More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Toggery Five

 

THE TOGGERY FIVE-I'm Gonna Jump/Bye Bye Bird U.S. Tower 119 1965

Manchester's Toggery Five (who took their name from a famous clothing store called The Toggery) cut but just two singles in the U.K. This was their first, issued in Britain as Parlophone R 5175 in September 1964. It was released here in the States much later in March of 1965 where it would be their only single issued in these parts. 

"I'm Gonna Jump" is a slow belter of a ballad. It's bleak and dark and musically sounds like an impassioned side that Them would have cut. Musically it could be beat ballad but the lyrics about the song's protagonist offing himself after spotting his girl with another guy are far too sinister for a beat group, allegedly this led to a B.B.C. ban of the record! Lead vocalist Paul Young pours his heart out on it.

The flip is a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Bye Bye Bird". Interestingly enough The Toggery Five were the first band in Britain to record it (The Moody Blues version would not air until their debut LP "The Magnificent Moodies" in July 1965). The Toggery Five's version isn't half but it's uninteresting because it's merely a note for note cover of the original. No matter how well executed it is it's not remotely exciting to my ears.

Their U.K. follow up, penned  by Andrew Loog Oldham and Keith Richard, "I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys" was issued in February 1965 and is also worth checking out, as is it's flip side "It's So Easy" (which was my introduction to the band).  Apparently the band cut a version of "I'm Alive" , but were beaten to the punch by The Hollie's version which was released before theirs, but I find the story to be somewhat dubious as they were both on the same record label. Lead singer Paul Young (NOT the Q-Tips guy) later fronted Sad Cafe and later Mike and The Mechanics before passing away in 2000.

"Bye Bye Bird" was issued in 2022 on the 6 CD compilation "Wyld Beests And Weirdos" (which is available on streaming) as well as on EMI's 1998 CD "Rhythmn And Blues (With A Little Soul)  At Abbey Road 1963-1967". 

Hear "I'm Gonna Jump":

https://youtu.be/bI8WZ7mCwO4?si=Ikrc9-hXVWTXGnyy

Hear "Bye Bye Bird":

https://youtu.be/3YuWhVy2sK0?si=bOQxMNiqjqS-NXar

Ten Groovy Sides From Peter & Gordon

The U.K. duo of Peter and Gordon (Peter Asher, brother of Macca's then girlfriend Jane, and Gordon Waller ) achieved minor success in the U.S. scoring eight Top 40 hits here out of their 18 U.S. single releases between April 1964 and June 1969 (including a #1 with the Lennon/McCartney penned "A World Without Love"). Though never as cool as Chad & Jeremy (Peter & Gordon didn't have any long players to equal C&D's "Of Cabbages And Kings" or "Ark" in my estimation) they managed quite a few hidden gems. I have chosen ten of them for your perusal. All releases are American unless noted. All scans c/o 45cat.com.

1. "Morning's Calling" B side Capitol 5740 1966

No doubt featuring the guitar stylings of Jimmy Page (check out those funky licks!) this mid tempo stormer graced the flip side of "Lady Godiva" (a #6 U.S. hit). It's rugged and bleak (lyrically and musically) and seems to be either about suicide or fleeing. Interestingly it came from the pen of Messrs Asher and Waller!

2. "The Jokers" A side Capitol 5919 1967

"The Jokers" was the title track  from a1967 Oliver Reed/Michael Crawford film and was penned by Mike Leander (who arranged and conducted it) and Charles Mills. It's a cheeky upbeat number that starts with a very odd mix of Mellotron/tabla/harmonica giving it a cheezy but kitschy "Swinging London" feel to it. 

3. "The Town I Live In" B side Capitol 5740 1966

This Geoff Stevens social observation piece first came to my attention via the storming version by Jackie Lee (the Irish female vocalist NOT the soul singer). Peter and Gordon's version preceded hers by a few months and though inferior to my ears it still merits listening. Delivered with an almost monotone feel that rises in key as the number progresses, it's a beautiful track with it's almost mariachi style horns and bitter lyrics eschewing life in a small town accented by a cool interlude with a churchy organ (arrangement courtesy of  Geoff Love). It was featured as the rare B-side to "Lady Godiva" before being withdrawn and replaced with "Morning's Calling". 

4. "London At Night" LP track "In London For Tea" Capitol T 2747 1967

This Cat Steven's penned upbeat number would not seem at all out of place on a Herman's Hermits album from '66-'67 with it's bouncy/happy feeling complete with full on strings, harpsichord, martial march drums, bongos etc while the lyrics espouse the joys of London and it's landmarks. 

5. "The Exodus Song" LP track "Lady Godiva" Capitol T 2664 1967

This piece of propaganda written by Pat Boone and Ernest Gold for the film "Exodus" is lyrically repulsive ("this land is mine God gave this land to me...") but the duo's execution of it is nothing short of breathtaking both vocally AND musically (the latter featuring lush strings/woodwinds and brass). Their harmonies are spine tingling!

6. "Stranger With A Black Dove" U.K. LP track "Peter & Gordon" Columbia SX 6045 1966

This duo original features some positively strange lyrics (the title alone is peculiar!) that are no doubt Dylanesque but their harmonies and the incredible melody (backed by some incredible brass/strings that unfortunately is not credited on the LP!) are absolutely sublime and along with #1 above is one of my favorite P&G numbers. 

7. "When The Black Of Your Eyes Turns To Grey" U.K. B-side Columbia DB DB 7729 1965

Tucked away on the flip of the absolutely dreadful "Baby I'm Yours" is this P&G original that's twinged with an almost country feel with some spacey guitar notes that would do '67 Syd Barrett proud. It more than certainly owes it's inspiration to "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" but oh that positively freaky guitar solo!

8. "Wrong From The Start" U.K. LP track "Peter & Gordon" Columbia SX 6045 1966

This Asher/Waller original sounds like it would fit in nicely on a '66 Hollies album with it's tight harmonies and punchy delivery (with some funky go-go combo organ and Jimmy Page's distinct guitar licks. 

9. "I Feel Like Going Out" U.K. A-side Columbia DB 8398 1968

This trippy 1968 45 was penned by Peter Asher who not only produced it but assisted Mike Vickers in the arrangement. It starts out with some backwards bits and horns and a funky bass line that sound like they've been lifted from a Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers record. The harmonies are tight and despite them not seeming the least bit comfortable with psychedelic trappings the number works. 

10. "Someone Ain't Right" U.K. LP track "Hurtin N' Lovin" Columbia 33SX 1761 1965

I first heard this track on a YouTube video someone made of a 10" acetate that Paul McCartney had pressed up for Xmas to give to a few friends (call it the original mix tape!). Backed by some bluesy harp blowing, twangy guitar (no doubt J.P.P.) and the duo's stellar harmonies it's a killer. 

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Tommy Quickly

 

TOMMY QUICKLY-The Wild Side Of Life/Forget The Other Guy U.S. Liberty 55753 1964

Liverpool's Tommy Quickly (and his uncredited backing band The Remo Four) were one of the more obscure band's that were swept in when the big men in London cast their nets on the "Mersey Sound" or "Merseybeat". Quickly managed quite a prolific career on vinyl in the U.K. with four singles on Piccadilly and two on Pye from July 1963 to December 1964 (even the Beatles didn't release as many singles during that period!). Tommy was originally born as Thomas Quigley. His career was overseen by Brian Epstein who rechristened him as Tommy Quickly in the Larry Parnes style of renaming your charges.  Having Epstein as a manager gave him access to an unreleased Beatles composition as his debut in July 1963 ("The Tip Of My Tongue", Piccadilly 7N 35137) which unfortunately failed to chart. 

Today's release was his last of two American singles. In the U.K. it was his fifth (and first on the Pye label) where it was launched as Pye 7N 15708 on October 2, 1964. It was issued here the following month. In England it gave him his only hit (#33). The Remo Four are uncredited on the label here despite backing him and being credited on the British release. 

"The Wild Side Of Life" dates back to an old US country music performer named Hank Thompson in 1952 and was revived by Ray Price in 1962, which is probably where Quickly heard it.  It's an interesting choice of a song to cover but it works surprisingly well as a beat ballad and The Remo Four provide a solid, edgy backing as the number is delivered in an uptempo style. The record did nothing here in the States despite Quickly plugging the number on the "Shindig!" TV show here where he performed it live. 

The flip side, "Forget The Other Guy" is a mundane beat ballad that's really nothing special. Next.... 

