More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Plastic Penny

 

PLASTIC PENNY-Your Way To Tell Me Go/Baby You're Not To Blame U.S. Page One 21.005 1968

U.K. quartet Plastic Penny were one of Larry Page's new discoveries and promptly launched on his fledgling label Page One in December 1967 with their sappy ballad "Everything I Am" (which reached a respectable #6 in the U.K.!). Today's item in question was their third British single issued in July of 1968 (Page One POF 079) and was issued here simultaneously (their previous U.S. 45 RPM release was "Everything I Am" issued in January). 

I have wanted this 45 ever since Mile Stax popped both sides on a cassette mix for me back in the mid 90's and finally tracked down a copy. Both sides are absolutely HEAVY and remind me musically of late era Small Faces. 

"You Way To Tell Me Go" sounds ahead of its time because the lead vocals bring to mind an early 70's glam/pop record (I think a lot of that comes from the lead vocalists high key and phrasing as well). Backed by some chunky Hammond, murky bass and completely ballsy guitar it's absolutely powerful stuff!

Plastic Penny and friend

"Baby You're Not To Blame" is equally powerful, starting out with a throbby bass and a fierce guitar/piano attack that REALLY reminds me of the late era "heavy" Small Faces (ie "Wham Bam Thank You Mam"). I daresay I almost prefer it to the B-side but I am divided on the issue....

Both sides are available on the comprehensive Plastic Penny compilation "Everything I Am (The Complete Plastic Penny)" put out by Grapefruit and on streaming platforms.

Hear "Your Way To Tell Me Go":

https://youtu.be/pBIbKXsIF4w?si=Uxxy8HVDBtPIWv6f

Hear "Baby You're Not To Blame":

https://youtu.be/_V1UulXHCNU?si=fe-TdVVrfTjXVNzH

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Lancastrian Do Ray Davies

 

THE LANCASTRIANS-The World Keeps Going Round/Not The Same Anymore U.S. Jerden 798 1966

British beat combo The Lancastrians cut nine singles in the U.K. for Pye in '64-'66. Only two were issued here in the States. Today's subject was their last of the two launched here in April 1966 (it was originally released in the U.K. as Pye 7N 17043 in January 1966). 

"The World Keeps Going Round" was of course penned by Ray Davies and previously released by the Kinks as an album track on their third British long player "The Kink Kontroversy" in November 1965 (it was also on their U.S. issue of the same LP released here in March 1966). That said The Lancastrian's single had a snowball's chance in hell of becoming a hit and sank quite quickly here.

"The World Keeps Going Round" was the beginning of a series of lyrically bleak and dark introspective lyrics penned by Davies (example : "You worry 'bout yourself, what's the use of worrying now you're almost grown, you worry 'bout your own, what's the use in worrying cos you'll die all alone"), a trend that would disturbingly continue into 1966 as his mental state became more fragile. The Lancastrians version is fairly close to the original in tempo and delivery, although their's is stronger vocally with double tracked harmony lead vocals and a funky little guitar solo that may or may not be Jimmy Page and his fuzz box (entirely possible as the record was produced by Shel Talmy and Page was his preferred hired gun on session work). 

The flip, "It's Not The Same Anymore" is a somber ballad, pretty mundane stuff compared to their other rocking sides and is easily forgotten up against the majority of their catalog.

Both sides are available on a streaming compilation "The Pye Anthology".

Hear "The World Keeps Going Round":

https://youtu.be/dXyfAaLevrk?si=HKSmPqDH6OBXj325

Hear "It's Not The Same Anymore":

https://youtu.be/VGxJ_fgHRXQ?si=Mt03iucYiwwCnf-F

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Nirvana "All Of Us"

NIRVANA-All Of Us(The Touchables Theme)/Trapeze U.S. Bell B-739 1968

With the passing of founding member Patrick Campbell-Lyons I thought it would be fitting to post a Nirvana single. The British 60's pop psych act Nirvana had a very slim American discography with just three singles and two incredibly rare albums issued here in 1968.  Today's subject was their third and final U.S. release. Curiously it's October 1968 release preceded it's British issue (as Island WIP-6045) by one month!

"All Of Us" is the theme tune to an incredibly boring and mundane film called "The Touchables" about four dolly birds who kidnap a male pop star/idol and hold him captive in their super futuristic space pod home. Despite how dross the film is the theme tune is incredible (the soundtrack LP is an odd affair as well). Leading in with some very churchy organ and baroque cello (and eventually harpsichord) it's an amazing slice of orchestrated pop psych. The airy backing vocals add to the atmospheric feel with incredible strings by Syd Dale and produced by Chris Blackwell and Jimmy Miller.

The flip side "Trapeze" sounds like an almost entirely different band. There's a light touch of a string quartet and though it's not at all unlistenable it doesn't stand up well next to the stellar A-side.

Both sides are available on streaming and the highly recommended Nirvana compilation "Rainbow Chaser: The 60's recordings (Island Years)". 

Hear "All Of Us":

https://youtu.be/kbVyaWbqHWc?si=DCkLPkZZXawKd369

Hear "Trapeze":

https://youtu.be/krIVmKmfFJM?si=2ChkMf5DZ_5sdCnN

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Ian & The Zodiacs "No Money, No Honey"

 

IAN & THE ZODIACS-No Money, No Honey/Where Were You U.S. Phillips 40369 1966

Liverpool bred and German based beat quartet Ian and The Zodiacs released 4 singles (we profiled two earlier ones here and here).

Today's subject was their final single American single. It was issued in the U.K. as Fontana TF 708 in May 1966 and the previous month both here and in Germany (as Star Club 148 548 STF).

"No Money No Honey" is without a doubt one of the band's strongest releases. Built around tandem fuzz and 12 string guitars playing a hypnotic riff it's incredibly punchy and raw. Curiously it was co-authored and produced by Klaus Doldinger (misspelled as "Claus" here). 

The flip side, "Where Were You" sounds almost like a completely different band. It's a mellow/moody almost baroque pop number with flute and harpsichords. The melody reminds me a bit of "The Crying Game" (a track the band recorded earlier, which we will profile at a later date!). 

Both sides were collected on the Repertoire CD compilation "Wade in The Water: The Best Of..." and sadly neither are available through streaming as of yet. 

Hear "No Money, No Honey":

https://youtu.be/VT2duai8jes?si=1wbJTEdj3Zxh3-GT

Hear "Where Were You":

https://youtu.be/FNgwmtKYt-Y?si=pgaW9YRJYmbiSnAN