For the fair ladies of Fairlight, in particular the 'Rise and Shine' class, who in a massed dancercise display at 'Fairfest' last weekend threw some shapes to various well chosen pieces of music. Videos available on a Facebook page near you !

I referenced this track last September when Northern Soul celebrated 50 years - at the end under 'More dancing...?' Revisit blog here. But I didn't provide a link then, so Frank Wilson is this week's Star Track artist with the anthem 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)'. *Originally a 45 record in 1965, but forever associated with Northern Soul in 70s Britain. And now Fairlight's 'Fairfest 2024' > 

Video shows the Northern Soul dance moves, so you can do your thing... 

*'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’ by Frank Wilson: 

As a producer for Tamla Motown he tried his luck as a recording artist in 1965, recording this single for release on the Tamla Motown / Soul label. 250 demo 45s were pressed and scheduled for release. Frank Wilson then decided to focus on producing and he had the demos trashed. Somehow some survived to become popular in the Northern Soul movement and the single became a rare collectable, ultimately being officially released on the Tamla Motown label in 1979. 

  

In this month's Mojo magazine their obituary column 'Real Gone' informed me that The Allman Brothers Band's guitar great Dickey Betts left us on April 18th. 

It goes on to say that "in Britain even car enthusiasts with little affinity with down-home 70s rusticity would recognise 'Jessica', the Betts penned composition BBC tv show 'Top Gear' adopted as its long standing theme-tune".

The buoyant instrumental named after his then infant daughter would in 2006 be called 'a true national heirloom' by The Wall Street Journal. 

The tune maybe familiar to 'Top Gear' fans but barely 30 seconds gets played at the beginning and end of shows. I recently reminded myself of the full track in particular the Chuck Leavell piano section two and a half minutes in and then just over a minute later the soaring guitar solo from Dickey Betts that follows. I'm posting here the original 7:30 album track for purists (like me). I do have a 'live' video but it's shorter and the piano not as good.  

The Mojo article ends by saying a statement posted on the The Allman Brothers Band official website after Betts died imagined him touring "in that old Winnebago in the sky". "Play on Brother Dickey" - 

FYI Ladies & Gentlemen 'Take it away': Live in 1982 'Jessica'  - right here 

 

An occasional music spot - remembering places around the World

Not had one of these in awhile ... 

The not terribly exciting photo is of the entrance to a famous location. Chelsea Manor Studios, Flood Street - just off the King's Road, were I worked between 1973 and 1975 in Studio 3. 

We were at the end of a ground floor corridor sharing part of a photographer's studio space. As a source of music we had an Eight Track cartridge player. Anyone remembering these will know of the limitations and how tracks often changed mid song with a significant 'clunk' (not a 'click' as advertised) and the tape length sometimes meant a song had to be edited to make it fit on. 

We didn't have that many tapes to play, but one I do remember from this time was Paul McCartney's Ram LP, and this song in particular 'Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey' > 

Coincidently I would later discover that in March 1967 in the studio next door, at No.4, Paul McCartney and the other Beatles were photographed by Michael Cooper for the cover of 'Sgt Pepper's': (for full story, click here). 

  

The European Championships begin today in Germany and no doubt this song is ready and cued up to blast out over the PA at a moments notice. 

How a Eurodance hit from the 90s singing about the Buddhist values of rejecting consumerism and greed became associated with Association Football is quite a story - (read all about it). 

Performed by Italian singer-songwriter Gala Rizzatto singing the mantra 'Freed from desire - mind and senses purified' into its 'all join in' chorus is incredibly infectious. 

Chanting "Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na" - let's hear you >

Video above is the 1997 original. Naturally there's a 'Stadium Effect' sound version to celebrate the goals - click on 

  

Last Friday Margaret asks me if I know a blues artist called Coco Montoya ? And promptly sends me a link to listen to. 

Turns out our friend in California had seen him perform just a few miles north of their home in Santa Rosa and had posted pictures on Facebook of the concert. 

I've not stopped listen to him since... so had to feature this week, especially this song from his debut solo album ‘Gotta Mind to Travel’ released in 1995. 'Am I Losing You' written by the Cate Brothers from their '95 ‘Radioland’ album that featured Coco Montoya guesting. I am going with the album cut purely for listening purposes, (no video) so no distractions, as I really like the subtle guitar licks in the second verse and the sound of his voice. 

I will add a link to a 'live' performance below for action video fans. 

Coco Montoya's career began in the 70s as a drummer with Albert Collins who then taught him guitar. In the 80s he played with the John Mayall Bluesbreakers for 10 years before going solo. Plays guitar, plays it left hand (like Jimi and Ziggy) … and boy can he play ! 

So thanks to M and Debbie 😃. And I hope you like this as much as me > 

 

Replay: same song 'Live' from 2016 - click here 

Further listening fyi: (look out for these) 

‘I Want it All Back’ - from ‘Songs from the Road’ double cd  

‘I Wish I Could Be That Strong’ 

‘Don’t Take it Personally’ - sounding like Free both vocally and guitar playing.  

.... to mention just a few 'blues' titles. 

  

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Last week I was travelling back on the train from London and sitting opposite me with their daughter were a couple. Both of them were sporting T-shirts emblazoned with the words 'DEATH PUNCH'. On closer inspection these words were proceed by 'Five Finger' ! 

