Only Rock 'n' Roll

May 20, 2019

Members Only

Dublin Castle, Camden May 19^th 2019

Standout collectibles: none

Tonight was a benefit to finance an operation for poorly ex-New York Doll Sylvain Sylvain. The musical highlight was a short but sweet set from two punk-rock veterans, JC Carroll from the Members and John Perry from The Only Ones (Members Only, geddit ?). Opener The Sound Of The Suburbs highlighted the interplay between JC’s erratic accoustic and Perry’s dependable Les Paul Junior, as well as the delicate balance of JC’s lead vocals and JP’s surprisingly strong backing vocals. In the Beginning features on JC’s latest LP and allowed space for a thoughtful Perry solo that paid its respects to vintage Peter Green. Ever wondered what the Shadows playing Delilah would sound like? Wonder no more – it sounded great with the crowd singing along. Working Girl featured strong harmonies, the guitar solo in Another Girl Another Planet made up for JC’s mangling of the words and a cracking version of The Mersey’s Sorrow made for a fine set closer.

Review written for Record Collector magazine

May 16, 2019

Trash Get Boxed!

News

1977 | Our new CD Box Set Explores the year that Punk Broke!

Posted by Jack Clough / 2637

Calling all you punks out there!

1977 – THE YEAR PUNK BROKE kickstarts what we hope will be a new year-based series of compilations, celebrating the explosion of a new British phenomenon in 1977. You can pre-order your very own copy now!

PRE ORDER 1977 – THE YEAR PUNK BROKE HERE

This triple-CD box set follows the success of the 4-CD compilation Action Time Vision (2016), documenting Punk on indie labels, and 2017’s Power Pop/New Wave set Harmony In My Head.

Punk’s Year Zero was 1976. But very few Punk records were actually released that year. The most significant musical developments happened in 1977, with a burgeoning, self-supporting network of clubs, performers, fanzines, indie labels and distributors creating an unstoppable groundswell that would revolutionise UK music and have an enduring impact on pop culture.

1977: THE YEAR PUNK BROKE reflects how a thrilling, controversial scene developed over those tumultuous twelve months. Joined by sympathetic but more experienced acts (Deaf School, Graham Parker, Motorhead, etc.), a welter of new, young bands created a sonic explosion, with sub-three minute adrenalin rushes of raw excitement.

Many of the year’s major breakthrough acts and cult favourites are included, including The Jam, The Damned, The Boomtown Rats, Buzzcocks, The Stranglers, Generation X, Sham 69, The Only Ones, The Rezillos, Ultravox!, 999, X-Ray Spex, ATV, The Boys and The Vibrators.

The older guard – variously labelled Pub Rock, New Wave or Art Rock – are represented by Doctors Of Madness, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Deaf School, The Tyla Gang, Graham Parker & The Rumour, The Gorillas, The Count Bishops, Radio Stars, Spider and Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias.

Other key names include Motorhead (Lemmy’s new venture after splitting with Hawkwind, a metal band loved by punks) and The Heartbreakers, Johnny Thunders’ band who recorded in London. Also present are a host of obscure indie Punk 45s and other rarities.

The deluxe clamshell package includes a weighty booklet full of illustrations, with a 15,000-word sleeve-note and band-by-band biographies by compiler David Wells.

TRACKLIST

DISC ONE
1. BOREDOM – Buzzcocks
2. LONDON LADY – The Stranglers
3. GATECRASHER – The Gorillas
4. NEAT NEAT NEAT –
The Damned
5. CAPALDI’S CAFÉ – Deaf School
6. BAD TIME – The Vibrators
7. I DON’T CARE – The Boys
8. AWAY FROM THE NUMBERS – The Jam
9. BORN TO LOSE –
The Heartbreakers
10. THINKIN’ OF THE U.S.A. – Eater
11. ON THE EDGE – The Outsiders
12. SICK OF YOU – The Users
13. YOU REALLY GOT ME – Chartreuse
14. I WANNA BE FREE – The Rings
15. MAN OF THE YEAR – Models
16. PETER AND THE PETS –
The Only Ones
17. MOTORHEAD – Motorhead
18. MONY MONY –
Celia And The Mutations
19. RUNNIN’ RIOT – Cock Sparrer
20. I NEED YOU –
The Count Bishops
21. LET’S GO – Blitzkrieg Bop
22. NAIVE – The Killjoys
23. INCENDIARY DEVICE –
Johnny Moped
24. I WANNA BE YOUR MAN –
The Rezillos
25. NO RUSSIANS IN RUSSIA –
Radio Stars
26. FASCIST PIGS – The Nosebleeds
27. JUBILEE ’77 – The Exile