Both tracks were collected on a now out of print CD collection of all his work as well as other beat artists from '64-'65 that The Remo Four backed. 

Hear "The Wild Side Of Life":

https://youtu.be/JOy9QeEJdWg?si=WkISfg435JdFulCf

Hear "Forget The Other Guy":

https://youtu.be/TxkuuBLYBtc?si=y20dhnk_X8-RuRcs

Mod Anthems Part Five: The Pretty Things "Midnight To Six Man"

 

THE PRETTY THINGS-Midnight To Six Man/Can't Stand The Pain U.S. Fontana F-1540 1966

My introduction to The Pretty Things came via a cassette mix with "Can't Stand The Pain" in about 1985 or so but it wasn't until the following year that my then girlfriend made name a cassette of tracks by them from the recently released Bam Caruso records Pretty Things compilation LP "Closed Restaurant", which became my gateway to the band and also the prefect document to my favorite period of their material.

Towards the end of 1965 The Pretties started to come into their own and started to shed the Chuck Berry/Bo Diddley covers and start recording even more of their own material (as evidenced by their second album "Get The Picture" ). I jokingly refer to it as their "mod years" because of the harder edge some of their material took on. I don't think that is better exemplified by today's topic.

"Midnight To Six Man" was launched in the U.K. in December 1965 as Fontana TF 647, it was not issued in America until February of the following year. Both releases featured the moody "Can't Stand The Pain" as the flip. 

"Midnight To Six Man" is an epic mod anthem. Yeah yeah yeah I know, everyone slings that "m" word around a lot. But you know me, I don't. But hear me out. Actually listen to the song first...

https://youtu.be/OPbMcUsiwjM?si=26CB9pMiculkeg0F

"I never see the people I know in the bright light of day....I sleep through the day, I wake around 4.., till tonight comes around, see you downtown, take in some sounds, maybe we'll score..."

If those lyrics aren't tailor made for mods (or any nocturnal subculture for that matter) then I need to give up blogging. This one was a personal message to me at 20 when I first heard it. I was living those lyrics every Friday night after work getting dressed to the nines and heading into the city and out all night with my mod as hell girlfriend getting worse for wear and soaking up sounds until the wee hours with our crowd, getting home and going to bed with the sun coming up, sleeping all day and then getting up and doing it all again on Saturday night! The other "mod" aspect of the song for me is the powerful guitar, especially the rhythm that rings out right after the first time we hear the chorus and Dick Taylor's distinctive repeating guitar lick. The number is fattened up by some piano by Nicky Hopkins that brings to mind his similar ivory tinkling on The Who's "My Generation" LP and Goldie and The Gingerbread's keyboardist Margo Corccito adds some subtle organ to the whole shebang! Ugly Things Mike Stax confirms that it's "new boy" Skip Allan (who recently replaced the errant Viv Prince) on drums and NOT Bobby Graham as is often supposed. 

The flip, "Can't Stand The Pain", is a moody piece and as mentioned earlier was the first track I ever heard by the band. There's a desolate feeling of despair to it, maybe it's the muted guitar strings or the bluesy vibrato lick that sounds like the lonely whistle of a distant train. To me it's the eventual next day comedown from the amphetamine bravado that's the A-side

Both sides are available on a variety of Pretty Things compilations, the most recent being the 2017 "Greatest Hits" collection put together by Mike Stax, which is also available on streaming. 

Hear "Can't Stand The Pain":

https://youtu.be/IR5eJDkhDVk?si=Xm2s65fwEsvN8-6i

"Midnight To Six Man" live on 1966's "A Whole Scene Going":

https://youtu.be/qjpKXs_8fV0?si=vmOkh0Mv6dPgwk_n

For previous Mod Anthems check out David Bowie's "The London Boys", The Who's "My Generation" 

and Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds "Buzz With The Fuzz". 

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Wayne Fontana Solo

WAYNE FONTANA-24 Sycamore/From a Boy To A Man U.S. MGM K13762 1967

Mancunian singer Wayne Fontana cut a total of eleven solo singles for Fontana in the U.K. after splitting with his backing group The Mindbenders in late 1965. Just four of these found their way onto American releases. Today's specimen was issued in the U.K. as Fontana TF 827 in April 1967. It was issued here in July and would be his final American solo release of the Fontana records years.

