Graham Bond Organisation - Waltz For A Pig

The Graham Bond Organisation - Waltz For A Pig (Ginger "Harry Butcher" Baker) Reaction 591 001 B - 1966

Este instrumental siempre me ha fascinado. Con un fantástico ritmo a cargo de su autor, Ginger Baker, y con un ambiento nocturno de estepa urbana, es quizás una de las mejores piezas grabadas por The Graham Bond Organisation. Sorprendentemente, nunca apareció en ninguno de los discos oficiales del grupo. Únicamente vió la luz como cara B del single de The Who "Substitute".

En aquel momento el ex-manager y productor de The Who, Shel Talmy, tenía un juicio pendiente contra la banda, quienes no podían grabar nada hasta que se solucionara el conflicto judicial. El sello discográfico Reaction, para mantener el nombre del grupo mientras tanto, decidió re-editar "Substitute" y poner de cara B del single un instrumental encargado a otra banda de la misma oficina de management, The Graham Bond Organisation.

El invento apareció finalmente acreditado a The Who Orchestra, aunque quienes tocaban alli eran Grahan Bond, Dick Heckstall-Smitm, Jack Bruce y Ginger Baker. Por lo menos, Ginger se pudo comprar finalmente un coche a los 28 con los royalties de la canción de marras. Curiosa historia para un gran instrumental perdido.


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This instrumental has always fascinated me. With a fantastic rhythm played by its writer, Ginger Baker, and with a nocturnal urban steppe atmosphere, it's probably one of the best numbers ever recorded by The Graham Bond Organisation. Surprisingly, it never appeared on any of the official records of the band. It only saw the light of day as the B side of The Who's "Substitute".

At that time, The Who ex-manager and producer, Shel Talmy, had an injunction against the band that prevented them from temporarily recording until a legal settlement was agreed. The Reaction record label, for keeping alive the name of the band meanwhile, decided to re-release "Substitute" and use as the B side of the single an instrumental specially commissioned to another band from the same management office, The Graham Bond Organisation.

The invention finally appeared credited to The Who Orchestra, though the ones playing there were Grahan Bond, Dick Heckstall-Smitm, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. At least, Ginger was finally able to buy himself a car at 28 with the royalties he got with the song. Curious story for a great lost instrumental.



http://rapidshare.com/files/227074717/Graham_Bond_Organisation_-_Waltz_For_A_Pig.mp3


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Graham Gouldman - Nowhere To Go

Graham Gouldman - Nowhere To Go (Graham Gouldman) CBS 7739 - 1972

Hoy tenemos un par de canciones no muy conocidas de Graham Gouldman. Tras su paso por The Whirlwinds y The Mockingbirds a mediados de los 60s, tuvo un montón de éxitos escribiendo canciones legendarias para Herman's Hermits, The Yardbirds, The Hollies, The Mindbenders y tantos otros.

Pocos años después, y justo antes de montar The Hotlegs - que a su vez se transformarían en 10 c.c. - Graham publicó un solitario single en 1972 con "Nowhere To Go". Una triste y bonita canción, en su habitual línea de tonos menores y con una orquestación barroca, que poco tenía que ver con la época. Ni que decir tiene que pasó más que desapercibida, y nunca ha sido reeditada. Aunque Mr. Gouldman se vengaría un tiempo después con los éxitos de 10 c.c.


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Today we have a couple of not so well known Graham Gouldman songs. After his spell with The Whirlwinds and The Mockingbirds in the mid 60s, he had a bunch of hits writing legendary songs for Herman's Hermits, The Yardbirds, The Hollies, The Mindbenders, and so many others.

