JACKIE WILSON/TWISTIN' AND SHOUTIN' CORAL 97036 (-64) MONO GERMANY

 German only variation of his US "Somethin' Else" LP (Brunswick 7/54117), having the same tracking but different name and sleeve design. I hardly knew anything about Jackie Wilson (1934-84) before I found this copy, so instead of me just copying facts from the vast Wikipedia article you can go there if curious  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Wilson . This his already thirteenth album since the debute 1958 is my first real try on the man and even if it's not the music I usually listen to I'm charmed. Though with a clear rock signature to my ears it's a lot more rock'n'soul than rock'n'roll. I get a couple of sincere ballads but most of the time it's full speed ahead with earnest lead and backing vocals to a superb setting, including brass, piano and organ. It's happy and positive making me smile all the way. Further the audio on this press is superb, clear yet warm. I picked this copy unheard cause I was curious and now just after one listen I'm all in. Yummy! Also issued 1964 as "Somethin' Else" in Canada, UK and France. UK 1999 CD on Edsel (DIAB 885) coupled this with his 1963 "Baby Workout" album. First German had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover. (GÖXÄ*)

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                            

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

 

SANDIE SHAW/THE GOLDEN HITS OF SANDIE SHAW GGL 0360 (-66) UK MONO

 One of the most successful British female singers. With twentyseven 45:s on the UK list 1964-94, where of eight top ten and three number ones, and also doing well over Europe, South Africa and Downunder, she's sold tons of records and obviously still ranked high among many sixties lovers. For more please check post on her debute LP "Sandie" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/09/sandie-shawsandie-npl-18110-65-uk-mono.html . This compilation contains twelve 45 A:s and B:s from 1964-65. All but one - the Burt Bacharach "There's Always Something There To Remind Me" - penned by Chris Andrews. Later she would be a world name with her million selling "Puppet On A String", but here it's early days and a music I still feel very much at home with. A mix of perky up-tempo and languishing ballads, orchestrated in a style typical for the period and sung with her personal and very honest voice. And though some of the songs are slow and some of the lyrics downright despondent it all comes very positive to me, like greetings from more hopeful times when the future was still bright. All cuts are original mono mixes and the audio excellent. Favorite tracks "There's Always Something There To Remind Me", "Long Live Love", "Message Understood" and "Girl Don't Come". Also released 1966 in Australia (Astor GG 680) and New Zeeland (Pye PNZL 27005). Later on Marble Arch in UK, Canada and New Zeeland. Third UK on Picadilly (PH-30187). To my knowledge never issued like this on CD or in US. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (FÄV*)  (PÖY*)

                                                                            

                                                                                 

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                                  

                                                 
 

MARSHA HUNT AND THE DIRTY MAC

 Noticed a while ago I've already posted all in my collection interesting enough for me to write about and it's also getting harder to find worthy stuff it the bins here. Lacked new things for a while, but now I've just found a couple worth doing. Unfortunately I haven't had time to process them yet, but till I do please enjoy my two favorite videos from Youtube. Even if You've seen them already they're certainly worth to be watched many times still. Dirty Mac has to be the greatest super group that ever existed - John Lennon, Keith Richard, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell playing a Beatles song live and it's stunningly good. And that Marsha Hunt video is among the sexiest I've ever seen, oozing with sensuality. I'm sure Mick Jagger would agree...and Marc Bolan...if he could. More on that and her here https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/11/marsha-huntwoman-child-2410101-71-uk.html

FLYBACK 1 - BIG ONES TON 1 (-71) UK MONO + STEREO

 

One of my favorite samplers, containing cuts earlier issued on Regal Zonophone, and since I did a bad job when first posting it years ago now feel it's time for an update. So much good music here. Not only do I get top numbers by some of the best acts on the British music scene in the sixties - Procol Harum, Move, Joe Cocker and T.Rex. I can also enjoy then very rare cuts from Juniors Eyes, Richard Henry and Tucker Zimmerman. To my taste a perfect mix. The Move "Blackberry Way" and "Fire Brigade" plus Richard Henry "Oh Girl" are the 45 mono mixes, the rest true stereo, and the audio excellent. I guess many fans of the there and then music are totally ok getting those tracks from CD compilations and/or downloads, but for me this is it. The label design, the arty sleeve, the analog audio and that it was released close to the fact just makes me happy. Also issued in Norway on Karussell with picture sleeve   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-best-of-big-ones-2345023-72-mono.html   , in Germany on Ariola (85 073 IT) and in Netherlands on Stateside (5C048.92 456). Premiere UK had label as shown here on sturdy vinyl in a glossy sleeve.  (SÄM*)  (FXÖ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                    

 

