A BATCH OF THE WELSH WONDER

Artist: JOHN CALE; Title: ANIMAL JUSTICE; Label; ILLEGAL; Format: 7" EP; 

Cat. No.: IL003; Year: 1977; Country: UK

Some 10 years on from the Velvet's debut John Cale issued this 3 track EP "Animal Justice" on Miles Copeland's Illegal label at the height of punk, as you'd expect from the Welsh One at this point his career he's not taking prisoners.  A case is in point is the opener on Side One "Chicken Shit" is pretty much about the vegetarian drummer in the band quitting after a) refusing to cut his hair when Cale and went for a more punk look, and b) after the refusal of doing a) when Cale cut the head off chicken live on stage (and not Ozzy as some would have it) just to really piss said drummer off.  Next up you get a rather good version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" on which Cale displays his Rock'n'Roll in no uncertain terms, and it's a pretty faithful interpretation compared to say the direction taken on 'Heartbreak Hotel'.

Side two of the EP (and the reason it's classed as an EP rather than 3 track single - or Maxi-Single of you're of an early 70's persuasion) is devoted entirely to 8 plus minutes that is the somewhat  amazing "Hedda Gabbler".  Loosely based on the narrative of Ibsen's play it's Cale at his best - all the elements kept in check and has a spectral grace to it with the electric piano the main instrument, with guitar fills and other instruments coming when needed, and the synth stings giving that underlying sense of menace.  Which shouldn't come as too much of surprise as this is a John Cale song after all!

SOMETHING FROM SWINDON'S FINEST

Artist: XTC; Title: SENSES WORKING OVERTIME; Label: VIRGIN; Format: 12" EP; 

Cat. No.: VS 462-12; Year: 1982; Country: UK

Focusing today on this 12" EP from Swindon's finest - XTC, and their 1982 classic "Senses Working Overtime".  They're one those British groups that seem have been more popular in the US than they were over here, which is a bit of a shame as Andy Partridge and co had a lot more going for them than the hits you're maybe lucky enough to hear on the radio.  The lead track being a case in point - "Senses working Overtime" is a great tune with all the inherent quirkiness that you tend to associate with this band (check out what they did to 'All Along The Watchtower in their debut LP for further research).  Next up is "Egyptian Solution (Homo Safari Series No. 3)" which is a case in point - instrumental electronica that sounds like it's more at home on a David Byrne, Brian Eno or Jon Hassell album from this period - and rather good it too - so go and check it out!

Side Two's opener gives you "Blame The Weather" (an apt title for what we're currently experiencing here in the UK!), which is more in the traditional XTC style - ie it's got vocals on it and played traditional instruments, and the catchy choruses that Andy Partridge is at good at coming up with, and with a nice bit of guitar work on the fade.  The proceedings are rounded off with "Tissue-Tigers (The Augers)" - which to me at least has more in common with their stuff from the late 70's - with a nice choppy rhythm and structure, and one of those tracks were you can see the influence on the US indie bands that emerged in the mid 80's - early R.E.M. comes to mind.  Worth a listen to see what you think - and as with the other tracks available somewhere on there on the web.

FRANK'S FRENCH GUITAR

Artist: THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION; Title: MY GUITAR; Label: REPRISE; 

Format: 7"; Cat. No.: RV. 20221; Year: 1969; Country: FRANCE

 First on for Feb is this 1969 French single from Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.  And not a single underage groupie or roadie/dodgy politician in sight!

The A Side gives you "My Guitar" - which with it's longer title of 'My Guitar Wants To Kill You Mama' appears in a somewhat different mix on the parent 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' LP.  What you a have here is a slower mid-tempo version with more of a Funk vibe to it, and without the speeded-up sax solos from Ian Underwood.  You can almost dance too it too!

The flip side gives you "Dog Breath" - and again a somewhat different version from the on that appears on 'Uncle Meat'.  Here it's an instrumental take (if you discount the backing vocal la-la-la's on the intro and Frank's mutant doo-wop at the end of the track) - so just when you're expecting the fuzzy dice and bongos bit instead you get Zappa and Ian Underwood playing in synch on what would normally be the vocal part.  The effect is to make it sound more akin to the stuff on 'Hot Rats'.

There's a copy of this on Discogs selling for £75 - so this one's probably worth around the £50 mark.  Not bad considering I only paid £20 for it back in Manchester a few years ago!

