STEPHEN – Right On Running Man / Epitaph (Antic 1974) Belgian and UK pressing of this astonishing single by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and his wife Stevie Vann. Born in Zambia in 1948, Robert J. Lange is better known as the producer of bands such as AC/DC, Boomtown Rats, Def Leppard and many others. The superb “Right On Running Man” was written and produced by himself. Here we go…
SPIDER – Come Back Baby / Stay a Little Bit Longer (Alaska 1974) This single was written produced and probably performed by Robert "Mutt" Lange, one of the most successful producers in rock history. He also released another great glam rock single under the name of Stephen that will be soon on this blog, and who was also behind the Buzz’ “Rock Roller Coaster” single which came out few years later with ”Come Back Baby” on the b side. UK issue.
EDWARD - (Is There) Anymore Wine / Good Times (Sinus Music 1977) Amazing punk glam tune by Portsmouth outfit Edward aka Edward Bear or Arms & Legs, featuring a young Joe Jackson on keyboards and vocals. This single, produced by Keith Bensor, was released only in Belgium by Sinus Music.
MICHAEL STANLEY - Rock And Roll Man / Denver Rain (Tumbleweed Records Inc. 1973) First single by American singer-songwriter Michael Stanley, a heavy glam-punk number with loud guitars. French pressing, produced by Bill Szymczyk.
FRAME - Keep Those Blues On The Run / Girl What You Trying To Do (Seven Sun 1974) Great glam pop two-sider by Frame who were also behind the singles "Rockin' Machine" and "Billy The Dreamer". This one was produced by Don Lawson, producer of the obsure Skin's single "Trucking Song". German issue.
SIMON, PLUG AND GRIMES - Don't Push Me / Is There Anyone Left (President 1972) "Is There Anyone Left" is a wonderful pop b side from Simon, Plug And Grimes, a band who put out about four singles, three of which were issued via Ed Kassner's glorious President label. A Holman-May production, UK pressing.
THIRD WORLD WAR - A Little Bit Of Urban Rock / Working Class Man (Polydor 1971) This is a classic! An incendiary record by the legendary Third World War, a proto-punk-working-class band formed in London in 1970 by manager/producer John Fenton with Terry Stamp and Jim Avery. Their two albums and two singles released between 1970 and 1972 are mainly characterized by Terry Stamp’s brutal vocals, their socio-political lyrics and aggressive guitar riffs. This is the German issue of their second single "Little Bit Of Urban Rock". Enjoy!
ALBATROSS - Darlin' / The Band Played On (Mooncrest 1975) A good piece of glam boogie in a truly Status Quo vein. With both songs written by the singer John Jones and the guitarist Terry Keyworth, this is one of the four Albatross' singles. Produced by Clive Crawley. UK issue.
WATTS - Girl You Make It Easy / Betsy Ballou (Jam 1973) The strong guitar riff immediately reminds me another British band, the Streak ("Bang Bang Bullet" - "Gonna Have a Good Time"). Like the Willy Zango And The Mechanics' single released in 1973 and also on Jam, this record by Watts was written and produced by Kaplan Kaye. UK pressing.
LITTLE ACRE - Takin' Me Away / Gimme Your Love (Birds Nest 1979) A late hard glam rockin' number by Dudley' s Little Acre. Active from 1975 this self-described "high-energy funk band" released four singles and one LP that never saw the light of day before breaking up at the end of 1979. Produced at the Old Smithy for the Bird Nest Records. UK issue.
PROFESSOR MORRISON'S LOLLIPOP - Oo-Poo-Pah-Susie / You Take It (London 1969) Kasenet and Katz signed the Nebraska band Coachmen to White Whale records under a different name, Professor Morrison’s Lollipop, and released three singles between 1968 and 1969. The legendary Joey Levine wrote and did some production work for the band. Some members of the group also performed with the Kasenet-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus. "Oh-Poo-Pah-Susie" - written and performed by Lange Martine Jr. - is a perfect, classic bubblegum song with great harmonies and nasal singing too. German issue.
