Honky Tonk Demos

Compilation I bought on the Oval label back in 1979 for budget price of 3:99p. Wonderful selection of early demos from pub rockers and outsiders who soon became big on other labels - such as Darts, Chas 'N' Dave, Dire Straights and Elvis Costello ( not featured on this LP ). DJ Charlie Gillett had a knack of spotting talent before anyone else. He saw the potential of Ian Dury before The Blockheads were even thought of when he became manager of Kilburn and The Highroads for a short while. The Radio London programme from which most of these tracks are culled was a veritable Who's Who of 70's rock 'n' roll with guests ranging from Ry Cooder and Fats Domino popping up on a regular basis rubbing shoulders with Blondie, David Byrne and a host of soon to be stars of the burgeoning new-wave and punk scene which grew out of the fertile pub-rock phase of the mid to late 70's.


Chas 'N' Dave - One Fing 'N' Anuvver

Leo Kosmin Band - Ain't No Way

Juice On The Loose - Blue Flame Boogie

Junior Kimbrough - In The City


These SendSapce files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

El Disco Del Ano

Here is one I uploaded before, back in 2006. It's from Colombia and dated 1980. It certainly looks very xmassy but my guess would be that it's "Hits Of The Year" and these are some of the favourites in Colombia in 1980. It makes a change from the usual Christmassy music thats churned out at the is time of year.

Wikipedia says-

"Modern Colombian music is a mixture of African, native Indigenous and European (especially Spanish) influences, as well as more modern American and Caribbean musical forms, such as Trinidadian, Cuban, and Jamaican. The national music of Colombia is said to be cumbia.
Cumbia is a mixture of Spanish and African music, the latter brought by slaves. In the 19th century, slavery was abolished and Africans, Indians and other ethnic groups mixed more fully. Styles like bambuco, vallenato and porro was especially influential. When the waltz became popular in the 19th century, a Colombian version called pasillo was invented. International Latin, a type of pop ballad, and salsa music are best-represented by Charlie Zaa and Joe Arroyo, respectively."


Alcides Diaz Con Los Piratas Sabaneros - Remolino

El Combo De Las Estrellas - Aguita De Ron

El Combo Nutibara - La Clavada

El Bimomio De Oro - Mi Novia Mi Pueblo

Juan Pina Con La Revelacion - El Pilon Guajiro

Alcides Diaz Con Los Piratas Sabaneros - Dos Mujeres

Los Hispanos - La Cobija


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Frank Sidebottom

"Frank Sidebottom: Nothing more than Chris Sievey wearing a paper maché head. He was created by Sievey as the Freshies' number one fan (well, The Freshies' only fan), and managed to get a career out of being the band's only fan. Ironic that the Freshies' fan would be more famous than the Freshies themselves.

Frank once sold a video by mail-order called "Frank's Home Movie Video". He reportedly recorded a personalised intro on each video ordered, and coloured all the sleeves in by hand!

He had many songs released, although all of them are near impossible to get hold of. For example, he released a couple of "Timperley" EPs, where all the tracks contained, er, "Timperley" (it was where he lived, or something). Yes: all of them. Every single one. Other famous releases included "Frank Sings The Magic Of Freddie Mercury and Queen", and the 12" version called "Frank Sings The Magic Of Freddie Mercury And Queen And Kylie Minogue (you know; her off 'Neighbours')". The most memorable tracks being "Frank Gordon" (a version of "Flash Gordon"), and "I Am The Champion" (a version of "We Are The Champions"). He also released a single entitled "Panic by The Sidebottoms", containing no less than nine different mixes of the same song (one of which was the "Demon Axx Warriors from Oblivion Mix"). And John Kettley wasn't the only BBC weatherman to have a song written about him, as Ian McCaskill's name was put to Frank's imaginatively-titled "Ian McCaskill". And we haven't even mentioned "Best of the Answering Machine", "6 All-time Great Footballing Chants (including 'Nil-Nil', 'Wemberley', and 'There's Only One Referee')" or "Frank checks into Auntie Edie's", yet. Or the album "B******s To Christmas"."

Tracks on this side of the album are-

1. Guess Who's Been On m.o.t.d?
2. Bros medley
3. Twist and Shout
4. Planet Earth( with Kevin Bignell)
5. Tummy (i.f's rock opera )


Frank Sidebottom - Medium Play

Chas 'N' Dave

A CD I bought today for 50p in a charity shop. Two discs- one of Christmas songs and carols and the other a long medley of cockney favourites. Heres a mixure of some of the best tracks as a Xmas treat. It's on the Crimson label and probably still available. Dated 2001.

"Chas & Dave are Cockney pop rock music artists, often billed as Chas 'n' Dave or erroneously as Chaz 'n' Dave. Their full names are Chas Hodges (piano, vocals, banjo, guitars) and Dave Peacock (bass guitar, vocals, banjo, guitars), with Mick Burt on drums. They were regulars on British TV from 1975 onwards and had hits like "Gertcha", their first, as well as "Rabbit" and "The Sideboard Song". Their music was featured in a TV beer advertising campaign which also helped to establish them in the United Kingdom.
The unique cockney style of singing was from the start intentional. They felt an alternative to the way British bands copied American accents was needed. The songs above are partly comic, and Chas 'n' Dave are identified with London pub culture. But their 1982 number 2 hit, "Ain't No Pleasing You" was a more romantic record, with strings added to the usual piano, drum and bass sound. 'Rockney' has been coined as a term for their music style. They have always done a great deal of live work, and are currently doing shows all over the UK.
"Snooker Loopy" is a comic song about snooker by Chas and Dave.
Chas and Dave have remained famous, in part, because of the songs they have written and recorded for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Among their most famous Spurs recordings are "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur", "Ossie's Dream", "Hot Shot Tottenham", "When the Year Ends in One", "Tottenham Tottenham" and the "Spurs Medley"."

A bonus festive treat for you all - well, some of you maybe! I love Chas 'N' Dave and forgive them the dreadful cockney caperings and "Stars On 45" type medleys they do but at the heart of their music is a great musicianship and a refreshing use of the local venacular without stooping to affect a mid Atlantic drawl like so many seems to do for some reason. They write good catchy songs too as their many hits denote.
"The Sideboard Song" "Margate" "Gertcha" to name but a few.
Here is a radio show from the 80's or maybe 90's when they were at their height. Full of Xmas cheer and jolly good up kneesing- cor blimey guv!

Visit Chas 'N' Dave's official website HERE.


Chas 'N' Dave - The Wassail Song

Chas 'N' Dave - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Chas 'N' Dave - Good Christmas Men Rejoice

Chas 'N' Dave - Aunt Tilly

Chas 'N' Dave - Someday

Chas 'N' Dave - Down Where The Swanee River Flows


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Max Bacon ( Requested Re-Up )

"Max was the larger-than-life drummer with the Ambrose Orchestra for many years, who also had a unique Jewish-style humour. Prior to joining Ambrose in late 1927, he had been with Leon van Straten's band in 1926 and also was briefly with Fred Elizalde's band (which seems to be made up of Ambrose musicians) and Al Starita's Kit-Cat band (probably a temporary substitute for Eric Little). He was a regular member of Ronnie Munro's band which recorded for Parlophone and Imperial from 1926 to 1929, and also with Arthur Lally's band at Decca in the early 1930s. His stint with Ambrose lasted until 1940 and his wry comments may be heard on a number of comedy titles, including the famous number "Cohen the Crooner (The Crosby of Mile-End)" which is extant on film. On leaving Ambrose, Max went into variety, and also acting, taking small parts in films and television shows."


