May has finally arrived and the new booting season is finally
spluttering into life.There will no doubt be the odd occasional
scattered shower with light winds but it’s pretty much boots on.
Over the past few months I have picked up some nice 7” singles
as well as some unusual flexi-discs I had not come across before. 
I am looking forward to a healthier booting season this year than 
the washout of 2012 so fingers x the fields produce good yields!

 

 

 

YOUNG FOLK : A Festival Of Folk Song

This EP by various artists claims on the rear of the sleeve to be
“recorded by young people with an average age of 17… nothing
too remarkable in that until you hear them!” Well I have listened to
Barbara Bunning, Venturing Folk and Sally & Jane and can confirm
it does indeed have some remarkable songs, most especially the
version of All My Trials sung by Sally & Jane. This has been covered
by folk such as Paul McCartney, Nick Drake and Cerys Matthews and
the girls have done a lovely version you can hear for yourself here.

Abbey Folk : 1960’s

VARIOUS ARTISTS : 1970 Hits

These 2 compilation EP singles on Avenue Records were part of
a set of 5 for cover version fans to collect, not just for the songs
but to win an actual holiday! The ones I found here feature the letters
T and E in their intros, but as far as worthwhile songs to listen and
enjoy go then unfortunately they fall some way short which may be
why a Spanish holiday was the only lure to get folks to waste their
7 shillings on them back then. Listen to the letter E intro / Black Night

Avenue Records : 1970

The titles on this one below make for a pretty grim read!

ABC CINEMAS : Happy Birthday / ABC Minors Song

This was one of my nicest finds of recent times, a 7” single in
very good condition despite the fact it must have been played
dozens of times every Saturday morning in some probably long
demolished cinema. I now take my own kid to the morning matinee
at the local multiplex (usually when it’s raining as there are of course
car boots on a Saturday morning) However this tune was never played 
to me when I were a lad, we were expected to stand up to the national
anthem at the Electra Cinema in Newport Pagnell, or else! 
ABC Minors Song

RPL Records : 1968

STONED AID / THE CANNIBALS : Are You Going To Stonehenge?

Featuring ex members of The Inmates and The Count Bishops,
this charity record was released to try and make some bread for
the Stonehenge Festival Benefit Fund. It seems unlikely Stoned Aid
raised as much as even a teenth of Band Aid but they tried their best,
bless ‘em. I even went to one of the last Stonehenge Festivals and
remember it being about as much fun as listening to this awful single.
This copy was rescued from the skip after my radio station defaced it
and then chucked it out, and I can understand why, download it here.

(S)HIT Records : 1989

JOHNNY PEARSON : Spy Trap - Theme from Quator / Playgirl

This is a fairly funky theme from a TV show I have no memory of
as it was slightly before my time. But the B side titled Playgirl is a
much better tune from a show of which I could find very little info
online - I did try. Pearson was in charge of the Top Of The Pops
Orchestra from 1965 to 1981 and is perhaps best known for his
top 10 single Sleepy Shores - you can download Playgirl here

BBC Records : 1971

SPIKE MILLIGAN : Girl On A Pony

Despite being one of the greatest and most surreal of all comedians,
Spike must have thought he might copy Richard Harris’ success with
MacArthur Park by releasing this pretty straightforward tune as a single. 
Despite being produced by George Martin it never bothered the charts,
and when you consider it’s actually Spike Milligan singing here it isn’t all that suprising as we know how off the wall he could be.
download

Warner Bros Records : 1972

DAVID CALLISTER : The Laxey Wheel / T.T. Hall Of Fame

I have quite a few records on the T.T. Races from the Isle Of Man
which are mainly full albums, but this is a folk song single recorded
in tribute to it’s annual motorcycle race and it comes in this sweet
homemade sleeve. The B side is a song about the other popular
attraction on the island and what is the world’s largest waterwheel
called The Laxey Wheel, you can listen to Davids song here.

Hilary Records : 1971

The booting season is pretty much closing down for the winter now,
but there are still the few odd boots popping up in various town halls
and community centres so I am still managing to find various bits & bobs.
I came across a stash of football vinyl recently at a village car boot
held in a church car park, so I have posted up some of those this time
though they do lean quite heavily on a certain 125 year old Scottish club.