WILSON PICKETT/I'M IN LOVE SD 8175 (-68) US

 After finding this good soul album in a bin I was happy and went home just to find I already had it in shape of an Italian mono with tophole audio, no doubt using the US tapes. Buying stuff I already have has become more common last decade. No doubt coming from a combination of an ever growing collection and getting more forgetful with growing age. So now I ask myself - why keeping and keep adding to a collection too big for my brain to comprehend? I know there are records somewhere in there I haven't played for a decade or so. Maybe a silly question cause the anwser is self-evident. It's not the having that's most important, it's finding and exploring new stuff, enjoing the music and audio for the first time. Then the record often goes into the shelf and sometimes forgotten, but at least I had a very good time getting acquainted. And when it comes to this - even if the mono comes out very good, this stereo has a lot going for it too. A for its time superb mix - wide with very good balance and top separation, providing very enjoyable listening. So maybe it was a good buy after all. For more on the record itself and music from it, check post on the mono  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/05/wilson-pickettim-in-love-atl-lp-08021.html . (PÖC*)  (YZÄ*)

                                                                                       

 

DR. GOLDFOOT & THE GIRL BOMBS/ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE T 5053 (-66) US MONO

 Soundtrack to film which allegedly was a kind of parody of at the time popular spy movies, but also seems to have been a chance to show pretty girls running around more or less naked and to make sly sexual comments (more on that in this Wikipedia article   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Goldfoot_and_the_Bikini_Machine#Cast ). I haven't seen it and have no desire to do that, but since this soundtrack has a couple of for me hitherto unknown combos I'm curious if it has something to offer. Starting with a dramatic title song by girl trio The Sloopys, who apart from this only issued one more single 1967 on Sidewalk label. The contribution from the more productive American singer-songwriter Terry Stafford  (1941-96) is a sweet love ballad and quite all right for its time and place. The Bobby Lile track heavily orchestrated perky easy listening. The Paul & The Pack cut rather catchy light pop and the male/female duo The Candles provides some orchestrated tralala to uptempo rhythms. The rest instrumentals by a combo called Mad Doctors, who apparently didn't record anything except this. Those sound rather bland to me now, but I guess meaning a lot to the plot. So a rocky road listening through, but to me the ones by The Sloopys, Terry Stafford and Paul & The Pack makes it ok and a keeper after all. To my knowledge this US was the only issue, also as duophonic stereo (DT 5053). It had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (YZÄ*)  (FÄV*) (ÖXCÅ*)  (ZÖNT*)

                                                                                       

                                                                             

                                                                               

                                                                                      
                                                                                   

                                                                                        

                                                                                  

 

THE SHADOWS/SHADOW MUSIC SX 6041 (-66) UK MONO

 

The band's fifth album, among other things containing three tracks earlier part of "The Babes In The Wood" pantomime, performed at the London Palladium Christmas 1965. The rest a mix of self-penned and Shadows signature cover versions of known jazz, art music and pop numbers. I've seen it getting luke warm or even bad reviews. To my ears maybe not their most exciting moment, but still a well executed effort providing good listening. The vocal tracks "Stay Around", "In The Past", "One Way To Love" and "I Only Want To Be With You" are all good period pop, the guitar version of Serbian Stanislav Binicki's "March On The Drina" quite catchy and the covers of "Fly Me To The Moon" and "Razzmataz" entertaining enough. I know this kind of guitar band music is seen as dated by many today and maybe you must have been there then to appreciate it fully. I'm glad I was cause that allows me to enjoy this from first track to last. Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and/or CD through the years, though I can't find a trace of any US release. EU 1998 CD on EMI (7243 4 95151 23) came with all tracks in both mono and stereo. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (CXÄ*)

 

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                            

DORIS/SVENSSONS DORIS 4E 054-34039 M (-69) MONO SWEDEN

 An artist today mostly known by jazz/soul connaisseurs for her only solo album "Did You Give The World Some Love Today, Baby"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/09/dorisdid-you-give-world-some-love-today.html . This is a collection of some of her earlier 45 tracks. A-side with five covers of international hits - "Your Mother Should Know", "Boom Bang-A-Bang", "Never My Love", "Long Long Road", "Think It All Over" plus the Hungarian song "Kicsit Szomorkás" - all sung in Swedish to very well arranged orchestral background. B-side with six cuts sung in English, one with the band Dandys and five with the group Plums (for which check rear sleeve below). That is to me more interesting. The three covers - "Go Back To Daddy", "A Lovers Concerto" and "The Loco-Motion" all works well, but what really get me going are the tracks  "You Made A Fool Of Me" and "Wouldn't That Be Groovy". The former with its psych ending and the latter in the rather special blue eyed soul style that made her solo album fly. So either you're into sixties schlager pop or odd soul numbers you might find something here. All cuts are the original mono recordings with tophole audio and very good to the ears. To my knowledge this was the only vinyl release, though the Swedish 2013 2xCD issue of "Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby" (RPM Internat RETROD 925) came with all her singles 1966-69, including the ones here, as bonus. Vinyl had label as shown here in a thin matt cover. (FÄV*) (SCÄ*)  (CCÖ*)