LIGHT FANTASTIC - We Are The Song / Raining (Blue Jean 1975) Maybe their best single, together with "Take Me, Shake Me", which was released in 1974 and featured the great "Don't Let Go" on the b side, a song written by Light Fantastic but previously released by another British band, the Rats. Wolverhamptom's Light Fantastic toured with Mud, Showaddywaddy and did shows with The Sweet before breaking up in 1978 and forming the horror-rock band Nightmare who released the single "Great Balls of Fire" at the end of 1979. "We Are The Song" was produced by Del spence while "Raining" by Bob Hopton. UK issue.
53rd + 3rd FEATURING THE SOUND OF SHAG - Chick-A-Boom / kingmaker (UK 1975) A good mix of glam and powerpop. "Kingmaker" was written and produced by Jonathan King and issued on his own record label as the b side of Chick-A-Boom. German pressing.
CRACKERS - Judy, Judy, Judy / instrumental version (Negram 1976) Produced and co-written by John Edward (who also produced and penned Heatwave's nice "Sister Simon" single) for Istant Sound Productions, "Judy, Judy, Judy" is an amazing glam rock dancer/stomper tune with great guitar, catchy chorus and, of course...handclaps! Dutch issue.
FIVE DOLLAR SHOES - Rain Train / Love Song (Neighborhood 1972) A great single from a band that never received a great consideration in the New York City glam rock scene. Five Dollar Shoes included Gregg Diamond (also member of Jobriath backing band, The Creatures), Mike Millius, Tom Graves, Jim Gregory and Scott Woody. In addition to this record they also released another single called "Your Rock'n'Roll Band" and one LP that was recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City´s Greenwich Village. Produced by Peter Schekeryk.
KASNAT & KATZ FIGHTER SQUADRON - Picken' Up Sticks / All Fall Down (Hansa 1971) The two greatest bubblegum producers, Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz together with Ritchie Cordell came out with another astonishing tune. The outstanding handclaps and the catchy guitar make "Picken' Up Sticks" sound a bit heavier than the usual Super K Productions' style. German press.
RED LINE EXPLOSION - Sweet Talking Mama / Evil Woman (Penny Farthing 1971) Italian and German issues of Red Line Explosion´s "Sweet Talking Mama". The song sounds very much like "Take Off" by Kentucky Freeway always on Penny Farthing (check Purepop blog). Actually, both tracks were written and maybe performed by members of the Stamford Bridge group (John Carter, Ken Lewis, Russ Alquist). A Sunny Records Production.
SCREAMER - City Or Bust / I've Got Hairs (Arista 1975) Not to confuse with the Screemer who released "Interplanetary Twist" and "In The City". This is another good tune that comes from another British obscure band. The record is produced by Pete Smith (who also wrote "City Or Bust") and Phil Chilton. Probably the same couple who released several songs for the "music library" and soundracks for movies such as the Italian "Delitto Al Circolo Del Tennis". UK press.
MICKY - The Mouth Organ Boy / Follow Me (RCA 1971) Junkshop glam from Spain with this single's b side by Miguel Ángel Carreño alias Micky, also singer of the 60s Madrid band Micky y Los Tonys before starting his solo career in 1970. There is also a Spanish version of this single called "El Chico De La Armonica / Sigueme". Both songs are written and produced by the musician, songrwiter and producer Fernando Arbex. German issue.
BZN - Bad, Bad Woman / CORPORATION - Wild Time (Napoleon 197?) Italian split single including two Dutch groups. Both these bands' singles were originally released on Negram in 1971. So, as no date appears on this copy I guess it was issued in the same year. Bad, Bad Woman
GOOD HABIT - Find My Way Back Home / Wild, Wild Child (RCA 1974) Here's another good tune from another British obscure band which I couldn't find out much about. UK issue.
THE CRESCENT STREET STOMPERS - Louie Louie / Having a Party (Decca 1975) Great version of Sam Cooke's "Having a Party" by The Crescent Street Stompers, a Canadian band, featuring the Moonquake singer Jack Geisinger, which also released another single called "Judy Plays The Jukebox". Produced by Aquarius Records, German issue.