Max Bacon - William T Hell

Max Bacon - Little Red Hooding Ride

Max Bacon - Even A Crooner Must Eat


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There Was This Bloke

Found this today in the local Oxfam shop. It's on the Rubber record label from 1974.
4 folk singers with a humourous slant- some funnier than others. I particularly like the cockney capers of Derek Brimstone that I'd not heard of before.

Derek Brimstone.

"In the early 60’s Brimstone was studying classical guitar, and by chance wandered into the Spinning Wheel folk club in his hometown of Hemel Hempstead. Long stories can be boring, but it can be said that the whole direction of his life changed on that night. Bach and Tarrega gave way to Broonzy and Davy Graham, and the next few years were spent learning the ropes in the company of such people as Maddy Prior, Donovan, Sandy Denny, Derrol Adams – to name but a few. After winning the prestigious solo artist’s prize in the national competitions held at the first Cambridge Folk Festival in 1965, he embarked on a long and successful career, which has continued up to the present day."

Bill Barclay.

"In the 1970s Bill Barclay toured with the big boys of rock. In 1974 he supported Rod Stewart on his British tour. That was followed by a one-night stand in Edinburgh's 3 000-seat Playhouse Theatre supporting Elton John and a Glasgow Apollo gig with Bill Haley. Then then there were three nights in London's Theatre Royal with Dusty Springfield. He has taken the stage in front of audiences exceeding 50,000 in three major rock festivals, at Reading, White City and Lincoln.

Of course, in addition to the jet-setting, Bill Barclay is very well-known back home here in Scotland where he has appeared in countless golf-clubs, smokers, rugby clubs, bowling clubs, folk clubs, concerts, and festivals, and at special dinner functions for every conceivable organisation."


Derek Brimstone - Sir Quincy De Bas etc.

Tony Capstick - John Blunt etc.

Bill Barclay - Polly Was A Poodle etc.

Mike Harding - Irwell Delta Blues


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Tiny Tim

It's 12 years since Tiny Tim's death on 30th November 1996, so as a tribute here a few songs from one of his later albums.

"Tiny Tim already had something of a cult following around New York when he appeared in the film You Are What You Eat. This led to a booking on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, an American television comedy and variety show, which turned out to be his big break. Other appearances on the shows of Johnny Carson, Ed Sullivan, and Jackie Gleason followed, and he made a name for himself as a novelty performer. Apart from his extraordinarily high falsetto voice, his appearance—long curly hair, large nose, tall stature (he was six feet one inch), and clutching his relatively tiny ukulele—helped him stand out from the crowd.
In 1968, his first album, God Bless Tiny Tim, was released. It contained a version of his signature song, "Tiptoe Thru The Tulips", which was a hit when released as a single. The other songs displayed his wide-ranging knowledge of the American songbook, and also allowed him to demonstrate his baritone voice, which was less often heard than his falsetto. On one track, a version of "I Got You Babe", he sang a duet with himself, taking one part in falsetto, and the other in the baritone range. "On the Old Front Porch" extends this to a trio, including a boy (Billy Murray), the girl he is courting (Ada Jones), and her father (probably Murray again).
Another notable song was a cover of "Stay Down Here where You Belong", written by Irving Berlin in 1914 to protest the Great War. It is a powerful condemnation of those who foment war. (The comedian Groucho Marx also used this song as part of his own act, at least in part to irk the patriotic Berlin, who in later years tried in vain to disown the song)."

Discover more about Tiny Tim HERE.


Tiny Tim - It's A Long Way To Tipparary

Tiny Tim - Prisoner Of Love

Tiny Tim - Those Were The Days

Tiny Tim - When You Wore A Tulip

Tiny Tim - Pennies From Heaven

Tiny Tim - Tiny Bubbles


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Time Gentlemen Please!

A rather battered LP on the budget Saga label from 1969. Mine Hosts- Don & Betty Lowes and vocals by various people including Joe Gibbons, Siggy Jackson , Bill Parry and Lenny Walker. A quaint reminder of what pubs used to be like before karaoke and juke boxes took over.

The sleeve notes say -

"From the times of "Greensleeves" and wandering mintrels in tudor taverns to the microphones and amplifications in the modern local, music has always played an integral part in consolidating the Englishmen's enjoyment of his pint of ale.
We present on this record a selection of 'pub' favourites that have stood the test of time and whose lyrics and melodies are firmiliar to the tongue and memorable to the ear, from "The Great Big Shame" written in 1895 to our most recent choice "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts of 1948 vintage."


Don & Betty Lowes - Don't Dilly Dally On The Way

Don & Betty Lowes - You Made Me Love You

Don & Betty Lowes - Down At The Old Bull And Bush

Don & Betty Lowes - When I Leave The World Behind

Don & Betty Lowes - I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts

Don & Betty Lowes - On Mother Kelly's Doorstep


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Jehosophat & Jones (Re-Up)

An LP on the Philips label from 1973.

"For sixteen years, big Ronnie Barker and little Ronnie Corbett hit hard on the nation's funny bone with their gently subversive, often wonderfully rude comedy routines, which lampooned countless aspects of British life - pompous authority figures, eccentric middle class guests at dreary cocktail parties, shabby men (with distinctly surreal private lives) putting the world to rights over a beer or ten, ghastly restaurants with rude waiters and incompetent chefs, bumptious politicians, leery rock stars and deeply suspicious doctors. Although often regarded as a "safe" series, The Two Ronnies' best sketches often strayed toward decidedly bizarre and ridiculous Monty Python territory, which isn't surprising as several of the Pythons (together with genius upstarts like Marshall and Renwick) wrote for the series - that's when the great Ronnie Barker wasn't providing the bulk of the material himself under a number of unlikely pseudonyms! (Remember Gerald Wiley? That was him.) The musical numbers can seem dated to modern eyes, but the country and western parodies from 'Big Jim Jehosophat'(Corbett) and 'Fatbelly Jones'(Barker) were always a joy, wrapping dozens of double-entendres around some genuinely catchy tunes, as were the lesser-seen spoofs of Chas and Dave, Status Quo and even Kid Creole and the Coconuts! As with many of the 'old school' comedians, the Two Ronnies' work has endured far better than many of the 'alternative' comedians who tried to push them aside - not only that, they're still being repeated."

Discover more about The Two Ronnies HERE.


Jehosophat & Jones - Nell Of The Yukon

Jehosophat & Jones - It Blows My Mind

Jehosophat & Jones - In The Summertime

Jehosophat & Jones - Girl From Arkensaw

Jehosophat & Jones - Barndance


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Reg Varney 1916 - 2008

"Varney was born in Canning Town, which was then considered a part of Essex but is now a part of East London. His father worked in a rubber factory in Silvertown and he was one of five children who grew up in Addington Road, Canning Town. Varney was educated at nearby Star Lane Primary School in West Ham and after leaving school at 14, he worked as a messenger boy and a page boy at the Regent Palace Hotel. He took piano lessons as a child and was sufficiently proficient to find employment as a part-time piano player. His first paid engagement was at Plumstead Radical Club in Woolwich, for which he was paid eight shillings and sixpence. He also played in working men's clubs, pubs and ABC cinemas, and later sang with Big Bands of the time. He and his mother decided that show business was the career for him, and he gave up his day jobs.

During World War II, he joined the Royal Engineers, but continued performing as an army entertainer, touring the Far East for a time. After being demobbed, he starred on stage in the late 1940s in a comic revue entitled Gaytime. His stooge in the act was Benny Hill.[2] He then went on to become an all-round entertainer, working his way around the music halls.

