More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The V.I.P's

 

THE VIPPS-Mercy Mercy/That's My Woman US Phillips 40387 1966

The V.I.P's were a five piece British r&b band who by the release of this single in July 1966 comprised of Mike Harrison (lead vocals), Jimmy Henshaw (guitar), Luther Grosvenor (guitar), Greg Ridley (bass), and Mike Kellie (drums). The band's first release was 1964's "Don't Keep Shouting at Me" (UK RCA Victor 1427) but they curiously had far more releases outside of the U.K. in France with 4 E.P's and a single. There were also solitary 45 releases in Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S.

Today's specimen was only released in the U.S. and was credited to "The Vipps" (a name used on their January '66 British single "Wintertime", CBS 202031). The A-side was a cover of Don Covay's 1964 single (best known by the Rolling Stones who covered it on their 1965 LP "Out Of Our Heads"). The flip, "That's My Woman" was later covered by The Nashville Teens in early '67.

"Mercy Mercy" is a fairly tame note for note cover and not remotely as rocking as the Stone's version and it's held up purely on the soulful voice of lead singer Mike Harrison. It's a decent version but just doesn't offer much to my ears outside of the vocals.

The flip side "That's My Woman" is where it's at for me. Kicked off my some ultra raw fuzz guitar it's a gritty little groover again showcasing the stellar piper of Mike Harrison and has a raving 1966 mod/r&b sound to it. The later Nashville Teens version pretty much follows this as a template, though it's not remotely as rocking.

Both sides were collected for Repertoire's comprehensive double CD "The Complete V.I.P's". 

The band mutated into Art who in 1967 released a 45 featuring a cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and an "Supernatural Fairytales" before adding Gary Wright and becoming Spooky Tooth. 

Hear "Mercy, Mercy":

https://youtu.be/rCAYmuqSqWM

Hear "That's My Woman":

https://youtu.be/JdiYZgnQOeY

Ten Island Records Greats From The WIP Series

 In 1967 Island records jumped from their WI (West Indies) catalog number series to the WIP series which unlike the WI, was predominantly rock and roll. Here's ten from the WIP series for your listening pleasure:

1. RAY CAMERON-"Doing My Time" WIP  6003 1967

I know absolutely zilch about this record but discovered it via Nick Rossi many years ago. It's got a feel not unlike the sort of brassy sophisticated pop/r&b that Georgie Fame and Zoot Money were leaning towards in late '66/early '67 when they were easing off the soulful r&b. Penned by Cameron and organ whiz Alan Hawkshaw it reminds me of Fame's hit "Getaway" or Zoot Money's "Nick Knack". Lyrically it concerns a prisoner (complete with lots of sound affects) and was released on the heels of a host of high profile HM Prison escapes. 

https://youtu.be/N7KA1Hy0mg0

2. TRAFFIC-"Coloured Rain" WIP 6025 1967

The flip of Traffic's third single "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush", "Coloured Rain" rates as one of their most powerful tracks in my estimation and might have made a better topside. Winwood has never sounded more soulful and the mix of organ and percussion give at hint of what his previous band, The Spencer Davis Group, might have sounded like had he not packed it in and gotten a little more "freaky". 

https://youtu.be/GXHDGjp1Lxs

3. JIMMY CLIFF-"I Got A Feeling (And I Just Can't Stop)" WIP 6011 1967

Jamaica born Jimmy Cliff had a Jekyll and Hyde music career on Island. On one hand he was a reggae artist and on the other he made slightly poppy soul records, a split that must have confused fans and chart compilers alike. "I Got A Feeling" is in the latter category. It reminds me of SDG's "Can't Get Enough Of It" but with uptempo horns and soulful backing vocals not unlike his French E.P. only tune "Let's Dance" (a vocal version of Wyncder K. Frog's "Dancing Frog"). 

https://youtu.be/JsCNm3Ynya0

4. THE V.I.P.'s-"Straight Down To The Bottom" WIP 6005 1967

One of Island's strongest 45's for me will always be the second single for the label by soul/r&b quintet The V.I.P's (it would also be their last using the V.I.P's moniker). Propelled by powerful/soulful call and response vocals/backing vocals it's infectious groove is carried along by almost wonky sounding stride piano and some funky percussion (I swear there's congas buried in there).  Mike Harrison's vocals sound marvelous and the backing vocals shore it all up. Magic! Two months later the band would re-emerge on the label as Art (see below).

