More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: David Bowie's Final Deram 45

DAVID BOWIE-Love You Till Tuesday/Did You Ever Have A Dream US Deram 45-DEM-85016 1967

David Bowie's third US 45 would be his last on the Deram label (it was also his last Deram 45 in the UK when it was issued in July 1967 as DM 135). It's American release was delayed until September and contrary to the label indicating it was "from the LP "David Bowie" it was not the version found on his debut LP but a re-recording that had been made on June 3rd with string arrangements by Ivor Ramonde (just two days after the release of David's debut LP). The single version is slightly less upbeat than the original album recording, with heavier orchestration with woodwinds and Bowie's vocals taking on a slightly more accentuated British accent. It is also of note that the track ends with the strings playing "Hearts And Flowers" after Bowie ruefully opines "well, I might be able to stretch it till Wednesday". This version was also used as the theme to the aborted 1969 David Bowie TV special "Love You Till Tuesday" (which was finally released in 1986).

"Did You Ever Have a Dream" is a number that I honestly have only recently grown to love. Interestingly driven by banjo (care of session-man extraordinaire Big Jim Sullivan) and tack piano it's probably one of the first pop songs to address astral projection and quite possibly also the first pop song to mention the boro of Penge ("you can walk around in New York while you sleep in Penge")!  It's happy-go-lucky feel is aided in no small part by some brilliantly regal brass parts. Bowie's vocals sound different than anything else from his Deram period, I can't quite put my finger on why though.  It ends with the sound of some breaking crockery.

Plugging "Love You Till Tuesday" on Dutch TV's "Fan Club" 11/7/67

Both tracks are available in a variety of places but we recommend the deluxe two CD 2010 reissue of David's debut album.

Hear "Love You Till Tuesday (Single Version)":

https://youtu.be/GiwpEWoA64A

Hear "Did You Ever Have A Dream":

https://youtu.be/v1-MRrRljgo

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Brit's Via Italy: The Rokes

THE ROKES-The Works Of Bartholomew/When The Wind Arises RCA Victor 47-9546 1968

Britons by nationality The Rokes made a career based in Italy in the 60's doing cover versions of British and American tunes in Italian, notching up multiple hits (including a #1 with a reading of Bob Lind's "Cheryl's Going Home") and in doing so wound up being touted as "The Italian Beatles". The flip of  "Cheryl's..", "Piangi Con Me" (re-titled "Let's Live For Today"), was co-written by The Rokes lead singer David "Shel" Shapiro which was then covered in English by the British group the Living Daylights which later led to the Grass Roots version (several US pressings of which wrongly credit Sloan/Barri as the songwriters!) but the real reason we're here is......

Despite their stream of Italian language material the band nonetheless cut a few sides in English, the last of which was today's selection.  Released in Britain in May 17, 1968 (RCA 1694) on exactly the same day as a competing version by Wayne Fontana (re-titled "The Words Of Bartholomew" Fontana TF 933), yet another moment of British record exec treachery (you can read about a similar instance here). The track was co-written by band members David "Shel" Shapiro and Mike Shepstone. It was the band's second (and last) US 45 issued around the same time as it's UK release (their previous US 45 was "Let's Live for Today" released in May 1967 in an effort to capitalize on the Grass Roots hit issued the previous month!).

"The Works Of Bartholomew" is a light weight pop psych about a frustrated sheet metal worker who daydreams of being a famous writer.  It's layered in subtle strings/horns and sits perfectly alongside period pop-psych social observations of tales of the every-man protagonist.

The real gold is the flip "When The Wind Arises", a freakbeat/pop psych opus with its high backing vocals, driving musical backing and trippy interlude with blowing wind sound affects, faintly tinkling piano and the slowly ascending, eerie chorus.

Both sides are available on the Rev-Ola CD compilation "Let's Live For Today: The Rokes In English 1966-68".

Hear "The Works Of Bartholomew":

https://youtu.be/VQJPm9_rjJ0

Hear "When The Wind Arises":

https://youtu.be/Jb83j2-J8Bc

Mod Anthems Part Four: Chris Farlowe's "Buzz With The Fuzz"

CHRIS FARLOW & THE THUNDERBIRDS-Buzz With The Fuzz/You're The One UK Columbia DB 7614 1965

It's been awhile since we chose a "mod anthem" here (we discussed "My Generation" and "The London Boys" here eons ago). Today's subject was cut by Brit r&b stalwarts Chris Farlow and the Thunderbirds (the "e" was dropped from Farlowe's name on all five of his UK Columbia 45's ) and released in Britain in June 1965 and remains one of the most controversial mid 60's British 45's.