"24 Sycamore" came from the pen of Les Reed and Barry Mason. At a first listen it's completely tepid, like something Paul & Barry Ryan would have tucked on a B-side, despite the incredible Walker Brothers style orchestral  backing (care of Les Reed). Fontana's voice is actually pretty incredible on it and works well with the arrangement and grows on me with repeated plays, with Walker Brothers comparisons being very hard to avoid (in a positive way). 

Sheet music c/o 45cat.com

The flip side, "From A Boy To A Man", is a Wayne Fontana original (credited to his real name Glyn Ellis)and it is a complete miss. Despite the over the top orchestration by Art Gleenslade the number is completely uninspiring. 

Wayne Fontana solo compilations are few and far between. The only one is BGO's 2004 deluxe two CD edition of his 1966 solo album "Wayne One" which collects all of his Fontana singles (A's and B's) including both sides of this record. Unfortunately none of these are available through streaming services. 

Hear "24 Sycamore":

https://youtu.be/m0N4tzd--a8?si=vONycycz3EvDFjpW

Hear "From A Boy To A Man":

https://youtu.be/BfZw2PFnRHA?si=TYmEQkddx1ECKmiD

10 Cool Immediate Records Singles

1.  THE McCOYS-"Hang On Sloopy" U.K. Immediate IM 001 1965

Andrew Loog Oldham and Tony Calder's first release on their Immediate label was garnering the rights to launch the McCoys American July 1965 smash "Hang On Sloopy" in Britain which reached #5 in the British charts. The label would issue a further six singles, an LP and two 7" e.p.s by the band, but none matched this releases commercial success.

https://youtu.be/x8TBs-UZhEI?si=dbeJM5E6EKOZtZ-1

2. SMALL FACES-"Mad John" U.S. Immediate ZS7 5012 1968

Curiously only issued as a single in the U.S., Canada and Australia, this track taken from the Faces third long player "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" and was a curious choice as a single as it tells the tale of a harmless old hermit shunned by society. It's interesting mix of lightweight folky acoustic guitars and phlanged piano. Come to think of it there's no drums on it! It's slightly longer than the LP version with an extended fade out and an extra verse of Marriott's Celtic "aye diddley aye dye" ad libs.

https://youtu.be/rthR-1Vy1Hs?si=N0Fdt7CrleHMy1ym

3. TWICE AS MUCH-"You're So Good For Me" U.K. Immediate IM 039 1966

The duo of David Skinner and Andrew Rose are frequently cited as "Immediate's in house writers" but they were equally prolific as recording artists in their own right. This was their third and next to last single for the label that has an incredible "Pet Sounds" feel to it (in no small part thanks to Art Gleenslade's lush orchestration) making it my favorite release by them. Despite Oldham's belief in them (four singles and two LP's were issued by the label) their career was not a commercial success. 

https://youtu.be/tpwG7uoy6kw?si=O-kGZNOn_rEmFyZf

4. P.P. ARNOLD-"(If You Think You're) Groovy" U.K.Immediate IM 061 1968

Ex-Ike and Tina Turner's Ikette Patricia "P.P" Arnold was brought to Immediate's attention by Mick Jagger and cut six singles and two LP's for the label in two short years. This was her fourth single for the label tailor written and produced for her by Small Face's Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with them and their band mates providing the musical backing. She powerfully handles this tale of contempt and getting over someone, made equally brilliant by the four guys backing her. 

https://youtu.be/asYqqW67-zc?si=kWUTfUGrdaRam_o8

5. THE HILL-"Sylvie" U.S. Immediate ZS7-5016 1969

This U.S. only 45 was by Chris Farlowe's former backing group, The Thunderbirds and is an absolutely gob smackingly good slice of pop sike perfection with sweeping harmonies, harpsichord, orchestration and is pure pop perfection not too dissimilar to label mate Duncan Browne (see below).

https://youtu.be/aMHnoriHUVI?si=R2d06Y0QDjWn7fOC

6. DUNCAN BROWNE-"On The Bombsite" U.K. Immediate IM 070 1968

One of my favorite singles on the label was by the late Duncan Browne who cut just this single and the equally stunning LP "Give Me Take You". "On The Bombsite" is a perfectly honed piece of mellow baroque/choral pop with absolutely fascinating lyrics linking childhood simplicity and fantasy with the responsibilities of growing up.