https://youtu.be/YUpdq4zMnNE

5. THE SMOKE-"It Could Be Wonderful" WIP 6023 1967

Freakbeat legends The Smoke switched to Island after two singles with Columbia and launched this 45 in November '67. "It Could Be Wonderful" is driven by a mid tempo beat with bursts of raw power chords and a Motown influenced bass line. In the middle bit it gets freaky with a banjo before crashing backing into their trademark power pop gusto adding a Morse code guitar lick reminiscent of "You Keep Me Hanging On" and the bass line doubling as it fades out.

https://youtu.be/aKXlCzoOGYE

6. WYNDER K. FROG-"I'm A Man" WIP 6014 1967

Hammond organ driven r&b legends Wynder K. Frog issued two singles on the label in their distinct red and white WI series before moving to a taste of pink with the WIP series. Their over the top instro reading of the SDG's "I'm A Man" is a full on party committed to vinyl with hand claps, crowd shouts , a raucous football terrace drunken yell of the main chorus and of course wailing Hammond organ. The music press at the time reported that this was recorded live in Paris at Bridgette Bardot's birthday party, keyboardist Mick Weaver subsequently owned up that it was pure fantasy concocted by the band's management. 

https://youtu.be/WiAl3nyIr9Y

7. ART-"What's That Sound (For What It's Worth)" WIP 6019 1967

Two months after the above mentioned V.I.P's 45 "Straight Down To The Bottom" the band changed their name to Art and cut this interesting cover of The Buffalo Springfield's 1966 hit. It adds a heavy riff (that I swear was nicked by Hot Chocolate for their hit "You Sexy Thing") to it that totally revamps the number. Six months later they would add a new member and become Spooky Tooth (see below).

https://youtu.be/1muqnajccgI

8. JOYCE BOND-"Do The Teasy" WIP 6010 1967

West Indian vocalist Joyce Bond had previously cut on single for the label's WI series before this release. Punctuated by a rocksteady rhythm and some very British r&b sounding horns that could easily be from a '67 Georgie Fame 45. "Do The Teasy" is an inoffensive little commercial sounding reggae tune punctuated with the obligatory shouts of "Hey!". It was produced by the famous Harry Palmer, the man behind the decks on The Mohawks Pama 45's.  Never one to miss an opportunity to plagiarize Prince Buster re-cut it as "Take It Easy" the following year.

https://youtu.be/cjGdLbcnPjI

9. NIRVANA-"The Girl In The Park" WIP 6038 1968

Pop psych duo Nirvana released this, their fourth 45 rpm offering on the label in August of 1968. Wrapped in a wonderful production by Muff Winwood and orchestrated by Syd Dale it's a magnificent number with lush strings, harpsichord, angelic sunshine pop choral bliss and brass that would give any Decca/Deram release in the pop-sike genre a run for it's money. My favorite bit as at 2:13 in when the brief "ba ba ba's" come in and carry the number out.

https://youtu.be/uAL4WvE7bUA

10. SPOOKY TOOTH-"Sunshine Help Me" WIP 6022 1968

The ink was barely dry on the label's of Art's Buffalo Springfield cover as WIP 6019 before the band added keyboard player and NJ native Gary Wright and became Spooky Tooth, their third moniker revamp in a year's time. "Sunshine Help Me" is a powerful mix of Small Faces '68 style rocking and soulful shades of the band's previous incarnations. Led by the dual vocals of Wright and the ever soulful Mike Harrison it's mix of churchy Hammond, harpsichord, tabla and blistering guitar that easily make it the most powerful thing they ever did.

https://youtu.be/t6h3dOeZlFs

45 scans of The Smoke and Spooky Tooth courtesy of 45cat.com. 

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Traffic's Debut 45

TRAFFIC featuring STEVIE WINWOOD-Paper Sun/Giving To You US United Artists UA 50195 1967

Emerging in 1967 when the term "super group" was being bandied about quite frequently in the music press, I can't say I ever thought Traffic were a super group. Other than Stevie Winwood coming from The Spencer Davis Group his band mates were all decidedly players on B-teams (no offense musically, I'm speaking purely from the commercial aspect). But rock n roll mythology likes to lump them together with everyone else. Regardless their debut was one of the finest singles 1967 unleashed.

