More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: The Roulettes US Debut

THE ROULETTES-Soon You'll Be Leaving Me/Can You Go US United Artists UA 718 1964

Britain's beat quartet The Roulettes are little known in the United States and if they are its only as a minor footnote in backing singer Adam Faith on his sole U.S. "hit" "It's Alright" (Amy 913 October 1964) which reached #31. The band, comprised of Russ Ballad (vocals/guitar), Peter Thorp (lead guitar), John "Mod" Rogan (bass) and Bob Henrit (drums) had previously backed Faith on an early US release ("We Are In Love" Amy 899 February 1964) and today's subject. "Soon You'll Be Leaving Me" was the band's first US release sans Adam Faith. It was issued in May of 1964 (previously issued in the UK in November 1963 on Parlophone R 5072). Interestingly the UK issue featured "Tell Tale Tit" on the flip while the American issue featured "Can You Go" (pinched from the flip of their March 1964 UK 45 "Bad Time", Parlophone R 5110).

"Soon You'll Be Leaving Me" is a storming beat group number starting with a cracking drum intro and some Beatle-esque chord changes and excellent harmonies. The Roulettes always brought their A-game when it came to powerful vocals and tight musicianship and this 45 is no exception.

"Can You Go" is not as good as the top side with some hokey lyrics but its still spirited and has a rousing delivery in standard up tempo beat group abandon.  Both sides were penned by songwriter/singer Chris Andrews

The Roulettes would have one more US 45 on their own which you can read about here.

Both sides are available on a now out of print BGO CD reissue of their LP "Stakes And Chips" (which is one of the rarest British 60's albums with copies fetching an excess of $1,000!).

Hear "Soon You'll Be Leaving Me":

https://youtu.be/WEHDN5CIEsw

Hear "Can You Go":

https://youtu.be/UDHiYReMvS8

The Roulettes U.S. Pressing:live posting from the pub via Droid

THE ROULETTES-The Long Cigarette/Junk U.S. United Artists UA 990 1965

This was the seventh "solo" 45 by Adam Faith's sometime backing band The Roulettes, a talented U.K. 4 piece who cut some excellent records with little chart success.  "The Long Cigarette" was the closest they ever came to a hit.  I can't be 100% certain but I believe the band had previously released their fourth single "Bad Time" in the States on United Artists, however U.A. did release their second single "Soon You'll Be Leaving Me" in The States and it is this label that is the source of today's topic.

"The Long Cigarette" is an infectious sing-along beat ballad with some strong vocals and great key changes. It knocked me out the very first time I heard it on a compilation album called "My Generation" (see http://anorakthing.blogspot.com/2009/12/great-lps-in-my-life.html ). I promptly went out and snagged their Edsel compilation album "Russ, Bob, Pete & Mod" and the rest is history.  Equally as enjoyable as the "A" side is it's flip, "Junk", a groovy electric piano instrumental with some great Steve Cropper style buzzing guitar work and jazzy breaks, easily one of my favorite British 60's instrumentals of all time.

Both sides appear as bonus tracks on BGO's still in print reissue of their impossibly rare (we're taking a grand on up per copy) LP "Stakes And Chips".

Hear "The Long Cigarette":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unBSi53YKdw

Hear "Junk":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkvCJyoLqt4