ANORAK THING IS ON VACATION! SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!
Friday, July 24, 2026
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Thunder Downunder: 10 Australian Covers Of British 60's Tracks
Of course there's no need to explain the cultural connection between the U.K. and Australia so it's quite understandable that the 60's Australian music scene would be steeped in British trends, styles and sounds. Quite a few bands chose to cover British tracks in the 60's so I thought it would be fun to pick a few, so read on....
2. TONY WORSLEY-"Ready Steady, Let's Go" E.P. track Sunshine QX-11,197 1966
1. RAY BROWN-"Ivor The Engine Driver" Festival FK-1880 1967
The Who were quite huge in Australia with lots of artists covering their tracks (there's at least three versions of "La La La Lies" that I am aware of). This was a unique choice in trimming down the "Ivor the engine driver" segment of "A Quick One (While He's Away)" from the 1966 "A Quick One" LP. It's raw and adds a certain edge (the drummer does his best to replicate Moon's kit trashing) and there's an interesting "New Vaudeville Band" style to the "response" backing vocals that sets it apart (there's also this ad lib bed news report of a train wreck delivered in vintage style radio broadcasting)! It's available on the compilation of 60's who covers "Who Sings Who By 60's Garage Bands" and streaming as well.
https://youtu.be/v9V1DgSPVvY?si=Bmgg34O_fW27UXEC
2. TONY WORSLEY-"Ready Steady, Let's Go" E.P. track Sunshine QX-11,197 1966
Aussie artist Tony Worsley took this obscure number by The Craig and included it on his "Raining In My Heart" E.P. He actually manages to inject a bit more vigor than the original with some gritty guitar work, a pulsating mod /go-go '66 groove and catchy call and response vocals. It's available on the compilation "No More Now: Mods N' Sharpies On The Rampage Volume 3".
6. THE D-COYS-"Bad Times" Columbia DO-4712 1966
3. THE WILD COLONIALS-"Get The Picture" His Master's Voice EA-4784 1966
Way back in the 80's this Pretty Things cover graced the first volume of the essential "Ugly Things" Australian 60's series. Funny enough I knew this version before I'd heard the original! It sticks fairly close to the original but it's juiced up by some nifty fuzz guitar (something Australian 60's records were full of) and sped up just slightly! Primitive, man. Unfortunately it hasn't been comped since the "Ugly Things" LP.
https://youtu.be/sx9VjzTlAoo?si=7QvyYlrKMCivGobS
4. ROBBIE PETERS-"She Does Everything For Me" Festival FK-2156 1968
This absolutely balls up frantic cover of The Zombies 1967 B-side stormer is the stuff of legend. Sped up to an almost amphetamine level of intensity it's a non stop blast that clocks in at just two minutes long (the original is 2:18). It's available on Volume Four of the "Diggin' For Gold" 60's series.
https://youtu.be/CjhsA3NMCvY?si=-ZBskyaMF9UDYCZ0
5. THE TWILIGHTS-"What's Wrong With The Way I Live" Columbia DO-4764 1967
Adelaide's Twilights benefited from having two lead singers, Glen Shorrock (who found fame in The Little River Band) and Terry Britten (who penned "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "We Don't Need Another Hero" for Tina Turner). They took this Hollie's LP track from their "For Certain Because" album and recorded it during a trip to the U.K. It's literally a note for note cover of the original right down to the harmonies and banjo but still worth a listen. It's available on the "Twilight's Time! The Complete 60's recordings" box set and streaming as well.
https://youtu.be/YmSgMbLMqis?si=gmfpxNbp9InT45fx
6. THE D-COYS-"Bad Times" Columbia DO-4712 1966
Duo The D-Coys took this 1964 Roulettes beat track "Bad Time" and turned it on it's head (it's re-titled it "Bad Times") with a serious dose of "ooomph!" : blistering guitars, cow bell and double tracked tandem lead vocals. The guitar solo is pure freakbeat and best of all the original was not released in Australia so props to them for deep digging! It graced the first volume of "Ugly Things" but sadly is not available on streaming.