Depending on what source you've read "Paper Sun", the debut May '67 45 by Traffic was written allegedly in a hotel lobby or a hotel room in Newcastle by Winwood when he was still in the S.D.G. and Jim Capaldi while he was in Deep Feeling (a band who never released any records but recorded some great material) .  My image of Newcastle is forever muddied by "Get Carter" a film from 5 years later so the idea of Traffic in their hippy garb in 1967 Newcastle must have been quite an unusual one as I imagine it was still all Brylcreem and winklepickers up there at that time. "Paper Sun" is a perfect Summer of '67 tune not just for all of it's sitar and conga trappings but lyrically it was already sussing the expiration date on the trippy hippie carefree lifestyle that was suddenly "the rage". Maybe I'm mis-hearing the lyrics, but that's my interpretation. There's the buzzing woodwinds creating a psychedelic Casbah feel meshing up against sitar scales and jarring tambura and tablas tapping, 1967 was here. Feel it.

"Giving To You" starts with a cacophony of voices all shouting and chattering on top of each other before evolving into a mellow jazzy instrumental led by flute before some blistering  British blues guitar licks burst forth and then some B-3 notes slide in. It's interesting because it's a meld of bluesy/jazzy British r&b, a scene all of the band members were clearly moving away from with this band but clearly not far away enough from for them to still play it.

Trade advert for the single courtesy of 45cat.com

Both tracks are available as bonus tunes on the recent deluxe edition CD reissue of their debut LP "Mr. Fantasy". 

Hear "Paper Sun":

https://youtu.be/bEnAft8bpBA

Hear "Giving To You":

https://youtu.be/sd7oD1kTMCI

Island Records Ska Part Two

1. JUSTIN HINDS AND THE DOMINOES-"Bother Ration" WI 171 1965
Justin Hind's second release for Island was this single, released after one on the famous Ska Beat label. "Bother Ration" aka "Botheration" (which Webster's defines as "the state of being irritated or annoyed") is a tune with call and response vocals that moves along with a nice uptempo beat thats a far cry from the ska boogie sound that was now decidedly passe.

https://youtu.be/FNIbenBJpjU

2. CARLOS MALCOLM AND THE AFRO CARIBS-"Bonanza Ska" WI 173 1965
Like bassist Byron Lee, trombonist Carlos Malcolm ran the gamut of Jamaican music styles performing mento, calypso and ultimately ska whilst simultaneously making recordings in all of these genres. His only ska recording for the Island label was this kitschy, brassy ska cover of the theme tune to the U.S. western TV show "Bonanza" which was subsequently reissued by Trojan on three separate occasions over the next four decades.

https://youtu.be/kl4PlYGSIG0

3. SHENLEY DUFFUS-"Rukumbine" WI 186 1965
"Rukumbine" like "Bother Ration" is a Jamaican slang term. It is stated that it originally referred to combining ingredients to make a stew but was also a double entendre for copulation! The track is a slower number with a slight mid tempo ska boogie shuffle. It was Shenley's 8th single for the label and was previously done by Carlos Malcolm in '64 on the Jamaican Son label .

https://youtu.be/EszDqgjzqNc

4. DON DRUMMOND-"Man In The Street" WI 208 1965
Skatalites trombonist Don Drummond is best known sadly for his short and tragic life (read more about the circumstances here). Drummond cut singles in the U.K. for Blue Beat, R&B, Black Swan and Ska Beat in addition to Island where he released his epic "Man In The Street". From it's razor sharp trombone intro it's instantly recognizable and along with The Skatalites "Guns Of Navarone" is probably one of the most famous ska instrumentals of all time.

https://youtu.be/uUnqx8kbrXQ

5. ROLAND ALPHONOSO-"El Pussycat" WI 217 1965
Skatalites sax player Roland Alphonso (also credited as Roland Al) had singles released in Britain on Rio, Ska Beat, R&B, Blue Beat and Island where he cut this ska'd version of Mongo Santamaria's latin groove "El Pussycat" powered by a selection of incredibly tight horn players with each player soloing in a perfect mash up of jazz meets ska.

