10 Cool U.K. 60's Songs That You Possibly Haven't Heard Part Eight

 I'm reaching back out to a series I haven't done in awhile to profile ten obscure British 60's tunes in no particular order or genre.....

1. THE LUUVERS-"The House On The Hill" U.K. Parlophone R 5459 1966

Lulu's backing band cut this rare as hell one off single in 1966. Interestingly it was penned by Manfred Mann's Mike Hugg and Manfred Mann but never recorded by the Manfred's. With subtle fuzz and an almost downtrodden feel from the vocal department it's an interesting mix with an infectious chorus and gritty musical backing that begs a legitimate re-release somewhere!

https://youtu.be/uAQMMjV-_C4?si=Hydw9KHyI9dopgam

2. GEORGE BEAN-"The Candy Shop Is Closed" U.K. CBS 2801 1966

This one has what sounds to me like a delightful mix of The Monkees (the melodic guitar licks scream first album Monkees) and Deram era Bowie all wrapped up perfectly. George Bean, a one time Andrew Loog Oldham protege cut this upbeat, jangly pop number as his first single for CBS after a string of Jagger mincing (and later folky) sides for Decca. 

https://youtu.be/QyOOTdKR3pc?si=Tqf4pHaJj-ofVCHk

3. THE CHEROKEES-"Everybody's Needs" U.K. Columbia DB 7822 1966

On the flip of yet another mundane cover of "Land Of 1,000 Dances" comes this mod/Freakbeat basher. It's a total moody/moddy little piece with soulful vocals and a somber monotonous riff till the drummer and guitar player start going all Who on the track with some positively cool power pop breaks and everybody starts doing this half assed call and response thing (it worked for The Animals so maybe Mickie nudged them into it here), which is so lifeless it's actually cool, like they don't give a f*ck or something!?!

https://youtu.be/S4PEcBaqHLc?si=HKBJtFdp9DINbLHm

4. THE LANCASTRIANS-"I Can't Stand The Pain" U.K. Pye 7N 15927 1965

The Lancastrians cut six singles for Pye in '64-'66(all under the aegis of producer Shel Talmy), this was the flip of their fourth, "A Lonely Man". It's a mid tempo beat ballad of sorts with a really cool quirky/gritty guitar lick and this trademark backing harmony vocals sound that the band were known for that really makes it work. The band cut Ray Davies "The World Keeps Going Round" next before committing career suicide and with an ill advised cover of  "The Ballad Of The Green Berets". 

https://youtu.be/tDV2fSBWfhM?si=TKvB_CuThwWQ2pWL

5. THE ZEPHYRS-"Wonder What I'm Gonna Do" U.K. Columbia DB 7410 1964

The Zephyrs cut six singles, one for Decca and five for Columbia, all of the latter were produced by Shel Talmy including this, their third single. Punctuated by some cool high backing vocals and an incessant chorus ("bye bye baby bye bye baby") with a standard r&b lick as the base, "Wonder What I'm Gonna Do" is catchy mid 60's British beat perfection at it's best!

https://youtu.be/UGGnSbU90ls?si=5RKARmnoKwXhzF6J

6. THE CHEVLONS-"Too Long Alone" U.K. Pye 7N 17145 1966

I recently stumbled on this groovy little number on a sunshine pop comp on Spotify and immediately tracked down a copy.  I know absolutely nothing about these guys. "Too Long Gone" is a wonderful slice of mid tempo mid 60's British beat balladry with harmonies that recall Marmalade's first single and early Tremeloes records sans Brian the Butcher and a descending bassline that reminds me of "Sunny Afternoon".

https://youtu.be/kK-r_v46Ywg?si=S2kMXKw_yQ6uNvvo

7. NIRVANA-"Oh What A Performance" U.K. Island WIP6057 1969

Don't let the 1969 release date fool you, this was the band's last 45 for Island and in my estimation it is the most rocking thing they ever did. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love all their previous singles, but this one is a departure from their usual pop psych orchestrated whimsy and is a nice change with rollicking piano, a nice sing along feel and and an excellent groove.

https://youtu.be/4M0y6w2RL8I?si=6dky4Y81qmSuL3j4

8. THE STOCKINGTOPS-"I Don't Ever Wanna Be Kicked By You" U.K. CBS 3407 1968

The Stockingtops were a pseudonym for the U.K. female duo Sue and Sunny and cut this Kenny Lynch penned number in 1968 which Kenny produced as well. It was orchestrated by John Paul Jones who was still doing A&R work as his day job shortly before heading off to mega stardom with Led Zeppelin . His work on this resembles what Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington were doing over at Deram at the time with The Flirtations: heavy brass, swirling strings and soulful female vocals on top of a throbbing, dance floor rattling bass line! 

https://youtu.be/Eypb_SdwUdk?si=6M0htxvAXuGhgBKl

9. THE SOFT MACHINE-"Love Makes Sweet Music" U.K. Polydor 56151 1967

Of all the Sixties U.K. singles deserving a decent/legit reissue is this debut single by The Soft Machine produced by ex-Animal and Jimi Hendrix manager Chas Chandler. The track was only re-released once on a 1975 Polydor LP comp "Rare Tracks" (along with it's flip, the Kim Fowley produced "Feelin', Reelin', Squealin" AND both sides of Jack Bruce's equally rare debut Polydor single). "Love Makes Sweet Music", much like early Pink Floyd sides bore little resemblance to the band's impromptu/chaotic live set. It's a hard charging bass, guitar, drums combo organ led pop number with an infectious chorus and some cool improv scat vocal trills with lead vocals by drummer Robert Wyatt and was penned by bassist Kevin Ayers. "Alright now..."

 https://youtu.be/aCoF5K_l94Y?si=G0vh0veVOzX3Uy6p

10. THE TIMES-"(She Can't Replace) The Love We Knew" U.K. Columbia DB 7904 1966

The Times (not to be confused with our Edward Ball led heroes from the 80's) cut just two singles for Columbia. Both are worth seeking out. "But She Can't Replace The Love We Knew" was their last and forges the perfect bridge where beat music met and melded with Freakbeat. The freaky wash affect on the guitars, the frantic pace and slick harmonies (not to mention that buzzing guitar solo) are the epitome of 1966 British Freakbeat.

https://youtu.be/Q4L6EY1zRxg?si=BvY2TH4zKeisormM