                                                                                       

                                                                            

                                                                                         

                                                                            

 

THE BEATLES/WITH THE BEATLES PCS 3045 (-63) UK STEREO

 For more details on the issue and different early pressings please check post on the mono  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-beatleswith-beatles-pmc-1206-63-uk.html  . After finding and truly enjoying the UK stereo mixes of "Beatles For Sale" and "A Hard Days Night" (see earlier posts) I've been curious to find a WTB original to hear if there was something that could add to the mono. Reason I didn't wanna go with a later press is those could come out different and I wanted to compare two originals pressed at the same time. Mint stereo copies tend to go for a lot more than I can afford so I was happy to find a vinyl that looked VG- but played a lot better in a somewhat later sleeve (probably swapped along the way), thus getting enjoyable listening from an early press for just a couple of bucks.  I've read bad reviews about this stereo, like it being too primitive since all songs having vocals mixed hard right. That is true and can be a little annoying, but the rest is quite all right for its time - ok balanced with good separation and lots of power. As a whole I do prefer the mono, but as this comes out a bit wider with mostly clearer vocals it mustn't be shunned and I guess any real Beatles fan can embrace it as an interesting historical fact and enjoy. I sure do. This is not a very first press, but it is from 1963. One reason to know that is it's got "Recording First Published..." only on label. In 1964 "Sold In UK..." was added and from 1965-69 the label had "Sold In UK..." only. (BÄ*)  (LGÅ*)

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                     

 

DUANE EDDY/GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS HAW 2373 (-61) UK MONO

 

Duane Eddy (1938-2024) was an American rock'n'roll artist known for his "twangy" guitar sound. Up to 1963 he'd sold over twelve million records and has become a big influence to many later acts, like Beach Boys, Beatles, Shadows and Bruce Springsteen. Between 1955-63 he had thirtyone top 100 45:s on Billboard, whereof three top ten. His four earlier albums also did good in US and/or UK, while this fifth was the first not to chart in UK and only managed #93 in US. It's a theme album with each song dedicated to a certain girl, six of the tracks penned or co-penned by Eddy, the rest covers. There's hardly any lyrics, but instrumentals embellished by background quires from Jordanaires and Anita Kerr Singers.  And even if some of the tracks can be called rock'n'roll it's mostly more wistful than right-on. It doesn't hit me in the gut, but good music to relax to in an atmosphere reminding of fifties cozy. On the plus side also the audio is super clear and it's nice to see the front sleeve images of Eddy with Brenda Lee and Annette Funicello, to which he also dedicated one song each - the "Brenda" medley of her songs and "Annette". I will keep it as good background music for now, but not ready to pick any favs yet. Premiere release in US and Canada on Jamie (JLP/S-70-319), also early in New Zeeland (London HAM-W 6198) and Australia (London HAA-2373). UK 2012 CD on Jamie (JAMIE 4040). First UK had label as shown here in a thin laminated cover. 

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                               

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

 

RICHARD LLOYD/ALCHEMY 6E-245 (-79) US

 Posted the UK version of this about six years ago. But as it is a great album that's grown on me since then and I've now also found a US original thought I'd do an updated re-post as a reminder. For background check posts on the Television albums "Marquee Moon"   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/11/televisionmarquee-moon-k-52046-77.html  and "Adventure"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/12/televisionadventure-k-52072-78.html  .  After the latter the group split and Richard Lloyd went on to work as a session musician besides nurturing a solo carreer. That seems to have worked out so-so as a couple of singles never reached beyond the Television-fan spheere and only three albums were released before the millenium shift. My personal favorite with the man is his 1981, 45 only, cover of "Get Off Of My Cloud", but this debute album has a lot going for it too. Though recorded with partly other musicians and quite different from the two Television marvels I hear lots of the same idiom. The atmosphere however is a bit brighter, all songs self penned and even if most of it not downright catchy they all speak to me and make me wanna listen again. He's not the best singer, but the guitars are so sensual all the way they own with or without vocals. Favorite tracks - "Blue And Grey", "In The Night" and "Pretend". A couple of the cuts have the vocals mixed a little too low for my taste, apart from that the audio is great. This stands next to "Adventure" in my collection. Even if not a Televison album it gives me the same feeling. Also originally issued in a couple of European countries, Japan and Downunder. US 2002 CD on Collector's Choice (CCM-315-2). First US had label as shown here in a shrink sealed cover. (YZÄ*)