Car Booty

Spring - early Summer

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:37:00 -0400

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

Autumn

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:08:00 -0500

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

Summer

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:58:00 -0400

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

early Summer

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 06:40:00 -0400

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

Spring

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:26:00 -0400

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

Winter 2012

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:26:00 -0500

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

late Winter 2011

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:09:00 -0500

Despite the cold and grim mornings there are still plenty of hardy
souls out there in the fields and car parks of Northampton at 7am
on a Sunday morning! I may not be brave enough to stand around
for a few hours behind a trestle table myself but I am still to be found
on my knees digging away in search of vinyl treasures.
These past few weeks have been kind to me as I have dug up s’more
lovely singles as well as several flexi-discs, most of which I post on my
Facebook page. This is the pick of the vinyl including this first one which
I never even knew existed until I came across it in a box of old reggae singles.

ADAM ‘BATMAN’ WEST : Batman & Robin

I always assumed everybody knew who Adam West is but it seems
powers at EMI thought it best to add Batman to his name just in case
some folks had forgotten who was that masked man. This single was
released around the time of the TV series re-runs at teatime and was
unfortunately another one of those dodgy spoken word discs that seemed
to clog up the charts in the mid 70’s. This one never even tickled the lower
reaches of the charts but holy smokes Robin it is a demo!
Target Records ~ 1976

GEORGIE FAME : The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde

Not a particularly scarce record but a nice demo of a single that was a #1 hit
for R&B singer Georgie Fame in 1967. His rarest record is the single that came
a few years later titled Entertaining Mr Sloan from the black comedy film of the
same name. That 7” worth at least £75 and rarely comes up for sale on eBay.
CBS ~ 1967

John & Joan Shakespeare : Number One Theme

This great single turns out to be pretty rare but it was the picture sleeve
that first caught my eye, funny that. The tune was specially composed by
the husband and wife duo as a commercial for long defunct BEA Airways.
The B side Fade Out was the title music for the Stanley Baker film of the
same name and both sides were arranged by none other than Quincy Jones.
Decca ~ 1969

GANGSTER : Build On Our Dreams

This charity single was released in 1988 to raise money for a new
scanner for Huntingdon Hospital and was released appropriately
enough on Hospital Records. The rear of the sleeve features the
group were superimposed on a photo of a brain scan and could be
bought for the minimum donation of only one pound.
Medical Records ~ 1988

FAMILY : Strange Band EP

I have most of the Family albums (arf) but this single was new to me and
what a great sleeve! It is a 3 track EP which features new versions of 2 of
their tunes including a reworking of one of their finest songs, Weaver’s Answer
which was also the first track on the album Family Entertainment. I used to
have the original huge poster that came free with that album hanging up in
my bedroom, yes I am that old/sad…
Reprise ~ 1970

THE LATCHKEY CHILDREN : The Latchkey Children

Maybe I was too busy out causing mischief or more likely watching something
else entirely but I don’t recall ever seeing this TV show. With a bit of research
(I Googled it) I discovered the show put an unusual comical slant on the problem
of children left to fend for themselves after school as their parents were at work.
The show only lasted one series but this single has managed to survive 30 years.
Virgin Records ~ 1980

CLIVE ALLAN ORCHESTRA : Various Hits

These 3 x 6 track EPs were all nestled together, unloved in a box of old
Top of The Pops albums and were released around the same time as those
dodgy compilations were first issued. Bringing together hits of the time on
a budget priced 7” these 3 each have the same artwork in different shades
of groovy colours. The Clive Allan Orchestra and Singers were the guilty ones
behind the covers and they really did hit their stride with that green one!
Avenue Records ~ 1969

CLIVE ALLAN ORCHESTRA : Various Hits

A year earlier and on the similar Disc-A-Fran budget label came
this equally grim cover versions EP by the same guilty party as the
ones above. The rear of the sleeve with its sulky as opposed to sultry
model states that the label is actually proud to bring you these faithful
reproductions of great hits - each month! meaning there are more of these
frankly awful singles out there, somewhere, hiding in a box near you…
Disc-A-Fran Records ~ 1968

Autumn

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:50:00 -0400

The booting year is certainly winding down now with only a few more
of the big regular events to go and I am soon gonna be wondering what
to do with my Sunday mornings. I’ve discovered a few nice singles in
the last few weeks however, nothing especially rare but sweet enough
to squirrel away. I also plan on selling a load of old albums at the end
of the month, so if your at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton on the
last Sunday in October keep a look out for the tall guy with the fedora!

