Category: Robin Wills’ Purepop

Jabberwock & Disturbance –Sneakin’ Snaky


Jabberwock – Sneakin’ Snaky/Fortune Teller –MCA 264 (1977 UK)
Disturbance – Sneakin’ Snaky/Fortune Teller –MCA 566 (1980 UK)

Sneakin’ Snaky is one of those out-of-nowhere songs and performances. It’s part PRAM/New Wave with a touch of The Small Faces (the Artful Dodger vocals). The song builds nicely until the chorus kicks in…and what a chorus it is! It will sweep you along and is so damn catchy that it will never leave you. The version released later by Disturbance is simply a remix with added keyboards. It’s also great, but the Jabberwock mix is more powerful and just has the edge

Jabberwock were Neil Harrison (ex-Driftwood, k/gtr/v), Giz Van de Kleut (b), Chris Reeves (v/gtr, ex-Rock Candy), Pete Jennings (k, ex-Cressida) and an un-named session drummer. Chris Reeves was also playing with The Dyaks; Van de Kleut and Pete Jennings also took part in a May 1978 recording session intended for a second Dyaks single. Neil Harrison issued solo singles 78-79 (?). The group had split before the 1980 release of the remixed versions of the two tracks. Chris Reeves then recorded with Mystere Five’s and released a solo single (assisted by Peter Jennings) on the Y label.

Thanks to Steve at Lowdown Kids for the background info

Click on title for edits of the Jabberwock and Disturbance versions

Back From Belgium…

Just got back from a few days days in Brussels and yes, I just happened to stumble across some record shops when I was there… It was nice to see so much vinyl still being sold within a City centre. There was quite a lot of dross to get though and I didn’t have the time to go through everything, but a couple of shops had some good stuff that was easy to spot(Jukebox and Collector)
It was a mixed bag but some of the finds included the following in pic sleeves:
Hector -Wired Up/ Bye Bye Bad Days (French )
The Smoke -My Friend Jack
Clique -Superman
Trems -You Can’t Touch Sue
Teddy Lane -Do The Rock The Rock ‘N’ Roll
Milk ‘N’ Cookies -Little Lost And Innocent (French)
Shakane -Love Machine
Plastic Feet -Big Blond Baby (Belgian pic sleeve different from the Dutch one)
Doc & Prohibition -Generation

Plus a US 4 track EP from Stumblebunny on Slip -Shod Records ( 1977 -2 years before the LP), a Robin Goodfellow UK Demo on Dawn plus more Cardinal Point, Arrows and other pic sleeves

Barry Green –Papa Do

Barry Green –Papa Do/Boomerang –Decca F.13282 (1974 UK)

Barry Green is in fact Barry Blue and both sides of the single were co-written by Rubin (AKA Linsey De Paul). Papa Do is a fun commercial ditty, but with a nice fuzz part and engaging heavy pounding . Lynsey also released the song, but the ultimate killer version can be found on Cardinal Point‘s LP (Philips) where the performance is a dead ringer for Galahad’s Rocket Summer (Bell)

Click on title for an edit of Papa Do

The Eggy- You’re Still Mine

The Eggy- You’re Still Mine/Hookey-Spark SRL 1024 (1969 UK)

The Eggy were formed by ex-Sorrows guitarist Roger Lomas and possibly included Pip Whitcher (also ex Sorrows). You’re Still Mine is an amazing Proto Glam/ Late Freakbeat number with incredible over the top Wah Wah guitar effects and a superb twin lead break. It bridges the 60s and 70s perfectly and is a top tune as well. The B Side Hookey is also great, reminding me of The Smoke at their best.
Roger Lomas would later re-appear with Renegade (A Little Rock ’N’ Roll/My Revolution on Dawn) and The Dodgers before taking on a producer’s role in the late 70s/80s.

Click on title for edits of You’re Still Mine and Hookey

The Sunshine Kid –My Linda

The Sunshine Kid –My Linda/Get Your Rocks Off Baby –RCA 2413 (1973 UK)

Post Apple single by Chris Hodge. My Linda has some real meaty power chords, a bit of funky Wah Wah and a strange Asiatic interlude, there’s a lot crammed in for sure. As for the subject of Chris’ desires…Perhaps this is why Chris was pushed or jumped ship from Apple???? The Beatle Oooohs are a nice touch in any case. Get Your Rocks Off Baby is a more straightforward boogie work out; again very strong in the guitar department.

Click on title for edits of My Linda and Get Your Rocks Off Baby

Latest shopping trip…

Just got back from a few days gallivanting around Witchfinder General territory. I Managed to hit one record fair plus a few record shops in Norwich and a car boot sale in Banham (not far off the B 1113)! I came back with around 50 singles -No real amazing finds, but cool stuff including some choice Bugglegum: Nevada Sound with a cool version of Gimme (Gimme) Good Lovin’ on Pye, Bubbles –Hazy Hazy Crazy Crazy (in Europe they edited out the Crazy Crazy from the title), several Demos on UK including Sloply Bellywell, Robin, Handful of Cheek, Ricky Wilde…

A whole slew of Jam promos (Sylvester –Gimme Time, Bitter Suite -Six O’ Clock News, Walter Mitty –Caroline etc…).

Biggest disapointment: A 1973 single on RCA under the name Hammerhead…weak poppy reggae.

Best deal –The Passengers –Something About You for 25 pence!

As for the Sakkarin single above? It is in fact a demo copy of Sugar Sugar!

Back soon…

Gisela Dreßler -48 Crash

Gisela Dreßler -48 Crash/ Can The Can –Amiga 455984 (1974 DDR)

Released in East Germany in ’74, Gisela delivers two admirable Suzy Quatro cover versions. Perhaps 48 Crash has the edge, but both performances are top draw and there is no lack of power within the grooves . Gisela (the perfect mix of Romy Schneider and Bobbie McGee?) shows no restraint in her delivery and the result is very convincing. I am unaware if there is a Lives Of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) subplot behind her story, but it’s great stuff to be enjoyed for what it is…

Click on title for edits of 48 Crash and Can The Can

Andy Brown –Supersonic

Andy Brown –Supersonic/Feeling Better –GM GMS 9039 (1975 UK)

Yes, the same Andy Brown, who was the HE in The Herd, performing a storming version of the theme to Saturday morning’s TV Pop programme Supersonic. Produced by Tom Allom (Tiger etc…) it’s a cracker to be filed next to Dazzle’s Jim’ll Fix It (DJM).

For those born too late or residing elsewhere, Supersonic was the ultimate in UK Pop TV featuring many Glam greats and was just around long enough to embrace Punk (the appearance by The Damned was particularly memorable). Presented by school boy crush-maker Sally James and directed by the Cecil B. DeMille of morning TV Mike Mansfield, the show ran from September ’75 to April ’77. More information and a full list of appearances here: https://www.watkins1.freeserve.co.uk/supersonic.htm

Cue the music!

Click on title for a full version (3:17) of Supersonic

NQB –Long Long Weekend

NQB –Long Long Weekend/ Free The People –Hendrix Music Production SSS1040 (1973 Sweden)

NQB were an all female Swedish combo and Long Long Weekend is a rousing Junkshop Glam Stomper much in the tradition of Bonnie St. Claire or Heart (the Dutch one). Similar in chord structure to Bitch/ Mustard’s Good Time Coming, the performance is top notch with pounding piano and a mean lead guitar.
The B side is also interesting as it’s a gospel influenced rocker with mentions of freeing the people from the Bayou????
NQB had at least one album and more singles released, I would be interested to know if anything else lives up to the promise shown on this release.

Click on title for soundclip