In 1961, he was given the role of a foreman in the popular sitcom, The Rag Trade, which made him a household name. Also around this time he starred in a show for BBC TV called The Seven Faces of Reg Varney where he performed seven different characters in front of an audience at the Shepherd's Bush theatre in London. Varney rushed about at a frantic pace on stage as he changed clothes between characters. After that followed another comedy role in Beggar My Neighbour; this also starred Pat Coombs, June Whitfield, and Peter Jones. Pat Coombs played the wife of Varney's character and she would later appear in the On the Buses movie. The series ran from March 1967 to March 1968 (24 episodes of 30 minute duration) and a short special was shown as part of Christmas Night with the Stars on 25 December 1967. In 1966 he starred in The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery as Gilbert.

On 27 June 1967, the world's first voucher based cash dispensing machine was installed at the Enfield Town branch of Barclays Bank (Varney lived in Enfield at the time). For publicity purposes, Varney made the first withdrawal.[3]

His greatest success was in the sitcom On the Buses which was written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe, who had also written The Rag Trade. Varney played the lead character of Stan Butler, a long suffering but loyal man who never gets his way with the ladies."


Reg Varney - Paper Doll Medley


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Martin Winsor & Redd Sullivan

I found this in a charity shop last year. It comprises mostly of traditional folk songs but also two "novelty" songs included from the days of music hall.
Redd Sullivan and Martin Winsor started the Troubadour folk club in London in the 50's and many of the great names of folk played there. People like Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Shirley Collins, Martin Carthy etc.
Martin Winsor was born in Liverpool but moved to London where he became an authority on London folk-lore and dialect. He sang all kinds of songs from vaudeville , Irish folk songs, Scottish folk songs, sea shanties, pop songs and monologues. In fact anything that took his fancy became part of his extensive repertoire.
Redd Sullivan started singing in folk clubs in 1953 and well known on radio and television in the 60's when he appeared on Easy Beat, Roundabout, Country Meets Folk and Folk On Friday.
Also accompanying on this record are Jeannie Steel, Alastair McDonald and Ian Campbell.


Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan - Beans , Bacon and Gravy

Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan - The Queen Of Hearts

Martin Windsor and Redd Sullivan - The Farming Servant

Martin Winsor and Redd Sullivan - I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Edmundo Ros

An EP 45 I bought at Crewe flea market today for 20p. Predictably dull MOR version of latin sound. I was considering whether this was worthy of including here but seems churlish not too. Recorded at the Edmundo Ros' Club in London 1958.

Wikipedia says-

"Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Ros' mother was an African-Venezuelan; his father was Scottish. Ros' parents separated not long after he was born, and he was enrolled into a military school, where he became interested in music and learned to play the euphonium or bombardin. From 1927 to 1937 his family lived in Caracas, Venezuela. He played in a military band for four years. Later, he received a music scholarship from the government. In June 1937, he moved to London, England to study classical music at the Royal Academy of Music. He soon returned to playing popular music and also recorded several sides as a sideman to Fats Waller who was visiting London in 1938.

In 1939, he formed his own rumba band, "Rumba With Ros". In 1941, he gained recognition with the track "Los Hijos de Buda" and was playing regularly at the elegant Coconut Grove club on Regent Street, which attracted members of high society.

In 1946, he owned a club, a dance school, a record company and an artist's agency. His band grew to 16 musicians. His album The Wedding Samba sold three million copies in 1949.

In 1951, he bought the Coconut Grove and renamed it Edmundo Ros' Dinner and Supper Club. The club became popular for its atmosphere and music; it closed in 1965. From 1964 to 1968 he was the owner of the internationally known and very exclusive Edmundo Ros Club on Regent Street.

His album Rhythms of The South (1957) was one of the first high-quality LP stereo records. He was with Decca records from 1944 to 1974.

In 1975 (at the age of 65) he retired and moved to Jávea, Alicante (Spain). On January 8, 1994, he gave his last public performance. Ros was appointed to the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in the 2000 New Year's Honours List.

He is also a Freemason and a member of Sprig of Acacia Lodge No 41, Javea, Spain."


Edmundo Ros - On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Edmundo Ros - The Nearness Of You


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Lester Sterlin

Whilst I am in the ska mood I might as well upload some tracks from this Pama LP from Lester Sterlin who had a hit on the reggae charts back in the late 60's with a tune called "Bangarang" - the title track of this record of mostly chugging instrumentals.

Not much gleaned from the internet about Lester but this is what the sleeve notes say-

"In December a new sound hit the music scene and this new sound was called Reggae. Among the most outstanding in this field of music, was a tune called BANGARANG performed by Lester Sterlin with narration and singing by the sophisticated "Stranger Cole". The number was the Reggae Number One Hit for quite a few months and still quite a favoutite. the gret Joe Loss Band wasted not time in including this number in their repertoire and feature it quite a lot, to the thrill and entheastification of their thousands of followers."

The young lady on the sleeve is Miss Unity Records, Eunice Cooke.


Lester Sterlin - Bangarang

Lester Sterlin - Reggae In The Wind

Lester Sterlin - Spoogy

Lester Sterlin - 1,000,000 Tones Of TNT

Lester Sterlin - Man At The Door

Lester Sterlin - Man About Town


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Keith & Enid

I've had this in my collection for many years but can't remember where I bought it for 35p - probably a junk shop in Limehouse. One of the very first releases on Chris Blackwell's Island label in 1963. Director of music - Ernest Ranglin, who probably plays guitar on some tracks here.

"Island records was founded in Jamaica in 1959 by Chris Blackwel, the son of a white plantation owner. The label took its name from the Alec Waugh novel 'Island In The Sun'. The early releases on the label were by West Indians and in the music styles that were later to be known as Ska, Bluebeat and Rock Steady. It looked a very good investment when one of Blackwell's first productions, "Boogie In My Bones" by the Cuban-born singer Laurel Aitken, stayed at number one on the Jamaican radio chart for eleven weeks. Blackwell opened an office at South Odeon Parade in central Kingston, Jamaica, where he expanded his artistes with recordings by Wilfred 'Jackie' Edwards and Owen Gray. Both singers were already stars on the talent show circuit; so popular that eager youths fought among themselves for the honor of carrying Jackie Edwards' sharp stage-clothes to the dressing room. By 1962 Chris Blackwell was operating from premises in Notting Hill Gate, London. He catered for the large West Indian community in London by releasing records from Jamaica on his Island label. Blackwell also reckoned that, by switching to London, he could not only continue his own productions but also provide an international platform for Island's Jamaican rivals. The company could, therefore, potentially have the pick of Jamaica's hottest records, and hopefully becoming Britain's leading Ska label."


Keith And Enid - Yellow Bird

Keith And Enid - Lost Love

Keith And Enid - Wreck Of The John B

Keith And Enid - Come Back Liza

Keith And Enid - Come With Me

Keith And Enid - Never Leave My Throne


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Manuel Marios

Not sure where this oddity came from. A holiday in the Algarve perhaps and languished in some attic for a couple of decades. I found it at a local boot sale a couple of years ago I think. I wasn't going to upload it but it seems churlish not to. I was attracted to the daft sleeve photos I must admit and the songs are a little MOR but a couple have a nice accordion/novelty slant. I could not find anything about Manuel on the interent though he does seem to be a popular star in Potugal and even has his own website that I find rather confusing. Maybe if I knew Portuguese it would help! Maybe he is the Russ Abbott of Lisbon?