GREEN & WHITE BRIGADE : The Holy Ground of Glasgow Celtic

Kicking off with the sound of the crowd The Green & White Brigade
regale us with songs that would have no doubt brought a tear to the
Celtic captain Billy McNeil’s eye, and judging by the state of the rear
of the sleeve for this album with MOM’S  inscribed on it, the tears of
someone else have been dropping onto it a lot too, bless.
Red label Hallmark Records : 1968

THE CELTIC BOYS CLUB : Glasgow Celtic - Double Champions

Once again, this album starts off with the sound of the crowd but within
20 seconds the sing-a-long starts and then someone pulls out an accordion.
Before you know it, everybody sounds completely drunk and a bloke looks
funny at someone’s bird and a pint gets spilled and it all degenerates into chaos
like an early JAMC gig, well perhaps not, if Jock Stein has anything to do with it!
Blue label Hallmark Records : 1967

THE WULLIE MALLOY EXPERIENCE : The Celtic Centenary E.P.

This is a 5 track 12” single which was issued to celebrate Celtic’s 100th
year in 1988. It is the same set up as the two previous records, with a rowdy
choir of men (there was never actually going to be any women singing on these
records now was there?!) singing pretty much the same songs from the other
albums. However the production is better than the earlier ones and there is a
warm glow of passion coming from the voices of these undoubtedly completely
sober gentlemen.
Wullie Malloy Records : 1988

ABERDEEN FOOTBALL SQUAD : European Song

Managed by what was to be their most successful manager Sir Alex Ferguson,
the dulcet tones of the Aberdeen squad which included other future managers Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish sang their way through this plodding dirge
err uplifting anthem, to their European Cup success of 1983. It never bothered
the charts north or south of the border and rumour has it the B-side didn’t
even feature any of the squad at all!
AFC Records : 1983

The Denis Law Testimonial Programme

I found this inside the sleeve of one of the Celtic albums which would have
been more exciting (to me) if it was actually Liverpool related as I have no
affection for Manchester spit! United, at all. Still, it is a nice item which will
no doubt find it’s way to eBay at some point and I would have been tempted
to keep it if the Ajax squad had featured Johan Cruyff, but for some reason he
didn’t want to play that night, no don’t email me telling me he was injured OK.
3/10/73

F.A. SOUVENIR : Memorable Cup Finals

This has some of the oldest recordings of football matches that I have
on vinyl featuring commentary from 1953 onwards. It has a great mix of
songs which includes The Nolans and Cockerel Chorus as well as familiar
football chants by West Ham and Man City, all mixed with the sound of
Mr. Cholmondley- Warner describing Stanley Matthews racing up the wing
this is indeed a winning album. It also comes with a useful inner sleeve listing
all the teams and scores of every single F.A. Cup match since 1872 - result!
CBS Special Products Records : 1981

THE NORTH BANK : Arsenal We’re On Your Side

OK so it isn’t as catchy as Chelsea’s Blue Is The Colour or Tottenham’s
Nice One Cyril but Arsenal give it their best shot on this scarce single
from 1972 - I say scarce coz no-one actually bought a copy at the time!
The follow up single released 7 years later Arsenal We’re Right Behind You
fared even worse despite being a 12” in a picture sleeve and on red vinyl.
Polydor : 1972

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL TEAM : Sing Along With Liverpool

This is probably the Liverpool squad which holds the most affection
in my heart, as they were the first one I saw when I was 10 years old
and they were playing against QPR at Loftus Road in 1972. I was with
my grandad and despite the Queens Park Rangers fans loud cries of
“Keegan is a wanker” and my inevitable enquiry of “Grandad…
what’s a wanker?” I have followed them faithfully ever since.
I may have had second thoughts however had I been exposed to their
versions of Yellow Submarine and Lily The Pink at such an tender age.
Penny Farthing Records : 1972

  

LIVERPOOL THE LEGEND OF EUROPE : 1978 European Cup Final

There are no renditions of old pop songs on this album, just 100% honest
to goodness commentary and factual history describing Liverpool’s success
in European competition. My goodness, it all seems so long, long ago now
with their current mid-table struggles and trophy cabinet full of dusty memories,
it’s records like this that make me feel sadder than listening to WW1 poetry.
Quality Recordings : 1978

I am actually a bit bored with moaning about the weather here now but
at least the paper today claims that it has been “the wettest on record”
and that I can totally agree with, literally! Still, I have managed to find
some nice vinyl delights on my rare trips to the sodden fields which I think
you’ll find of interest including more Century 21 singles - I see none for years
then half a dozen turn up in just a few weeks, tsk typical.

