More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Cops N' Robbers Two

THE COPS N' ROBBERS-It's All Over Now Baby Blue/I Found Out U.S. Coral 62473 1965

We first profiled Watford, England's Cops N' Robbers first U.S. release here. Our subject today is their third and final U.S. release on the Coral label (following the previous single, a bizarre choice of covering "I Could Have Danced All Night Long" on the label in August of 1965).

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" b/w "I Found Out" was first released in the U.K. in August 1965 as Pye 7N 15928. It was issued here in December.

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" was of course penned by Bob Dylan and released on his March 1965 LP "Bringing It All Back Home". Cops N' Robbers hold the distinction of being the first British band to release a cover of it and possibly the first non folk artist to cover it as well!

When stacked before Them's 1966 version (and The Chocolate Watchband version that followed it) it might pale because it's certainly not as strong as either subsequent version. Backed by a somber organ and extremely low volume bass/drums/guitar it's reminiscent of The Artwoods in one of their moodier moments (especially during the organ solo). That said it's a decent interpretation.

Photo by John Ricks c/o Sam Knee

The flip, "I Found Out", is moody little number that takes a few listens to appreciate. The lead vocalist reminds me of Dave Berry on it and again their tranquil organ really cinches the track for them. It was written by band member's Brian "Smudger" Smith and Terry Fox (responsible for "You'll Never Do It Baby", covered by The Pretty Things on their LP "Get The Picture" and by Cops N' Robbers on a rare French E.P.). 

As of yet there has yet to be a legit Cops N' Robbers compilation released.

Hear "It's All Over Now Baby Blue":

https://youtu.be/ETc0K-RqpKU

 Hear "I Found Out":

https://youtu.be/v61WB-hvjQQ

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Johnny Kidd & The Pirates

 

JOHNNY KIDD AND THE PIRATES-"I'll Never Get Over You" / "Then I Got Everything" U.S. Capitol 5065 1963

Johnny Kidd and The Pirates are best known for their seminal rock n' roll classic "Shakin' All Over" (which was their debut U.S. 45 on the strangely named Apt label as 45-25040 in August 1960). American audiences would have to wait another three years for another Johnny Kidd single to surface here in the form of today's item "I'll Never Get Over you" issued in October 1963 (released previously in the U.K. on His Master's Voice POP 1173 in June of 1963). 

"I'll Never Get Over You" was Kidd's ninth British single, his second during the "beat music" era and his second to feature the talents of one of his most famous side men, guitar god Mick Green. Written by Gordon Mills (also responsible writing a few other Kidd covers notably "Hungry For Love" and "Jealous Girl" as well as discovering Tom Jones and supplying him with a slew of hits), it's probably one of his most powerful numbers and reached #4 on the U.K. charts. Kicking off with some crashing chords and a happy go lucky melody "I'll Never Get Over You" musically has the power of a Big Three single but it's Mick Green's proto power pop guitar chords that give the number it's edge, his solo is tasty as well. With one listen to this track it's easy to see why bands like The Who took their inspiration from Kidd & Co.

Johnny Kidd and the boys on "Ready! Steady! Go!" 1963

The flip "Then I Got Everything" (written by Kidd and Mick Green) has some cool Green guitar work with a catchy riff and some brilliant chord chopping, but there's something about it that sounds almost too much like the A-side, regardless it's still half decent. Unfortunately for any American fans of Johnny Kidd and Co. there would be no more U.S. releases by the band, though he went on to record seven more singles in the U.K. for HMV before his tragic death in a car accident on October 7, 1966 on his way home from a gig.

Both sides are available on the indispensable EMI double CD collection "The Complete Jophnny Kidd & The Pirates" (which is available on Spotify). 

Hear "I'll Never Get Over You":

https://youtu.be/9PyHO7dIpfw

Hear "Then I Got Everything":

https://youtu.be/ThR9YhsGnI0

More U.K. Tracks On U.S. Labels: The Swinging Blues Jeans US Debut

THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS-Hippy Hippy Shake/Now I Must Go US Imperial 66021 1964

With the onslaught of Beatlemania in the United States there was eventually further interest in all things British, including bands from Liverpool (though mostly only hit makers, at first). The Swinging Blue Jeans had a respectable venture into the UK hit parade starting with their third single,  December 1963's release of a version of Chan Romero's "Hippy Hippy Shake" (His Masters Voice POP 1242) which rose to #2 on the British charts. It was the band's debut US release being launched in February 1964 where it became the band's sole Top 40 placing (#2) and subsequently the title of their only US long player (Imperial LP 9621).

"Hippy Hippy Shake" was first released in July of 1959 by Chan Romero on the Del-Fi label (interestingly it was simultaneously issued in the UK on Columbia as DB 4341). The track was covered by a host of other UK artists (the Beatles covered it in a BBC session long before the Swinging Blue Jeans version was recorded) but The Blue Jeans version remains the most well known.  It does not differ much from the original except that it's a little more frantic and sped up and does not have the gritty and greasy feel of the original. Of interest is that the Blue Jeans sing "the hippy hippy shakes" during the verses whereas the original version merely sings "hippy hippy shake".

The flip side (the same as it's UK release) was an original "Now I Must Go" penned by lead vocalist Ray Ennis. Though it's not awful by any means, it's a fairly inoffensive and pedestrian mid tempo beat ballad.