"Buzz With The Fuzz" looms large in the legend of mid 60's British mod/r&b sounds, mostly due to it's lyrics which sing about running red lights, rolling up joints, sex with an underage girl and shooting craps. It is alleged that the 45 was banned by the BBC, but I have yet to find much information on it other than that being repeated endlessly in liner notes.  Interestingly the track was not reissued until the late 80's on a Decal records Chris Farlowe LP that took it's title from the track and it was their last release on Columbia so it's possible it DID land them in hot water.  All of that out of the way musically its an amazing slice of Brit 60's mod "Flamingo" r&b: horns, organ (which replicates a police siren) , jazzy guitar breaks (care of ace guitarist Albert Lee) with a catchy delivery not unlike Gunnell Agency mates Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames.

Promotional photo for "Buzz With The Fuzz" c/o 45cat.com

The flip "You're The One" is another slice of frantic Brit r&b.  It's fairly pedestrian until Lee's brilliant guitar solo kicks in followed by a nifty organ solo by Dave Greenslade. Sadly this would be the last single to bear "The Thunderbirds" credit on the label (strangely they reemerged in the credits on the  "Paperman Fly In The Sky" in 1968).  With Farlowe's move to Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label a few months later his records were recorded featuring studio musicians, though The Thunderbirds continued to back him on live work. Both sides were written by Farlowe (using his real last name Deighton), Albert Lee and Thunderbirds bassist Ricky Charman.

Both sides are available on RPM's highly recommended "Dig The Buzz: Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds: First Recordings '62-'65" and "Buzz With The Fuzz" has surfaced on the excellent Brit 60's r&b CD comp "Take My Tip: 25 British Mod Artefacts From The EMI Vaults".

Hear "Buzz With The Fuzz":

https://youtu.be/5PoWDCWXJvk

Hear "You're The One":

https://youtu.be/h9IFhhxh_Sk

Great Obscure U.K. 60's Sides: The Tornados Go Vocal

THE TORNADOS-Pop-Art Goes Mozart/Too Much In Love To Hear UK Columbia DB 7856 1966

The Tornados were by the time of this 45's release in March of 1966, related to the "Telstar" hit makers in name only. Essentially this Tornados line up were previously The Saxons, another Joe Meek produced instrumental combo who with the addition of Dave Watts (keyboards) fleshed out a "new" Tornados line up.  The other members were Robb Huxley (also known as Robb Gayle, vocals/guitar), Pete Holder (guitar), Roger Holder (bass) and John Davies (drums). Though credited as "The New Tornados" on promo photos the name was never used on records or for appearances.

"Pop-Art Goes Mozart" is your typical tedious, boring, Meek instrumental sounding like 1963 NOT 1966 despite the baroque harpsichord. Don't let the title fool you, there is nothing remotely "pop art" about this 45. Next.

The real treat is the flip side, "Too Much In Love To Hear" penned by members Pete Holder and Robb Huxley (credited here as "Gale", a misspelling of his "other" last name Gayle) . It's a rarity among Tornados 45's as it's a vocal number.  Led by some tack piano with the typical Meek production flourishes it's a moody piece , sort of a beat ballad with a nice jazzy/Shadows style guitar solo and a welcome pleasure to hear vocals on a Tornados record!! Interestingly Huxley later moved to Israel where he joined The Churchills who cut a trippy (and far improved in my book) version of the track which was comped on one of the "Strange Things Are Happening" CD comps.  For a more detailed history of the "New Tornados" check out Robb Huxley's extensive and highly informative web page here. The band would cut just one more 45 with Joe Meek, but that, as they say, is another story for another time. You can read that story here.

Pic courtesy of Robb Huxley's website http://www.silvertabbies.co.uk/robbhuxley

Mike Stax tracked down original member Robb Huxley for a fascinating interview which you should listen to here. 

Both sides are available on a highly recommended double CD compilation "Telstar: The Complete Tornados".

Wince at "Pop-Art Goes Mozart":

https://youtu.be/Zfdpr5-hXeI

Hear "Too Much In Love To Hear":

https://youtu.be/bMl9cwvDYDM