https://youtu.be/9RDaMBv7884?si=wfffMQhuf5p9Kmwt
7. JEFF ST. JOHN & THE ID-"Big Time Operator" Spin EK-1606 1966
Blue eyed soul belter Jeff St. John was confined to a wheelchair due to spina bifida but that didn't stop him from being an active performer on the Australian 60's scene and making this Zoot Money his strongest selling release. Though it's pretty much a note for note cover of the original Jeff's vocals are a lot stronger than Zoot Money's (coming off like an Australian Mitch Ryder). It's available on streaming.
https://youtu.be/yKyp5xko1F8?si=7IGP9ST2nj3AMCtZ
8. TONY WORSLEY-"How Can It Be" LP track "My Time Of Day" Sunshine QL-32,046 1966
Tony Worsley again, this time digging deep with yet another obscure U.K. track that wasn't released in Australia. On this Birds 1965 B-side Worsley and company tear the guts out of it by making it even rawer than the original (hard to be more raw than The Birds but hey they did!), at times it sounds sloppy and chaotic but that's where it's charm lies. It's available on the "Diggin' For Gold Vol. 5 Downunder"comp.
https://youtu.be/P7GUl9QhfTI?si=0JHEScJbY9I4tJmt
9. MIKE FURBER AND THE BOWERY BOYS-"You Stole My Love" Kommotion KK-1227 1966
British born Mike Furber's story is a sad one. He scored lots of local hits and this moody/moody cover of The Mockingbirds final single was among his many successes. It sticks fairly close to the original (which was not released in Australia) with the tempo just slightly sped up. Furber sadly suffered a nervous breakdown in 1967 before being drafted. An outspoken critic of the Vietnam war he was eventually discharged and unable to regain his musical momentum and eventually taking his own life in 1973.
https://youtu.be/i-VU2Pgi1N4?si=qb8Ohe9E6bsoF1ho
10. THE VALENTINES-"I Can't Dance With You" Clarion MCK-1773 1967
Best known for being future AC/DC singer Bon Scott's first band, Perth's Valentines issued this Small Faces cover as the flip of their debut single, a version of Arthur Alexander's "Every Day I Have to Cry". Truthfully it's not anything to write home about but they somehow managed to give it a garage band type feel with their bashing.
https://youtu.be/HoXcphD4vQ0?si=iX-YY0q35FkkYTrE
Monday, July 13, 2026
More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels On U.S. Labels: Gerry and the Pacemakers "La La La"
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| GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS-La La La/Without You LR 3337 1966 |
Liverpool's Gerry and the Pacemakers were on life support in the U.K. in February 1966 when EMI's Columbia issued today's subject as "DB 7835" and headed to the lucrative but depressing cabaret circuit. The band's U.S. label Laurie followed suit and issued the single the following month. If the band were on life support back in the U.K. they were dead and buried since the previous year when their "Ferry Cross The Mersey" reached #6 (curiously two positions higher than it reached in the U.K.!) in February of '65, their last visit to the U.S. Top 40 (even stranger their next U.S. single "Girl On A Swing" would make #28 here, their final visit into the U.S. Top 40).
"La La La" sounds different than anything the band had ever done to my ears. Despite always been photographed with a 1964 Rickenbacker 360 12 string (which he sawed the tip of the peghead off to fit in it's case! True story! Don't believe me, Google it!) you never got a chance to hear the guitar's distinct sound on any of their records (though I am FAR from being an authority on the band, so if I am wrong please set me straight). That changed on "La La La", a Marsden original composition. It's jangly but not Burds jangly, more like the Beach Boy's jangly when Carl played his (think "I Get Around"). With it's upbeat tempo, infectious Rickenbacker 12 thrashing along with some piano. Lyrically it's almost juvenile but it's incredibly catchy and damned near infectious!
The flip, Without You" is another Mardsen original. It starts out with some Bach influenced churchy organ that leads you to believe it's going to be a proto "Whiter Shade Of Pale" (the organ lick reminds me so much of "No Time" by The Applejacks or a slowed down "Liar Liar" by The Castaways). Nope, it just falls into a weird ballad that has so many different bridges and choruses in it's two minutes and fifty three seconds that's it's a wonder they ever got it recorded. Some Walker Brothers style strings sweep in and threaten to revive this turkey but then a trumpet comes in and Gerry sings another verse in a different key/melody. I'm confused, I like it enough to keep going back hoping, just hoping, something else will jump out and make me decide that I REALLY like it. I'm still waiting for that to happen....
