Dave Berry Does Graham Gouldman

 

DAVE BERRY-I'm Gonna Take You There/Just Don't Know UK Decca F.12258 1965

British crooner/rocker Dave Berry was an early artist to take advantage of Manchester songwriter Graham Gouldman's wares when he cut this track as his eighth UK single (the follow up to his cover of  Ray Davie's "This Strange Effect"). Gouldman's visits to the hit parade had, at this point only been confined to The Yardbirds readings of "For Your Love" and "Evil Hearted You".

Starting off with some brass and harpsichord "I'm Gonna Take You There" is an interesting track. The musical backing is top notch but Berry's voice sounds so soulless, maybe it's the track itself but for a Graham Gouldman track the number does absolutely nothing for me. It reached #22 in the U.K. charts.

Berry had a history of recording crooners/ballads on the A-side with studio musicians and recording rockers on the B-sides with his backing band The Cruisers. "Just Don't Know" sees him backed by them. It's a folk rock type thing with some jangly guitar and sounds unsurprisingly like a Simon & Garfunkel cast off. It was actually penned by Berry and someone named Canter.

Both sides are collected on a Dave Berry CD compilation called "This Strange Effect: The Decca Sessions Volume One".

Hear "I'm Gonna Take You There":

https://youtu.be/uwMzdFvWYoA

Hear "Just Don't Know":

https://youtu.be/XCf_s08uRkk

The Zombies "Is This The Dream"

 

THE ZOMBIES-Is This The Dream/Don't Go Away US Parrot 45 PAR 9821 1966

The Zombie's seventh U.S. single arrived in February 1966 (it was previously issued in the U.K. as Decca F 12296 in November of '65). It would be their next to last single for Parrot and was issued long after the band's brief run of U.S. hits had long since passed. Despite the lack of a recent U.S. hit (their last Top 40 chart placing here was "Tell Her No" in late 1964 which reached #6) Parrot continued to match most of their U.K. seven inch offerings with a U.S. release.

Keyboardist Rod Argent's "Is This The Dream" is almost "tough" sounding at times. Blunstone's vocals nearly strain on top of a driving Motown beat punctuated by some "hey hey hey"'s by the band. It launches into a mashed up electric piano solo by Rod Argent all led by an infectious James Jamerson style bass line by Chris White (which doubles up as the number is winding up and Blunstone once again sings on the verge of breaking his voice). The harmonies really carry this one and though they are at odds with the roughness of it I love it!

The flip side "Don't Go Away" is a somber affair. It's sparse musical backing (acoustic guitar, faint organ, bass, drums) sounds almost like an unfinished track and it's lyrically geeky, like an almost forced "Let's Spend The Night Together" with Blunstone sounding almost unconvincing in his efforts to get his partner to stay with him. Try as I may this track just doesn't cut it for me, sorry fellas.

Both sides are available in a host of places because it literally seems like Ace/Big Beat issues a new Zombies collection literally every year!

Hear "Is This The Dream":

https://youtu.be/8zCiLEtJHGA

Hear "Don't Go Away":

https://youtu.be/1OVRx3GcByE

More U.K. Tracks On U.S. Labels: Alan Price Does Randy Newman

THE ALAN PRICE SET-Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear/Tickle Me US Parrot 45-PAR-3009 1967

I will probably court abuse and derision by stating this but I have never worshiped in the cult of Randy Newman. His music in all the Pixar movies makes me cringe and his voice causes me to shudder BUT I do, on occasion, enjoy other artists interpretations of his earlier material.

In the mid 60's Britain lots of artists were quick to take note of the upcoming song writing talents of Newman. Cilla Black, The Nashville Teens, Billy Fury, Duffy Power, Joe Brown etc all cut Randy Newman compositions. Ex-Animals keyboard player Alan Price joined the list when he recorded Newman's "Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear"  b/w another Newman original "Tickle Me" on the flip. It was issued in February of '67 as Decca F 12570 where it rose to # 4 (his third Top 10 U.K. hit) and his fifth British single. It was released in the States a month later as "Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear" and was his third American 45, sadly it failed to chart. 