Manuel Marios - Ricaco

Manuel Marios - Novo Fado Do Ze Povo

Manuel Marios - Familia Da Marilia

Manuel Marios - Janelas Do Porto

Manuel Marios - A Moda Mini

Manuel Marios - Turista De Garrafao


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Cocky - (Re-Up)

Found this little gem in a charity shop some time ago for a couple of quid. Recorded in 1976 on the little known Red Rag Recordings label based in Teddington in Middlesex. It has the unfortunate title of "Twelve Inches Of Cocky" and you can imagine the kind of websites that appeared when trying to track info. down on this band! Needless to say I didnt find out anything atall and so will have to use what little there is on the sleeve notes.
It says -" All songs played by the members of Cocky apart from Harmonica Henry who bribed us to play harp on Maggie Campbell, and Stan Arnold who didn't bribe us (tight sod!) to do a duck call on Jollity Farm.
Recorded at Riverside Studios with the help of David Le-Neve Foster. Produced by Dave "Hot Licks" Peabody.
Luncheon vouchers and cold coffee supplied by Stan Arnold. Pains in the arse caused and treated by Alan Robinson. Sleeve design by Mike "Toulouse" Walsh. Sleeve snapshots by Brownie 127 Studios - director D. Peabody."

It has been signed by all members of the band in lovely blue biro.


Cocky - Jollity Farm

Cocky - Dallas Rag

Cocky - Supper At The Ritz

Cocky - Draft Dodger Rag

Cocky - Maggie Campbell

Cocky - Somebody Stole My Wife

Cocky - Sheik Of Araby


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Pama

"The label was set up by the Palmer Brothers - Harry, Jeff, and Carl - initially as a soul label, but later concentrating on Jamaican music, releasing rocksteady singles from 1967. Much of the label's output was licenced from Jamaican producers such as Clancy Eccles, Alton Ellis, Bunny Lee, and Lee "Scratch" Perry, although they also released music by local talents such as Junior English and Delroy Washington. Derrick Morgan became one of Pama's biggest stars, having a UK chart hit with "Moon Hop". Pama's biggest hit came with Max Romeo's "Wet Dream", which reached #10 in the UK singles chart (despite lack of airplay, in part due to its risqué lyric), and sold over 250,000 copies.

The rivalry between Pama and their main UK reggae competitor, Trojan Records, was clear, with Trojan's Tighten Up series of compilations and Pama's similarly-titled Straighten Up series going head to head. The rivalry had been fuelled by Bunny Lee's earlier licencing of Derrick Morgan's "Seven Letters" to both Pama and Trojan.

Pama introduced a number of subsidiary labels, often associated with individual producers, including Pama Supreme, Supreme, Crab, Bullet, Gas, Nu Beat/New Beat (Laurel Aitken), Success (Rupie Edwards), Camel, Escort, Unity (Bunny Lee), and Punch (Lee "Scratch" Perry)."


Tiger - Guilty

The Charmers - Just My Imagination

Eugene Paul - Farewell My Darling

Max Romeo - Don't You Weep

Derrick Morgan - Black Crow Skank


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Sonik Omi

A wonderful Bollywood Lp found at Brick Lane in East London some years ago. It was featured once before on the infamous 356 Days project in 2003 so time to dust it off and give it another play.
The cover of this album is very 60's but the date says 1978. Made in Dum Dum, India by EMI. Manufactured and distributed by the Gramaphone Company of India Ltd. Its the soundtrack of a film called TEEN EEKAY produced by the unlikely named J& J ART INTERNATIONAL. This track by SONIK OMI stands out like a sore thumb as the others are very much your typical Bollywood fodder and sung by stalwarts such as Asha Bhosle and Usher Mangeshkar and written by Sonik Omi and a posse of people. This track by OMI is written by someone called Joginder. It's that mixture of a thousand violins wailing away and OMI's amazing growling vocal that really set this track apart from the rest of the songs here. What on earth could he be singing about with such animal relish and abandon? One thing is for sure - once heard, never forgotten!


Sonik Omi - Ree Baba Ree Baba

Sonik Omi/ Asha Bhosle - Jua Kisika Na Hua

Sonik Omi/Asha Bhosle - Tum Ho Johari

Sonik Omi - End Theme


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The 3 Petersen Brothers

Found this curious EP in a charity shop today for 50p. I was first attracted to the amusing sleeve photo of the three men brandishing tiny Zulu shields and sticks!
It seems that the 3 Petersen Brothers are from one of the oldest theatrical families in South Africa and are really brothers. They have appeared constantly in every major town and city in South Africa the sleeve notes say. They have enjoyed a highly succesful season in London where they appeared on TV and on the radio. Accompanying them on this record is Nico Carstens and his Orchestra which sounds like three people to me! Released in the 60's I imagine on the Columbia label and record made in Southern Rhodesia which is now Zimbabwe.


3 Petersen Bros. - Fanagalo

3 Petersen Bros. - Hamba Kahle

3 Petersen Bros. - Africa

3 Petersen Bros. - Voom-Ba-Voom


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Frank Sidebottom

Side one of Frank's 10" LP "Medium Play" from 1990 on the In Tape label.

"Frank Sidebottom: Nothing more than Chris Sievey wearing a paper maché head. He was created by Sievey as the Freshies' number one fan (well, The Freshies' only fan), and managed to get a career out of being the band's only fan. Ironic that the Freshies' fan would be more famous than the Freshies themselves.

Frank once sold a video by mail-order called "Frank's Home Movie Video". He reportedly recorded a personalised intro on each video ordered, and coloured all the sleeves in by hand!

He had many songs released, although all of them are near impossible to get hold of. For example, he released a couple of "Timperley" EPs, where all the tracks contained, er, "Timperley" (it was where he lived, or something). Yes: all of them. Every single one. Other famous releases included "Frank Sings The Magic Of Freddie Mercury and Queen", and the 12" version called "Frank Sings The Magic Of Freddie Mercury And Queen And Kylie Minogue (you know; her off 'Neighbours')". The most memorable tracks being "Frank Gordon" (a version of "Flash Gordon"), and "I Am The Champion" (a version of "We Are The Champions"). He also released a single entitled "Panic by The Sidebottoms", containing no less than nine different mixes of the same song (one of which was the "Demon Axx Warriors from Oblivion Mix"). And John Kettley wasn't the only BBC weatherman to have a song written about him, as Ian McCaskill's name was put to Frank's imaginatively-titled "Ian McCaskill". And we haven't even mentioned "Best of the Answering Machine", "6 All-time Great Footballing Chants (including 'Nil-Nil', 'Wemberley', and 'There's Only One Referee')" or "Frank checks into Auntie Edie's", yet. Or the album "B******s To Christmas"."

BBC Radiophonic Workshop 78's

Whilst I'm in the mood for uploadling these old 78's I might as well include this oddity which I've had for 30 years or more. It's a BBC soundtrack disc made of metal with a plastic coating. It plays at 78 and is very scratched so apologies for the crackles and pops. The handwritten label suggests it was made for inclusion in the radio series "Journey Into Space" that was popular in the 50's but why this song? I have another version of "When It's Night Time In Italy , It's Wednesday Over Here" by the Everly Brothers. Bing Crosby apparently recorded a version but I've never heard it. I assume its an old music hall song. I will delve further into the internet and see what I find.

You can find the full lyrics to the song HERE.

You Tube link to a Billy Jones version of this song HERE.


Discover more about "Journey Into Space" HERE.


BBC Radiophonics - It's Wednesday Over Here

BBC Radiophonics - Rockets

BBC Radiophonics - Rockets 2

BBC Radiophonics - Alarm

BBC Radiophonics - Siren

BBC Radiophonics - Siren 2


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Kwela By Gwigwi's Band

The missing link between be-bop and ska is kwela township jazz from South Africa. This rare LP on the 77 Records label was released in 1971 and features ex-pat South Africans living in London.

