goins
Michael Hampton
Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
Eddie Hazel
Tyrone Lampkin
Lynn Mabry
Thomas "Pae-dog" McEvoy
DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Walter "Junie" Morrison
Cordell "Boogie" Mosson
Billy "Bass" Nelson
Maceo Parker
Lucius "Tawl" Ross
Garry Shider
Dawn Silva
Calvin Simon
David Spradley
Grady Thomas
Frankie "Kash" Waddy
Fred Wesley
Bernie Worrell and
Philippé Wynne

Top Of The Pops Vol. 41

Many moons ago, some sage old character said : "If you can make a better mousetrap than anyone else, then the world will beat a path to your door", or something like that. Anyhow, you've got the message.
Yes, we've got the world (or a large chunk of it) beating a path to our door. Sibilant Spaniards, merry Moroccans, jovial Germans, canny Canadians, fresh-faced Finns, superior Swedes, amiable Americans, affable Africans and a host of other folk from far away come clamouring every eight weeks for Top Of The Pops, the best of it's kind in the world. Oh! We nearly forgot! There are about a quarter of a million progressive pop people in Brave Britain who also take our albums hot of the press.
Which makes us rather proud of our achievement.
This is our 41st edition, and every issue has given joy to many, many thousands of youngsters (and oldies!) everywhere.
So grab your copy, grab a piece of the pop scene with fabulous "Top Of The Pops" and see how it grabs you.

Track Listing

Side A

1. All Of Me Loves All Of You
2. I Get A Kick Out Of You
3. Get Your Love Back
4. Farewell
5. I Can't Leave You Alone
6. Sad Sweet Dreamer

Side B

1. All I Want Is You
2. Down On The Beach Tonight
3. Gonna Make You A Star
4. Everything I Own
5. Let's Put It All Together
6. Far Far Away

SHM 880

Parade Of Pops

Solid Gold Parade Of Pops has done it again.Twelve incredible chartbusting hits to keep you in tune with today's charts. Just take a listen to such dynamic songs as 'Rock Me Gently', 'Gee Baby' and 'Annie's Song', dance to the infectious beat of 'Reggae Tune' and 'All Of Me Loves All Of You', then you will be amazed at the superb superb quality of the recordings.

Buy Your Hits On Solid Gold - Parade Of Pops.
From Windmill.

Track Listing

Side A

1. Rock Me Gently (Kim)
2. Reggae Tune (Fairweather/Low)
3. (You're) Having My Baby (Anka)
4. You Little Trust Maker (Jackson)
5. Everything I Own (Gates)
6. All Of Me Loves All Of You (Martin/Coulter)

Side B

1. Annie's Song (Denver)
2. Farewell (Stewart/Quittenton)
3. I Get A Kick Out Of You (Porter)
4. Gee Baby (Shelley)
5. Sad Sweet Dreamer (Parton)
6. Far Far Away (Holder)

Recorded in "Spectro-Stereo Dimension" - how cool is that?
WPP 5018 1974

Dance Party Hammond Hits

Big Jim 'H' and his men of rhythm play smash hits of today for your dancing or listening pleasure.

What could be better for swinging party sounds than a programme of familiar hits played by Big Jim 'H' and his Men Of Rhythm.

All the 'Let's Dance' mood in the exciting pulse of the original hits dressed in the sparkling Hammond Organ colours of the keys and pedals of Big Jim 'H'. One of Americas first organ players with big band and rhythm sections.

A Damil USA production, printed in England by West Brothers Ltd.

Track Listing

Side A

1. Could It Be Forever (Farrell-Janssen)
2. Storm In A Teacup (Roker-Rubin)
3. Blues For Red (Muller)
4. Back Off Boogaloo (Starkey)
5. Song Sung Blue (Diamond)

Side B

1. Come What May (Apres-Toi) (Panas-Munro-Desca)
2. Tank Town Rider (Muller)
3. Frankie And Johnny (arr. Muller)
4. Son Of My Father (Moroder-Bellotte-Holm)
5. Jungle Fever (Ador)

MER 361 1972

Hot Hits 15

Off now to 1972 for another in the Hot Hits series, another BWD production, and another collection of hits as you've never heard them before.

I'm presuming this was a christmas release, Photo: Peter Meech, Sleeve Design: Terry Beard.

Track Listing

Side A

1. Getting A Drag (de Paul-Jordan)
2. Rock Me Baby (Cymbal-Clinger)
3. Crazy Horses (A. W. & M. Osmond)
4. Angel (Hendrix)
5. I'm Stone In Love With You (Bell-Creed-Bell)
6. Gudbuy T' Jane (Holder-Lea)

Side B

1. What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Sutton)
2. Crocodile Rock (John-Taupin)
3. Why (de Angelis-Marcucci)
4. I Don't Believe In Miracles (Ballard)
5. Lookin' Through The Windows (Davis)
6. Stay With Me (Flowers-Cook-Greenaway)

MFP 50050 1972

Hot Hits 2

A BWD production.

So little to say about this. Made in 1970, no mention is made of the artists, yet more anonymous studio musicians plying their trade. Photograph by Brian Ward, sleeve design by Jack Wood.