For those who have never heard it, "Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear" is a chirpy upbeat number punctuated by some catchy horn parts  reminiscent of Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames and a completely ear catching melody with some nifty key changes. It clashes with Price's more r&b sounds but the earlier mentioned brass section adds a very  different sound to it that adds to it's charm (to my ears anyway). 

"Tickle Me" is, to my ears, a polar opposite to the A-side. It's almost dirge like at times and just reminds me too much of early Billy Joel!! The musical backing has something interesting going on that I can't quite place but not enough redeem it for my ears. 

Both sides have been issued on a variety of Alan Price Decca era collections, most notably the three CD set "Twice The Price" and a double CD "The House that Jack Built: The Complete 60's Sessions". The A-side was included on his debut U.S. album, 1968's "The Price Is Right" (Parrot PA/PAS 71018) but not the B-side, someone at Parrot likes me....

Hear "Simon Smith And His Amazing Bear":

https://youtu.be/sVulPluv5jo

Hear "Tickle Me":

https://youtu.be/eo05rXUjpHQ

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

Stop Me If You've Heard These Before....Even 10 More For Your Ears

Here's ten more groovers for your eardrums, hopefully some new to your ears ones!  Al label scans are courtesy of the amazing 45cat.com website!

1. HOUSTON PERSON-"Soul Dance" Prestige 45-713 1969

Jazz sax player Houston Person cut several 45's for the Prestige label (five to be exact) and this was the first. It's a catchy sax versus B-3 instrumental (organ played by Billy Gardener) that's not as funky as the release year might lead you to believe!

https://youtu.be/TdNV2ws7YJk

2. THE FIVE DU-TONES-"The Chicken Astronaut" One-derful 4824 1964

The Five Du-Tones cut nine singles for the One-derful label from 1962-65. This tune was the flip of their seventh 45 "Cool Bird". It's an upbeat r&b grrover about a reluctant spaceman with some rollicking piano and a danceable groove throughout and a great fade out with someone yelling "I wanna go back to earth so I can shake a tail feather" (in reference to their third single "Shake A Tail Feather").

https://youtu.be/elPMO3urOLY

3. JON HENDRICKS-"Fire In The City" Verve VK-10512 1967

Vocalese jazz legend Jon Hendricks had an interesting career following the break up of his jazz trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. By 1967 he was palling around with a San Francisco act called The Warlocks (later to be known as The Grateful Dead) who backed him on this track, the flip of his final single "Sons And Daughters". "Fire In The City" is not remotely jazz but a catchy bluesy tune with lots of gospel like call and response backing vocals that almost borders on sounding like Creedence Clearwater Revival. Dig the funky guitar solo by Bob Weir!

https://youtu.be/16VLBmF8kXc

4. LITTLE SHERMAN & THE MOD SWINGERS-"The Price Of Love" ABC 45-11233 1969

This obscure 45 was cut by a Chicago singer-songwriter named Sherman Nesbary first for the local Sagport label then reissued by ABC. It sounds a great deal like the poppy soul of Sly & The Family Stone with it's upbeat backing and chorus of sunshiney harmonies. 

https://youtu.be/XnMQW9co0V4

5. THE BRACEROS-"Sunny" Vault V-930 1966

This 1966 cover of Bobby Hebb's hit "Sunny" is an amazing Latin r&b instrumental that's trumpet led with vibes and some seriously hard hitting drumming making it my favorite version of this track that I have ever heard! I know absolutely nothing about these guys so if anyone could fill in the blanks it would be greatly appreciated!

https://youtu.be/QmKTFEgKYQU

6. LITTLE EMMETT SUTTON-"Mom, Won't You Teach Me To Monkey" Federal 45-12501 1963

This pricey slow r&b smoker on the Federal label is almost analogous to early Smokey Robinson and The Miracles but a little grittier. It's a perfect mid tempo exercise in beautiful mod/r&b. Anybody got a spare copy for under a Franklin that they want to part with?