A few years later, and just before forming The Hotlegs - which would eventually become 10 c.c. - Graham released a lone single in 1972 with "Nowhere To Go". A sad and beautiful song, following his usual minor chords line, and with some baroque orchestration, which had very little in common with its time. Needless to say it went nowhere and it has never been re-released. Though Mr. Gouldman would later find a good vengeance with his 10 c.c. hits.



http://rapidshare.com/files/224602012/Graham_Gouldman_-_Nowhere_To_Go.mp3


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Matthew Fisher - Song Without Words

Matthew Fisher - Song Without Words (Matthew Fisher) RCA LP APL1 0325 - 1974

La primera grabación de Matthew Charles Fisher (Addiscombe, Croydon, UK, 1946) fué un single con The Gamblers en 1965. Pero su característico organo permanecerá por toda la eternidad en la memoria colectiva de varias generaciones gracias al mítico primer single de Procol Harum, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". Abandonó el grupo en 1969 tras su tercer LP "A Salty Dog", disco que también produjo, para luego seguir una errática e irregular carrera en solitario, salpicada de sesiones para gente tan variada como Joe Cocker, Wishbone Ash, Screaming Lord Sutch, Jerry Lee Lewis, Captain Sensible o Downliners Sect, y producciones para artistas tan lejanos entre sin como Robin Trower o Tir na Nog.

"Song Without Words" es una agridulce y hermosa canción de su segundo LP en solitario, "I'll Be There", publicado por RCA en 1974. Un gran instrumental que cualquier letra mancillaría, marcado por ese clásico sonido de órgano, y acompañado por una batería spectoriana y unos violínes en su punto. Servir, preferentemente, en esos ciertos momentos melancólicos y de nostagia irreparable.


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The first recording of Matthew Charles Fisher (Addiscombe, Croydon, UK, 1946) was a single with The Gamblers in 1965. But his characteristic organ sound will eternally remain in several generations collective memory thanks to Procol Harum's mythical first single "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". He quit the band in 1969 after their third LP "A Salty Dog", which he also produced, and then followed an erratic and irregular solo career, interspersed with session work for people as diverse as Joe Cocker, Wishbone Ash, Screaming Lord Sutch, Jerry Lee Lewis, Captain Sensible or Downliners Sect, and productions for artists as different as Robin Trower o Tir na Nog.

"Song Without Words" is a sweet & sour and beautiful song taken from his second solo LP "I'll Be There", released by RCA in 1974. A great instrumental which would surelly be spoilt by any lyrics, underlined by that clasical organ sound, and backed by some spectoresque drums and some violins with the right measure. Serve, preferably, in those certain moments of melancholy and irreparable nostagia.


http://rapidshare.com/files/219084866/Matthew_Fisher_-_Song_Without_Words.mp3


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Denny Doherty - You'll Never Know

Denny Doherty - You'll Never Know (Mack Gordon/Harry Warren) Ember-Paramount EMA 0286 - 1974

Esta es una canción para valientes. Para los que no temen a una buena melodía. Una jodida canción de amor. Pertenece al segundo y último LP en solitario de Denny Doherty, "Waiting For A Song", publicado en 1974 y en el que también ponían sus sensuales voces Michelle Phillips y Cass Elliot, compañeras suyas (y algo más) en The Mamas & The Papas.

Es una versión de una canción que aparecía en la película de 1943, "Hello, Frisco, Hello", cantada por Alice Faye y que fué grabada por un montón de artistas melódicos de pro, como Nat King Cole, The Platters, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra o Shirley Bassey y hasta por Michael Bublé o Diana Krall recientemente. Pero, en la soleada versión de Denny Doherty, tiene una encantadora inocencia y fragilidad ausentes en las voces de "los profesionales".

Dennis Doherty, nacido en 1940 en Halifax, Nova Scotia, (Canada). Tras grabar algunos discos con The Halifax Three, se unió a The Big Three en New York. En el grupo estaban Cass Elliott, Zal Yanovsky y John Sebastian, ambos caballeros pre-Lovin' Spoonful, y cambiaron su nombre a The Mugwumps al entrar Denny. Tras alguna grabación que permaneció inédita hasta el éxito posterior de sus componentes, Denny y Cass se unieron a John y Michelle Phillips para formar los famosos The Mamas & The Papas, tras cuya disolución, Denny editó unos cuantos singles y un par de LPs antes de regresar a Canada.