CENTURY 21 : Trip To Marineville/Journey To The Moon

You might imagine that these two mini-albums are as edge of your
seat exciting as you could possibly imagine in your wildest dreams.
The Journey To The Moon starts with the touching story of a dreaming
boy floating up to the stars where he meets Steve Zodiac, Venus and
the rest of the cast of Fireball XL5. However, after about 40 seconds in
I think I lost the will to live as the plot became so confusing and ridiculous
that I gave up on it, scanned it and listed it on eBay as it no longer holds
the power or excitement that it may have done had I heard it when I was 7.
Century 21 Records ~ 1965

The S.O.D.S. Ladies Band : Thanks So Much

Well, I have come across some strange records in my time, yadda yadda,
and this one isn’t so much weird as just simply why, in gods name why?!
Issued by the Confederation of Women Songwriters sometime in the
mid 70’s I would hazard a guess, this single in it’s die-cut sleeve may
have not got further much than being shared amongst the husbands
(or partners?) of the ladies who actually sang on it, as this is a one sided acetate.
It has a kitsch factor and I assume the label is Cows - very odd and very crap.
Cows Records ~ 1970’s

THE LLIDYTH TRIO : Surely Goodness/Life Is A Symphony EP’s

In attempting to do some weak research on this holy trio of lovely
lasses I discovered that despite their Welsh name they are in fact
Scottish even though their records were actually made in England POW!
They once sang on the same bill as Sir Cliff Richard in Birmingham ZAP!
On both singles they were accompanied by two gentlemen WHAM!
Erm and thats enough Llidyth Trio facts then, did I mention they’re religious?
PILGRIM RECORDS : 1968

DENIS NORDEN : Meet The New Liberator Fully Automatic

The full title of the A side is the catchy ‘The Pounds Shilling And Sense
Of The Liberator Automatic Washing Machine’ whilst the B side has TV host
Denis Norden (who is 90 years old) explaining How and most importantly
Why, he became a washing expert. Judging by the picture of Denis on the
front sleeve it looks like he hasn’t changed much in 50 years, bless him.
AUDIO PLASTICS RECORDS ~ 1960

 

STANLEY UNWIN : Rotatey Diskers With Unwin

I have had the Marble Arch issue of this album for years and was so
pleased to come across this lovely first pressing which has the same
tracks but has this completely different sleeve. Sir Stanley was a local
resident for many years and how sweet to see from the price ticket that
this album was originally bought in Northamptons’ premier record store
before I was even born, yes it is that old!
Pye Records ~ 1961

 

MARIN MARAIS : Tableau Of a Lithotomy

Released on behalf of pharmaceutical company Norgine to push their
unglamorous purgative products, this bizarre single can make an honest
claim to feature some of the oldest music ever recorded. To quote the sleeve,
“Some 250 years ago a French composer, Marin Marais, wrote - to the
best of our knowledge - the only musical description of a surgical operation,
he called it Tableau of a Lithotomy. Taken from an old edition of the Library
of the Conservatory of Music in Paris, it is the first modern performance and
the first recording.” Listen for yourself : side 1 : side 2
Norgine Records ~ 1960’s

TONY JACKLIN : Swings

At the height of his fame the great golfer was the most successful British
player of his generation and maybe because he had just won the US Open
Championship he was let loose in a recording studio. Not as bad as that idea
might seem at first, but imagine David Beckham making a covers album and
you begin to understand why sportsmen should never be allowed to let us
laugh at their attempts at crooning, it’s just plain wrong, pretty funny though.
CBS Records ~ 1971

 