https://youtu.be/pivzEg9tkRs?si=BHtniPirR8qk4aJA

7. HUMBLE PIE-"Wrist Job" U.K. Immediate IM 082 1969

Immediate launched Steve Marriott's new band Humble Pie with their smash hit "Natural Born Bugie" (#4 in the U.K. charts) in August of 1969. Tucked away on the flip is the positively mournful "Wrist Job" which in reality was an old Small Faces backing track "The Pig Trotters" full of Ian McLagan's swirling/heavy churchy Hammond and P.P. Arnold's backing vocals. I daresay it's the best thing the Pie ever did, even if it wasn't them....

https://youtu.be/hbYaYIukLp8?si=A-PT1oiFS-WuWfiJ

8. CHRIS FARLOWE AND THE THUNDERBIRDS-"Paper Man Fly In The Sky" U.K. Immediate IM 066 1968

Curiously this is the only instance where Chris Farlowe's backing band, The Thunderbirds, was credited on an Immediate release. It was on the B-side of his tenth single with the label, "The Last Goodbye". "Paperman..." reminds me a bit of his fellow r&b scene raver Zoot Money on his last Columbia 45 "I Really Learned How To Cry" in that it's still vocally soulful but the musical backing is sparse with just bass, drums, acoustic guitar and organ. Totally sublime. Production care of Manfred Mann's Mike D'Abo. 

https://youtu.be/DSSUiykxKoY?si=3doHfiXq2ymWCQpF

9. THE MOCKINGBIRDS-"You Stole My Love" U.K. Immediate IM 015 1965

This single by Graham Gouldman's beat group The Mockingbirds was their sole Immediate release after a two single stint with Columbia (and then moving onto Decca for two more!). Produced by ex-Yardbird Paul Samwell Smith and Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky it reminds me a lot of Scotland's Poets with it's airy vocals and downtrodden feel, and check out Julie Driscoll on backing vocals adding an extra ethereal feel to the proceedings!

https://youtu.be/CZgG2_cBfNM?si=LiMO_i9pYFqBc2bs

10. TONY RIVERS AND THE CASTAWAYS-:Girl Don't Tell Me" U.K. Immediate IM 027 1966

Tony Rivers and The Castaways were one of Britain's biggest purveyors of the "West Coast Sound", perfectly exemplified by covering not one but two Beach Boys tracks for this release ("Salt Lake City" was on the flip and the session also yielded a version of "The Girl From New York City") on their sole Immediate offering. The band wrap it in twice as many harmonies than the original adding an almost choral meets surf music effect and at the end the band begins to sing The Four Season's "Walk Like A Man" as it fades out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxEWvxQGiXU

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Groundhogs 45 RPM Debut

 

THE GROUNDHOGS-Shake It/Rock Me U.S. Interphon IN-7715 1965

Legendary British blues rock heroes The Groundhogs 45 rpm debut was incredibly only released in the United States in January 1965 on the tiny Interphon label (home of other obscure Brit releases like The Soul Agents, The Hi Fi's and The Honeycombs). After backing multiple American blues artists touring Britain legend has it that John Lee Hooker put in a word for them enabling this single to be released in the United States but strangely not the U.K.! 

The A-side "Shake It" is a band original. I first heard it back in the 80's on one of Greg Shaw's "English Freak beat" compilation albums in the late 80's. For the uninitiated it's a 101 mph British r&b stormer. Wailing harmonica, driving piano and a frenetic beat drives this ditty and it's pure amphetamine driven British 60's r&b at it's finest!

The flip, "Rock Me", the Muddy Waters number is your bog standard blues number with some barroom ivory tinkling and a nice bluesy guitar solo dueling with some mean harp blowing that rescue it from it's mundane feel. 

As mentioned above the A-side is available on Volume One of the "English Freakbeat" series and both sides are on an unauthorized (read "bootleg") compilation "Please Leave My Mind" that collects early Groundhogs/Herbal Mixture tracks. 

Hear "Shake It":

https://youtu.be/Ly8qTLjRmCE?si=Rjr_-l2WKQgYiSAB

Hear "Rock Me":

https://youtu.be/U9PPHZTXL3w?si=YQLnsJthWQVoUDVD