DISC TWO
1. LOOKIN’ AFTER NO. 1-
The Boomtown Rats
2. WHOLE WIDE WORLD – Wreckless Eric
3. I CAN’T COME – The Snivelling Shits
4. WHERE HAVE ALL THE BOOT BOYS GONE – Slaughter & The Dogs
5. FOR ADOLFS ONLY – The Valves
6. BULLETIN – Doctors Of Madness
7. DAY BY DAY – Generation X
8. TELEVISION VIEWER – The Vacants
9. KILL – Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias
10. YOU CAN’T ROCK AND ROLL (IN A COUNCIL FLAT) – Puncture
11. ENEMIES – Radiators From Space
12. JUST WANT TO BE MYSELF (7” Version) – The Drones
13. RED LONDON – Sham 69
14. DERANGED DEMENTED AND FREE – P.V.C.2
15. OH BONDAGE UP YOURS! –
X-Ray Spex
16. 2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY –
Tom Robinson Band
17. NASTY, NASTY – 999
18. ROCKWROK – Ultravox!
19. FAMILY PLANNING – The Depressions
20. RADIO FUN – Zeros
21. POOL HALL PUNKS – Tyla Gang
22. KLEAN LIVING KIDS – The Stukas
23. FREAK SHOW – The Lurkers
24. HOLD MY HAND – Jerks
25. BLEAK OUTLOOK – The Unwanted
26. BLOOD ON THE WALL – Some Chicken
27. INSANE SOCIETY – Menace
28. DRAB CITY – The Features
29. BACK TO THE WALL – Spider
30. JUST ANOTHER TEENAGE ANTHEM – New Hearts
31. (YOU KEEP ON TELLIN’ ME) LIES –
The Pleasers

DISC THREE
1. INNOCENTS – John Cooper Clarke
2. HOW MUCH LONGER –
Alternative TV
3. SHE MADE MAGIC – The Wasps
4. REGULATIONS – Neon Hearts
5. NEW YORK SHUFFLE –
Graham Parker & The Rumour
6. TRASH – The Doll
7. AIN’T NO LEGEND – Maniacs
8. IN MY LOVE FOR YOU –
Satan’s Rats
9. POLICE CAR – Larry Wallis
10. QUIT THIS TOWN –
Eddie & The Hot Rods
11. DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS – The Now
12. HIGH RISE LIVING – Chelsea
13. ARABS IN ‘ARRODS – Art Attacks
14. PRIORITIES – Trash
15. DYNAMO – The Method
16. NAIVE – Public Zone
17. JAILBAIT – Left Hand Drive
18. RIPPED AND TORN – Swell Maps
19. I CAN SEE YOU –
Acme Sewage Co.
20. FIRST MISTAKE – The Rats
21. NATTY PUNKO – Brainiac Five
22. DEFIANT POSE – The Cortinas
23. HELP I’M TRAPPED –
The Carpettes
24. TELL ME THE TRUTH (Live At The Vortex) – NEO
25. RAPED – Raped
26. FLIES – Fruit Eating Bears
27. RU12 – Hobbies Of Today
28. LEFT RIGHT AND CENTRE –
Drug Squad
29. I’M A PUNK –
Norman And The Hooligans

PRE ORDER 1977 – THE YEAR PUNK BROKE HERE

May 3, 2019

Great review of PP Arnold EP!

Ian McCann at Record Collector really, really likes our latest release….