 https://youtu.be/bDSGXJfdXis

6. OWEN GREY-"Shook Shimmy And Shake" WI 252 1965
Okay we're stretching this one a bit as it's technically NOT a ska number. Owen Gray, like just about everyone else in this list cut ska sides for U.K. releases for Rio, Blue Beat, Starlite, Dice etc and several on Island. And like many other Jamaican artists (Jimmy Cliff, Jackie Edwards etc) he also recorded non-ska material.  This 1965 single is distinctly r&b but the horns have a distinct ska flavor to them that makes for an excellent combination. The track was later cut in 1967 for the label by the mod/r&b instrumental combo Wynder K. Frog.

https://youtu.be/nY9TMmlho-4

7. THE WAILERS-"Put It On" WI 268 1966
Bob Marley and Co.'s Wailers bounced between Doctor Bird, Ska Beat and Island in the U.K. in 1965-1966. This Coxsone Dodd produced 45 is an uptempo number with high falsetto vocals at the intro that melodically owes a great deal to The Drifter's "Sweets For My Sweets" . The band's brilliant three part harmonies carry the water on this one. Curiously both U.K. copies I own of this are of inferior sound quality. Was this a mastering issue???

https://youtu.be/mOrLMoyUIgU

8. THE GAYLADS-"Message To My Girl" WI 291 1966
"Message To My Girl" is a cheeky re-write of Burt Bacharach's "Message To Michael" (the band would later transform The Four Top's "It's The Same Old Song" into "Stop Making Love" on their next release). This is the B-side of the weak "You Never Leave Him", it's backed by some steady horn blowing and it chugs along nicely with a mid tempo boogie rhythm while the band croon like ska's answer to The Impressions.

https://youtu.be/nfPu7iGaKO8

9. DESMOND BAKER AND THE CLAREDONIANS-"Rude Boy Gone A Jail" WI 295 1966
The "rude boy" topic in ska could take up an entire piece in itself. This 1966 single by Desmond Baker and the Claredonians was the only release known as The Claredonians (who had previously cut the storming "Rudie Bam Bam" for the Rio label). It's a mid tempo tune that's rather primitive in it's simple recording with a social observation/message about the perils of being a rude boy, a frequent theme in the genre.

 https://youtu.be/66seKiISWVo

10. ROY RICHARDS-"South Vietnam" WI 3000 1966
Starting with horns blowing "Charge" before a shout of "Attention!" the number lumbers into a harmonica led instrumental track including with "Taps" over the top of your basic mid tempo ska beat. It's a curious number that's fairly rudimentary (listen for the bassist flub a note about 2:04 in) but interesting in it's use as a harmonica as the lead instrument!

https://youtu.be/B38UOSDxt3k

Island Records Ska Picks Part One

Whilst here on self imposed quarantine due to the Coronavirus I have been going through my various singles and decided to come up with ten ska sides on the Island label for your pleasure!

1. DERRICK MORGAN-"Forward March" WI 011 1962
Released in honor of Jamaica's independence In August of 1962 "Forward March" is a spirited track that begins with a rallying trumpet and a military march cum mid tempo  ska rhythm. It was Morgan's third release on Island after a staggering 22 singles for Emil Shallit's Blue Beat label.

https://youtu.be/4RYaMH9wB84

2. JIMMY CLIFF-"Dearest Beverely" WI 012 1962
Jimmy's second UK release after a single on Blue Beat and his debut on Island was this neo doo wop ballad that was a far cry from ska but worth a listen for the historical importance. Fortunately Jimmy went on to cut several far more "ska" sides for the label that were far more interesting.

https://youtu.be/2QEfOlbBYLc

3. CLANCY ECCLES-"Judgement" WI 044 1963
Clancy Eccles holds the distinction of being on practically ever major U.K. 60's ska label: Blue Beat, Ska Beat, Pama, Doctor Bird and of course Island where he cut two singles, "Judgement" being the first. Delivered at mid tempo with a chugging ska-boggie rhythm it's backed the unusual accompaniment of harmonica and horns.

https://youtu.be/oZ7nViQBrsU

4. DESMOND DECKER (sic) and BEVERELEY'S ALL STARS-"Honour Your Mother And Father" WI 054 1963
The late great Desmond Dekker's (misspelled here) made his debut on Island (and everywhere else) with this track in 1963. Licensed from Bevereley records in Jamaica it's a curious P.S.A overlaid on a slow boogie woogie rhythm with a ska back beat.

