Here is the final list of all titles we have now received for RSD Drop 2 this Saturday 17th July!

We will be opening our doors bright and early at 8am! Remember social distancing guidelines, please wear a mask inside the shop and look out for each other

We have compiled a list of all titles we have ordered and expect to receive for Drop 2 (17 July) of Record Store Day 2021. This is subject to possible deletions and changes at the last minute, so please do get in touch with us a few days before the event if you are after a specific title. We’re afraid that the rules of RSD dictate that we cannot reserve or hold any titles and we will not be able to make any exceptions to this rule.

We will be opening again at 8AM Saturday 17th July for Drop 2 of Record Store Day 2021!

We have updated our list of RSD Drop 1 titles that we will have available for RSD Drop 1 (June 12th)- Please see the post on the full list for updates! Artists that have been moved to drop 2 include: Black Sabbath, Cat Stevens, John Martyn, The Flirtations, Frankie Rose, The Selecter, War, Georgia, Goblin, Add N to X, Steve Reid Ensemble, Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones (Hot Rocks LP), Michael Schenker Group, Chic, Chapterhouse, Complex, James Ray, Sun Dragon, Various (Hillbillies from Hell), Various (Sassy and Strong), Iggy Pop, Ash, Ron Carter, Bill Evans.

Please do ask us if you are after a specific title- we can let you know if we have it!

Looking forward to welcoming you all on Saturday!

We have compiled a list of all titles we have ordered and expect to receive for Drop 1 (12 June) of Record Store Day 2021. This is subject to possible deletions and changes at the last minute, so please do get in touch with us a few days before the event if you are after a specific title. We’re afraid that the rules of RSD dictate that we cannot reserve or hold any titles and we will not be able to make any exceptions to this rule.

Casbah Records is pleased to participate in the 2021 edition of RECORD STORE DAY UK!

We will open bright and early at 8am for all you pop pickers!Please join us in-store for…

~EXCLUSIVE VINYL RELEASES~
To see the full list of releases, please see the official RSD 2021 website here:
Drop 1:
https://recordstoreday.co.uk/releases/rsd-2021-drop-1/
Drop 2:
https://recordstoreday.co.uk/releases/rsd-2021-drop-2/

As you may already be aware, this year’s Record Store Day will be split into two events, Drop 1 on Saturday 12th June 2021 and Drop 2 on Saturday 17th July 2021.
We will be posting our list of stock in the week before on our blog page- stay tuned for regular updates on our facebook page!
Get in touch with us if there is anything specific that you are after and we will let you know if we have ordered it in. Please note that this may be subject to change, as the list of releases is being amended and updated regularly.

~COVID-19 SAFETY INFORMATION~
As in previous years, we are running an in-store event. We operate on a first-come-first-served basis and are unable to reserve any releases in advance. Our advice is to come down early, join the orderly and socially-distanced queue, and enjoy the good vibes!

*We highly recommend that you write a list of RSD titles you would like in advance of your visit, ready to hand over to us at the counter so that we can get these together for you asap!

~Safety measures in place and things to consider:

*We will have a maximum of 5 people in the shop at any one time. Please be considerate of other people waiting outside and browse smartly. We don’t want to limit anyone’s browsing time, but if we can help you to find a specific non-RSD title then please do let us know! It gets quieter in the afternoon, so this might be an ideal time to return if you want to return for more leisurely browsing.
*Please remember to wear face masks in the shop!
*Please respect social distancing guidelines whilst queuing outside and inside the shop and be mindful of each other.

We look forward to welcoming you to Casbah Records for RSD 2021!

It’s BLACK FRIDAY on the 28th. We’ll be stocking lot’s of the limited RSD releases that are released on that day. All should be available from 6pm that evening via our Discogs page; https://www.discogs.com/user/CasbahRecords. Either place an order online or contact us direct. If your ordering direct we can put by till the next Wednesday when we re-open. Here’s a list of artists we’ll be stocking; UNCLE TUPELO BANGLES, HIGH PULP, NANCY & LEE, FRED NEIL, SUN ))), HERBIE HANCOCK, LOU REED X two titles, JARVIS COCKER X two titles, GEORGE HARRISON, VINCE GARULDI, JONATHAN WILSON, PETE ROCK, THE EDITORS, CHRIS CORNEL, THE WEEKEND, U2, COMET IS COMING, NORA JONES, BEASTIE BOYS, MAGNETIC FIELDS< COREY TAYLOR< MOTERHEAD< MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE< NICK CAVE< HANK WILLIAMS< MICK FLEETWOOD< PUSCIFER< OL’ DIRTY BASTARD plus STUDIO ONE comp. It’s a tasty world..