POLSKI BLONDI(E)

Artist: BLONDIE; Title: ATOMIC; Label: TONPRESS; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: S-342; 

Year: 1980; Country: POLAND

Still sticking with the euro theme of the last few most - today's vinyl is the Polish issue of Blondie's 1980 "Atomic".  The label, Tonpress, was a division of the state owned KAW media company, and was used as the outlet for mainly non-Polish recordings - which includes this one from Debbie Harry and Co.

The single's flip side is as per the UK issue - "Die Young Stay Pretty" which like the A Side comes from the 'Eat To The Beat' LP, and one that I've always kind've liked - having pretty much grown up with the song.  The A Side's not bad either!  Valuewise worth about the same as the UK issue - ie only a couple of quid, but nice to have for the qurio value.

And a quick thanks to whoever posted the original info on Tonpress on Discogs - much appreciated!

FRENCH ANIMALS

Artist: THE ANIMALS; Title: BOOM BOOM; Label: COLUMBIA; Format: 7"EP; 

Cat. No.: ESRF 7632; Year: 1965; Country: FRANCE

Carrying on the French theme of the last post - today I'm featuring this 1965 EP from The Animals.  Side One opens with this excellent version of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" - and which amply shows there was a lot more to Eric Burdon and Co than 'The House of the Rising Sun', mainly in the field of R'n'B.  Next up you have an Animals original in the form of "Club -A-Gogo" which I think was one their regular venues as well as that of then current bands and blues legends - hence the name-checks on the fade-out.

Side Two opens with what could've so easily been the lead track on this EP - their sublime interpretation of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood".  Originally written for and recorded by Nina Simone - this version really does do the song justice. It's this version was my intro to the song when I came across it on that early 70's MFP compilation of the Animals stuff from their time with Columbia.  The proceedings are rounded off with a version of Bo Diddley's "Roadrunner" which again doesn't disappoint.

FRENCH FOUR TOPS

Artist: FOUR TOPS; Title: IF A WERE A CARPENTER; Label: TAMLA MOTOWN; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: FT 125; Year: 1968; Country: FRANCE

Carrying on with a French theme on today's post - focusing on this 1968 offering from the Four Tops.  And by the way you can tell roughly when this is from (if you didn't know exactly) - as up to 1967 the preferred format for gallic 45's tends to be the 4 track EP (you do get 2 track singles but generally these tend to be jukebox issues - although there are exceptions to that rule!).  After '67 as EP's faded in popularity and the focus shifted to the UK/US standard format of on  2 tracks per side - either that or you bought the LP.

Back to the music - the A Side is a rather excellent version of Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter".  This could have so easily been a disaster - but thankfully when the song's in the hands of a singer of the calibre of Levi Stubbs then you know you can't go wrong.  Something that can't be said for the Tempations 'In A Mellow Mood' set from the same period where it did do so badly.

The flip side gives you the sublime "Baby I Need Your Loving" - which has to be one of the group's finest moments ever!  Penned by the Holland brothers and Lamont Dozier this is one of those that encapsulates and defines what Motown did best! Listen and enjoy!  Can't really say much more than that

!

EURO FAB FOUR STUFF

Artist: THE BEATLES; Title: ROCK AND ROLL  MUSIC; Label: ODEON; Format: 7";

Cat. No.: M0 20007; Year: 1966; Country: FRANCE

Focusing today on this 1966 French 45 from the Beatles - featuring two tracks from their 1964 'Beatles For Sale' LP.  It's the one where you can hear that creativity was wearing thin in places - and the reason why about half the set is cover versions.  But having said that what's on offer here - especially the A Side does deliver. Came across about 12 years ago in 2nd hand/junk shop (remember them?) in Banbury, for about £3. One thing that has always intrigued me about this is why it was issued 2 years after the parent LP? Perhaps due the anticipated wait for 'Revolver' - and this was all that the Beatles French label had left to release at the time.

The A Side gives you the excellent "Rock And Roll Music" - featuring Lennon in full rock'n'roll mode. and doing this Chuck Berry classic justice.  The piano part's done by producer George Martin - and the song was used as the title for the 1970's double LP featuring the band's more uptempo stuff.

The flip side gives you "I'm A Loser" - again features Lennon on lead vocal.  It's from his Dylan influenced period, which came to fruition with 'You've Got To Hide You Love Away on the subsequent 'Help' LP.  And with a nice bit of close harmony work on the intro.