April 28, 2019

Mott The Hoople, Shepherds Bush Empire

Friday 26^th April

Ian Hunter marked his amazing 80^th year by touring under the Mott The Hoople 1974 banner, his usual Rant band augmented by Mott’s flamboyant lead guitarist Ariel Bender and champagne-quaffing keyboard player Morgan Fisher. These gigs had a very different vibe to the Hammersmith Apollo reunion 2009 gigs when Buffin was still alive – his replacement on the drum stool Steve Holley did a great job, as do James Mastro (guitar, saxophone, mandolin), Mark Bosch (guitar), Paul Page (bass) and Dennis Dibrizzi (keyboards, backing vocals). The setlist featured only tracks recorded in 1974. A taped David Bowie introduced the set, where a snippet of American Pie lead into The Golden Age of Rock’n’Roll. The singles Roll Away The Stone and Honaloochie Boogie were obvious highlights, whilst the ’50’s jive of Pearl and Roy was an unexpected treat. The lengthy live medley from Mott Live was faithfully recreated with original violinist Graham Preskett appearing for Violence. Guest Brian May added additional guitar to All The Way From Memphis and after a moving Saturday Gigs the final encore could only be All The Young Dudes where the choruses included Stan Tippins (original Mott singer), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) and a cast of thousands. Ian Hunter personally selected openers Tax The Heat and their Zeppelinesque stomp was well received by a mature crowd. A triumphant celebration of not going gently into that good night.

Review written for Record Collector magazine

DJ Playlist

I had the great privilege of playing 7” vinyl singles before the bands on both nights and here is a list of everything I played, albeit not in the correct order. If you were there, I hope you heard something you enjoyed – all were released as singles in 1974.

My thanks to Mick Brown for making this happen and to Josh, Mark and the stage crew for their assistance.

Johnnie Allan – Promised Land

David Bowie – Rebel Rebel and Diamond Dogs

Brinsley Schwarz – (What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love And Understanding

John Cale – The Man Who Couldn’t Afford To Orgy

Dr Feelgood – Roxette

Ducks Deluxe – Love’s Melody and Fireball

Eno – Seven Deadly Finns

Faces – You Can Make Me Dance… and As Long As You Tell Him

Bryan Ferry – The In Crowd

J Geils Band – Musta Got Lost and Funky Judge

Grin – You’re The Weight

Ronnie Lane – The Poacher

Lulu – Watch That Man and The Man Who Stole The World

Andy McKay – Wild Weekend

Man – Hard Way To Live

New Your Dolls – Who Are The Mystery Girls? and Stranded In The Jungle

Raspberries – Overnite Sensation

Lou Reed – How Do You Think It Feels?

Rolling Stones – Through The Lonely Nights, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg and It’s Only Rock’n’Roll

Mick Ronson – Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

Roxy Music – All I Want Is You and The Thrill Of It All

Todd Rundgren – A Dream Goes On Forever

Bob Seeger – Get Out Of Denver

Sharks – Kung Fu

Slade – How Does It Feel and Far Far Away

Steely Dan- Rikki Don’t Lose That Number

Robert Wyatt – I’m A Believer

Ronnie Wood – I Can Feel The Fire

Neil Young – Walk On

PS This morning I got this lovely note from Mott’s production manager

The DJ set each night really helped set the mood, just as you did at The Replacements and to see Bobby Gillespie and Mick Jones, both get up and dance on separate sides of the hall at the same time, when you played the Dolls, is a memory that will stay with me a long time.

April 16, 2019

Sunday Sessions @ The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, April 13th 2019

Serendipity is a wonderful thing. After waiting 43 years to see Todd Rundgren, I approached the Sunday Sessions knowing nothing and expecting less. It was delightful to be so richly rewarded.

The Marine Theatre is the epicentre of the thriving arts scene in Lyme Regis, hosting everything from All About Eve live from the National Theatre through to forthcoming gigs from the Alabama 3 and Robyn Hitchcock. It is a lovely building, originally built for indoor sea bathing. The Sunday Sessions take place “post-lunch” on an irregular basis in the packed upstairs bar.

