1. THE PROFILE-"Haven't They Got Better Things To Do" U.K. Mercury MF 875 1965
"Haven't They Got Better Things To Do" joins the slim discography of British mid 60's protest songs (a good cousin to George Bean's "Why Must They Criticize"). It could easily be mistaken for a mid 60's U.S. single with it's mid tempo and social commentary lyrics (with the interesting chorus "This new generation is goin' to hell", which couldn't have helped airplay) but the vocal style and combo organ are distinctly British, regardless it's a good one.
https://youtu.be/ajf0o0-QMzw?si=D2Z686n9N2CXwqdo
2. THE ROTHCHILDS-"I Let Her Go" U.K. Decca F 12488 1966
This release is by a band I have never heard of who cut two singles for Decca. The harmonies and lead vocals are absolutely incredible and the regal orchestral backing (care of Arthur "Out Of Time" Greenslade) and the production by Tony Clarke (of Moody Blues Mk. II production fame) make this an absolutely incredible slice of proto-pop/psych!
https://youtu.be/vJ-c8Dk5P_g?si=H1gbhkv2fNG03KGM
3. PAUL STEWART-"Queen Boadicea" U.K. Phillips BF 1513 1966
This number is incredibly Dylan-esque: the lyrics, the music and the vocal delivery. I love the somber and sparse musical backing: a lush organ, jangly guitar, bass and drums. Then the organ switches to a different mode that sounds almost like strings while the vocalist sings of a doomed socialite (hmmmmm that sounds familiar).
https://youtu.be/fEaDO4SJkJg?si=kWLL93n4EDteGahF
4. CHRIS CURTIS-"Aggravation" U.K. Pye 7N.17132 1966
This was the one and only solo 45 by ex-Searchers drummer/songwriter and taste maker Chris Curtis. It's a cover of a Joe South composition and I really enjoy it. It's a rather swinging number in sort of a Tom Jone's "discotheque" way with it's horns, female backing vocals and driving beat and is carried quite well by Curtis' strong voice with a virtual who's who of backing session musicians (Jimmy Page, The Breakaways etc).
https://youtu.be/-HqMFhdK2Ao?si=BYmCAKGbEDZLhHLe
5. MIKE PROCTOR-"Mr. Commuter" U.K. Columbia DB 8254 1967
While Ray Davies sang sympathetically about the everyman this number is a damning , nasally vocal led condemnation of the nameless souls who take the train five days a week 9 to 5. The musical backing contains this fuzz guitar lick that sounds like Les Yper Sound's "Psyche Rock" instrumental (but preceded it by release by a few months). Regardless of the lyrics it's an incredible slice of pop psych with the usual kitchen sink thrown in (sounds effects, fat brassy sounds, strings etc) and a musical backing a that sounds straight off of a library music comp.
https://youtu.be/pKcP-0jKdLs?si=r1Mm8mPf5_dVXbgG
6. FOUR LEAVED CLOVER(S)-"Alright Girl" U.K. Oak RGJ-207 1966
8. NATIONAL PINION POLE-"Make Your Mark Little Man" U.K. Planet PLF 111 1966
I absolutely love this Ray Davies-esque bit of social commentary that's biting, delivered with venom and a musical backing that absolutely reeks of Kinks style delivery (bouncy, acoustic guitar strumming, bursting guitar riffs and a sing-a-long chorus etc). "Politicians dressed in Sunday best to impress the plebs in rags, they kiss the ladies babies and they hand out lots of fags. They drive around in smart cars to take to blokes on bikes, they promise gullible workers much more money and less strikes...".
https://youtu.be/bgL_7XXX7fA?si=5o60WseAvCDy9aCY
9. THE DAKOTAS-"Seven Pounds Of Potatoes" U.K. Page One POF 018 1967



