Both sides are on a slew of 60's EMI Gerry comps and both are available on streaming.
Hear "La La La":
Hear "Without You":
Sunday, July 5, 2026
More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels On U.S. Labels: The Merseybeats "I Love You, Yes I Do"
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| THE MERSEYBEATS-I Love You, Yes I Do/See Me Back U.S. Fontana F-1532 1965 |
Today's selection was the fifth and final U.S. Merseybeats 45 (issued in November 1965). It was a mish mash of a U.K. A-side (September 1965) and a U.K. B-side (October 1964).
"I Love You, Yes I Do" (originally cut by Tab Hunter in 1958), stands as quite possibly my LEAST favorite Merseybeats track. The band cut their share of ballads, many of which I like. This one I do not. I believe the lead vocals were courtesy of the recently returned Billy Kinsley, who bumped his replacement, former Big 3 singer/bassist Johnny "Gus" Gustafson, out of the line up. It was also their first release produced by the band's new manager and producer Kit Lambert, who happens to be one half of The Who's management team at the time.
"See Me Back" would have been a far better A-side. Penned by vocalist Tony Crane and Johnny Gustafson it's a tough mid tempo beat ballad that's thoroughly rocking. It's sung by Crane and Gustafson, who in my opinion were a perfect (and best) Merseybeats vocal combination.
Both tracks are available on the thoroughly comprehensive 2021 Grapefruit two CD collection "I Stand Accused" which collected everything the band and it's members recorded in the 60's.
Hear "I Love You, Yes I Do":
Hear "See Me Back":
Sunday, June 28, 2026
The Prisoners 10 Best Tunes
The Prisoners are without a doubt my favorite 80's bands, and one of my favorite bands in general! I was hipped to them back in 1984 by a British pen pal named Debbie Jones who was absolutely besotted with the lead singer Graham Day. I promptly went out and found this American only compilation LP called "Revenge Of The Prisoners" (as did my friend and at the time co-fanzine editor Rudie) that was an interesting mix of Big Beat era material from their second LP "Thewisemiserdemelza" , various 7" tracks and even an unreleased track ("Love Changes") and an alternate version of "Coming Home". After that nothing could stop us as we consumed all things Prisoners. Rudie somehow wound up corresponding with Jamie (James) Taylor through our mate Chris Flip, who's British Mom was best friends with Jamie's Mom. Jamie kindly mailed Rudie two copies of their excellent new LP "The Last Foufathers" (one of which he shared with me) and two copies of the Dentists "Some People Are On The Pitch.." LP and a few Dentists badges (I stupidly sold the LP and used the $ to buy a Skinhead reggae 45, but still have the badge)! Chris and his Mom were in the process of setting up a U.S. Prisoners fan club but unfortunately the band broke up a few months later (I later managed to purchase their stock of Prisoners t-shirts and badges which In started out selling but I think In eventually just gave them all away to friends). Rudie sadly left this mortal coil by his own hand in August of '86 shortly after we both purchased their final LP "In From The Cold" so I was left alone to spread the gospel of these four guys. If you knew me in the 80's chances are you were the recipient of a Prisoners mix tape!! Fast forward to 1988 and Tim Warren brought the Mighty Caesars over to NYC for a gig which allowed me to meet Graham Day who kindly consented to a mail in interview (which I have reproduced here) and the whole thing came full circle when I got my ass over to England to witness two of their three reunion gigs at Herne Bay a few months back (here) which BLEW MY MIND. With all that said and done I decided that in my grand tradition of doing "Top 10's" here it was time I chose ten by the Prisoners. It wasn't an easy task. I could have easily just chosen ten songs from "The Last Fourfathers", but I tried not to deliberately pick anything from a certain era . But enough babble...here tis:
1. "Reaching My Head" from Various Artists 7" "Trash On The Tube" E.P. Big Beat U.K. SW 98 1984
This track featured on the British TV show "The Tube" (hosted by Jools Holland) where the band were seen miming it in "Star Trek" shirts (you can view the episode here). It's brilliance lies in the well oiled rhythm section of Allan Crockford's thunderous bass and Johnny Symons drumming while guitarist/vocalist Graham Day strums a tough but hypnotic lick and sings of "icy warm lakes in my head" and "a slimy cold rock in my mind". It's underpinned by Jamie Taylor's combo organ (a Jennings transistor organ, similar to a Vox combo organ, thanks Allan!) which is influenced by the groove of Deep Purple's interpretation of "Hush" (a technique that would serve the band well and be the leading inspiration behind 90's acts like The Charlatans and The Inspiral Carpets). Check out this incredibly tight live version from 1984 here.