The sleeve notes say -

"Kwela is the popular dance music of the South African townships. It is the folk music of urban South Africa, and has developed from tribal origins with the growth of the townships themselves. The tunes can be heard sung or whistled all over the African townships by adults and children, and there is no festive occasion or Saturday night gathering where this unique swinging music does not play an integral part. In the early '50's at the time of the first "African Jazz" shows, Kwela was recorded and imported from South Africa for the first time by people like Zakes Nkosi, Spokes Mashiyane and Lemmy Special, the penny whistle virtuoso. It is the music that made Miriam Makeba famous; the "Black Panther" from South africa who has sung with Harry Belafonet's Band and is known throughout America and Europe for her famous "click-song".
Gwigwi's Band is composed of four South africans who have settled in London. Gwigwi Mrwebi himself comes from Johannesburg and has been playing kwela on his alto-sax fro many years. He first came to the U.K. with the pit-band of the musical "King Kong", and was later joined by his wife, son and daughter. The other alto-sax is played by Dudu Pukwanana from Port Elizabeth, who also arranged the songs. He is a very talented jazz muscician and came to London in a modern jazz group, the Blue Notes led by Chris McGregor from Cape Town. It is Chris who plays the piano on this record. The tenor-saxophonist, Ronnie Beer from Cape Town, was also a member of the Blue Notes. They are accommpanied by Coleridge Goode from Jamaica on bass, and Laurie Allen from London on drums."

Maxine Lautre.


Gwigwi's Band - Good News

Gwigwi's Band - Nyusamkhaya

Gwigwi's Band - Lily Express

Gwigwi's Band - Rough Deal

Gwigwi's Band - Kwazakhele

Gwigwi's Band - Mini Mthembo

Gwigwi's Band - Hayini Bo

Gwigwi's Band - Nick Thethe


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Psycho Serendade

Compilation including rarities from the 50's and 60's including Ganimen and his Orientals, Nanine, Red River Dave, The Five Du-Tones and The Riddler. plus some old film trailers etc.

Max Miller

Max Miller sings and "tells a few" on a compilation LP called "The World Of Music Hall" on the Decca label. Originally recorded in 1935. The Lp was relaeased in 1970.

Wikipedia says-

"Max Miller (November 21, 1894 - May 7, 1963), the "Cheeky Chappie", was a 1930s English music hall comedian famous for his daringly risqué (for the period) repertoire (see Censorship) and gaudy suits.
Born in Brighton as Thomas Henry Sargent, Max became notorious for his double entendre based humour, which at the time saw him banned from the BBC on more than one occasion. His jokes were written in two notebooks, one white notebook for 'clean' humour, and a blue one for 'adult' jokes. He was known for his outlandish outfits, which generally included patterned plus fours and matching long jacket (a look which has clearly influenced the stage outfits of modern comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown), with a trilby hat and kipper tie. He was also a popular singer of comedy songs, his most famous being Mary From the Dairy, which was also his signature tune. He also appeared in several films. A statue was erected to Miller in his home town of Brighton on 1 May 2005 by Roy Hudd, George Melly, June Whitfield and Norman Wisdom. Interestingly, Hudd appeared as his hero in the Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio play Pier Pressure in 2006."

"Fats" Waller

I have picked up so many Fats Waller CD's and LP's over the years and they are all fantastic. He really could have a whole blog to himself he was so prolific. Lots still available on cheap compilations so go out and find them.

"Thomas "Fats" Waller is one of the more important of the modern pianist-composers. Born in New York on May 21, 1904, the son of a minister, "Fats" played the organ and sang in the choir of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where his father preached until he was fifteen years old. Shortly after, the lure of the stage beckoned him to the interesting field of the Harlem cabaret, and he remained in that gay section of the city until 1924, occasionally doubling as a theatre organist and as a. piano-roll artist for the Q-R-S Company.

Some of "Fats' " other accomplishments include vaudeville appearances with the famous blues singer, Bessie Smith, soon after which he wrote the music to the show "Keep Shufflin'". In 1930, he composed the score for "Hot Chocolates," the hit song of which was "Ain't Misbehavin," and when this production closed, he subsequently appeared in leading supper clubs in London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna.

In 1932, he joined the artist staff of WLW at Cincinnati, where he instituted the famous "Fats" Waller Rhythm Club, which created millions of Waller fans throughout the country.

Mr. Waller is currently considered Victor's best record seller. He has been a feature in RKO films and at the time of this writing is in Hollywood for the filming of "King of Burlesque," a 20th Century--Fox production in which he will have an important role.

"Fats" is generally known as "Radio's Harmful Little Armful," and for many years studied under Godowsky in Vienna and Carl Bohn in New York."


Discover more about Fats Waller HERE.


Fats Waller - Us On A Bus

Fats Waller - Black Raspberry Jam

Fats Waller - Fractious Fingering

Fats Waller - 'Taint Good

Fats Waller - You Showed Me The Way

Fats Waller - Smarty

Fats Waller - Our Love Is Meant To Be


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Dear Eskiimo

Another chance to see Archie's Flash animation of "Gotta Wee" - a song by Manchester trio Dear Eskiimo who became The Ting Tings rather more successfully recently. I think this came out about 3 or 4 years ago. Archie was asked to choose from several demos that were sent to the Cornerhouse in Manchester for the annual young film makers festival "Underexposed" back in 2004 by local bands. This track stood out from all the rest. Archie was only 12 at the time.

I.K. Dairo & His Blue Spots

A Nigerian Juju LP on Decca from the 60's I imagine found at Brick Lane flea market many years ago. The five tracks on side one are as follows - Eni mi ko sen'nia - Toba ndara f'oko aya ni - Toba rije f'omo ni keji - Ojo ikehin - E huwa rere.

"Considered by many to be the "father of juju" for his many innovations, Isaiah Kehinde Dairo was born in Kwara State, Nigeria, in 1931. One story has it that his lifelong love of music stemmed from a drum that his father, a carpenter, made for him in his youth and that accompanied him wherever he went. In early adulthood, Dairo tried earning a living as a barber, a construction worker, and a cloth merchant, among other jobs. Dairo sat in with early juju bands at night, led by musical pioneers Ojoge Daniel and Oladele Oro. In the mid-'50s he formed his own group, the ten-member Morning Star Orchestra, which gained fame later as the Blue Spots.

Though highlife was the most popular form of band music in West Africa at the time, Dairo and his band released a long succession of influential singles that, by the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, helped establish juju as the premier Nigerian sound. Dairo changed the tenor of juju by introducing the accordion and talking drums to the orchestra and singing in a variety of regional dialects, which widened the rural appeal of the music. When his appeal began to wane at the end of the 70s, he gave up performing, turning first to managing clubs and a hotel in Lagos, then to a ministry in the Cherubim and Seraphim church movement. In 1990 he recorded his first album in 15 years with a re-formed Blue Spots band."

Bob Tarte.

Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends (Re-Up)

A 10" Lp on Capital found on Brick Lane flea market some years ago without it's sleeve sadly but plays very well.

"A popular entertainer who recorded frequently for Capitol during 1944-1950, Julia Lee's double-entendre songs and rocking piano made her a major attraction in Kansas City. She played piano and sang in her brother George E. Lee's Orchestra during 1920-1934, recording with him in 1927 and 1929 (including "If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight") and cutting two titles of her own in 1929 ("He's Tall, He's Dark and He's Handsome" and "Won't You Come Over to My House"). Lee worked regularly as a single in Kansas City after her brother's band broke up."

Side one featured here with songs like "King Size Papa" and "Snatch and Grab It" to name but two.

Eddie Cantor - Roman Scandals

A record on the obscure Sandy Hook record label that specialised in film soundtracks by the look of it. This was realeased in 1980 and has songs from Kid Millions (1934) on one side and Roman Scandals(1933) on the other. If you want to hear the other side just let me know.