Intrigued I 'googled' and turns out Five Finger Death Punch are an American heavy metal band from Las Vegas. And they're BIG. Been going since 2005. Four albums between 2013 and 2018 certified Platinum or Gold, making them one of the most successful heavy metal bands of the decade. Also they've received Rock Radio Awards for "Indie Artist of the Year" in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

I had never heard of them, had you ? 

Well turns out they're pretty good. Check this out >

'Blue On Black' (feat. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert & Brian May) - takes half a minute to get going > 

"Blue on Black" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd was regarded as the best rock song of 1998 winning the Billboard Music Award for "Rock Track of the Year". 

American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch recorded "Blue on Black" for their 2018 album 'And Justice for None'. However, on April 12, 2019, a version different to the one on that album, was released as a single, together with Kenny Shepherd, country musician Brantley Gilbert and Queen guitarist Brian May. It merged Shepherd's blues rock, Gilbert's country, May's classic rock and Five Finger Death Punch's mainstream rock styles.

An official music video was released on April 11, 2019. (Featured above) 

For more Five Finger Death Punch - read here  

  

And finally to the childhood memory I promised at the beginning of the month. 

In May 1964, having just completed the 11 Plus exams, I had a family holiday to Hastings. Precisely when we went required a bit of research, so I went to the Hastings library and flicking through microfiche copies of the Hastings & St. Leonard's Observer from that year, I am now accurately able to tell you. 

My own memory of this holiday was I remember it rained. A lot ! So much so we did the unheard of holiday activity of going to the cinema. The week commencing 31st May the film 'Zulu' was showing at the De Luxe cinema on the Sea Front. So this had to be the time of our holiday because you don't forget a film like 'Zulu'. 

I also remember the jukebox in the clubhouse of the Combe Haven Holiday Park where we stayed and therefore the music we listened to. Many a sixpence was spent playing songs I liked. Then midweek a man shows up and changes the records on the jukebox and this new release from The Hollies was added. ‘Here I Go Again’ released on 15th May 1964 entered the hit parade a week later.

On hearing this track I'm right back there, my eleven and a half year old self, hovering by the jukebox waiting expectantly for my selection to play. 

Thank you Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, Eric Haydock & Bobby Elliott. Never saw this in colour before 😃 

Postscript: I also found out that the week previously the Kinks had appearing on the Hastings Pier - their 3rd single 'You Really Got Me' still more than two months away. 

   

On the same day in November 1967 as The Moody Blues LP 'Days of Future Passed' was released, so was the single from the album 'Nights in White Satin'. Making the UK chart in January 1968 and reaching No.19 in February.  

Both the album and single having only moderate success upon release, 'Nights in White Satin' has enjoyed a recurring chart presence over the years. In 1972 following steady FM radio airplay and the success of this single, the album became a top ten hit in the US.
'Nights' was a hit again in the UK and Ireland in 1979 reaching numbers 14 and 8, respectively. The song charted once again in 2010, reaching number 51 in the UK Official Singles Charts. 
With hindsight 'Days of Future Passed' has since been listed among the most important albums of 1967 by Rolling Stone magazine, cited by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an example of one of the first progressive rock albums and one of the first concept LP releases.
The "orchestral" sounds in the main body of 'Nights in White Satin' were actually produced by Mike Pinder's Mellotron keyboard device. One of the founding members of the band, sadly Mike's 'Days Passed' only last month, but as a pioneer of the Mellotron his playing would become The Moody Blues' signature sound.

With the instrument's instruction to 'play slowly' here's a rather flaky 'sound wise' 10 minute video that's very informative called "A Brief History of the Mellotron" Click here. 

The phrase “No Prog Rock without mellotrons” will clue you in to its main content. 

     

Psychedelic backdrop.

Photo taken at the Small Fakers gig at The Piper, St. Leonards, April 2024. Before the band arrived. 

   

If anyone was in doubt that 1967 was not a technicolour psychedelic dream, I present the evidence for the accused. 

Lighting the fire was the debut album 'The Doors' followed by Jefferson Airplane 'Surrealistic Pillow'; 'The Velvet Underground & Nico'; Jimi Hendrix 'Are You Experienced'; 'Sgt. Peppers'; Pink Floyd 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn'; Beach Boys 'Smiley Smile'; Strawberry Alarm Clock 'Incense and Peppermints'; Love 'Forever Changes'; Cream 'Disraeli Gears; The Moody Blues 'Days Of Future Passed'; The Rolling Stones 'Their Satanic Majesties Request'; Traffic 'Mr Fantasy'; & The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' ! 

I further bring to your attention an earlier indication of things to come with this excellent 20 minute video of British single releases in the October of 1966. [click here] Containing some great footage and a number of less well known records. The Wolves in particular ! 

'Psychedelia' - The term was first coined as a noun in 1956 by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond as an alternative descriptor for hallucinogenic drugs in the context of psychedelic psychotherapy. 

The phrase 'psychedelic' was coined in music terms with 'The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators ' in 1966. 

"I rest my case, m'lud"

To the music, an unfamiliar track until once again heard on an episode of 'Heartbeat'. From October 1967 on their ‘Try It’ album, the American garage band The Standells with Side two, track two: ‘Did You Ever Have That Feeling’ >

The video is very psychedelic - and might blow your mind a bit - so you may want to wait till later in the day to watch, rather than first thing in the morning 😉 

Check out the evidence here with 'A List of 25 LPs released in 1967'