https://youtu.be/NbTr1rT1nPc

5. TOP GRANT-"Riverbank Coberley" WI 072 1963
The curiously named Top Grant's fourth release for the label was this mid tempo groover backed by some tasty sax and a totally infectious groove that is a welcome breath of air for the periods usual "ska boogie shuffle" sounds.

https://youtu.be/0LbhsatNLXM

6. THE VIKINGS-"Six And Seven Books Of Moses" WI 075 1963
The Vikings were an moniker used by The Maytals on their early Island releases. Some of their records have been dubbed "gospel ska" because of their penchant for biblical influenced tracks like this one. Despite my lack of religious interest this one works because of their stellar vocal harmonizing, but only just.

https://youtu.be/l7YCq-kMn_c

7. BABA BROOKS-"Bank To Bank" WI 096 1963
One time Skatalite and ska trumpet player extraordinaire, Baba Brooks cut a host of sides for Island in between other releases for Black Swan and Ska Beat. "Bank To Bank" is a fairly pedestrian instrumental that's offset by some jazzy solos and a drum beat that threatens to derail the whole number at times!

https://youtu.be/l7YCq-kMn_c

8. LORD BRISCOE-"Praise For I" WI 131 1964
Licensed through Beverley's records in Jamaica this was Lord Briscoe's debut on the label and like many of his subsequent releases it has a biblical slant. This one carries an unusual mix of horns and harmonica which gives it an interesting feel

9. THE CHARMS-"Carry Go Bring Come" WI 154 1964
The Charms were Justin Hinds and The Dominoes delivering one the most skank-tastic Island ska sides. With amazing double tracked vocals and a solid brass section it doesn't get much better than this to my ears. Even with my two left feet this tune always makes me want to dance!

https://youtu.be/tq2X5tjQiBw

10. THE SKATALITES-"Guns Of Navarone" WI 168 1965
Possibly one of the most famous ska instrumentals of all time is this number from the short lived but legendary instrumental combo The Skatalites who contained a virtual who's who of 60's Jamaican music. Kicking off with the brilliant vocal percussion "chicka chicka chick" rhythm and the immediately identifiable powerful horns this reading of the film theme tune is eternal.

https://youtu.be/vqFf0q3ED4E

10 Cool 45's On Island (The WI Series)

A bit ago we covered 10 Island 45's from their post '66 WIP series.  In this installment we're tackled their first series, WI which ran from 1962 to 1968.

1. OWEN GREY-"Shook Shimmy Shake" WI-252 1965
Owen Grey cut several interesting ska 45's on Island. This one bridged a link between soul and ska (a wining combination in my book) and is easily his most in demand on the label.  This hybrid was none is better illustrated by this soulful release from 1965 that combines the jazzy/r&b horns of ska with Grey's powerful voice that's like a cross between Jackie Wilson and Clyde McPhatter.

https://youtu.be/bVJYumVGw4c

2. THE CIRCLES-"Take Your Time" WI-279 1966
One of the rarest British artist releases on Island is this one off 45 recorded by members of Screaming Lord Sutch's group The Savages under the name The Circles. This Bobby Bland composition was originally cut as an obscure US r&b/soul 45 by Little Mr. Lee and the Cherokees (Sure Shot 5006). The Circle's version is a mid tempo slow boiler that isn't initially impressive on a first listen but grows on you.

https://youtu.be/a2oUirAP9KM

3. DERRICK HARRIOTT-"Tang Tang Festival Song" WI-3153 1968
Steeped in a deep funky bass/keyboards/conga groove is this incredible rocksteady number that has repeatedly eluded this writer on a regular basis.  For me the strength in this number has always been the smooth horns that slid in almost unnoticed at first beneath the chunky rhythm. It's a very infectious earworm that's not easily forgotten.

https://youtu.be/eiCkoF5pZTE

4. CARLOS MALCOLM & THE AFRO CARIBS-"Bonanza Ska" WI-173 1965
The origin of many 60's ska instrumentals are a constant source of amusement for me.  More times then often it would be a movie theme (see #7 below) and a TV theme as well. Taking the theme from the 60's TV Western "Bonanza" and throwing a ska rhythm behind it has to be one of the more ingenious ones I've heard offered here by Carlos Malcolm, one of many "entertainers" who primarily played calypso music who quickly switched to ska when it appeared it might eclipse samba and bossa nova as the "next big thing".