SOUND EFFECTS : Space Ship/Ghosts

I was chuffed to bits when I found this single even though I already have
several albums of sound effects, from earthquakes to farts. Its a pity it didn’t
come in a picture sleeve and the electronically created ghosts are as unghostly
as they could possibly be, yet there is a naive charm about them I like.
Shame there is no credit as to who created them but I’d like to think they
might be early Delia Derbyshire experiments.
HMV ~ 1960’s

THE CIMEX INVASION : Top Secret

This is a bizarre promotion record for Cimex Industrial which was released
to encourage businesses to buy their cleaning machine products. It has
some excellent Radiophonic Workshop style electronics floating over the
voice of a salesman warning you that the “The Cimex are coming, Cimex
are invading the earth with the most powerful cleaners the world has seen”
we have certainly been warned! The A side urges you to play it first yet it’s
B side asks you not to play it at all, but thats because it is just a single tone
all the way through…
Private Pressing ~ 1960’s

THE SESSION : Bridge Over Troubled Water

This is an incredibly sad record which was released to raise money for
families of the Hungerford tragedy in 1987 when lone gunman Michael Ryan
went on a rampage around the streets of Hungerford killing 16 people.
The Session consists of several pop stars of the time including Sinitta,
Imagination and err, Marti Webb. I was living in Australia at the time of
this release so when I came across it recently I had been blissfully unaware
of it’s existence up until the moment I found it hidden in a box of NOW albums.
The B side is an equally miserable song titled I’m Crying.
PRT ~ 1987

SPIKE MILLIGAN : The Wormwood Scrubs Tango

I was not familiar this typically silly single featuring Spike doing his old
Goonish voice over an orchestra but it’s the B side which totally loses it
and jumps off the deep end into utter silliness, titled The Little Grey Hole
In My Vest it is just totally crackers, which for Spike Milligan is really saying
something! This 7” was originally released in the early 60’s but for some reason
re-issued in 1974 maybe to tie in with his TV show Q5 or Q6 at the time?!
BBC Records ~ 1974

JULIE & GORDON : Gordon’s Not A Moron / J-J-Julie (Yippee Yula)

I was lucky to pick up an original Rabid Records first pressing of the classic
Jilted John by Jilted John single recently so imagine my suprise when I came
across these 2 ‘response records’ last weekend! The chorus of Jilted John was
of course “Gordon is a moron” yet JJ’s creator Graham Fellows had no hand in
creating either of these singles.
Pogo Records ~ 1978/9

late Summer

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:35:00 -0400

This has proved to be another fruitful month for singles, I did pick
up a few albums however, the nicest of which was a Psych-Punk
compilation called Mayhem & Psychosis which is pretty, pretty good.
I came across a box of Tom Jones albums and tucked in at the back
were the top three singles below, the first of which I was quite excited
about at first until I noticed a missing letter in his christian name, still
it was a curio I was happy to give a home to.

ANTONY HOPKINS : Talking About Mozart

Yes, that is Antony Hopkins not Sir Anthony Hopkins, I do have a single
by Sir Anthony somewhere called Distant Star but this is a different kettle
of fish altogether. This chap simply talks you through Mozart’s Symphony
No. 41 in C and err, thats it! Quite who this record was aimed at is anyones
guess but the narrator obviously knows his stuff as he also wrote a book
called yes, you’ve guessed it Talking About Symphonies.
Jupiter Records ~ 1961

YEHUDI MENUHIN : What Is Music?

This excellent and very educational record I assume was originally meant
to be played in schools to help teach kids about the different sounds and
styles of music from Beethoven, lions, Indian Sitars, African drums to an
erupting volcano - they’re all here! Sir Menuhin’s vocal delivery is a bit dry but
I am sure it would still have sounded quite interesting even if you were sitting
cross-legged on a gym floor or relaxing in your front room on headphones.
BPC Records ~ 1969

VANESSA REDGRAVE : Hanging On A Tree

She is perhaps better known as an actress rather than a folk singer yet the
folk label Topic bravely decided to give her a shot at warbling along with
Bill Daley on guitar and Jim Bray on double bass to a couple of tunes in 1964.
I’d imagine a whole album was unlikely to ever happen so the only recorded
proof that Vanessa could hold a tune together is on this one-off single.
Topic Records ~ 1964

BILL WYMAN : (Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star

This is perhaps the ex Rolling Stones bass players finest solo moment,
I heard it in a club recently and it still sounds great. This copy I picked
up is nice for a couple of other reasons, firstly it’s a promo which would
be cool in it’s own right, but what gives this copy extra wow factor is
that the B side is signed by none other than ex-Radio 1 DJ Mike Read.
I can only assume this was some (unwanted) competition prize, perhaps
on a Radio 1 Roadshow or maybe someone has forged his autograph and
it’s a fake!? come to think of it, that has got be highly unlikely!
A&M ~ 1981

