Evening all.
Last week’s track to suggest a link to was David Essex’s “Rock On”, and I received choice ideas from the usual suspects.
So, let’s get going with the first of them, which came from Swiss Adam over at Bagging Area and was remarkably similar to my own selection:
“David Essex>>> Happy Mondays ‘Lazyitis’>>> Sly and the Family Stone ‘Family Affair’>>> Karl Denver ‘Wimoweh’>>> er… Tight Fit.”
In case you’re unclear of any the steps there, “Lazyitis” nods to both “Family Affair” and Essex’s “Gonna Make You a Star”, and Karl Denver featured on the “One Armed Boxer” remix of “Lazyitis”. So here’s Denver’s “Wimoweh”:
Denver there, applying the principles of Joey from “Friends” ‘Smell The Fart’ acting to his pose for the sleeve.
And just in case you have no idea what I’m talking about:
Tight Fit, of course, had a Number One single in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium with their cover version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, which is also known as “Wimoweh”. But rather than post two records by Tight Fit (I don’t think the world is quite ready for such an overload), here’s my selection for the week, which was Tight Fit’s follow-up single, again a cover, but this time one which had featured in the Dutch Eurovision Song Contest heats. Nope, it wasn’t actually selected to represent the Dutch in the actual competition, which gives you some clue as to its’ quality:
Whoever came up with the concept for the sleeve of that single was clearly on a tight budget.
“It’s called Fantasy Island, you say? Well, what we’ll do is have the singer leading moodily against a step ladder, whilst the backing singers stand on either side of the ladder looking happy and a bit sexy.”
“Hmm, it doesn’t really scream ‘Fantasy Island’ to me, Bob. How much is it going to cost?”
“Peanuts. I already own the ladder.”
“In which case, I love it! Nothing says ‘Fantasy Island’ more than a ladder.”
Moving on, here’s The Swede‘s suggestion:
“Ted Carroll started Rock On Records as a stall on Portabello Road market in 1971, before graduating to a shop in Camden Town in 1975. In 1975, Ted also started the Chiswick record label, initially releasing singles by pub-rock bands, some of whom influenced the early punk scene. The first release on Chiswick was the ‘Speedball EP’ by The Count Bishops (catalogue number SW1). The first track on the EP is their cover of ‘Route 66’.”
Can’t argue with that:
Next up is The Great Gog’s suggestion who sent me this message:
“Bobby Ball used to use the catchphrase “Rock On, Tommy” to his, ahem, comedy partner, Tommy Cannon. Therefore I suggest a track from Tommy – perhaps I’m Free rather than the pinball one.”
Here you go:
Now you all know me by now. Can’t resist the opportunity to post something utterly naff now and then. So I asked The Great Gog if he wasn’t tempted to suggest The Cannon & Ball theme tune, to which he replied:
“To be honest, I have absolutely no recollection of their theme tune. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable needs to provide a service to folk like me with a fading memory and post it
“
Oh go on then, if I must:
Cannon & Ball – Together We’ll Be OK
You’re all very welcome.
Ordinarily, that would have been the end of that, but The Great Gog then added:
“Of course “I’m Free” was itself a catchphrase on innuendo-laden sitcom Are You Being Served?”
Now, that kind of comment is just asking for trouble. Because, yes. Yes, it was. And as was often the case in the 1970s, a catchphrase often led to someone releasing a single to try and cash in. If you thought the Cannon & Ball song was bad, wait til you hear this:
John Inman – Are You Being Served Sir?
No need to thank me.
Time for George’s selection of the week:
“David Essex starred in a couple of films with Adam FAITH. FAITH Hill is country singer who recorded a song for the PEARL Harbour soundtrack. And PEARL Butler was 50% of the country duo Carl Butler and Pearl. And one of their songs is Two Of A Kind, which features Pearl’s bizarrely bad singing voice.”
Now, as with George’s selection last week, Carl and Pearl Butler were new to me, so I needed a little assistance acquiring the track in question. Which, to quote Steven Wright, “doesn’t go a bit like this, it goes exactly like this”:
Carl & Pearl Butler – Two of a Kind
She’s distinctive, I’ll give her that.
Okay, to the last of your suggestions for this week, and here’s Charity Chic:
“David Essex to Frank Turner ‘Wessex Man’ to Bachman Turner Overdrive ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet'”
Bachman Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Of course, any mention of this tune immediately sparks the memory of this pair:
And that’s your lot for this week.
Except for the song which was the official link to the David Essex one, which was this:
9. Bruce Springsteen – The River
Regular readers will possibly recall that this is the second time The River has featured on these pages, the last time being in the Friday Night Music Club thread a couple of weeks ago, where I inadvertently gave away the link to David Essex.
So, no need for you to suggest what the link is, but I welcome your suggestions as to what I can play next week that links to Bruce Springsteen’s The River, along with a brief explanation of the link, via the Comments page at the bottom.
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 