En los 80 intervino en unas cuantas películas y series de TV y también en alguna esporádica reunión de The Mamas & The Papas. Murio en Enero 2007.


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This is a song for the brave. For those not afraid of a good melody line. A fucking love song. It was on the second and last solo LP of Denny Doherty, "Waiting For A Song", released in 1974, in which Michelle Phillips y Cass Elliot, his ex-mates (and something more) in The Mamas & The Papas, were also contributing their sensual voices.

It's a cover of a song which first appeared in a 1943 movie called "Hello, Frisco, Hello", sung by Alice Faye, and that was recorded by a whole bunch of melodic singers like Nat King Cole, The Platters, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra or Shirley Bassey and even recently by Michael Bublé or Diana Krall. But, here in Denny's sunny version, it has a charming innocence and fragility which is completely absent with the "proffesional" voices.

Dennis Doherty, was born in 1940 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, (Canada). After a few records with The Halifax Three, he joined The Big Three in New York. Cass Elliott, Zal Yanovsky and John Sebastian, both men pre-Lovin' Spoonful, were in the band and they changed their name to The Mugwumps with Denny's arrival. After some recordings that went unreleased until the later success of its members, Denny and Cass joined John and Michelle Phillips to form the famous Mamas & The Papas. After their split, Denny released some singles and a couple of LPs before moving back to Canada.

In the 80s he made a few movies and TV series and also some sporadic The Mamas & The Papas reunions. He died in January 2007.


http://rapidshare.com/files/214888403/Denny_Doherty_-_You_ll_Never_Know.mp3



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The Truth - Fly Away Bird

The Truth - Fly Away Bird (Decca F 12582 B) 1967

Steve Jameson era un peluquero del norte de Londres. Un buen día, mientras le cortaba el pelo a un jóven cliente llamado Frank Aiello, pensó en formar un duo con él e intentar la cosa del éxito en la música pop. Steve cambió su apellido de Jameson a Gold (tal vez por si servía de conjuro) y, tomando el nombre de una canción de Ray Charles, "Tell The Truth", pronto graban su primer single en 1965. Hasta 1968 lograron editar siete de ellos, primero para Pye y luego para Deram - Decca.

La mayor parte de las grabaciones eran versiones: The Beatles, The Kinks, Donovan, The Young Rascals... De hecho, tan sólo dos de sus canciones llevan la firma de Mr. Gold/Jameson. Y una de ellas es la que tiene aquí el papel estelar.

El penúltimo single de The Truth era una versión de "Walk Away Renee" de The Left Banke y "Fly Away Bird" estaba en la cara B. Esas grandes Bs, que le dan a algunos singles un valor especial. Tiene una bonita e íntima combinación de acordes intercalando una pincelada de R & B. Ahí queda.

Posteriromente Steve siguió su carrera en solitario. Primero como Stephen Jameson, en plan cantautor con piano, con algun disco para Dawn - Pye, y luego como Nosmo King a mediados de los 70 haciendo...northern soul!


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Steve Jameson was a north London hairdresser. One day, while cutting the hair of a young customer called Frank Aiello, he thought about forming a duo and try the road to success in pop music. Steve changed then his name from Jameson to Gold (probably just in case it stuck) and, taking the name from a Ray Charles song, "Tell The Truth", they soon released their first single in 1965. Up until 1968 they released seven of them, first for Pye and then for Deram - Decca.

Most of the recordings were cover versions: The Beatles, The Kinks, Donovan, The Young Rascals... In fact only two of all their songs bore Mr. Gold/Jameson signature. And one of them is starring here now.

The Truth's penultimate single was a cover of "Walk Away Renee" from The Left Banke and "Fly Away Bird" was on the B side. Those great Bs which give a special value to some singles. It has a nice and intimate chord progression which mutates into a R & B flavour and back. Touching.