THE ONLY ONES : Another Girl, Another Planet

I think I must have several other copies of this brilliant song in various formats,
the original studio album it came on, the great That Summer soundtrack, a CD
and a battered copy of the 7” itself but this is the first time I have come across
one in it’s original picture sleeve. Designed by Rocking Russian who were also
responsible for other sleeves from Siouxsie & The Banshees and UB40 to
Teardrop Explodes and Kool & The Gang .
CBS ~ 1978

BINKY BAKER & PIT ORCHESTRA : Toe Knee Black Burn

This Stiff curio (BUY 41) originally came in a picture sleeve but I prefer this
standard company sleeve to be honest. The song is a pretty straight forward
run through of the words Toe, Knee, Black and Burn and variations like Burn,
Black, Knee, Toe, etc. The pictures on the label explain more but I just wish
I could work out who it is he’s meant to be singing about…
Stiff Records ~ 1978

ROADRUNNER AKA CHRIS ROBERTS BAND : C.B. Independence

Not exactly a catchy name for a band and a pretty awful art sleeve too but
this song in praise of the Citizen’s Band Radio craze is a snapshot of a time
long, long ago when we used to talk to each other before the internet!
This country tinged tune features the great B.J. Cole on twangy steel
guitar but no, that is not the Motorhead song of the same name on the flip,
they mean something else entirely, mind you could that be the Brian Clough
who did the sleeve.
Cavalcade Records ~ 1980

mid Summer part 2

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:16:00 -0400

I left it until the end of the month to update this time as there was
the Bank Holiday and the end of August, I need not have worried as
once again this summer month has been a bit of a wash-out.
Still, I did find some nice bits ‘n’ bobs on my hunts, but I now have to
travel further afield to seek out quality booty as there is so much
competition at my local car boots. Things I found most folks used to
leave are now being quickly snapped up, yes even some of the stuff
I buy and sometimes they do it right in front of me, outrageous!
I did pick up a few good 7”s except this first one which turned out to
be just the sleeve as I paid 50p for it without checking and discovered
it wasn’t what it should have been, grrr…

KRAFTWERK : Radioactivity

Yes, how frustrating to come across this great single in it’s original UK
picture sleeve, I had never even seen a copy before, so imagine my horror
at getting it home and carefully taking it out only to find an Eddie & The Hot Rods disc inside! I wouldn’t have minded perhaps if it was one of their better
records like the Live At The Marquee EP but it was Do Anything You Wanna Do.
Disappointment is too small a word to describe my feelings, but I do have this
sleeve and one day I will find that record!
Capitol ~ 1976

KIM FOWLEY : Control

In the same box as the Kraftwerk single was this German pressing of
a record by a glammed up Kim Fowley. I don’t think I would have the nerve
to dress up like him when I was nearly 40 but Kim is a sTrAnGe man.
Check some of his production credits on the rear of the sleeve below.
He released this the same year as he packed in managing The Runaways,
it’s an odd but pretty catchy foot-stamper which you can hear for yourself here
Mercury ~ 1977

CD4 ADJUSTMENT RECORD

Long, long ago before before the idea of CD’s - man (and probably a woman)
invented a music system called Quadradisc! This single was released in a
series of 4 - one for each speaker? and were 4 Channel Stereo/Quadradisc
test discs, spoken in English alongside electronic whizzes and bleeps that
Stereolab have been proud to sample and loop.
JVC Japan ~ 1970’s

GREETINGS IN MUSIC ~ Postcard Flexi-disc

This was one of 3 postcard flexidiscs I found in a box of albums, yes
under a trestle table - but of course. It is actually impossible to spin
on my deck because it would kill my stylus, luckily I don’t need to play
it anyway as the rear of the card lists the tune as Woudn’t It Be Loverly
and I think I can live without that. It is a loverly disc though, the other
two I found were Italian scenes and were even more unplayable at 78rpm
all three date from the late 1950’s.
Fonoscope ~ 1958

SPLIT ENZ : I See Red EP

This band from down under were one of the first I ever saw live and as an
impressionable 15 year old, fell for them big time. However, on that evening
I saw them at St Albans Civic Center one of the most abiding memories was
hearing Talking Heads Psycho Killer for the first time, booming out over the PA
in the interval and that totally blew me away. That night in 1977 pretty much
set me on a path of musical appreciation that still continues today and this early
single of theirs was perhaps not one of their best but they did have a certain
quirky and goofy charm, check the video for I See Red
Illegal Records ~ 1978

MIKE SCENE : For The Love of Mike

This single is in no way related to the Frank Capra film of the same name,
as it is a promotional tool for Philips microphones - mike / microphone,
d’ya see what they did there? The a-side features some early 70’s slightly
sexist stereo typical banter, between a couple about the benefits of Philips
mikes whilst the b-side is just yer typical stereo test record.
Pye Business Communications Records ~ 1971

mid Summer part 1

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:20:00 -0400

July proved to be a pretty grim month for the car boots, I blame the weather
so there is not much I can do about that, but I did find a few nice records.
I had one really good week at the beginning of the month when I found a lot
of unusual singles however I can’t help feeling the rain gods are picking on the
weekends to deliberately piss me off, grrrr.