"Eddie Cantor was born in New York City in 1892. After becoming a smash hit in vaudeville, Ziegfeld signed him for his Midnight Frolics and then the Follies of 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1923.

From there he went to films in the 1920s, starring in Whoopee, Kid from Spain and Kid Millions. After an appearance on Rudy Vallee’s Fleischmann Hour in 1931, Cantor's radio career began to soar.

By the early 30s, Eddie Cantor had become the highest-rated star on radio. For seven years, his Chase & Sanborn Hour on NBC garnered immense ratings. Cantor was the second most recognizable person in America—second only to President Roosevelt, for whom he created the March of Dimes to help in the fight against polio.

Cantor’s sign-off line—“I love to spend each Sunday with you”—was followed frequently by a pitch for a charitable or patriotic cause. He received a Presidential Citation for his dedication to charity. A union activist, Cantor was the first national president of AFRA and SAG.

Cantor also made the successful transition to television on the Colgate Comedy Hour, making him one of the few performers to reach star status on stage, screen, radio and television.

Eddie Cantor died on October 10, 1964."

Discover more about Eddie Cantor HERE.


Eddie Cantor - Title/Build A Little Home

Ruth Etting - No More Love

Eddie Cantor - Keep Young And Beautiful

Eddie Cantor - Don't Put A Tax On Love

Eddie Cantor - Build A Little Home (Reprise)


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Eddie Cantor

A record on the obscure Sandy Hook record label that specialised in film soundtracks by the look of it. This was realeased in 1980 and has songs from Kid Millions (1934) on one side and Roman Scandals(1933) on the other. If you want to hear the other side just let me know.

"Eddie Cantor was born in New York City in 1892. After becoming a smash hit in vaudeville, Ziegfeld signed him for his Midnight Frolics and then the Follies of 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1923.

From there he went to films in the 1920s, starring in Whoopee, Kid from Spain and Kid Millions. After an appearance on Rudy Vallee’s Fleischmann Hour in 1931, Cantor's radio career began to soar.

By the early 30s, Eddie Cantor had become the highest-rated star on radio. For seven years, his Chase & Sanborn Hour on NBC garnered immense ratings. Cantor was the second most recognizable person in America—second only to President Roosevelt, for whom he created the March of Dimes to help in the fight against polio.

Cantor’s sign-off line—“I love to spend each Sunday with you”—was followed frequently by a pitch for a charitable or patriotic cause. He received a Presidential Citation for his dedication to charity. A union activist, Cantor was the first national president of AFRA and SAG.

Cantor also made the successful transition to television on the Colgate Comedy Hour, making him one of the few performers to reach star status on stage, screen, radio and television.

Eddie Cantor died on October 10, 1964."

Discover more about Eddie Cantor HERE.


Ethel Merman - An Earful Of Music

Eddie Cantor - When My Ship Comes In

Anne Southern/George Murphy - Your head On My Shoulder

Eddie Cantor & Cast - Minstrel Show Medley

Eddie Cantor - OK Toots

Eddie Cantor/Ethel Merman etc. - Ice Cream Fantasy


The SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Morecambe & Wise

A charity shop find from a few years back. This LP on the Philips label is was released in 1971 and features songs made famous by another great comedy duo Flanagan and Allen.

"The theatrical/TV impresario Bernard Delfont gave Morecambe and Wise their own ITV show after the pair appeared frequently on the small-screen in 1960, notching up 12 spots on Val Parnell's Sunday Night At The London Palladium. Now the same network pitched them into a show of their own, teaming the comedians with another double-act, the writers Sid Green and Dick Hills. Sid and Dick, as they soon became known to the nation, also ventured out from behind-the-scenes to feature in front of the cameras with the comics.

The first ATV series - broadcast live each week from the Wood Green Empire in north London - was so successful that a second run was commissioned and given a Saturday primetime slot; from here on, after seven years of irregular TV appearances, Morecambe and Wise were firmly established as stars of the medium and Britain's best comedy double-act. Catchphrases soon developed, with Eric as the wag and Ernie the butt of all jokes: Morecambe would grab Wise by the throat and remark 'Get out of that!'; Morecambe would claim that Wise possessed 'short fat hairy legs'; the two comics, with their scriptwriters, sang a catchy comedy song that attained national fame, 'Boom Oo Yatta Ta Ta'; and every programme ended with the first line - but never more - of the age-old dirty joke 'There were these two old men sitting in deckchairs...'.

As a result of these marvellous ITV shows, Morecambe and Wise branched out into the cinema with three starring feature films, The Intelligence Men, That Riviera Touch and The Magnificent Two, released in 1964, 1966 and 1967 respectively."

Go HERE to find out more about Eric and Ernie.


Morecambe & Wise - Underneath The Arches

Morecambe & Wise - Run Rabbit Run

Morecambe & Wise - Umbrella Man


Morecambe & Wise - Are You Havin' Any Fun

Morecambe & Wise - Strollin'


Morecambe & Wise - Only A Shanty In Old Shanty Town


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Loch Ness Monster

An oldie which has been useful for various Halloween comps. over the years. Some dubious lyrics on here too from the likes of Lee Perry and Laurel Aitken
Not much is known about King Horror despite browsing various search engines. This very worn and scratchy LP on the Trojan label is an old favourite of mine featuring twelve "ska" and "rock steady" stomping tunes from the late 60's and early 70's. Other tracks include The Upsetters, Nora Dean and the Prophets. I have uploaded the King Horror tracks before but here is side one of the record complete with pops and crackles.

Discover more about Lee "Scratch" Perry HERE.


King Horror - Loch Ness Monster

Upsetters - Live Injection

Nora Dean - Barbwire

Upsetters - Self Control

Des All Stars - Night Food Reggae

King Horror - The Hole


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Palace Of Varieties

I found this 7" vinyl today in a charity shop for 50p. It plays at 33 and third and is on the Alliance label via EMI. 1975.
It was given away it seems at the Alliance Wholesale Grocers as a promotion. Seems there were more in this series.
There s long list of artistes on the "repertoire" which include Barbara Windsor ( of Carry On and Eastenders fame ) ,Barney Gilbraith, The four Singing Waiters, Daphne Anderson,Johnny Hewer, Rita Williams and Charles Young. Only the last three feature on this disc. Leonard Sachs provides the introductions as he did on the popular (10 million viewers at it's height ) TV programme "The Good Old Days" which ran throughout the 60's and 70's from the City Varieties in Leeds.
"The Good Old Days" recreated the Music Hall of the 1900's even down to the audience and players dressing in the clothes of that era.


Palace Of Varieties - Side One

Palace Of Varieties - Side Two


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Lord Christo - Requested Re-Up

Another calypso record from Brick Lane picked up in the 80's. It's on the cleverly titled Kalypso label and released in 1963.

"Christo made a living as a cabinet-maker and sang in church choirs before he became the lead singer for the John "Buddy" Williams Band in the 1940s. His calypso career began in 1952 when he appeared at Atilla the Hun's Victory Tent. He then joined the McLean Brothers and accompanied them on a tour of the USA in December 1952. He later moved over to the Young Brigade Tent in 1955. The Young Brigade Tent became the Original Young Brigade Tent (OYB) in 1956, and Christo continued to sing with the OYB until he left for Chicago, Ilinois, USA, where he appeared at various nightclubs and on television. He returned to Trinidad in 1960 and continued to sing at the OYB for the rest of his career. Although he never won a title, Christo's popular songs "Miss Universe" and "Chicken Chest" were tailor-made for steelbands and were played extensively on the road during the 1957 Carnival."