This session featured Jack Harrison, Aidan Simpson, Don Dickinson and Matt Benjamin. Jack, Aidan and Dan all played acoustic guitars and sang; Matt played cello. For some reason Dan is also known as Son Of Richard. Despite a somewhat disorganized approach to who was playing what and with whom the original songs played were first rate and tightly arranged. I particularly liked Jack’s Do What You Like and Dan’s Memento Mori and The State We’re In. The covers played will give you an idea of the sound – Please Mrs Henry, Corrina Corrina, Keep The Customer Satisfied and Hesitation Blues. I reckon they could do a great version of You Ain’t Going Nowhere.

All the vocals blended really well together with confident harmonies and occasional added light and shade from distant harmonica. Matt’s cello was key, combining with the acoustics to echo the quieter parts of Big Star Third (think Blue Moon and For You) and there is no higher praise.

There is more info on these guys below. If the Basement Tapes or Rolling Thunder is your thing you will have a great time.

https://www.facebook.com/JackHarrisonMusic/

https://www.facebook.com/aidansimpsonmusic/

https://sonofrichard.bandcamp.com

April 16, 2019

December 3rd 1977 – Trash support Wire in High Wycombe!

Thanks to the vigilance of John Perry the following info has just come to light

http://www.wycombegigs.co.uk/category/years/1970s/1977/ and scroll down

Does anyone remember anything about this gig ? All I remember is chatting to a Wire-person backstage who claimed to have never heard of the Velvet Underground but was a big fan of J.J (not John) Cale . With the wisdom of hindsight this may not have been true.

Anyone else ?

April 7, 2019

Todd Rundgren @ Eventim Apollo, London

April 6th 2019

View: Front Stalls

Standout collectable: signed copies of Todd’s autobiography The Individualist (£40)

Imagine if your favourite band put together two sets that combined all their hits from 1968 onwards and than added an equal quantity of deep cuts that hardcore fans fantasised about hearing live.

That’s what Todd and a sympathetic five piece band achieved tonight over two and a half hours and 29 songs. For every I Saw The Light there was a Fair Warning, for every Hello It’s Me a Sometimes I Don’t Know What To Feel. This date, comprising 50% of a European tour, was designed to promote Todd’s biography, hence its retrospective nature.

Prairie Prince provided thunderous drums, partnered by the extraordinarily youthful Kasim Sulton on bass plus Jesse Gress (guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards) and Bobby Strickland on an array of horns and woodwinds. Todd solo’d extensively on Foamy, his turquoise Strat, his vocals were strong throughout and his introductions witty and self-deprecating

There were a couple of missteps – Todd having to perform ace Nazz single Open My Eyes on air guitar because of a malfunctioning strap and a video Q&A with fans where the questions were unintelligible – but overall this was a night that celebrated a half century of extraordinary music from Rundgren.The final encore of Just One Victory saw the capacity crowd clapping along, ecstatic at what they had just witnessed.

(written for Record Collector magazine)

March 26, 2019

Fleetwood Mac BBC Sessions 1968 Vinyl LP

SIDE ONE

A Mind Of My Own (Danny Kirwan) Recorded August 27^th, transmitted September 1^st
Black Magic Woman (Peter Green) Recorded April 9^th, transmitted April13th
Mean Old World (T-Bone Walker) Recorded February 26^th, transmitted July 23^rd
You Need Love (Willie Dixon) Recorded August 27^th, transmitted October 13^th
That Ain’t It (Peter Green) Recorded May 27^th, transmitted June 2^nd
Please Find My Baby (Elmore James) Recorded April 9^th, transmitted April13th
Without You (Danny Kirwan) Recorded August 27^th, transmitted November 24^th

SIDE TWO

Albatross (Peter Green) Recorded October 9^th, transmitted November 5^th
Talk With You (Danny Kirwan) Recorded August 27^th, transmitted October 13^th
Sweet Little Angel (Lucille Bogan)Recorded January 16^th, transmitted January 21^st
Peggy Sue Got Married (Buddy Holly)Recorded April 9^th, transmitted April13th
Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel)Recorded August 27^th, transmitted October 13^th
Dead Shrimp Blues (Robert Johnson) Recorded May 27^th, transmitted June 2^nd
Where You Belong (Eddie Boyd) Recorded January 16^th, transmitted March 24^th