Both sides have been compiled on several Swinging Blue Jeans compilations, the best place to hear it being the British EMI "At Abbey Road" CD and the American "Hippy Hippy Shake: Definitive Collection" collection.

Hear "Hippy Hippy Shake":

https://youtu.be/1Ke8mzgex4U

Hear "Now I Must Go":

https://youtu.be/5mW13arsALs

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Knack...Erm....The Lobsters

THE LOBSTERS-(The Man From The)Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau/Dolly Catcher Man US Mercury 72696 1967

Every now and then a U.K. 60's 45 was issued in the U.S. with the band name being altered for some bizarre reason.  I first heard of this when Wild Silk's Shel Talmy produced "(Visions In A) Plaster Sky"/"Toymaker" came out over here credited to "Basil" and recently Larry over at Funky 16 Corners told me about a Cocktail Cabinet 45 issued here as "We Believe". Recently I stumbled upon another one, The Knack's (the U.K. 60's sorts) final single "(The Man From) The Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau" (Piccadilly 7N 35367 February 1967) which was released here on Mercury and credited to "The Lobsters" (possibly to avoid confusion with a US 60's band of the same name).

The Knack were a UK 60's quartet featuring the famous Paul Gurvitz (lead vocals/guitar), Brian Morris (vocals/guitar), Gery Kenworthy (bass) and Topper Clay (drums). Gurvitz of course would join brother Adrian to find fame as Gun, bit that's another story for another day.

After their first two singles on the Decca label went nowhere John Schroeder signed the band to Pye's Piccadilly offshoot in 1966 resulting in three more singles, none of which did anything.  The band would cut just one more single with the label before splitting. Issued as Piccadilly 7N 35367 in February 1967 "(The Man From) The Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau" backed with "Dolly Catcher Man", as mentioned above was issued here where it was their only US release, like it's predecessors it did nothing on either side of the Atlantic. I was first introduced to the A-side back in 1990 when it graced a Sequel CD compilation called "Quick Before They Catch Us". It's a somber acoustic guitar led track that falls somewhere between early Al Stewart and Duncan Browne with some great harmonies with some tongue and cheek lyrics that perfectly fits in with its quirky release date.

The B-side, the curiously titled "Dolly Catcher Man" starts out sounding like a folk rock/Dylan pastiche but then the 12 string kicks in and the high harmonies join in it becomes a half way decent quirky pop tune.

Both sides were compiled on a Knack CD collection put out by Rev-Ola in 2007 titled "Time Time Time".

Hear "(The Man From) The Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau":

https://youtu.be/P_25NoomFUY

Hear "Dolly Catcher Man":

https://youtu.be/faSKvv2R3Lg

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Faron's Flamingos VS Rory Storm and the Hurricanes

Faron's Flamingos/Rory Storm and the Hurricanes-Let's Stomp-I Can Tell US Columbia 4-43018 1964

With the advert of Beatlemania in the United States, strangely unlike their British counterparts, American record labels were slow to plumb Liverpool for other acts preferring to stick to the hit makers. Interestingly Columbia records launched a compilation album in March of 1964 titled "The Exciting New Liverpool Sound". It comprised of 12 tracks culled from two long players previously issued in the U.K. on the Oriole label over the span of two records called "This Is Merseybeat". This single was comprised of two tunes found on the Us Columbia album, even more interesting was the fact that the single featured two different artists, Faron's Flamingos and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes  (previous home of one Ringo Starr before joining The Beatles).

Faron's Flamingos courtesy of  http://www.merseybeatnostalgia.co.uk

"Let's Stomp" was originally cut by Bobby Comstock in the US on the Lawn label and released in December 1962, it's U.K. counterpart saw a release in March of 1963 on the Stateside label (SS 163).  Kicking off with a drum beat later reused by the Sweet on their hit "Ballroom Blitz" Faron's remake is slightly more uptempo and almost frantic anticipating the trash beat sound of The Milkshakes and therefore to my ears more interesting. The production is terribly thin but there's something charming about it, especially when compared to all of the polished Merseybeat being produced by George Martin. It starts out with a spoken word intro by Bill Harry, editor of the famous Liverpool music newspaper "Merseybeat".

Bo Diddley's "I Can Tell" was the flip side of his July 1962 Checker 45 "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover", it was later released in Britain in October on the Pye International label (7N 25165). Rory Storm's version first graced the "This Is Merseybeat Volume One" album and though it's not a patch on the original of course it still rocks. Like the A-side it has a certain charm in it's trashy delivery coming across like a boozy frat rock band, especially the choppy guitar strumming care of Johnny Byrne aka "Johnny Guitar" and the slapdash drumming by Ringo's replacement. If anyone can confirm who it is I'd love to know was it Gibson Kemp, future Artwood Keef Hartley or future Peddler Trevor Morais?(the later was also in Faron's Flamingos!). Rory croons along in an almost disinterested tone like he had somewhere else he'd rather be.

Rory Storm (right) with two unknown Liverpool performers (snigger).

Both sides appeared on an Edsel records CD that collected tracks from both "This Is Merseybeat" albums.

Hear "Let's Stomp":

https://youtu.be/1Tr--RyoSkM

Hear "I Can Tell":

https://youtu.be/DvFSGPXjfp4