SERIOUS THRUSH : Give 3 Cheers!

This is one seriously bizarre record released in the early 90’s to promote
sexual health care in Northamptonshire. The disc comes in a fold-out poster
sleeve as you can see below, I guess the intentions of Serious Thrush - err,
what a name for a band! were honourable but the record itself is just horrible.
Northampton Health Authority ~ 1991

JOHNNY MORRIS : Sounds Of The Countryside

Listening to the great Animal Magic host ramble on about birds he meets
in the green fields of England might be considered incredibly dull to the
untrained ear. However, his dulcet tones are so comforting I trust everything
he says, and when he has conversations with the various animals roaming the
land I really believe he knows what they are saying!
Shell Records ~ 1960’s

DAVID BOWIE : Space Oddity EP

I did already have a copy of this EP but in a really tatty sleeve, so imagine
my joy and finding a really nice one in a 50p box. I actually bought this when
it first came out and love Velvet Goldmine which was unreleased at the time.
DB looks so cool on the sleeve but I wasn’t to know then that he was in his
coked-out-of-his-skull phase, mind you that probably explains the shirt!
RCA Records ~ 1975

ROY HUDD : Ramsey’s Men / The Day We Won The Cup

I was pleased to find this scarce single in not only mint & unplayed condition
but two copies of it sitting in a box of Trad Jazz sevens. I had not come across
it before and as football records go it’s not bad (a rarity in itself) namechecking
the whole team and Roy Hudd makes sure he even gives the unused subs a nod!
The B side is a right old cor-blimey-guvner-knees-upsingalong which bizarrely
manages to mentionKenneth Wolstenholme and fags in the same line.
The Day We Won The Cup is unlikely to happen again anytime soon either…
Polydor ~ 1966

TINA ST.CLAIR : I Have Loved Me A Man EP

This glamourous lady with her lovely hair and perfect make up is a bit
of a mystery, I couldn’t find out anything about her on Google and she
has no presence on eBay, so who exactly is she?! I can only guess that
this Country-tinged but terrifically bland EP of covers was sold via her pub
gigs in the early 70’s and then she simply disappeared or got married to some
sleazy gangster. The swirly sleeve below on the rear of it’s picture front was
what really attracted me to this in the first place, honestly.
SRTS records ~ 1970’s

TONY FAYNE : British Institutions No.2

This is an odd one, the humour has not stood the test of time even
though it has an audience roaring with laughter in the background.
Tony Fayne was probably best known as the straightman stooge for
Norman Wisdom as well as being a regular on the Royal Variety Show
in the 50’s but his observations on British Railways and the Police sound
like they are from an era now long gone, hear for yourself here
Philips Records ~ 1961

VARIOUS : Music From The L’Oreal Colour Trophy

This is another single I had not seen before which must have been some
kind of promo freebie to celebrate the fancy hair colouring competition in
the mid 70’s. It features a great selection of tunes the models would have
been swishing their beautifully coiffered hair around to, from Mandingo to
MFSB but unfortunately only a minute or so of each groovy track is played.
I discovered that the L’Oreal Trophy Competition is still going on, you can see
this years winners here
Lyntone ~ 1975

LIVERPOOL FC : Sing Along With Liverpool

I’m a longtime collector of football vinyl and have an unhealthy amount of
albums and singles which is probably a punishable offence in some countries.
I have the 7” from this release but not this LP, which features my favourite
team from the era I first started following them, so you can imagine, I almost
wet myself when I found it in a box for a quid. Of course when they were not
killing the opposition on the pitch they were destroying Yellow Submarine and
Lily The Pink as well asthat Scouse classic You’ll Never Walk Alone, it may not
be much of a result but it’s still a lot better than the nightmare of last season!
Penny Farthing Records ~ 1972

ENID BLYTON : Children’s Stories

I found these four albums in the same box and they were all in pretty good
nick, considering children’s records tend to get trashed by peanut butter
covered fingers. However it looks like some girl named Loretta had decided
that she would sign her own album suitably titled The Naughtiest Girl In School,
what a shame then that the previous owner wasn’t Adele or Madonna as this
would have made this a really rare collectors item.
Phonogram ~ 1975

early Summer

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 06:32:00 -0400

This month is starting off pretty well really, I bought 3 collections of different
things at the boots last weekend alone. A huge box of promo CD’s from a well
known 6 Music DJ for £10 as well as a large collection of old sheet music by
the likes of The Beatles, Billy Fury, Tornados, etc which I discovered in a box
seemingly untouched for over 40 years, it looked like it had come from a house
clearance of an unknown and recently departed old dear.
A huge selection of 80’s tour programmes also turned up at a poorly attended
car boot in a car park near Northampton, they would all have been long gone
if I had not got there first, but luckily I was one of only 3 buyers there!
This is a pick of of the vinyl I found this week.