https://youtu.be/kl4PlYGSIG0

5.  WYNDER K. FROG-"Turn On Your Lovelight" WI-280 1966
Wynder K Frog's Island debut was this storming, jazzy instrumental version of Bobby Bland's "Turn On Your Lovelight".  Masked in some solid horns the number of course brings organist Mick Weaver's Hammond virtuoso ability to the fore and like most of the first few Wynder K Frog 45's is decidedly more jazz than r&b.

https://youtu.be/6CGvZpod8hA

6. JACKIE EDWARDS-"I Feel So Bad" WI-3006 1966
The rarest of all Island 45's in the WI series is this mid tempo number.  Thanks to it's near legendary status on the Northern Soul scene it's damned near impossible to come across with copies running hald a grand when they do surface. Wrapped in Syd Dale's melodic strings and some subtle horns Edwards belts his way through this slow burner with gusto. Highly recommended.

https://youtu.be/WP0pfNL29fA

7. THE SKATALITES-"Guns Of Navarone" WI-168 1965
Certainly the most well known ska 45 on Island and certainly their best selling was this March 1965 interpretation of the theme to the World War Two cinema epic "Guns Of Navarone". Built on a powerful horn section (including the legendary Roland Alphonso on saxophone and Don Drummond on trombone) It's easily the most famous ska instrumental of all time.

https://youtu.be/vqFf0q3ED4E

8. THE V.I.P.'s-"I Wanna Be Free" WI-3003 1966
Soul/r&b legends The V.I.P.'s debut with Island was this October 1966 Joe Tex cover produced by Island supremo Chris Blackwell.  I actually enjoy it more than the original because they slow it down and give it a more down trodden feel thanks to the belting vocals of Mike Harrison and a gritty guitar solo by Jim Henshaw and aided in no small part by the rest of the band on backing vocals.

https://youtu.be/rH5SMNkxLMw

9. THE TENNORS-"Ride Your Donkey" WI-3133 1968
Also known as The Tenners, The Tennors cut a variety of 45's for a host of labels in the U.K. using both monikers. This release first saw a U.K. issue twice on the Fab label (each time with a different flip side as Fab 41) before it came out on Island.  It's a perfect mid tempo rocksteady groover and one of the last few of the label's WI series.

 https://youtu.be/R24PEgmSY2A

10. THE FREAKS OF NATURE-"People! Let's Freak Out" WI-3017 1966
In 1966 the late degenerate Kim Fowley took The Belfast Gypsies (former members of the now Van Morrison-less Them) and cut this insane little r&b number that was relesased in the U.K. on the tail end of '66. With it's Bo Diddley rhythm and licks and a pounding/frantic r&b feel it's not too far removed from anything Them ever cut. Regardless it's a glorious rave up!

https://youtu.be/-ub5kJtsM-0

10 Cool 45's On The Island Label (British Artists)

I could've just picked 10 ska/reggae 45's on Chris Blackwell's Island label but that would be too easy, so I stuck with releases by British artists in their WIP series. It's a damned shame someone hasn't done a proper Island A's and B's compilation as the label was responsible for quite a bit of stuff that has fallen between the cracks of their folky and prog material.

1. WYNDER K. FROG-"Green Door" WIP 6006 1967
The full on Hammond machine that was Wynder K. Frog was driven by the engine that was organist Mick Weaver and cut an incredible slew of singles for Island (5 singles in all, each worth seeking out) and three LP's (the first two of which are worth seeking out). This was their third Island 45 and their first on the labels pink WIP series full of 100 mph organ, hand claps and blaring, precision driven horns. To say it is dance floor friendly is somewhat of an understatement.

https://youtu.be/CoTDiSaYLBc

2. THE V.I.P.'s-"Straight Down To The Bottom" WIP 6005 1967
From the pen of the late great Jimmy Miller (who produced it as well) this record is an incredible two minute and ten second party with warbly piano, hand claps, cool call and response vocals and subtle congas that creates an incredible atmosphere that oozes London night club night life before L.S.D. and light shows. Their final 45 before mutating into Art (see below) and possibly the most sought after of Island's releases by British artists.

