I am still out and about at the weekends but mostly on Sundays for
now as the Saturday boots are non-existant until it warms up a bit.
I’ve also been concentrating on picking up just singles too as they are
easier to scan and I am building up a post of albums only, to come soon
whooo hoo! Until then here are some of my nicest vinyl finds since Christmas.

MALCOLM STEWART : Let’s Play A Game EP

Well this single ticked a lot of boxes for me when I first found it lying
unloved at the bottom of a box of albums, Folk, yes! EP, yes! 1960’s,
perhaps.. (it doesn’t say) cheap, yes! But is it any good? erm no, not
really as it’s all a bit too Christian for my liking, I suppose the fact it was
on Grail Records was a bit of a giveaway but at least it was only 25p and
I may get a £1 for it one day, if i’m lucky.
Grail Records ~ 1960’s

DICK JAMES : Sing A Song Of Beatles

This was one of the many cash-in records released in the Beatles wake,
this one is by the music publisher who founded Northern Songs who
published all those early Beatles hits. Dick James managed to secure the
incredible deal whereby the Fabs royalties were split 50% to him, 20% to John,
20% to Paul and 10% to manager Brian Epstein. Of course he did very well out
of it, even releasing an album of Beatles songs from which this EP is taken,
and who would ever try to pull such a cheeky stunt in this day and age?
Parlophone ~ 1964

VARIOUS ARTISTS : The Sounds Of Bristol

This is a lovely record and quite long too, as it’s like a mini-album
playing at 33rpm. The narrator even say’s “ooh arr” in a dodgy accent
every so often. On side 2 the narration veers close to a Little Britain
sketch as he describes Bristol ladies as ‘sloppy’ and impersonates them
in a “yes, I am a laydee” via “the only gay in the village” stylee, hilarious!
Saydisc ~ 1973

MADY MESPLE & DANIELLE MILLER : Flower Duet

Although this famous tune goes back to 1883 this French opera singer
recorded the version we’re familiar with in 1971. As well as being used to
advertise British Airways like it is on this release, it was also used to great
effect in David Bowie’s middling vampire movie The Hunger in 1983.
I’m always pleased to find another advertising record I don’t already have
though, so despite the fact I may never play this copy it does have a quite
nice gatefold sleeve. If you think you may not know this tune then listen to
this and be prepared to go, ooh yeah!
EMI ~ 1985

SAMANTHA JONES : Ford Leads The Way/Go Ahead

An unusual promotional single from 1967 by Samantha Jones
who was one of the original Vernons Girls, a group of girl singers
formed by the Vernon football pools company in the 1950’s.
She sings Ford Leads The Way in praise of the crazy horses but
it’s the B side Go Ahead which the really groovy tune here just a
shame it didn’t come in the original picture sleeve but a great tune.
Ford Records ~ 1968

STOLLER’S TEAM : Sapporo/Mean

When I think of the Winter Olympics I remember that downhill sk-ing theme
Pop Looks Bach by Sam Fonteyn, this however is not that stirring tune.
It tries hard to convey the excitement and thrills of a snowy sports festival
but falls way too short, even with actual ski-ing sounds mixed in the music.
It’s the B side who is the winner here, with it’s heavy Afro vibes and funky beat.
Decca Records ~ 1972

The British Olympic Supporters : Bronze, Silver & Gold

Also from released to promote the 1972 Olympics was this 7” single
Bronze, Silver & Gold which is a brass-backed march and very ho-hum.
The B side is a trumpet-led instrumental titled Chin Up which kinda gave
the impression that we were never really gonna win all that much anyway
so keep on smiling and hey, chin up!
Bumble Records ~ 1972

PETER BLEGVAD : Alcohol

I couldn’t resist this single which I paid the seller £2 for as it was originally
recorded as a demo for the Slapp Happy/Henry Cow album Desperate Straights
in 1974 by Peter Blegvad and Anthony Moore. The B side of this one-sided disc
has grapes etched around it and came with a dire warning on it’s inner sleeve
and was also a tricky disc to take a photo of - check out the video
Recommended Records ~ 1981