2. "There's A Time" France single Sky Dog SKI 6103 1983
Back in 1984 when I first discovered The Prisoners, record stores in the New Jersey and New York were a wash with copies of this 45 thanks to the excellent distribution of Midnight Records (run by a French gent named J.D. Martignon)!! When I met him in '88 Graham Day said the band hadn't even received copies of it and later described the label in liner notes to "Rare And Unissued" as "being run by some dodgy Frenchman". "There's A Time" is, in my estimation, one of the band's most frantic tracks, kicking off with Jamie's combo organ, it's propelled by Graham's gravelly vocals and an absolutely over the top guitar solo that reminds more of a raunchier Dave Davie's solo on '64-'65 Kinks single! It's probably one of the most melodic tracks by them as well (dig the melody on the chorus and the absolute rave up when the guitar solo starts to wind down).
https://youtu.be/20AzzSMbHhc?si=MW96hSbMMiUEHdFF
8. "Mourn My Heath" LP track U.K. "In From The Cold" Countdown DOWN 2 1986
3. "Thinking Of You (Broken Pieces)" LP track "The Last Fourfathers" U.K. Own Up OWN UP-3 1985
Easily my favorite Prisoners track of all time on my favorite Prisoners album, "Thinking Of You..." with it's positively down trodden lyrics is literally a throat punch every time:
"Remember the nightmares took us over, we'll walk barefoot on dreams no more, and strangled by waking hands of insight our world in love has gone to war"
There's a dirge like quality to Jamie's organ trills (played on his recently acquired Hammond M 100 organ) and the "ba ba ba..." chorus is completely catchy! I was nearly moved to tears when the entire audience sang along when they performed it at Herne Bay a few months back (which they dedicated to yours truly) which you can watch here.
"Well we had it all but we lost it baby and there's nothing gonna take it's place, we're building our love on the broken Pieces of a heart that only sees your face..."
https://youtu.be/4GZisWB949Q?si=0KVxwL8JNmL1USg9
4. "Melanie" from the U.K. E.P. "Electric Fit" Big Beat SW 98 1984
One of the band's most popular numbers, "Melanie" is The Prisoners at their most garage band with it's catchy chord progression and groovy organ trills. The production by Milkshake Russell Wilkins (also responsible for twiddling the knobs on their "Last Fourfathers") is fantastic and Graham unleashes another edgy Dave Davies '65 guitar solo. Check out the band playing it live on European TV in '85 with Jamie on his new Hammond and Johnny beating seven bells out of his kit here. Back in the 80's when I was on my fervent religious quest to bring The Prisoners to the masses this was an obligatory addition to any Prisoners mix tape I did.
https://youtu.be/wlrEF9TeMHo?si=TmDbaf2GiJlfXiE4
5. "Nobody Wants Your Love" LP track "The Last Fourfathers" U.K. Own Up OWN UP-3 1985
The lead off track of the band's third (and my favorite) LP "The Last Fourfathers" , "Nobody Wants Your Love" was penned by Graham Day and Milkshake Billy Childish. Starting off with someone retching the number has an incredible groove with Graham's chunky Hendrix meets the Troggs licks perfectly meshing with Jamie's soulful organ trills on his newly acquired Hammond M-100. The lyrics, like most on the LP are cynical and a total put down about an unfaithful partner. The number features a moody clarinet solo by Graham (he's pictured holding one on Thee Mighty Caesars debut 1985 LP "Beware The Ides of March") which adds to the odd feel to it.