A great archive of old calypso HERE at Irwin Chusid's radio show in the last hour. Well worth a listen if you like this kind of stuff. The first couple of hours is good too!


Lord Christo - An Englishman

Lord Christo - Johnathan

Lord Christo - Bad Luck Man

Lord Christo - Injection

Lord Christo - Dr. Francis

Lord Christo - Obeah Man

Lord Christo - Nursery Rhyme

Lord Christo - Waheen Governor

Lord Christo - Indian Party

Lord Christo - My Brother John

Lord Christo - The Parrot

Lord Christo - Jamaica Girls


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

King Fighter - ( Requested Re-Up )

Another old calypso LP from the archives found many years ago in Cheshire Street market, just off Brick Lane. This rarity is on the National label and released in the 60's one imagines though no date on the record. It comes without a sleeve so had to search the internet to find it. What a great sleeve it was too!

"King Fighter (Shurland Wilson) (March 10, 1928 - December 12, 1999)

Born in Victoria Village, on the east coast of Guyana, Wilson got his name, King Fighter, because he was a boxer known for his fancy footwork. Fighter started out as a fisherman, then a boxer, before becoming a calypso singer. He started out singing boleros and love songs before switching to calypsos.

One of his main influences was the Guyanese vaudeville singer Bill Rogers. As for calypso, his favorites were Kitch and Melody and he started singing in Guiana. However, he left and moved to Trinidad because he couldn't make a living in his native country as either a boxer or a singer.

He came to Trinidad in the Fifties and was an active performer, primarily in the OYB tent until the 1980s. He first appeared in Trinidad with fellow Guyanese calypsonian Lord Coffee in 1955 and quickly rose to be a very successful calypso singer. He was a finalist for 1957 monarchy out of the Young Brigade with Smart Woman and Dhalpourie (Indian Wedding). He was singing both his Why BG Don't Want to Federate and Animal Beauty Contest that year. He was recorded extensively on a large of record labels in the Fifties and Sixties on records issued both in British Guiana, Trinidad and in England."

Discover more about King Fighter HERE.


King Fighter - Warm The Plate

King Fighter - Senorita Cindy

King Fighter - You Does Come Too Soon

King Fighter - Envy

King Fighter - Dollar Bill

King Fighter - Quarkey

King Fighter - Peace

King Fighter - Beat He

King Fighter - Lovely Country

King Fighter - They Want Me


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

The Five Smith Brothers

I can't believe I haven't uploaded the Five Smith Brothers before now. Very little can be gleaned from the internet about them , only that they came from Newcastle and very popular in the North East of England in the 40's and 50's.
This compilation is one of two volumes on the MWM Records label from the 80's one imagines.

"The Five Smith Brothers were Alfred, Harold, Martin, Royston, Stanley - all born prior to the end of WW1 in Newcastle. Alf Harold Stan had been professional footballers. First prof.sing appearance Gateshead 1932. All served in WW2 but Martin killed in raod accident 1946. Replaced by Ronnie Culbertson who became Ronnie Smith. On radio with Jewel & Warris in Up The Pole. 1948 Summer Season at Blackpool with J&W and Josef Locke. Royal variety Show in 1950 and also 1955 (the one at Blackpool).

Last record for Decca in 1956 - then 7 years later a record by Two Smith Brothers. (Don't know which ones) Interesting to note that in 1954 they covered Bill Haley's ABC Boogie!!"


5 Smith Brothers - Shoemaker's Serenade

5 Smith Brothers - The Cobbler

5 Smith Brothers - Hop Scotch Polka

5 Smith Brothers - Sunshine Of Your Smile

5 Smith Brothers - Goodnight Irene

5 Smith Brothers - The Thing

5 Smith Brothers - Sipping Cider By The Zuyder Zee


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Roger Dee - (requested re-up)

Slim pickings at the bootsale today although I did find this oddity which is on the Toby label from early 70's I imagine judging by some of the impersonations Mr. Dee is attempting pictured on the back of the sleeve - like Tiny Tim, Rolf Harris and Frankie Vaughn. This sounds like a live show in front of an enthusiastic audience at Pontins Holiday camp as they get a name check on the back in the sleeve notes which state-

"Roger was born in Pontins - the son of a lady and gentleman - obviously a marriage of convenience. He merrily tap danced his way up the Ladder of Fame, to become the famous tap dancing window cleaner that he is today!!"

Thanks to many informative comments when I last posted this in 2006 there is more information about Roger which you can find if you type in Roger Dee into the search window above.


Roger Dee - Side One

Roger Dee - Side Two


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or untile exhausted.

Ronnie Barker

An LP on the K-Tel record label from 1978. A compilation of Ronnie's songs, sketches and monologues mainly culled from his TV shows.

Wikipedia says-

"Barker was born in Bedford in Bedfordshire. He had two sisters; Vera (his older sister) and Eileen (his younger sister). The family moved to Oxford when his father, a clerk for Shell Oil, was relocated, when Barker was two years old. He took to writing plays for his family and neighbours, and often sat in the audience of The Oxford Playhouse, his local repertory company, dreaming of fame. Barker attended the City of Oxford High School for Boys, in Oxford, and at sixteen he left and took a job as a bank clerk - but the theatre called. He wrote to the Aylesbury Repertory Company in 1948 and his show business career began. Barker then went on to join the Playhouse Theatre, Oxford, at the time under the actor-management of Frank Shelley, as an actor and stagehand, at £2 10s per week. The two appeared together there, in Ben Travers's A Cuckoo in the Nest and, subsequently, in a number of other venues and roles. In 1993, Barker dedicated his autobiography to Shelley, whom he called one of the "three wise men who directed my career; without men like these, there would be no theatre."

Discover more about Ronnie Barker HERE.


Ronnie Barker - They Tell Me There's A Lot Of It About

Ronnie Barker - Not Round Here

Ronnie Barker - Pismonunciation

Ronnie Barker - The Welsh Medley



These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Homer and Jethro

"Besides being a touring comedy team they were noted as seasoned Nashville session musicians. In other words they played on a lot of albums backing up various famous musicians. They were not always credited on the records, and they were paid a set fee for their work. They had their first break as teenagers playing on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. A locally produced radio show in Tennessee (USA). This lasted until around 1938.

When World War II began the budding stars split up. Homer served in European theater of Operation and as Jethro put it "He was the unsung hero of the Pacific. They wouldn't let me sing!"

After the war the two regrouped and took jobs with Spike Jones. They toured briefly but then got a gig as regulars on the Chicago National Barn Dance as well as regular spots on Don McNeil's Breakfast Club. Both radio programs were based in Chicago. Homer & Jethro were to settle in Chicago and remain even after becoming a national success.They recorded a record or two on the King label circa 1946-48 and then Were Signed by Steve Sholes to RCA in 1948.

Their routine had always been deadpan parodies of popular songs. (sort of a precursor to Weird Al Yankovich) However, they were both first rate musicians and this is why their parodies songs were always popular. They had a number 2 country hit with How Much Is That Hound Dog In The Winder and number 14 with the Parody, Battle of Kookamonga (take off of Horton's Classic Battle of New Orleans)"



Homer & Jethro - Pore 'Ol Koo-Liger

Homer & Jethro - Yeller Rose Of Texas

Homer & Jethro - Cold Cold Heart No. 2

Homer & Jethro - Sixteen Tons

Homer & Jethro - The ballad Of davy Crew-Cut

Homer & Jethro - He'll Have To Go


Homer & Jethro - Your Clobbered Heart

Homer & Jethro - Slow Poke No. 2

Homer & Jethro - Tennessee Border No. 2

Homer & Jethro - Screen Door

Homer & Jethro - Unhappy Day

Homer & Jethro - Homer & Jethro's Pickin' & Singin' Medley


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Big Al Davies - Landlubber

First part of animation my son Archie has made for Landlubber, a track from Big Al's first CD "Feztastic".

