Brian's Weekly Sleevenotes - 7 November 15

From Dave Davies to Sandie Shaw and the Bee Gees - find out more about today's selection of 60s records...

Death of a Clown - Dave Davies (1967)

Written by The Kinks’ lead singer Ray Davies for his younger brother, Dave with whom he formed the successful group. Ray and Dave would remain the only two steady members of the band throughout their run together, with a frequently changing roster of bassists and keyboard players. With the success of ‘Death Of A Clown’, Pye records were keen to release a solo Davies, LP and scheduled it for release in 1968. The follow-up single, ‘Susannah's Still Alive’ was released in November 1967 but only became a minor hit so the release of the solo album was held back, and it was decided to wait and see how another single would fair. As anticipation grew for the release of the album, fans nicknamed it ‘A Hole in the Sock Of’. The song ‘Lincoln County’ was chosen as the next single, but failed to chart as did a couple of follow ups. By then a combination of Davies' own disinterest in continuing solo and Pye's decision not to release any further product, killed off any hopes of the album ever making an appearance.

He’s A Rebel - The Crystals (1962)

Written by Gene Pitney and topped the American charts for three weeks. The song was originally planned for a single for Vikki Carr but The Crystals version was recorded before she had even set foot in the studio. However, the real Crystals were several thousand miles away at the time of recording so vocal group, The Blossoms were recruited to sing the song although it was released as The Crystals.

She’s Still A Mystery - The Lovin’ Spoonful (1967)

The 1967 album release, ‘Everything’s Playing’ by The Lovin’ Spoonful was their first album to feature guitarist Jerry Yester who replaced Zal Yankovsky who left the group following his arrest for possession of illegal substances. It also became their last official album as a quartet as lead singer and main songwriter John Sebastian decided in 1968 to break away in favour of a solo career. Side One track one, ‘She’s Still A Mystery’ reached number twenty-seven on the American Hot 100 when issued as a single.

She’s Having A Baby Now - The Tages (1967)

The Tages were one of Sweden’s leading bands during the sixties who were always continuing to develop their sound and by 1968 were regarded as the country’s most compelling psychedelic outfits. In 1964 they were signed to local label, Platina and five of their singles were issued in the UK through EMI then in 1967 because Platina didn’t have the resources to offer proper promotion, they signed directly to Parlophone and one of their singles that year was the then very controversial ‘She’s Having A Baby Now’ that because of the subject, many radio stations refused to play.

Viva Las Vegas - Elvis Presley (1964)

US No 29/UK No 17 Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, this was the title song to his movie, “Viva Las Vegas” that was called “Love In Las Vegas” for the British market and starred Elvis and Ann Margaret. The film has often been regarded by critics and fans alike as one of Elvis’s best musicals and is especially remembered for the on and off screen chemistry between the singer and Ann Margaret.

Kathy’s Song - Paul Simon (1965)

In 1964, a young Paul Simon jumped on a plane in New York and headed to England having been discouraged by the cool reception to the first Simon & Garfunkel album, ‘Wednesday Morning 6AM.’ Very soon he found himself immersed in London’s underground folk scene performing in local clubs and writing new material inspired by his new found life, many of the songs he recorded for ‘The Paul Simon Songbook’ during his stay, several of which would later be re-recorded for future Simon and Garfunkel releases.

Lover Man (Where Can you Be) - Barbra Streisand (1967)

Written by Jimmy Davis, Roger ‘Ram’ Ramirez and James Sherman, the song is more often than not referred to as simply “Lover Man” and was written for Billie Holiday in 1941 since when there have been dozens of other recordings most notably by Charlie Parker in 1946 during which the microphone had to be held for him during the recording as he was seriously intoxicated, also Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck, Kay Starr and this 1967 version included on Barbra Streisand’s album, “Simply Streisand.”

Sunshine Superman - Donovan (1966)
US No 1/UK No 3 This single heralded Donovan’s new sound that was unleashed in America five months ahead of its UK release. Originally titled “For John And Paul”, contractual problems postponed its intended release date in January, 1966 until July the same year. In March, 1969, Donovan’s record label, Pye, released a “Greatest Hits” LP and unleashed an extended version of the song that is believed to feature Eric Ford and Jimmy Page with arranger, John Cameron on keyboards but this is the slightly shorter single version.

Gut Bucket - Tony Crombie & Friends (1961)

Tony Crombie was a talented jazz drummer and composer who with his group, The Rockets made number two on the UK charts in 1956 with his double ‘A’ sided hit, ‘Teach You To Rock’ and ‘Short’nin’ Bread’. In 1961 he recorded the album, ‘A Whole Lotta Tony’ for the Ember label credited to Tony Crombie and Friends whose line up included Booby Wellins, Tubby Hayes and Alan Branscombe that included this oddly named track, ‘Gut Bucket’ composed by Crombie.

Little By Little - Dusty Springfield (1966)

Written by Buddy Kaye and Beatrice Verdi, the pair who had previously been responsible for her 1965 hit, ‘In The Middle Of Nowhere’. This became Dusty’s seventh UK top twenty hit as a solo artist but was never released as an ‘A’ side in America but appeared on the ‘B’ side of ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’. Both Madeline Bell and Kiki Dee can be heard supporting Dusty on backing vocals.

You Know What Has To Be - Frozen Tear (1969)

Frozen Tear were a teenage band who played extensively around their home town of Plymouth supporting acts that included Fleetwood Mac, The Move and Amen Corner before recording the first release for Torquay’s RA label owned by the studios of the same name. With a pressing run of just ninety-nine copies, the record, ‘You Know What Has To Be’ was released in September 1969 written by the group’s leader, Tony Way and gained a couple of plays on Radio 1 from DJ, John Peel.

I Started A Joke - The Bee Gees (1968)

The song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb comes from The Bee Gees 1968 album ‘Idea’ and was released as a single in America but not here in the UK where a cover version by Heath Hampstead was issued by the group’s label at the time, Polydor. ‘I Started A Joke’ was one of the last sessions on which Vince Melouney played guitar as he left the group early in December that year just after the release of the album. After the death of Robin Gibb in 2012, his son Robin-John Gibb played the song on his mobile phone placing it on his father’s chest and giving him a new meaning to the song.