https://youtu.be/LOPxInjEN1A?si=vcBuZASkVMn8wjM2
6. "Better In Black" LP track "A Taste Of Pink" U.K. Own Up Own Up -2 1982
It's hard to believe that the same year The Jam released their final LP this quartet from Medway were in the studio recording and releasing (self financed no less!) their debut LP! It equally boggles my mind that Jamie Taylor was using a Casio set to "organ" and run through a large amp on this LP because the keys sound so powerful! Lyrically it picks up the theme of the Pretties "Midnight To Six Man" singing about the joys of nocturnal living backed by rapid fire guitar chord and a catchy chorus ("dead and lonely, dark and peaceful I hope you're having fun like we do...") all served up with an amphetamine 101 mph drive.
https://youtu.be/Q5c0mDBtFjg?si=5-RMmp6vqKuxiG-G
7. "Tonight" LP track "Thewisermiserdemelza" U.K. LP Big Beat WIK 19 1983
This tune is one of the band's darker numbers from an LP that is full of some pretty dark tunes. Despite being about suicide ("tonight it would be easy to throw my life away, tonight tomorrow's an ugly game I play..tonight when people are dead they cannot cry") it's absolutely beautiful. Graham's voice and Jamie's Chopin-esque piano playing are highlighted by some regal trumpet that strangely works well with Graham's slashing guitar and mournful lyrics ("I've heard about true everlasting love and I know when it's cold outside you need somewhere to hide...").
https://youtu.be/LFLi1iomWKY?si=wgREGSVblBUctx4K
8. "Mourn My Heath" LP track U.K. "In From The Cold" Countdown DOWN 2 1986
Some might say this is the album that broke up The Prisoners. In a case very similar to The Pretty Things "Emotions" LP, the band were not happy with the finished product, especially the horns that were added after (I have always wanted to hear a remix of the LP as the band wanted it). In an even stranger twist the band refused to promote the LP (and in an even more stranger twist they performed it live for the very first time with a horn section this past February!). At the time of it's release I honestly don't recall being too put off by the horns (I found an old fanzine review I did and I seemed to expect it with their being signed to Countdown) and over the years I think I have let the band's feelings influence me on the matter resulting in my paying less attention it it!! All that out of the way there are some VERY good tracks on it. "Mourn My Health" is a frightening ode to alcoholism, the band were legendary in their day for alcohol consumption (Graham Day especially). Graham was 22 at the time!! Delivered with sparse musical accompaniment , "Mourn My Health" is backed by bass, drums and a swampy Hammond organ as Graham croons woefully (and quite soulfully I might add): "as I stumble to the darkened pub I know I'm alone, I know I'm alone, with my last round, with my last pound they'll neglect me...so I'm all alone yes I'm all alone, they've left me here to mourn my health", and the strangely, there's a violin solo which REALLY works with the track.
https://youtu.be/5WX4CU0yIL0?si=U1h2by8AvWmHingi
Demo version:
https://youtu.be/StbnfYC_ewY?si=jNu3DPLi0bz_Rkk_
9. "A Dream Is Gone" LP track "Thewisermiserdemelza" U.K. LP Big Beat WIK 19 1983
"Thewisermisterdemelza" album is often dismissed by the band who considered the production by the late Phil Chevron as "slick" and "overproduced" but I still love it. The album in general has a sinister feel to it, both musically and lyrically and this number has both. It's like they ate a lot of acid and binge watched a bunch of 70's Satanic exploitation and early 70's Hammer films and then started writing. Starting with some positively ominous descending organ scales (with incredible oscillation on them) and Graham's absolutely sinister yet soulful vocals he sings "See a red sky, see your broken heart weeping cross the land..." (and much later "See a green rock, see your mildew mild, man it's hard to be sane...") before the tempo picks for the bridge with Graham's vocals changing from a plaintive forlorn tone to a venomous yet soulful Steve Marriott style snarl and these indifferent "la la la la" s .