VÁCLAV NECKÁŘ UND DIE BAZILLEN - Träume / Ja, die Wege (AMIGA 1975) Vaclav Neckar from the Socialist Czech Republic was an actor and a singer popular all over Estern Europe. “Ja, die Wege” with German lyrics can be considered one of few "quasi glam" songs ever produced in the Communist world. Released on the east Berlin label AMIGA, a state-owned record company that had the monopoly on record production.
J.J. PAM - Hip Hip Hurrah / Honey (Hansa 197?) From the names of the songwriters (Goltermann, Kahn, Hildebrandt, Winhauer) on the labels I gather they were German. The b side is the real "bomb" of this cool bubbleglam single. German issue produced by Gola GmbH.
GRAME GRACE - What Do You Do With My Sweetheart? / Generation Of Today (RCA 1974) Superb glam pop single in Sparks and Cockney Rebel's style by Grame Grace who also released some other great singles as "Flamboyant Freak" that came out in 1975. Produced by the Italian Roberto Danova.
WINSTON - Mona / Rockerdile (Bradleys 1973) "Mona", by the Londoners band Winston, is a brilliant late psych pop number, penned, as the b side, by the famous couple Barry Blue Linsey De Paul. UK issue, produced by Barry Blue.
MISCHA - Ich Und Rocky Waschbär / Tante Josephine (Ariola 1975) After Ricky Wilde and Darren Burn, here's Micha, an eleven-year old boy from southern Germany. Both songs of this single are written and produced by Anthony Monn. Enjoy!
HOUND DOG - Rock 'n Roll Show / Singin' The Blues (Target 1973) They should almost certainly be Dutch, however "Rock'n Roll Show" is a great song played in a rough Slade vein. The Belgian release is on Supreme, the copy above is the Dutch issue and it was released on Target, a label totally unknow to me. Produced by H.D. Production and Cees Beaudoux.
TASTY - Just a Little Too Much / You're a Heartbreaker (DJM 1977) As written between the cover notes of this promo copy, Tasty were a "five-piece band from Rugby". Besides the Bolanesque "Just a Little Too Much", the band released the single "A Summer Of Love" in 1976 always on DJM. Produced by Richie Tattersall, UK issue.
42nd STREET - Cool Dude & Foxy Lady / Spray Paint Bandit (Sunburst 1974) "We used to compete with the Harlots of 42nd Street which was a group of guyswho looked like truck drivers but dressedlike the Dolls and wore, like, fishnet stockings over these big muscular hairy legs. They were my favourite band." This is what David Johansen says during an interview about the Harlots Of 42nd Street. Formed by the guitarist Chris Harlott, this band, together with the New York Dolls, Magic Tramps, the Brats, Teenage Lust, and others glitter rock band of the time, dominated the NYC underground scene in the first half of the 70s. Here's a copy of their single on Sunburst records, produced by Seth Greenky. Cool Dude & Foxy Lady
BIG BOY BLUE - Getting Hungry / Lonely (Penny Farthing 1974) Another great 45 on Penny Farthing from Big Boy Blue, who's nobody else but Barron Knights himself. Bass player Peter Langford is the author of both tracks of this single: "We were trying hard to get a hit record that was a serious song and we signed to Larry Page of Penny Farthing records in London and he released several tracks by us but to no avail. 'Your All I need' was quite good sales in Italy and Canada" THANKS TO PETER LANGFORD
HARD HORSE - Let It Ride / Hang Hold Freddy (Vogue 1972) French Issue Of Hard Horse's "Let It Ride" featuring Paul Thomas, singer of the Coventry band Peppermint Circus since 1968 to 1970. Produced by Ben Findon and Peter Shelley.
P.A.T.C.H - Bang Bang Bang / Where Are You Now? (RCA 1972) I don't know anything about this band, but "Where Are You Now?" is a brilliant commercial pop number that reminds me of the Flaming Groovies' "Shake Some Action" period.