Track Listing

Side A

1. Montego Bay (Bloom-Barry)
2. It's So Easy (Lee-Watkin)
3. Paranoid (Iommi-Ward-Butler-Osbourne)
4. Band Of Gold (Dunbar-Wayne)
5. Gasoline Alley Bred (Cook-Greenaway-Macaulay)
6. Which Way You Goin' Billy (Jacks)

Side B

1. Wild World (Stevens)
2. Sweetheart (B. R. & M. Gibb)
3. Long As I Can See The Light (Fogarty)
4. Love Is Life (Brown-Wilson)
5. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) (Ertegun)
6. You Can Get It If You Really Want It (Cliff)

MFP 1426 1970

The Look Of Love

The Look Of Love (Bacharach/David) - Gladys Knight and the Pips
c/w You're My Everything (Whitfield/Penzabene/Grant)

1968

You may have noticed I get quite excited about Bacharach and David tunes, and here's one of the best. Motown again with Gladys Knight and her 'Pips' singing this classic song from the film 'Casino Royale' (remember Herb Alpert from earlier?) their own way.

The 'Pips' were all relatives of Gladys' and named after cousin Scottie 'Pip' Pippin, but several personnel changes led to the eventual renaming Gladys Knight and the Pips. You see. it's not as bad as it seems, Gladys was a 'Pip' too, and Pip is a perfectly reasonable name for a group. . . .

It's All In The Game

It's All In The Game (Dawes/Sigman) The Four Tops
c/w Love Is The Answer (Robinson/Wakefield/Wilson)

1970

No. 5 hit in the UK for The Four Tops, this is also the only #1 single ever to be written by an American Vice President!

Story is, amateur pianist Charles Dawes wrote the melody in 1911. A friend took it to a publisher who put the tune out for sale. Charles Dawes served as vice president to Calvin Coolidge.

Lyricist Carl Sigman then used the tune for his own words and in 1958 Tommy Edwards took it to No.1 in America. So that's the story of the song. . . .

The Four Tops were Levi Stubbs, Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, Ronaldo 'Obie' Benson and Lawrence Payton and were together from 1953-1997. They were a formative part of the Motown group.

Volare

Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) (Migliacci/Modugno/Parish) - Dean Martin
c/w Outta My Mind (Spence/Bergman/Keith)

1958

"In the Blue Painted Blue", otherwise known as 'Volare' was Domenico Modugno's signature tune and Eurovision song contest entry. Also a hit for Dean Martin (who I've found out, like Tom Jones, shares my birthday) at the height of his fame in 1958.

'Volare' means 'to fly' in Italian and the song describes his feelings when around his lover.

Sweet.

I'm Not In Love

I'm Not In Love (Gouldman/Stewart) 10cc
c/w Good News (Godley/Creme)

1975

Going into the complexities of the recording of this song would bore most people to death, so I'll not do that here. It's complicated. No polyphonic keyboards at this time. And that's already put people to sleep.

Not difficult lyrically, he's not in love - only he is really. Obviously, or he wouldn't be writing it.

It's a recurrent theme in all our lives I'm sure and deserved the immense success it received.

Of course, 10cc also sang 'I don't like cricket' when really they did. It was not as good.

10cc - I'm Not In Love

Listen to "Good News" on Last FM here

Hot Hits 6

Not much info on this one, no blurb on the sleeve, just as it says on the cover, the sixth MFP collection of current hits, as performed by unnamed studio musicians. I'd love to know who these people were but I guess I never will.

This particular album contains an early working of a later Michael Jackson hit and the original version of Foo Fighters "Monkey Wrench".*

NB: Links take you to original artists, not the cover artists on the album, sadly. In time I'll change that. . . .

Track Listing;

Side A

1. Zoo De Zoo Zong
2. River Deep, Mountain High
3. Banner Man
4. Me And You And A Dog Named Boo
5. When You Are A King
6. Pied Piper

Side B

1. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
2. Tom-Tom Turnaround
3. Don't Let It Die
4. Black And White
5. Monkey Spanner
6. Co-Co

Back Cover













MFP 5214 1971

* These are complete lies.

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town

Ruby, Don't Take You Love To Town (Tillis) - Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
c/w Girl Get A Hold Of Yourself (Rogers)

1969

Woah, what have we here? A number one in the UK in 1969 (NME chart, No.2 o the BBC) this is the tale of a disabled soldier begging his lover not to leave him for another, able bodied man - complete with killing fantasies; "If I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground."

Yeah, I can see that being a hit.

To top it off it's based on real experiences! Mel Tillis, the author of this tune, had neighbours where he had served in the second world war, was injured and sent to England to recuperate where he met and married his nurse. After moving to Florida he had to make repeat visits to hospital which is when she would see another man!

More like a rap story ,"Yo b#tch ho, I bus' a cap in yo ass - if only I could get my AK!"
Or something. . . .




I quite like the 'b' side and listen to 'Girl, Get A Hold Of Yourself' on Last FM here

Green Green Grass Of Home

Green Green Grass Of Home (Putman) - Tom Jones
c/w Promise Her Anything (Bacharach & David)
1966

a 1966 UK No.1, Tom tells the story of a man rturning home after some time away, but turns when it is revealed he is dreaming while in prison and is. in reality. awaiting execution.




I personally prefer the 'B' Side, 'Promise Her Anything'.

Feel Like Makin' Love

Feel Like Makin' Love (McDaniels) - Roberta Flack
c/w Conversation Love (Plumer, Seighman)
1974

Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Crewe, Gaudio) - Andy Williams
c/w You Are Where Everything Is (De Caro)
1967

Howard Andrew "Paul" Williams released his version of this song in 1967.

And I LOVE it!!