LAURIE STEELE : Music From The TV Series “Joe”

I have a really scratched copy of this curious EP somewhere but this
beautiful unplayed copy turned up on the same stall as the sheet music
collection I mentioned above. It was originally broadcast before my time
but it seems such a strange concept to have a childrens TV show based
on a sad little boy living in a transport cafe whose only friends are the lorry
drivers and whose playground is the lorry park.
The music is more uplifting however : download
Decca ~ 1966

SIR SIDNEY SAITHSWAITE & THE GARBAGE COLLECTORS :
Chase me Round The Garden / Our Mabel

I couldn’t even find any info on this single but another 7” of his called
I Like Knees does seem to crop up occasionally. This single is a lovely
slice of English whimsy in the style of Vivian Stanshall or William D. Drake
and it still sounds funny and fresh and I shall look forward to playing it out
in my own Garden soon.
Parlophone ~ 1967

RADIO STARS : From A Rabbit / To A Beast

I have come across 10”, square, flexi-disc, coloured, lazer etched vinyl
before but this is the first 6” single I’ve found - it’s sooo cute!
It probably came in a specially stickered picture sleeve but this curio
didn’t even have a sleeve when I found it inbetween some James Last
albums, I’d rather not know how it came to be there and I have given
it a good loving home in a crinkled paper sleeve.
Chiswick ~ 1978

VARIOUS OPPRESSED TRIBES : American Indian Ceremonial & War Dances

This American album certainly does exactly what it says on the sleeve
consisting as it does of oooohhhwaaahhhaaaawooorrraaaiiieeee etc, etc.
It’s not a record I would want to listen all the way through more than say
once, but as a cultural artifact of wails, yelps and more than a smidgeon
of sadness it’s pretty hard to beat.
Everest ~ 1970’s

BING & THE BIRDS : Beat Party To The Classics

This album is like, so groovy and far out man and predates the Jive Bunny
idea of taking well known tunes and killing them with dance beats, by making
well known composers spin forever in their graves by disco-ing their classics.
If I was ever to hold a 60’s themed evening however I am sure the crazy cats
would love freakin’ out to these cheesey grooves - roll over Beethoven indeed!
Saga ~ 1968

late Spring

Tue, 03 May 2011 08:39:00 -0400

I was lucky to find some nice 7” singles this last weekend as the
weather turned pretty nasty and so rain stopped play, even though
I did soldier on through a heavy shower at one point! A lot of the
records I have not posted here were scarce Punk-era stuff like early
Stiff & Beserkley releases, some Julian Cope/Teardrops double-packs
and Devo coloured vinyl but the ones I have posted here are some of
the more unusual ones I also found along the way.

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD : We’re An American Band

20p looks like a bargain for this US promo on lovely yellowy-orange
vinyl which has a 78c price ticket on the other side of the sleeve.
Produced by Todd Rundgren the B side is called Creepin’.
Capitol Records ~ 1973

JOHNNY CARROLL & THE BLUE CAPS : Be-Bop-A-Lula

This is a pretty faithful version of the old Gene Vincent classic with
it’s B sideBlack Leather Rebel sounding just like the A sides tune but
with different lyrics. Johnny Carroll released only two other singles in
the mid 1950’s both of which are worth around £1,000 each but this
one is only around £10. UK American ~ 1974

THE MOPEDS : Whiskey & Soda
FRANK’ N’ FURTER : Monster Reggae

One of a handful of Rhino Records I paid 50p each for, this one is in it’s
original company sleeve is a Blue Beat instrumental re-issued from 1968.
The one below has a scarily rubbish tune despite the title & artist looking
quite promising which is a bit of a shame, but it’s an unusual find so I will
no doubt file it away and just forget about it…
Rhino Records ~ 1974

HEARTBEAT OF AFRICA : Drums Of Africa / Animal Voices

I have both of these these two EP’s on LP in identical covers and before
finding them in the same box as the Rhino records never knew they even
existed as 7” singles. They were both released in the 60’s in Kenya so I’m
assuming they were bought by their original owner as a souvenir of some
long forgotten safari holiday. The one below features some excellent drums
recordings including a Spirit Exorcism.
Sapra Records ~ 1960’s

I picked up the singles below in the first weekend of May, nothing all that
rare really but these were five I had not come across before and how timely
to discover the first one in a heavy box (arf) hiding under a trestle table.