https://youtu.be/gKD2Lbo2awM

3. JULIEN COVEY & THE MACHINE-"A Little Bit Hurt" WIP 6009 1967
A monster two sided mod/r&b Hammond floor filler for the ages! Following a decidedly Spencer Davis Group style grove with great percussion,banging piano,  hand claps and wailing organ (a popular formula for Island 45's in '67 apparently) that make this the closest Britain ever came to creating a Mitch Ryder record. This single has been in high demand for the past 45 years and never seems to wane, no doubt in some small part to it being #49 in Kev Robert's  "Top 500 Northern Soul" book.

https://youtu.be/JyYiKaV9qGE

4. TRAFFIC-"Paper Sun" WIP 6002 1967
Allegedly composed in a hotel lobby in Newcastle (whilst sipping some local brown ale one would hope) this was Traffic's debut single that must have blown some minds especially being Steve Windwood's jump from the Spencer Davis Group and their mod Hammond n' handclap orgy that was "I'm A Man" but 5 months earlier. One can't help be entranced by it's buzzing (pun or no pun intended) dreamy backing vocals, tabla, sitar, flute, sax and tack piano. Lyrically the Summer of Love was not even in full bore and Traffic were already predicting the fall out here. Groovy, man (seriously it is).



5. THE SMOKE-"It Could Be Wonderful" WIP 6023 1967
The Smoke's history has been well documented elsewhere but suffice to say the majority of their material did not even get any U.K. airings as the band were much bigger in Germany and apparently France.  With just two 45's on U.K. Columbia including the banned "My Friend Jack" the band defected to Island where their debut was this soul infused cruncher.  Have a listen to the driving, fluid James Jamerson style bass line, crunching power pop power chords and the trippy little bit where a banjo comes in. Written by band members Geoff Gill, Mick Rowley and producer Jimmy Miller the band's time on Island was short owing to their reluctance to turn their back on a lucrative career in Germany to come back to the U.K. and plug their records (as a result this records follow up "Utterly Simple"/"Sydney Gill") was shelved.

https://youtu.be/aKXlCzoOGYE

6. NIRVANA-"Oh What A Performance" WIP 6016 1967
Like Wynder K. Frog Nirvana released so many 45's on Island it's hard to choose just one. This one has always been one of my favorites because it sort of eschews their toytown/orchestrated psych pop M.O. (which they had nailed in spades and I do love actually).  This is more of a rocking pop number without any psych pop trappings (and a rollicking piano c/o of guest Gary Wright) with a catchy chorus that won't leave your brain that sounds more like post r&b Manfred Mann than the orchestrated pop psych of say,  "Tiny Goddess" or "Pentecost Hotel".

https://youtu.be/DfvxGewV8x8

7. SPOOKY TOOTH-"Sunshine Help Me" WIP 6057 1969
From the ashes of The V.I.P.'s via Art (see below) came Spooky Tooth, which was, in their earliest incarnation, basically the final V.I.P's line up plus New Jersey born vocalist/keyboardist Gary Wright. Their debut 45 ushered in 1968 sounding amazing thanks to Mike Harrison's soulful vocals matched with Gary Wright's shrill screeches beneath the latter's groovy Hammond along with a funky Hendrix influenced guitar riff chugging along and swatches of harpsichord. Sadly it went downhill from there for my tastes.....

https://youtu.be/SLTGYfmqQeI

8. RAY CAMERON-"Doing My Time" WIP 6003 1967
This bizarre prison themed 45 with both sides lyrically concerning incarceration produced by Jimmy Miller and label head Chris Blackwell penned by Ray Cameron and Alan Hawkshaw (best known as the man behind the Mohawks and the KPM All Stars). It's comes across like a musical combination of Georgie Fame's poppier CBS sides and lyrically like Zoot Money's more playful/tongue firmly in cheek material from the end of his Columbia career with some nice touches touches of fuzz guitar and ska flavored horns.