https://youtu.be/VWMPk1PAwrg?si=aV6p-BZknAUPrUPQ
10. "Something Better" LP track "Morning Star" U.K. LP Own Up Own Up U-6 2024
I don't, as a rule like band reunions, and I seriously dislike reunion albums, and this one was no exception at first. It took hearing this track performed live at the Herne Bay reunion gigs a few months back for me to really grow to enjoy this track (and other bits of the LP). It has everything you need from an incredible Prisoners tune: Graham's incredible vocals (unlike lots of other artists from the 80's Graham has always sung the tracks within his range as he grew older) and his punchy guitar licks, Jamie's/Jame's swirling organ, and of course the engine that is rhythm section of Alan and Johnny bringing it all up. There's an almost Inspiral Carpets/Charlatans feel to it which shows the band coming full circle, musically.
https://youtu.be/8PrTU5g4fk0?si=flxbDJLwNYhojoXF
Monday, June 22, 2026
More U.K. Obscurities: Chris Farlowe "Paint It Black"
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| CHRIS FARLOWE-Paint It Black/What Have I Been Doing U.S. Immediate ZS7 5002 1968 |
Poor Chris Farlowe, he hit the #1 spot in England in June 1966 with a cover of the Stone's "Out Of Time" (after previously having a halfway decent go at their "Think" on U.K. Immediate IM 023 in January 1966). Some genius at Immediate records decided that they'd try again with other Stones numbers and he released covers of "Ride On Baby" (UK Immediate IM 038 in October '66), "Yesterday's Papers" (U.K. Immediate IM 049 May 1967) and "Paint It Black" (U.K. Immediate IM 071 July 1968). But sadly he never had another hit and all of them were flops (he also cut "I'm Free" on his debut U.K. Immediate LP "The Art Of Chris Farlowe" IMLP 006 1966).
His American Immediate output was quite slim actually, just three singles and an LP (in the U.K. with Immediate he managed 3 LP's, 2 E.P's and a staggering 13 singles). "Out Of Time" was actually issued here on MGM (K 13567 August 1966 ) alongside a single by his Immediate label mates Twice As Much (who actually had two U.S. Immediate singles on MGM). Curiously "Paint It Black" was his first U.S. release on Immediate (ZS 7 5002) in November 1967 with Twice As Much's "You're So Good To Me" on the flip. After a failure with a stab at "Handbags And Gladrags" here on Immediate (ZS7 5005 in February 1968) they released today's release, which would be his last here on Immediate.
Farlowe's reading of "Paint It Black" never did much for me. Art Greenslade's strings add an odd "Fiddler On The Roof" vibe to it that's just too schmaltzy for these ears and let's be honest folks you don't fuck with the classics, unless of course you're Otis Redding, which Chris Farlowe was not. His vocals, like quite a few of his Immediate releases are out of his range causing some cringe worthy portions. Next....
The flip side, "What Have I Been Doing" was originally issued in England as the flip to his incredible raga meets soul reading of "Moanin" (Immediate IM 056 June 1967)."What Have I Been Doing" is a fairly mundane ballad with some nifty little sitars and acoustic guitar in the back ground that make it interesting and brings Donovan's "Ferris Wheel" to mind or something off the first Humble Pie album. I will have to say it's grown on me quite recently!
Both sides are available on Farlowe's CD set "Out Of Time:The Immediate Anthology" and on streaming.
Hear "Paint It Black":
Hear "What Have I Been Doing":
Monday, June 15, 2026
More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Gates Of Eden
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| GATES OF EDEN-Mini Skirts/Girls, Girls, Girls U.S. Jubilee 45-5562 1967 |
British 60's quintet the Gates Of Eden cut just three singles in their home country from 1966-1967, strangely this was their only U.S. release and neither tracks on this release were ever issued in the U.K!
Australia issued both sides and France and Germany released "Mini Skirts" with different flip sides.
"Mini Skirts" is an infectious little number with a whistling intro (that continues throughout the number) and fuzz guitar, call and response falsetto backing vocals and liberal use of lots of "la la la's" along with some Nicky Hopkins style piano tinkling. The lyrics are predictably about the then fashion craze of short skirts. To my ears it's easily their most powerful track and it boggles my mind that it wasn't issued in Britain!
Both sides are available on streaming via a Gates of Eden collection that compiles all of their 60's material titled "Too Much On My Mind: The Pye Singles As & Bs".
Hear: "Mini Skirts":
Hear "Girls Girls Girls":
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