KING ROY : ‘Enry’s ‘Ammer!

A soft reggae tribute to the late Henry Cooper who passed away the day
I found this single. ‘Enry’s ‘Ammer is of course his mighty left hook and the
B side is the suitably titled Round 2 ~ Note how the label patriotically says
Made In Britain when Made In England usually suffices, however this single
is indeed a knockout!
INLINE Records ~ 1975

J.J. CALE : Riding Home

This unique sleeve for the Riding Home/Lies single by J.J. Cale has this
smart cover which features a pair of cats playing instruments, maybe
Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss? Oddly enough Lies was the original A side but
on the strength of the success of his album Really the record company
decided to flip it with Riding Home, but alas to no commercial joy.
A&M Records ~ 1974

THE 101’ERS : Sweet Revenge

If your not familiar with the 101’ers then take a closer look at the singer
in the suit, for it is none other than The Clash frontman Joe Strummer!
This single was released to cash in on the bands success in 1980 and
was one of 2 singles released by the pub-rockers, the other one being
Keys To Your Heart. Not too suprisingly both flopped yet I don’t think
Joe would have been all that chuffed if he had been forced to perform
either of them on Top Of The Pops if they had been hits.
Big Beat Records ~ 1980

PETER GABRIEL : Solsbury Hill

Not such a rare single on its own but in the original picture sleeve
this is hard one to find. As debut singles go it’s a classic and as weirdy
poses go PG does it better than most, the B side is creepy album track
Moribund The Burgermeister - never a good choice at wedding parties.
Charisma Records ~ 1977

NEIL INNES : Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues

With possibly the longest title on a single I have ever seen, this demo
7” by Neil Innes is perhaps better known as simply Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues.
Taking elements of old records from White Christmas to In The Mood the
ex Bonzo Dog Doo Dah man tried his hand at sampling long before Hip Hop
got there. The B side is appropriately enough called Fluff On The Needle.
United Artists Records ~ 1974

early Spring 2011

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:26:00 -0400

Car booting season is with us again, the weekend church of the bargain hunter,
for what we are about pick up may we all be truly grateful. There are usually 2
on each weekend morning at least, so plenty of opportunity to find something
of interest. I am always on the look-out for more unusual vinyl treasures and
as I only started my 2011 digging last Saturday, I have only found a few choice
items to post up now, but be assured as the season warms up so will my posts.

THE O.D.S BAND : Fly

Originally KPM Library music this 7” single was rush released thanks to
the demands of viewers of the BBC TV show ‘Gibson & The Red Arrows’
broadcast in May of that year.
BBC Records ~ 1981

THE PATRIK MICHAEL ORCHESTRA : Music from Follyfoot

Another TV theme record but this one is an album featuring music from
the early 70’s Yorkshire based horse drama for kids. Featuring sweeping
and swelling orchestrations and gentle, pony padding piano pieces, it’s all
a bit wet really but I had never seen a copy before so I had to get it.
York Records ~ 1973

HERE & NOW : Give And Take

Here & Now were one of those bands I read about in the 70’s but never got
around to ever actually hearing. So imagine my delight when I finally stumbled
across one of their records - this is their 1st studio album called Give & Take
and it turns out to be rather bloody good! OK so, it’s a bit crusty & very hippy
but the tunes are strong with some of mainman Daevid Allens’ finest work this
side of Planet Gong. Worth tracking down but call your dealer first!
Charly Records ~ 1978

Best find of the week was this beautifully presented 7” single which comes
in a fold out card sleeve with stapled booklet insert and a full set of 16 colour
slides. The idea being that you present your own slide show programme by
projecting a slide in sequence to the narration on the 7” - not very technical
and very old school but it’s well put together and as vinyl curios come this is
one of the nicest I have found for quite some time.
The Observer Records ~ 1970’s

Picks of 2010

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 06:00:00 -0500

This is certainly the best record I have found on my car boot hunts
this year. It comes inside a book from 1964 in it’s original dust-jacket
with 50 pages explaining the olde English way of ‘Hunting By Ear’.
With illustrations and text to help the listener “understand and add
much to the joys and appreciation of fox-hunting”.
Blooding marvellous!