https://youtu.be/d_SaFMglGt0

7. THE ROOFTOP SINGERS-"Kites" Atco 45-6526 1967

US folk trio The Rooftop Singers are an unexpected appearance here but their September 1967 single is best known by a version from U.K. act Simon Dupree and The Big Sound's (issued here by them in the US on Tower two months later). The U.K. Simon Dupree version came out in October which leads me to suspect this was the original! Forget anything you might think of this band and their folky/elevator jazz muzak this number is pure pop psych brilliance! With regal trumpets, jarring organ, flutes, marimbas and above all pure sunshine pop harmony vocals it's no wonder Simon Dupree and Co. decided to cut this!

https://youtu.be/q0eoykKwcaU

8. THE FURYS-"Parchman Farm" Lavender R-1805 1963

Not to be confused with the California R&B vocal group The Fury's, these guys were an act who hailed from Longview, Washington and cut this almost frat rock version of the Mose Allison classic. At times it sounds sloppy, but that's where it's charm lies. My favorite part of the cheezy electric piano!

https://youtu.be/hWWpcAsgWsY

9. THE GRASSHOPPERS-"Mod Socks" Sunburst SB-104 1965

Cleveland, Ohio's Grasshoppers cut this updated reading of "Short Shorts" as "Mod Socks" in 1965 on the local Sunburst label.  This is a frat rock screamer that's  delivered at 100 mph with a feel that would do vintage Bob Seger proud! The beat is driving and the lead singer is a total screamer. It's hard to believe this hasn't been comped anywhere before?!

https://youtu.be/p4uOy_ozsmk

10. LEE DORSEY-"Go Go Girl" Amy 998 1967

Soul/r&b veteran Lee Dorsey released this Allen Toussaint penned stormer in September '67. Punctuated with brass blasts and a chorus of "Go Go!" it's extremely catchy upon a first listen and just builds and builds. Worth seeking out!

https://youtu.be/VtaEgNEThlg

The Style Council

 

There's a new Style Council documentary available to view here in the States on Showtime. Fans or anyone with an interest in 80's music would be wise to check it out. The piece rekindled my thoughts on the band and I will direct you to two older posts: "How I Learned Not to Love The Style Council:One Young Mod's Startling 80's Epiphany" and "How I Learned Not To Love The Style Council Chapter Two".

More U.K. Obscurities: Yen Years After's Debut 45

 

TEN YEARS AFTER-Portable People/The Sounds UK Deram DM 176 1968

For me Ten Years After will always be pretentious blues rock dinosaurs. Their untitled 1967 Deram LP debut is not without it's charm (with the jazzy organ instro "Adventures Of A Young Organ" or the jug band blues humor of "Losing The Dogs") but overall it failed to grab me in any major way. How strange is it that the band's debut LP was issued before they ever released any singles?  That single is today's item of interest. It was launched in February 1968 in the U.K. (a month later in the USA as Deram 45-85027). I've flipped it for our post because I much prefer the B-side.

"The Sounds" should have been the A-side. Forget any blues pretensions or 20 minute Slim Harpo covers, "The Sounds" is a full on freakbeat gas from start to finish. Curiously it reminds me a bit of Dennis Couldry's "I Am Nearly There" (UK Decca F 12734 issued the same month) with it's downtrodden, morose vocals with lyrics of mental confusion brought on by "the sounds". Is it about paranoia? A bad trip? A man who has just about had enough of life?  You decide. There's occasional bluesy but blistering guitar licks that burst out while the main verses feature a subtle organ and almost Gregorian chant backing vocals that gloomily plod along like a freakout dirge and it just builds and builds. The organ gets funkier and sound affects slowly start to pile on creating a brilliant cacophony of paranoia and confusion. It stops abruptly and slowly creeps back in for a few seconds. Positively trippy, man.

The A-side "Portable People" is not as groovy. It's not as bluesy as the bulk of their LP tracks but it's a laid back affair with music box piano tinkling away that reminds me of a light weight Lovin' Spoonful track or Canned Heat at their most plastic blues. Totally inoffensive but totally disposable too.

Both tracks are available on a deluxe Deram/Decca reissue of their debut LP that is still in print.

Promo advert courtesy of 45cat.com

Hear "The Sounds":

https://youtu.be/2urSalzMI_4

Hear "Portable People":

https://youtu.be/lffCxMHbbIE