Personnel

Peter Green – lead guitar, vocals

Jeremy Spencer – guitar, vocals

Mick Fleetwood – drums

John McVie – bass

Eddie Boyd – vocals (14)

Danny Kirwan – guitar, vocals (1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12)

Christine Perfect – vocals, keyboards (1, 4, 7, 9, 12)

Sleeve notes by Earl Vince, with thanks to Richie Unterberger

According to Ken Gardner’s definitive history of BBC radio sessions “In Session Tonight”, from November 1967 to August 1970 Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac recorded 77 tracks for shows including Top Gear, Saturday Club, Night Ride and Symonds On Sunday. A high proportion of these songs did not appear on any of Fleetwood Mac’s studio LP’s. The 1995 release of Live At The BBC (Castle Communications) featured 36 of these recordings but left many strong tracks unreleased: this record is an attempt to rectify the situation. The quality of sound and performance is excellent throughout, reflecting the BBC’s abilities to bring out the best of this band. Gardner notes that most of these recordings were performed live and are first takes.

Taking these songs in the order in which they were recorded Sweet Little Angel is a BB King song, with Peter Green taking lead vocals. Of Peter Green BB King said “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats”. A lively Where You Belong features a guest vocal from American bluesman Eddie Boyd. Strangely it was not included on the LP that Boyd recorded with Fleetwood Mac in 1968. Mean Old World had been variously recorded by T-Bone Walker, Little Walter and BB King – the version here appears to be based on the latter version, albeit speeded up and with space for extended Peter Green solos. Introduced by the inescapable Brian Mathews, Please Find My Baby is another example of Jeremy Spencer’s Elmore James fixation – the piano here is uncredited but may well be Christine Perfect (soon to be Christine McVie). From the same session comes a version of Black Magic Woman which sticks pretty close to the original sparse arrangement and Peggy Sue Got Married, a Buddy Holly song which was another manifestation of Spencer’s obsession with vintage American rock’n’roll. Peter Green’s acoustic prowess is showcased on his version of Dead Shrimp Blues, originally written by Robert Johnson. This song is not about fishing.

That Ain’t It is a blues shuffle that appears to be an otherwise unreleased Peter Green original. A Mind Of My Own features new guitarist Danny Kirwan on his own composition. You Need Love was originally written by Willie Dixon for Muddy Waters in 1962 before being adopted by the Small Faces (You Need Loving) and then Led Zeppelin (Whole Lotta Love). Arguably the musical highspot of this collection the track features a strong Peter Green vocal over a propulsive beat and the intertwined guitars that would later underpin Rattlesnake Shake. For Talk With You Danny Kirwan takes the lead vocal whilst Jeremy Spencer faithfully replicates Bo Diddley’s ‘shave and a haircut two bits” rhythm. Danny Kirwan sings Without You (also known as Crazy For My Baby), backed by more Perfect piano. Finally we have a sinuous Albatross, here in a different version to that previously released on Live At The BBC. Incidentally the Live At The BBC version of Albatross was incorrectly labelled: it was actually recorded on March 17th 1969, and transmitted on March 23^rd.

This LP is a tribute to the extraordinary creativity of Fleetwood Mac during this initial phase of their career. Tracks such as You Need Love and Sweet Little Angel would easily have justified a place on the eponymous first LP or its successor Mr Wonderful. Finally such tracks get a wider exposure to their rightful audience. So…how blue can you get?

March 26, 2019

PP Arnold Sings The Hits! Vinyl EP

Side A

The First Cut Is The Deepest (Stevens)
(If You Think You’re) Groovy (Marriott/Lane)
Interview with Brian Mathews

Side B

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards)
Tin Soldier (Marriott/Lane)

Recording Details

Track 1 Saturday Club 24.07.67

Tracks 2 – 5 Top Gear 02.01.68

Pat Arnold – Andrew Loog Oldham’s “First Lady of Immediate” – came to the UK as a backing singer for Ike & Tina Turner. Mick Jagger encouraged her to stay on in London and go solo: her first backing band became The Nice. Cat Stevens was allegedly so impressed by her version of The First Cut Is The Deepest that he stopped performing the song himself.