PATRICK CARGILL : Sings Father, Dear Father

I would probably have left this in the 50p box where I saw it
unloved and no doubt skipped over so many times. But I picked it up,
flipped it over and noticed the first track title on side 2 and I knew it
had to be mine! I was of course hoping that the Old H.G. that Patrick
was referring to might be my pseudonym Head Gardener, but unfortunately
it just turns out to be his dog called H.G. Alas, this album will therefore be
consigned to the nearest charity shop as I have to be ruthless in culling vinyl
that contravenes the Trades Description Act of 1968.
RCA Victor ~ 1969

So much for the rain staying away for the last 2 months,
this has of course meant that for me most weekends have
been totally useless and bootless! A nightmare for the shady
black marketeers and a pain in the neck for bloggers like me
who only want to crouch down without getting wet brown
patches on their knees. However, there has been the odd one
or two finds in the fields and I have optimism that once the sun
does come out (probably sometime in September) then I will once
again be able to post up all kindsa goodies, so until then…

ORSON WELLES : I Know What It Is To Be Young
(But You Don’t Know What It Is To Be Old)

Looking oh so serious, Orson Welles recorded this one off single in his
penultimate year. It featured the Ray Charles Singers on backing vocals
and was produced by Jerry Abbot who was the father of legendary dead
guitarist Dimebag Darrell of metal rockers Pantera. This 7” was unlikely to
be as big in the charts as Orson’s waist was around this time but its still
a moving and thoughtful tune ~ Youtube
Splash Records ~ 1984

 

F.F.&.Z : Everybody Get Out Of Bed / Spaced On Happy

A right old weird one this 7” , the F & F were husband and wife Paula and
Gary Fishbaugh and the Z was Pete Zorn. Pete was long standing member
of Richard Thompson’s touring band but is probably better known in England
as half of Driver 67 who had a one hit wonder with Car 67 in 1978. This single
was also a one off and never really stood a chance of reaching the top 10 but
the B side Spaced On Happy is pretty catchy bit of CSN&Y hippy fluff.
CBS Records ~ 1972

 

JOHNNY G : The Hippys Graveyard

I actually bought this single when it first came out but like the rest of
my entire vinyl collection was sold off with all my other worldly goods
in the mid 80’s to fund a trip round Asia. So you can imagine I was so
pleased to find another copy of this recently. I recall he even released
a double album around this time as well but I always considered this tune
to be his finest 3 minutes : Youtube
Beggars Banquet : 1978

 

VANESSA KIM : Holiday In Germany

A swift Google check on Ms. Kim reveals only one who could still
be involved in the holiday business all these years later but not one
who is still singing like the lady who does on this disc. Holiday In Germany
was released in Germany on the Holiday label but is actually sung in English,
with a snappy B side titled For You and Me and The Family. My guess is that
this disc was aimed squarely at us English tourists, but would no doubt have
put off plenty of family members from ever considering going to Germany
if they were to be subjected to this.
Holiday Sound ~ 1970’s

MICROBE : Groovy Baby

I had never come across this record before in all my years of collecting so
when I saw that band name, the title and the release date, it all led me up
the path to think this might even be some long-lost psychedelic classic.
I was wrong, so very wrong. OK it has a certain charm but it turns out to
be an odd novelty song featuring a 3 year old boy which actually cracked
the UK Top 30 but I was way too young myself to remember anything about
it in 1969. There is of course a Youtube where you can hear it for yourself.
CBS Records ~ 1969

 

PIANO MATE : Dub Req

Released in a quite lavish packaging featuring a gatefold sleeve and
a smart die-cut inner sleeve, this one sided disc was used by music
shop dealers to promote the Piano Mate. This was a device that was
plugged into an amp like box sitting under the piano which you then
placed onto your keyboard and it turned your boring old piano into an
snazzy electronic keyboard. The narration on the disc informs you that
you don’t even need a piano to use Piano Mate just a plain keyboard
will suffice, “to create a completely new dimension in sound”. Hear HERE
Lyntone : 1970’s

 