https://youtu.be/N7KA1Hy0mg0

9. JETHRO TULL-"Song For  Jeffrey" WIP 6043
Jethro Tull had cut an amazing debut 45 as Jethro Toe (an intentional typo by their manager who was unhappy with their name choice) for MGM in early '68 and moved to Island for this release launched in September 1968.  Most of you will know it as it's the track they mime in the Rolling Stones "Rock N' Roll Circus" flick. Beneath some expected flute it slides into a bluesy "Beggar's Banquet" style Stones groove with Ian Anderson's gravely vocals sounding like they're being drawled through a megaphone.

https://youtu.be/-qP2bV0KviM

10. ART-"What's That Sound" WIP 6019 1967
Previously known as the r&b/soul purveyors The V.I.P.'s, Art were the V.I.P.'s on acid, more or less (the V.I.P's had previously gotten a tad freaky here).  Gone were the mod emulations of American rhythm and blues and in came something all together different in the form of this Summer of Love (July 1967) cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth".  Still not down from their mod amphetamine r&b Art up the tempo, throw in a guitar riff that always reminds me of Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing" and some incredibly soulful vocals from lead belter Mike Harrison.

https://youtu.be/1muqnajccgI

The V.I.P.'s

THE V.I.P.'s-Straight Down To The Bottom/Back Into My Life Again/Every Girl I See/ In A Dream France Fontana 460.996 ME 1967

The V.I.P.'s have been covered in an older post here. Today's item of interest is in my estimation one of the coolest French 60's E.P.'s ever issued because it's chock full of killer tunes and has this bad ass picture sleeve. "Straight Down To The Bottom" is one of their most sought after singles of all time (jack ass here had a one sided demo copy of it , guess where that went?). It was written by their new producer Jimmy Miller (previous 45's were produced by their label boss Chris Blackwell), who later went on to do some fantastic stuff with The Stones. "Back In To My Life Again" was composed by Miller with Jamaican singer/songwriter Jackie Edwards . It was also recorded by the Spencer Davis Group who recorded a slew of Edwards tunes like "Keep On Running" and "Somebody Help Me"(and Love Affair cut a smoking version as well during their brief period in '67 where they were signed to Decca that went unreleased until a few years ago that I came across on iTunes). "In A Dream" is a Jackie Edwards composition and was the B-side to the U.K. issue of "Straight Down To The Bottom" (Island  WIP 6005). "Every Girl I See" was composed by Willie Dixon and M.P. Murphy and recorded by Buddy Guy though I'm not sure who else did it.

"Straight Down To The Bottom" is my fave V.I.P's track hands down.  My demo copy and other versions I've heard always sounded warbly, especially the piano, like the tapes were under water. Most version's I've heard sounded the same way.  Anyone with an original 45 that sounds any better?  Regardless it's a non-stop gas, soulful lead vocals  over the top of a soulful bass groove with great call and response vocals and is easily one of the most infectious numbers British r&b has ever produced for the dance floor.  The backing vocals that repetitively chant "I can't sleep and I can't eat" over and over again stay in my brain on most days, highly infectious stuff. Their version of "Back Into My Life Again" easily dispenses the Spencer Davis Group version in my book owing to it's harder hitting edge and cool little guitar lick that comes in after the main chorus and has a great "party" atmosphere to it like The Quik's "Bert's Apple Crumble" or Island label mates Wynder K. Frog's reading of "I'm A Man".

"Every Girl I See" is proto-trippy with it's slashing cymbal and the almost raga feel to the lead vocals as they come wafting into your ears with some period congas and and some Steve Cropper style guitar licks bringing it on. It certainly deviates from the bluesy feel of Buddy Guy's version which is cool in my book as there's certainly enough carbon copy covers by U.K. bands in this era, and this ain't one of them! "In A Dream" is a slow number with a sort of waltz/swing to it but it's lead singer Mike Harrison's soulful vocals that really move this one along while some barroom style piano tinkles in the background, 12 string guitar and with some crashing drums that give it some guts.

All four tracks can be found on Repertoire Record's highly recommended 28 track CD compilation "The Complete V.I.P's" which if you're a fan of U.K. mid 60's soulful r&b like I am you need to get post haste.  Luckily it is still available through Amazon.

Hear "Straight Down To The Bottom":

http://youtu.be/gKD2Lbo2awM

Hear "Back Into My Life Again":

http://youtu.be/z_--eurZKrI

Hear "In A Dream":

http://youtu.be/OVFBei0Zn8g