More U.K. Obscurities: Bill Fay

  

 

BILL FAY-Some Good Advice/Screams In The Ear U.S. Deram 45-DEM-85017 1967

The year was 1996 and I had just purchased an interesting various artists British 60's psych CD called "Psychedalia-Rare Blooms From The English Summer Of Love" (it included some seeds in the jewel case spine and a sticker stating "Grow Your Own! Free Seeds!"). Contrary to the title there were quite a few post 1967 tunes among the tracks and among them were both sides of this 1968 Deram 45 by a guy called Bill Fay. Had I not been more "with it" I would have already known of him as the A-side, "Some Good Advice" was already on the incredible 1987 Deram records compilation LP "Deram Dayze", but somehow I snoozed on that. A few months later I came upon a copy of the 45 for sale at the old Raritan Center record fair for chump change.

"Some Good Advice" is a somber number ushered in with some piano in a minor key with some gentle/subtle Mellotron accompaniment playing behind the ivory tinkling and then this controlled eerie bit of distorted guitar. The lyrics are mournful and almost childlike in their retrospective slant. The whole thing is so simple because it has, really, only three verses but it's got so much going on musically that it's much more interesting bringing to mind Al Stewart's early work in '67-'68. 

The flip side "Screams In The Ears" is more upbeat with a jazzy swing to it while Fay sings in a rather Dylanesque manner with equally Dylanesque lyrics ("well they told me the budgerigar committed suicide, but it was you, I saw you put that gin in it's water I was standing by your side"). It seems to be an observation about a party and instead of Mellotron this time around the piano (which plays some very rollicking trills) is tastefully chased along by some faint Hammond organ with a deadpan chorus "will you stop asking me who I am. Go and find someone else to tell your jokes to. What a great party this is". Apparently Bill was backed on this record by The Fingers. 

Sadly the record did not pip the charts making it quite obscure. Bill went on to be signed to Deram's offshoot Nova and under their banner released an untitled debut LP in 1970 and another LP "Time Of the Last Persecution" on the same label the following year, both have cult followings and have been reissued on CD. Both sides of this single were included. as mentioned on the "Psychedalia" CD and also recently cropped up as bonus tracks on the CD reissue of his untitled debut LP. Sadly neither have appeared on streaming. Sadly Bill passed away in February of last year after enjoying a healthy resurgence in the late 90's with the extremely successful reissue of his first two LP's. 

Hear "Some Good Advice":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvUP6BRPf-s

Hear "Screams In The Ears":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEMlH_a-ERc