VARIOUS COMEDIANS/STRIPPERS :
The Wheel Tappers & Shunters Social Club

I am old enough to remember when this was on the TV in the 70’s but
I also remember feeling slightly uneasy whenever it came on. My parents
dragged me along to Saturday nights at our local Working Men’s Club around
this time too and that horrid mix of smoke, beer, leery old men and the general
air of the place was just the same as the scenes I saw on this show on the telly.
To be able to relive those childhood memories via this long playing album might
seem like a nice idea in theory but in reality actually makes me feel a bit ill, in fact on repeat listenings one might even catch lung cancer. You could try getting into that Northern Working Class vibe yourself : Youtube
Granada TV Records ~ 1976

                                         

The new car boot season has started - at last! it feels like months
since I was able to get down on my knees and scrabble about in mucky
boxes under tables in wet fields or litter strewn car parks but now I can
finally do it again, oh joy! Mind you the Northamptonshire boots are yet
to really kick off, that will hopefully be when it stops bloody raining.
We may be in one of the dryest counties in middle England but it seems the
rain has come down on the last few Friday nights to put the kibosh on early
Saturday morning starts, tsk typical. So fingers x for the coming season and
I don’t mind if it rains as long as it’s on a Tuesday around teatime, thanks God.







CENTURY 21 : Marina Speaks

This was one of two Century 21 EP’s I picked up last weekend, the first
of which features Marina, the mysterious beauty from 60’s TV show Stingray
The big thing about Marina was that she never spoke, so imagine the
excitement and incredible anticipation to finally be able to hear her speak!
Well, i’m sorry to disappoint you but she spends most of side one nodding,
I assume she’s nodding as she doesn’t open her mouth to say actual words.
However on side 2 she narrates her own story of why she was cursed to
remain dumb struck thanks to the evil Titan, but I could swear her voice
is the same as Atlanta’s and Lady Penelope’s and Sylvia Anderson’s…
Century 21 Records ~ 1965

                                                                                                                               
CENTURY 21 : Lady Penelope & Other TV Themes

Well talk of the she-devil, here she is on an EP featuring her favourite TV
themes along with some help from her trusty chauffeur Noel Gallagher sorry
I mean Parker, who even gets to sing on one track. I was quite disappointed
in the very poor version of the Bewitched theme, which is slowed down to a
lounge muzak version and the sleeve itself has a small tear on the front but
otherwise this is a keeper even if there are still another 36 in the set to collect.
Century 21 Records ~ 1966

RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE : Govinda

This single was released in 1970 on The Beatles own Apple label and was the
complete fault of hippy George who produced it and probably hand-clapped
along to it on side 2 too. This was the less sucessful follow up to their Top 20
smash hit Hare Krishna Mantra and I find it kinda scary to think that there was
an entire album of this stuff released too though I have never picked up a copy. Radha Krishna Temple was the home to the Society for Krishna Consciousness which is still open most days in sunny Watford.
Apple Records ~ 1971

PHIL TATE & THE WINDJAMMERS : All The Nice Girls

This easy listening instrumental album has not only a fine sleeve with
some lovely bikini clad lasses on it it also features a sweet version of
the classic tune Sunny which makes it worth tracking down for that alone.
All the other tracks on it are named after girls names like Delilah and
Michelle and of course who could forget Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
I think she must be sitting second from the left.
Plexium Records ~ 1971

 

MOLLY MOLLOY : Rock Dance

What a great find this was as I would have bought it for the sleeve alone,
but it has some really sweet funky breaks and beats. It’s all instrumental
and would have been used as backing music for teaching dance in schools
and although it’s titled Rock Dance on the cover it really is anything but,
which I suppose is a blessing as it’s much better than I hoped it might be.
An instructional booklet is enclosed with exercises for the Intermediate dancer,
this album turned out to be my best find of the last few weeks.
Check the title track Rock Dance
Gamba Educational Records ~ 1970’s

MYSTERY ACETATE : ???

I was a tiny bit excited by this when I discovered it squashed between
a couple of Suzi Quatro albums although I should have known it wouldn’t
actually be by her. Quite who it is exactly is still a mystery to me even
after giving it a spin however, it turns out to be fairground organ music!
bummer… For a few moments before the needle hit the grooves it could
have been some long-lost Psych classic or a Folk oddity, instead it’s just
rubbish, nice sleeve though.
City Of London ~ 1960’s