THE SCAFFOLD-Lily The Pink/Buttons Of Your Mind US Bell B-747 1968
Liverpool pop trio The Scaffold managed several hits in The U.K. and despite four singles and an LP here on the Bell label left nary a trace of success in the 60's or otherwise. "Lily The Pink" was their third U.S. single issued in November of '68 (one month behind it's U.K. release as Parlophone R 5734 where it reached #1). Loosely based on a traditional folk tune "The Ballad Of Lydia Pinkman" (Pinkman was an actual person and was the inventor of a quack cure all remedy for ills such as menstrual cramps), "Lily The Pink" was the bands biggest selling tune. As in the case with most of their releases it was delivered in a typical cheeky/upbeat music hall. The lyrics focus on various individuals with problems ranging from big ears, stammers, weight problems etc, all cured by Lily's "medicinal compound". Listen from Graham Nash's cameo where he sings about "Jennifer Eccles had terrible freckles ..." (a nod to The Hollies hit "Jennifer Eccles").
The flip, "Buttons Of Your Mind" is an almost polar opposite with it's bleak, downtrodden somber backing of harpsichord and acoustic guitar. But of course in typical Scaffold fashion there's some surreal moments in the occasional voice overs.
TRIVIA NOTE:
Back when all the remaining "Ready! Steady! Go!" episodes were released on VHS in the 80's they inserted a delightful Watney's Ale commercial featuring the Scaffold singing the virtues of "Watney's Pale, the greatest ale" to the tune of "Lily The Pink". You can view it here.
Both sides have been collected on several of their EMI compilations, the most recent of which is a 2002 offering "Thank U Very Much: The Best Of Scaffold" and the earlier, more complete "The Scaffold At Abbey Road 19656-1971".
Hear "Lily The Pink":
Hear "Buttons Of Your Mind":
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