ABBA & FRIENDS : Eurovision Song Contest EP

This is a seriously rare UK promo only EP which showcased the talent
on offer in at Eurovision 1974. I have no memory of the event itself as
I was more of a Bowie-freak at the time so have no idea who won or
whatever became of them, shame.
CBS/Epic Records ~ 1974

I picked up a couple of curios last weekend, this 7” is the oddest one,
a pretty crap rewrite of ‘Starting Over’ with ‘Gun Control’ replacing the
title to the same tune. It’s B side is his version of ‘Revolution #9’ titled
‘Revolution #2’ which samples various Beatles/Lennon tunes and The Stones
‘We Love You’ - it’s odd but sadly rubbish. I do love the little drawing on the
label though, it even has Yoko standing there with her back to him!
Dakota Records ~ 1982

The other single of note I found was this 5 track 60’s EP by Hull based duo
Christopher Rowe and Ian Clark titled ‘Songs For Humberside’, it’s best track
is called ‘Humber Bridge’.

Picked up a few organ related discs on Monday, this was the weirder of the
3 the actual sound of a 7 week old kitten playing an electric organ, does it
get any better than this?!
click to hear: download

JOHNNY JAPES & HIS JESTICLES : Bags Of Fun With Buster

I have been looking for this single for ages! Not that it’s all that good
it is just one of the few missing pieces in my XTC collection.
Written & produced by mainman Andy Partridge & featuring Dave Gregory
as well as special guest John Otway, this is a suitably balls out song which
was only available through the comic in 1987. The B side even has a
Scrotal Scratch remix!
Viz Records ~ 1987

GENE RODDENBURY : Inside Star Trek

Amongst the pick of the vinyl haul over the weekend was this Star Trek
album I never knew even existed but it has great spoken word chatter
with the stars of the original series as well as excellent FX.
There is a single listed in Record Collector book by Gene Roddenberry
the creator of ST but not this album, which is strange.
CBS Records ~ 1976

I also picked up this original Dr. Who album for £1 which I already have
but couldn’t resist it at that price. Tom Baker is a great Doctor for sure
but my all time favourite is Jon Pertwee, I guess it’s a case of whoever
was The Doctor when you were 10 years old who is the best.

Picked up a dozen old books and annuals at a car boot over the
weekend. I was just in the right place at the right time, the old dear
had them all piled into the boot of her car and had a card sign saying
20p each. Books are not my specialist subject but I couldn’t resist the
price and got 12 for £2 (yes, I even haggled!)
There were some nice old Mickey mouse books from the 40’s but the best
of the bunch was this Dandy comic annual from 1944 in beautiful condition.

Here are a couple of the others, both older than my mother!

VARIOUS : Speedway

Not all that rare but a quite unusual single released on Decca by
The Rivals it sounds like those bloody awful football records where
the whole team tries to sing and it all just falls very flat. It’s the B side
which is of more interest to me as it’s a boogie-woogie piano stomper
called Hoskins Still Rides which has the sound of bikes revving over the top.
The rear of the sleeve pictures the guilty singers/riders, I assume the
Hoskins chap mentioned on the flip is the same guy pictured bottom right.
Decca Records ~ 1974

DON E. SIBLEY : Punk Bashing Boogie

Discovered in the same charity shop as The Greedies single,
this is a fantastic and very catchy Rockabilly tune. There is
little doubt this was exactly the sort of thing John Peel would
have loved playing on his show.
Hot Rock Records ~ 1979

MONTY PYTHON : Eric The Half A Bee

I picked this up earlier this year and it’s a proud addition to my Python
vinyl collection. It’s the same track and the same label on both sides,
but note mis-spelling of Neil Innes name!
Charisma Records ~ 1972

LES BABY SISTERS : Hey! Baby

I actually got this a couple of weeks ago but what a great picture sleeve.
The disc itself is a bit worse for wear but still sounds pretty cool and I paid
£1.50 for it, I simply LOVE that look!
Panorama Records 60’s

NEW AGE STEPPERS : Fade Away

I have an album by New Age Steppers and a lot of On-U-Sound 10” + 12”
vinyl but this is the first 7” I have seen in all my years of collecting.
Turns out to be catalogue # ON-U-Sound 1 - a small shame about the light
tear on front though but I ain’t complaining too loud, it was released in 1980.

A cheesey 6 track 60’s EP of cover versions ~ Avenue Records 1969

Another 7” EP of covers this time from 1967 and on Disc-A-Fran Records

First single by The Notsensibles titled ‘I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher’
unfortunately without it’s original picture sleeve, and found in a very tatty
paper sleeve, other side pictured below. I have also just found out a friend has
the original picture sleeve, but he won’t part with it as it belonged to his dad!
Snotty Snail Records ~ 1979

STOKE CITY F.C SUPPORTERS : We’ll Be With You

I picked up a whole load of football related singles off a bloke
who only wanted 20p each and this rare single by The Potters
aka the Stoke City Supporters was among them.
Guess thats Trent/Hatch the composers of the TV show Crossroads
theme as writers too but I think the label Trent could be because of
the river Trent nearby, just a guess though.