Steve later followed solo his musical career. First as Stephen Jameson, kind of piano singer songwriter, with some records for Dawm - Pye, and then as Nosmo King in the mid 70s doing... northern soul!


http://rapidshare.com/files/211446616/The_Truth_-_Fly_Away_Bird.mp3


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The Fourmyula - Nature

The Fourmyula - Nature (Wayne Mason) HMV HR 380 - 1969

De Wellington, The Fourmyula fueron tal vez el grupo más popular de Nueva Zelanda a finales de los 60 y editaron una docena larga de singles y cuatro LPs entre 1968 y 1971. Como buenos antipodas y para luchar contra su aislamiento geográfico, también viajaron a la vieja Inglaterra tras sus primeros éxitos locales para intentar una mayor proyección interancional.

Vistos los resultados, la mayor parte del grupo regresó a Nueva Zelanda para poco después separarse. El guitarrista Martin Hope se unió al legendario grupo local Human Instinct para sus dos últimos LPs. El batería, Chris Parry, permaneció en el Reino Unido y tuvo mayor éxito, aunque en la sombra: descubrió, fué el manager y produjo los primeros discos de The Cure.

"Nature", compuesta por uno de los guitarristas del grupo, Wayne Mason, no fué incluida en ninguno de los albumes de The Fourmyula, aunque sí fué editada en USA, y es la copia que aquí traemos. Una envolvente y etérea canción con muchos de los efluvios de la época.


From Wellington, The Fourmyula were probably the most popular band in New Zealand in the late 60s. They released about a dozen singles and four albums between 1968 and 1971. After their first local hits, as good antipodeans, and also to fight against geographical isolation, they also travelled to old England searching for a bigger international recognition.

After the usual results, most part of the band went back to New Zealand and split soon after. Guitarist Martin Hope joined legendary local band Human Instinct for their two last LPs. Drummer Chris Parry stayed in the U.K. and found a bigger success, though a bit in the shade: he discovered, managed and produced the first records of The Cure.

"Nature", written by one of the band's guitarists, Wayne Mason, was not included on any of The Fourmyula albums though it had a U.S. release, which is the copy we're bringing here. It's a swaddling and ethereal song with many of the flavours of its time.


http://rapidshare.com/files/209496862/The_Fourmyula_-_Nature.mp3


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Crush - On A Plane To Nowhere

Crush - On A Plane To Nowhere (M.Kent / J.Arthur) Ariola 12764 A - 1973


No he conseguido averiguar absolutamente nada sobre este disco. Lo pillé hace mucho tiempo, dejándome llevar por la incontestable pinta del grupo y por los títulos de las canciones.

Los Sres. Kent y Arthur escribieron también alguna canción para Vanity Fare (la bonita "Summer Morning"), cuyos productores, al igual que en este disco, eran también Roger Easterby y Des Champs. Roger y Des tenían una pequeña productora y sello independiente llamado Santa Ponsa que operaba en el campo del pop entre finales de los 60 y principios de los 70. Tal vez esa podría ser una pista.

En cualquier caso, "Today's Tomorrow" resultó una canción de glam-pop de las de a granel. Pero la cara B del single, como tantas veces ocurre, era la sorpresa. "On A Plane To Nowhere" es una de esas pequeñas grandes canciones que se hace de querer de inmediato. Nada espectacular de apariencia, y hasta podría decirse que discreta, tiene un nosequé que engancha, que cala, y que hace que perdure en tu memoria. Como algunas personas.

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I couldn't find anything about this record. I got it quite a long time ago, and grabbed it just because the sheer look of the band and the titles of the songs.

Mrs. Kent & Arthur also wrote some song for Vanity Fare (the nice "Summer Morning"), whose producers were also Roger Easterby and Des Champs. Roger and Des were running a small production company and label called Santa Ponsa which operated in the pop field in the late 60s/early 70s. Maybe this could be a trail to follow.

Anyhow, "Today's Tomorrow" resulted one of those average glam-pop songs. But the B side, as in so many other cases, was the real surprise. "On A Plane To Nowhere" is one of those little great songs with an immediate attraction. Of no spectacular appearance, and even discreet, it has a certain something that hooks on you and makes it linger on your memory. Just like some persons.


http://rapidshare.com/files/206229469/Crush_-_On_A_Plane_To_Nowhere.mp3

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