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SOUND SPECIALS: It's In My Mind/I'm Not So Sure (CNR, NL '66) |
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| The Sound Specials were a Dutch beatgroup from Tilburg. They had two more commercial 45's out on Benny Vreden Produkties. Both "What do I say" and "I wasn't satified" (the latter has been comped on HISTORY OF DUTCH MUSIC #1 and BEAT EXPRESS #1 - BRABANT) are OK-ish, but I prefer their CNR "Beat From Holland" release from 1966. Off course, it's far from a killer 45 and you'll surely have heard better Nederbiet platters in your lifetime, but this one's really typical for the Dutch beat sound in those days. Listening to bands such as The Outsiders, Q'65, Peter & The Blizzards etc. you might think that ALL Dutch combos were long-haired wild-eyed teenage lunatics, but the opposite was true. Just take a look at this picture sleeve! These guys tried their best to be mother-in-law's favourite! The majority of the Dutch 60's groups looked like The Sound Specials. Most beatgroups sticked to cover versions and never bothered to go for some own compositions, except when they were pushed by record companies to do so. In many cases it resulted in jangly, low-key, mersey-styled or more pop-orientated beat songs - slightly wimpy, often with accented vocals, almost always CHARMING at least. The Alligators, The Caps, Cheese Town Jewels, early Honestmen, Bumble Bees etc....there was an endless stream of likewise sounding groups. The Sound Specials CNR 45 (their rarest by far!) has been - sadly neglected - lurking in my boxes for many years. It takes some spins to appreciate this 2-SIDER, but then we have a disc that gets a solid "7-out-of-10" in my book! |
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LES OMBRES: Merci Quand-Même/Fainéant (Olympia, BEL '66) |
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| Les Ombres was a Belgian group from Brussels. They were around between 1964 and 1966. The band went through several line-up changes and included some British musicians like John Handscombe (ex-Jay Bee Four !!), Jimmy Morgan etc. When the band was signed to Palette in 1966, the name of the group was changed to The Klan. In their early days they backed up Gene Vincent and Vince Taylor. Their first two 45s on Fly and Première are O.K., but nothing special. All subsequent 45s on Sachem and Olympia are GREAT though and worth your investment! BY FAR their rarest 45 is their French-sung single including the KILLER track "Fainéant" (comped on ILS SONT FOUS CES GAULOIS #2). Comparing label-numbers this must have been released between their "Teenage Letter" and "Angry Age" 45's for Olympia. Most Les Ombres discographies I've seen do not mention the "Fainéant" (translates to "Lazy") single. Actually the copy that I own is the only one I've ever seen. It would be about time somebody traces all old band members, digs up some unreleased material and along with the best of their 45s comes up with an anthology of one of Belgian coolest mid-60's R&B bands! (note: I remember I once had another 45 ("Illusions") by Les Ombres. Not sure if it is the same group. The 45 was released on Monde Melody and is from early/mid 70's. The record is best be avoided.) |
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MOTHER NATURE: Once There Was A Time/Clear Blue Sky (Pink Elephant, NL '72) |
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| Holland had it's own 70's group MOTHER NATURE (from Nibbixwoud/Hoorn; with 45s on Negram and CBS), but they should not be confused with this obscure British band. U.K.'s MOTHER NATURE had two 45's out. Their debut single "Orange Days And Purple Nights" (on B&C, 1971; also released in France ???) looks promising from it's title, but I haven't heard it. Their 2nd 45 from 1972 came out on the Kingdom label, a label owned by former Caravan manager Terry King. This is the one here that got a Dutch release on Pink Elephant. "Once There Was A Time" is great soft folky psych pop. If you dig early Caravan, Strawbs, Incredible String Band etc., this one's for you! |
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HETHERINGTON: Teenage Love Song/That Girl's Alright (Mowest, UK '73) |