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:46:32 -0500

Winter 2009

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:51:00 -0500

Godiego : Monkey Magic - TV Theme EP : BBC 1980

This is a nice 3 track Maxi Single I had not seen before by Godiego
a Japanese band who also composed several other film and TV soundtracks.
Monkey was a cult show broadcast in the late 70’s and early 80’s and was
based on a 16th century Chinese novel.
This single is pretty scarce now and I’d imagine the Monkey Fan Site
would appreciate a decent scan of this sleeve as theirs looks pretty ropey!
The 3 tracks on the single are Monkey magic, Gandhara and Thank You Baby,
all of which you can find downloads to on the Monkey Magic site link above.

Portsmouth & Southampton Players : Pompey - City With A Heart
Solent Records 1960’s

I was pleased to come across this addition to my football records collection
on Saturday, I found it in a box of Frank Ifield singles! I have done a bit of
research on it, not a lot as I am not that sad, and I couldn’t find anything
online regarding its actual release date but judging by the shorts on the players
I would say it’s late 60’s. The rear of the sleeve claims the record was sponsored
by Whitbread Breweries, and I guess teams were a little more tolerant of each
other (or a bit pissed) if they were prepared to join forces as Portsmouth
& Southampton do on this single.

Morgan Pask : Overkill : Columbia 1985

How timely to come across a 7” of the theme to the recently ended TV series
The Bill. I never knew it was called Overkill either, but rest easy as it isn’t the
same tune by Motorhead, it’s not even the same version of the tune we all know.
This one is much more synth heavy and sounds like Rick Wakeman on acid.
I recognise the WPC on the sleeve but I have never seen that copper before
in my life, honestly I swear yer honour!

Various Artists : Compact Disc ~ Philips 1982

I picked this up quite by chance as it was cheap and I had never seen
it before but upon further investigation it turned out to be pretty scarce.
It’s quite possibly one of the first of those (then) new fangled Compact Discs
which were released out into the wild for the first time in this year.
The bland tracklist aside I always thought that the first Dire Straits tune
released on CD was Brothers In Arms but the tune here is from their earlier
Communiqué album. The disc is mint and I am certainly not going to play it
but eBaying it, now thats much more likely otherwise I would have to admit
to actually owning a Dire Straits CD!

Space Sounds : National Geographic 1980

Todays vinyl find was a triple win, size, subject and format all on 1 fantastic disc!

10” - check
flexi-disc - double check
space related - triple check and mate.

I wasn’t even aware of this records existence until today but it ticks all
my collecting boxes. God knows what I would do if I ever found a 10”
sex instructions flexi-disc on coloured vinyl in a hologram sleeve, I wouldn’t
even be here, I would probably have orgasmed to death!
This is a fine record too, which was originally part of a box set which included
a star chart and a booklet, more info is available here.
Incredible to think this disc is now 30 years old.

John Mayer & Indo-Jazz Fusion : Theme One ~ National late 1960’s

A pretty groovy sleeve advertising a now defunct petrol company for
a single of sitar driven grooves by the John Mayer Group. Sounds like
a cool idea but the reality is as disappointing as an England match.
Despite being titled Theme One it is sadly not the excellent tune which
is perhaps more familiar by the George Martin Orchestra but a bland
dirge stuck in neutral, still, it does have a nice sleeve!

The Great Unknowns : Mah-Na-Mah-Na ~ Major Minor 1969

This is the original version of the song most famously performed by
The Muppets. I never realised there even was an original version until
I found this today. It’s as good as the one we all know and love but it’s
the B side which is the real oddity here.
Penned by none other than Giorgio Moroder it’s titled Doo-Bee -Doo-Bee-Doo
and is as dumb and catchy as you can imagine. It was once been featured in
an episode of The Benny Hill Show and may go someway to explain where
Sting got his inspiration for De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da!

Leon Russell : The Ballad Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen ~ A&M 1971

It was my dad who first got me into Leon Russell via his album Carney
and I still have a soft spot for his early 70’s work. This single features
Claudia Lennear on the B side singing Let It Be and it comes in this picture
sleeve I had not seen before.

John Lennon / Yoko Ono : Power To The People/Open Your Box ~ Apple 1971

I dig this single which has the front of the Apple lable on both sides of the disc
as opposed to the usual half an Apple on most other releases on the label.

Leonard Cohen : Mc Cabe & Mrs Miller EP ~ CBS 1968

You can probably tell that these last 4 singles all came from the same box!
Again this was a picture sleeve I had never seen before and features 3 tunes
taken from the soundtrack to the Warren Beatty & Julie Christie movie.