Ray Dorset

Bought in a charity shop today for a pound. This LP from 1972 on the Boulevard label is actually a compilation of songs Ray did with Good Earth from two LP's on the Saga label in 1968. Not a patch on what he did later with Mungo Jerry - these are bluesy rockers and sound rather like demos to me.

"Ray Dorset had his moment in the spotlight when his band, Mungo Jerry, recorded one of the biggest selling hits of 1970. A skiffle-style blues, "In The Summertime", sold more than thirty million copies worldwide and became a classic of the summer season. It topped the charts a second time when a version by Shaggy was featured in the film, Flipper. The song has also been recorded by Elton John and Bob Dylan. Dorset received two Ivor Novello awards as songwriter.

Dorset was already a veteran performer when he formed Mungo Jerry in 1969. His first band, the Blue Moon Skiffle Group, featuring Phil Collins on drums, was formed when he was eleven years old. Three years later, he briefly joined Jackie Edwards's group. In the early-1960s, his band, the Concords shared a weekly gig at the Station Tavern in Richmond with the Rolling Stones.

Forming a new band, Good Earth, with keyboardist Colin Earle, guitar, kazoo and jug player Paul King, upright bassist Mike Cole and washboard Joe Rush, Dorset signed with independent label, Saga. When executives of the label discovered that the band was taking a jug band-influenced approach, their contract was dropped.

Moving to Dawn Records, and changing their name to Mungo Jerry. Dorset and the band were an immediate success. Their debut performance, at a festival in Hollywood, a small village near Newcastle-Under-Lyme, put them on the same bill as such top acts as the Grateful Dead, Jose Feliciano, Ginger Baker's Air Force and Black Sabbath. Their good-humored music, however, captured the headlines. "


Ray Dorset - Jack Sly

Ray Dorset - Unwashed, Unwanted

Ray Dorset - Let Me Come Into Your Party

Ray Dorset - Help Yourself


These SendSpace files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Holy Modal Rounders

LP on the Base Record label recorded in 1967. Weirdo drug crazed hippie folk outfit from New York. Makes the Incredible String Band sound like a sedate string quartet.

"The Holy Modal Rounders were almost the very definition of a cult act. This isn't a case of a group that would be described by such cliches as "if only they got more exposure, they would certainly reach a much wider audience." Their audience was small because their music was too strange, idiosyncratic, and at times downright dissonant for mainstream listeners to abide. What makes the Rounders unusual in this regard is that they owed primary allegiance to the world of acoustic folk -- not one that generates many difficult, arty, and abrasive performers.

The Holy Modal Rounders were not so much a group as a changing aggregation centered around the two principals, Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber. When the pair got together in 1963, the intention was to update old-time folk music with a contemporary spirit. As Stampfel told Folk Roots in 1995, "The Rounders were the first really bent traditional band. And the first traditionally-based band that was not trying to sound like an old record." They weren't the only musicians in New York thinking along these lines, and Stampfel and Weber contributed heavily to the first recordings by a similar, more rock-oriented group, the Fugs.

The Rounders began recording in the mid-'60s for Prestige as an acoustic duo. Even at this early stage, they were not for everybody. Although clearly accomplished musicians, and well-versed in folk traditions, they were determined to subvert these with off-kilter execution and strange lyrics that could be surreal, whimsical, or just silly. They outraged folk purists by simply changing melodies and words to suit their tastes on some of their cover versions of old standards; Stampfel once wrote in the liner notes that "I made up new words to it because it was easier than listening to the tape and writing words down."

On their 1967 LP Indian War Whoop, Stampfel and Weber added other musicians, including playwright Sam Shepard on drums (Shepard also wrote some material). The resulting chaos was just as as inspiring, but both material and performance improved on 1969's Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders. This addled combination of folk and psychedelia was their most inventive work, and featured their most famous song, "If You Wanna Be a Bird" (which was used on the Easy Rider soundtrack)."


Holy Modal Rounders - Indian War Whoop

Holy Modal Rounders - Sweet Apple Cider

Holy Modal Rounders - Soldier's Joy

Holy Modal Rounders - Cocaine Blues

Holy Modal Rounders - Sky Divers


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Oldies But Goodies

A great compilation of early ska and rhythym and blues from Jamaica from the 60's on the Melodisc label. Heavily influenced by the music of New Orleans and the southern states of America, whose powerful radio waves reached the Carribean. We can hear the echoes of Shirley and Lee, Fats Domino and Dave Bartholemew etc. in many of these tracks.

Duke Reid

"Duke Reid was born in Jamaica as Arthur Reid around 1915. As a young man he served in the Police Force for about ten years. He had a love of American R & B music and owned a Liquor Store on Bond Street, with his wife, the Duchess. The shop was called Treasure Isle. He had a record program on Jamaica radio called "Treasure Isle Time" playing R & B 78's. Leading USA Jazz artist like Lester Young, Colman Hawkins, Tab Smith and Illinois Jaquet could be heard. By the mid fifties Duke Reid had his own sound system. This comprised of large speakers and a record playing deck together with a powerful amplifier. He used a large van to transport this equipment around Jamaica to dance halls and open air events. Due to the nature of the van it became known as the Trojan. Clemont Seymore Dodd also had a sound system called Sir Coxone Downbeat after the Yorkshire cricketer Coxone. They had many a " Battle of the sound Systems" and towards the end of the fifties Duke Reid the Trojan was crowned king. His record production career began in 1959 on the "Trojan " record label, these were on 78's, such as Duke's Cookies and Chuck and Dobby "Cool School". On the Duke Reid label due to demand he issued home made recordings of the USA R & B style music. He formed his own backing band the Duke Reid Group who backed young singers like Derrick Morgan and the Jiving Juniors. Around this time the Jamaican R & B gave way to Ska, the guitar and piano played on every beat whilst the drummer reversed the offbeat, the bass played a powerful 'walking' rhythm. Duke Reid built his own recording studio, of wood, above the 'Treasure Isle Liquor Store'. Now he could with his engineer, Bryon Smith, achieve a high quality production and experiment with new sounds and rhythms."

Folks Brothers

"Prince Buster established a mix and blend of restricted roots musical forms; using ingredients such as Mento and Burro with a reinforcement of jazz horns in parts mixed with R&B rhythms to construct a decidedly unique new sound. The creation of Ska turned the R&B rhythmic outline inside out by utilizing and co-ordinating of an after-beat guitar strut on the second and fourth heats. A lot of the songs that Prince Buster produced were no doubt unquestionably political, in that they embraced a Marcus Garvey type mind-set of narcissisms and pride in Africanisms blackness

Prince Buster embraces the Africanisms effects within his music productions, none more so than his production of the Folks Brothers "Oh Carolina" back in the 1960s. Oh Carolina very first recording to use the Rastafarian rhythmical drumming group of Count Ossie for accompaniment. In other words the Ska beat combines the poignant backbeat of New Orleans style rhythm & blues and Mento along with a flavouring of Africanisms within the consortium of the music. 1962 after working for Clement Dodd of the Studio One Fame as henchman, Prince Buster took to producing his own records, with labels that read like a religious presentation of deliverance. "


Keith and Enid - Worried Over You

Duke Reid's Group - What Makes Honey

Rudy and Sketto - My heart's Desire

Helena Darling - The Flames

The Folks Brothers - Carolina

Derrick Morgan - Throw Them Away


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