PP Arnold’s most satisfying artistic collaboration was with label mates the Small Faces. Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane wrote (If You Think You’re) Groovy specifically for her, and her vocal on Tin Soldier was a crucial part of the song’s success. More recently she has sung with Roger Waters, Primal Scream, Ocean Colour Scene and Peter Gabriel.

The tracks on this EP illustrate PP Arnold’s ability to interpret a variety of material and showcase her terrific voice. On the Top Gear session she is backed by T.N.T (This ’N’ That), whose distinctive sound features ex-Creation Eddie Phillips playing lead guitar parts on bass. Backing vocals are provided by Madeline Bell and Dusty Springfield.

Sleeve notes: Happiness Stan

March 18, 2019

Que Sera, Sera Resurrected – Johnny Thunders

FREUDLP 129

Que Sera, Sera was a good record following a great one. Thunders first solo LP So Alone (1978) featured a strong songs from a lengthy back-catalogue, plus impressive performances from a stellar line up of famous friends. By the time the ten tracks on Que Sera, Sera appeared in 1985 the post-punk world was less receptive to Thunders raucous guitar. Jungle Records mainman Alan Hauser noting that this time “the mood was not to let Johnny’s guitar be rampant”. Thirty-four years later Thunders is celebrated precisely for his guitar being rampant.

Released in time for Record Store day this new version is a 23 track double vinyl LP, one disc purple, one disc clear. Purple Disc One begins with Alone In A Crowd and straight away the benefits of Pat Collier’s remix are obvious. There is certainly now a lot more raunch in the riffs, and the rather polite original mix is now replaced by the highly audible dual guitars of Thunders and guest John Perry. MIA goes back to Gang War days and has a nice poppy feel. Short Lives features a concise arrangement, fine backing vocals on the chorus from Patti Palladin and more Thunders / Perry interplay. Wilko Johnson joins in on the NY Dolls remnant Endless Party where Perry’s piano is key. The instrumental Billy Boy totally rocks, in much the same way that Pipeline kicked off So Alone with such elan. The song is a tribute to original Dolls drummer Billy Murcia and whilst lyrics for the song are reproduced here it is hard to see how they would have fitted this firecracker.

The clearer sound can be a mixed blessing as it also serves to highlight some less impressive material. Blame It On Mom is Leave Me Alone Part II, albeit with a nifty sax solo from Mike Monroe. Talk About You is Green Onions with some not very good lyrics. Cool Operator benefits only rhythm section Keith Yon and Tony St. Helene. Thunders’ misogyny drips from There’s A Little Bit Of Whore In Every Girl and only John Perry’s piano redeems the mawkish I Only Wrote This Song For You. Finally the title track sees Thunders crooning over J-C Carolls accordion and mandolin to slightly queasy effect.

Clear Disc Two contains a further 11 tracks, six studio and five recorded live in Lyons at an unspecified date. Of the new songs Copy Cat has some fine 1950’s pop backing vocals but Taking You Up Avenue D is dull. The other outtakes add little to existing versions. Tie Me Up from the original LP is inexplicably absent, this country-punk-sleaze duet with Patti would have fitted in well. The live set is a well recorded soundboard in front of an enthusiastic audience. Just Another Girl is a notable addition and Thunders is in good form throughout.

If you liked the original Que Sera, Sera you’re going to love this new version. If like me you thought it was just OK, you will be impressed by the improved sound and the difference this makes to the stronger songs. Even on the weaker tracks such as Countdown Love there is always a nifty guitar solo and the remix brings out Thunders’ characteristic guitar sound in a way that has not been heard before. The double gatefold presentation with new sleeve notes from Nina Antonia, a printed insert and coloured vinyl is exceptionally well done. Congratulations to Alan and Nina for bringing this project to fruition.

Further information

www.ninaantoniaauthor.com

https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/music/johnny-thunders-que-sera-sera-resurrected

https://onlyrockandroll.london/?s=johnny+thunders