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| Here's an amazing 70's pop 45 by U.K. singer/songwriter John Hetherington. Hetherington's first 45 was from 1970 ("It's Only Me" on RCA) and the next year he did two U.S.-only 45's ("Can't Nobody See My Face" and "Hello") for the UNI label. All these 45s are worth seeking out. In 1973 at the age of 23, he got signed by Mowest, a U.K. Motown sublabel. Demo copies of "Teenage Love Song" came with a pic sleeve and the 45 was also released in Portugal (and maybe some other countries as well). Thanks to Mark F. for pointing me towards Hetherington's great recordings. |
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MICHELLE: Viens Petite Fille/Georgie (Disques Vogue, BEL '67) |
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| Here's one of those 45s that I have zero information on. A good reason to blog and see if anyone can come up with some vital data! Michelle was a Belgian (or French??) 60's girl singer and this must have been her only claim for fame. The incredible "Viens Petite Fille" ranks among the best French female 60's songs I've heard (Delphine, Clothilde, Christine Pilzer etc.). Both tracks are credited to "Macharis M.", if that helps. On the same Belgian Disques Vogue as the over-estimated Snap Shots 45, only MUCHO RARER! |
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CONJUNTO ACADÉMICO ORFEU: Goodbye/Help Me Please/Another Girl/Sad Man (Belter, ESP '67) |
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| Despite this Spanish release CONJUNTO ACADÉMICO ORFEU hailed from Portugal. The band had at least one more record out in their own country. Portugal was not a hotbed for wyld 60's punk, but if you dig moody beat stuff, then you're just at the right place. There have been circulating some PORTUGUESE NUGGETS compilations lately, but some of the best 45's still wait to be discovered. My Portuguese is not good, but I suspect that CONJUNCTO ACADÉMICO ORFEU was a high school/university band, just like similiar-named combos such as CONJUNTO ACADÉMICO JOAO PAULO or CONJUNTO ACADÉMICO RUY MANUEL. |
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ATLANTA VIBRATIONS: My Hometown/If You Let Me Love You (Sim-Cor, US '66?) |
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| The first of two singles that I have on the Sim-Cor label from Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Vibrations were the opening act for The Beatles on August 18, 1965 at the Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta. The band included Spencer Kirkpatrick, later on in the Southern Rock band Hydra. The A-s. is a slow teen ballad, but "If You Let Me Love You" is a really fab folkrock jangler! |
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ROBBY: People Ain't Going Nowhere/I Don't Want To Leave (Sim-Cor, US '66?) |
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| Here's SIM-COR #102 by Robby (Barnes). I'm a sucker for these primitive teen garage janglers...that ain't going nowhere! No idea who Robby Barnes was & what has become of him. I can only think of one person who could fill us in here? Hey, Mike! |
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SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY: Crazy Shadows/Revelations (Swan, US '66) |
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| The Southbound Freeway were a band from Detroit, Michigan. Their debut 45 (Swan 4272) from November 1966 goes for big bucks amongst Northern Soul collectors! Black label copies actually play Tony Galla's highly collectable "In Love" (released as Swan 4275). Craig Moerer sold such a mispress on eBay with "Buy It Now" for $750.00. The demo version of #4272 that actually has The Southbound Freeway into it's grooves is regarded as shite by the soul connoisseurs. Not by me! At least not the flipside. "Crazy Shadows" is horrible indeed, but "Revelations" is a fab slightlydelic folkrocker! Their second 45 "Psychedelic Used Car Lot Blues" from '67 was released on several labels (Tera Shirma, Red Rooster, Roulette) and can be checked out on the "Michigan Nuggets" compilation. |
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VOX: Mary-Go-Round/Bored Of The 80's (no label, US/CAN '85) |
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| Another mystery 45. If my memory serves me right I bought this on eBay from a seller from Ontario, so I suspect this 45 to be of Canuck origin. Google revealed no info on the group or record. Was this 45 mentioned in Frank Manley's "Smash The State" book? "Mary-Go-Round" is a superb jangly pop song, but I also very much dig the punkier "Bored Of The 80's". Back of the sleeve says: "This record is dedicated to all kids who go to Centennial Lanes and support local bands". |
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