SHILLINGFORD MILL - Frightened / I Want To Know (MAM 1971) Beautiful pop song by Shillingford Mill. The same year this band also released "It's a Thing Called Love", another single on MAM produced by Dave Watkins as the above.
MIKE BERRY I'm a Rocker / Everybody Do It (Red Point 1973) A different version of Zipper's "Gettin' It On" released by the English singer Mike Berry who also wrote the chart single "Tribute To Buddy Holly" in 1961. Note that "Everybody Do It" can only be found as the b side of the single "I'm a Rocker" issued in Germany in 1973 on Red Point records.
CLAREL BETSY - In The Name Of The Lord / Highway Sister (Decca 1974) Clarel Betsy was a Paris based Mauritian born singer. Here's the Italian issue of his bizzarre single "In The Name Of The Lord".
JAILHOUSE - Ya Hoo Hoo / Bad End (Metronome 1972) German issue of the Jailhouse's single "Ya Hoo Hoo". As Hamlett's single "Where'd The day Go?", both single's traks were written by Cozzi, produced by Nat Kipner and released in 1972. Actually, the Hamlett and the Jailhouse may well be the same band playing with a different name. Who knows?
THE EQUALS - Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes / She Lives For Today (President 1974) Ok, you may be thinking "that's just Equals". However, after having listened to this killer b side, written by the twin brothers Derv and Lincoln Gordon and produced by Eddy Grant (who left the band in 1971), I'm sure this'll turn into a "I couldn't be more wrong". German press.
ONKINSMOG - Miss Lucy / Revivalist Rock & Roll (Antic 1974) Great two-sider by Onkinsmog, produced by the legendary English singer-songwriter Dave Dee. UK issue.
MIKE DOUGLAS - Long Live Rock n' Roll / Rockin' Rollin' Baby (Decca 1974) UK issue of Mike Douglas' "Long Live Rock n' Roll" single, produced by Tatters and Marsh. Unfortunately I could not gather any other information about him.
CAPTAIN LOCKHEED & THE STARFIGHTERS - Ejection / Catch A Falling Starfighter (United artist 1973) Space rock by Robert Clavert, former Hawkwind frontman, who also released an album as Captain Lockheed in 1974 featuring Arthur Brown, Brian Eno, Paul Rudolph, Lemmy and many others.
ROSS STAGG - I'll Never Be a Star (But I Might) / Oh Captain (Dawn 1974) British Issue of the single "I'll Never Be A Star" by the Australian Ross Stagg better know as singer and guitarist of the UK hard rock band Strapps. Produced by Dennis Taylor.
DAWN CHORUS Little Green Men / Electric Garden (Polydor 1973) Another studio creation by Gerry Morris and Tony Atkins, the duo that produced other interesting singles like Galahad, Zipper and more. "Little Gree Man" is also the Toggle's "Tiger Woman" single b side. Little Green Men
CHUNKY - Albatross Baby / Road Runner Girl (Orange 1973) Here's another UK obscurity, actually one of my favourite "junk shop glam" single. Produced by Dave Humpries and Keith Allen, recorded at Orange Studios, London. Albatross Baby
VILLAIN - Photograph / You Should Know Me By Now (Bell 1975) While searching for info about this obscure English band from Essex, I got in touch with Linda Hart and Steve Rowland, the Villain's producer who was also involved in many other band's chart hits production, such as "Come See Me" by the Pretty Things. Here's what the Californian producer wrote me about the Villain:
"The group was made up of five members. Linda Hart, the sexy lead vocalist, Bob Bloomfield on guitar, Billy Fyfield on drums and for my sins, I sang the male lead. I can not remember the name of fifth member that played bass. This whole project was put together after I laid eyes on lovely Lin Hart who had been brought to one of my recording sessions by Bob Bloomfield. One look and my blood started racing. Then off the top of my head I asked her if she could sing, as I had a song, ("Photograph") that I was hoping to find the right artist to make a recording. Linda Hart definitely fitted the bill. She was excited at the prospect. So was I. The next day Bob brought her back to the studio and I auditioned her for the project. Her voice, attitude and her knock out looks sealed the deal. Villain was formed and the rest is history".