#loverecordstores launches Inaugural ‘Independent Albums Of The Year’ Initiative

List Announced on December 3rd – New, Vinyl Exclusives Available to Buy & Pre-Order instore & Online on December 5th London, November 24th 2020 – #loverecordstores, the campaign launched earlier this year to raise awareness of the challenges faced by record stores during the COVID-19 pandemic is launching a new initiative; the inaugural ‘independent Albums of the Year’ list.This new campaign is aimed primarily at the UK’s wider independent music sector, including artists and record labels, in time for the last quarter of 2020 , a crucial time in the run up to the all-important Christmas period. The #loverecordstores ‘Independent Albums of the Year’ list is 2020’s favourite releases from independent labels voted for by a cross section of notable independent record stores including Drift, Resident, Rough Trade, Normans, Piccadilly, Bear Tree, Assai, Banquet, Stranger Than Paradise, Bleep and Monorail among many others. The full list will be unveiled on Thursday 3rd of December. To celebrate the launch , independent record stores across the UK will be making exclusive vinyl pressings of albums included in the list available to buy and pre-order from 6pm on Saturday the 5th of December. #loverecordstores started life as a social media campaign with a huge range of artists including Elton John, Paul Weller and Kae Tempest to name only a few and the wider music community uniting under the hashtag to encourage music fans to continue shopping online while stores were shuttered during the lockdown. The #loverecordstores campaign culminated in a hugely successful, day-long event on 20th June featuring over 130 independent record stores, which saw dozens of new and re-issued vinyl releases from the likes of Oasis, Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys among many others being made available to music fans and over £1m in revenue generated. To complement the day, which had Tim Burgess as its Ambassador, #loverecordstores also organised the world’s biggest online instore event featuring live performances, DJ sets, interviews, readings and more from a wide range of artists such as Fontaines DC, Craig David, Circa Waves, John Grant, Black Pumas and many more, curated by a number of the world’s best-known independent labels including Play It Again Sam, Rough Trade, Partisan Records, Secretly Group, Domino, Ninja Tune, XL Recordings, 4AD, Warp, Heavenly Recordings, Transgressive, Mute, and Bella Union among others.The #loverecordstores campaign has shone a spotlight on the work of the wider independent community of record shops, labels & fans who have supported each other and their artists at a time when so many of their traditional marketing and engagement opportunities such as live shows have not been possible.Jason Rackham , UK Managing Director of [PIAS] and co-founder of #loverecordstores said, “As we head into the winter months it is clear that record stores face a challenging end to the year. We hope and believe that this celebration of the year’s best independent music will help to support the record stores and remind people to continue to support this vital sector of our industry.”Instagram @LoveRecordStoresTwitter @LoveRecsStoresFacebook @LoveRecordStoresPlease visit www.loverecordstores.com for more information.

It’s here again. The third and final instalment of RSD will be happening this Saturday 24th October! As usual, we’ve got a great selection of limited releases on offer. Please see below (in no particular order) what we’ve got available:

Eminem, Steven Wilson, Booker. T & the MG’s, Various – Double Whammy (Psych/Garage), Calexico, Various – Strum & Thrum American Jangle 83-87, Various – Blue Beat 60s Years, Frank Zappa, Mark Knopfler (Metroland), Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, Rory Gallager, Down ‘N’ Outz EP, Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, JJ. Johnson/Kai Winding, Inhaler, Beck/St. Vincent, Austin Powers, Menswear, London Suede, Humble Pie, Pineapple Thief, The Who, Frankie & the Witch, Geraint Watkins, Snoop Dogg, Virgin Suicides, Lou Reed & John Cale, Alice Cooper, Dexter Gordon, UFO, Skid Row, Keith Richards, Specials, Miles Davis, Cheap Tricks, The Lemonheads, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Yann Tiersen, Jessie Baylin, Bardo Pond, Tony Joe White and Toto!

A few more titles still to arrive. We’ll be opening at 10.30am as usual. Normal rules apply, first come first served. Feel free to email if there’s something you’re interested in that’s not on our list. Good luck, and see you down the front!

ANNOUNCEMENT RE. RSD SEPTEMBER DROP

Unfortunately, due to distribution issues, we have not received any RSD stock of the McCartney I, Daft Punk, Rolling Stones 10″, Black Crowes, and the Hackers soundtrack.We are very sorry to have to break this news to you, we’re as disappointed as you are!

ANNOUNCEMENT RE. RSD SEPTEMBER DROP Unfortunately, due to distribution issues, we have not received any RSD stock of the McCartney I, Daft Punk, Rolling Stones 10″, Black Crowes, and the Hackers soundtrack.We are very sorry to have to break this news to you, we’re as disappointed as you are!

Good morning pop pickers! We’ll be taking part in the September RSD event. We’ll be opening at the normal time of 10.30am. The usual rules apply and we’ll be operating on a first come first served basis. Not everything has arrived at this time of writing but the following titles should be available on the day; Angelo Badalamenti (Twin peaks), Wedding Present, Britney Spears, Paul McCartney, Tron (soundtrack), Roger Waters, Ellie Goulding, Black crowes, Mikey dread, Charlie Mingus, Dave Pike, T.V Personalities, Nas, Ole Dirty Bastard, Notorious B.I.G, Various ‘Behind the dykes (Dutch Psych), Various; ‘Psyche France Vol 6’, Clint Eastwood & general Saint, Mark Snow (the X.Files), The Doors, The Replacements, Ramones, F.mac, Erasure, Hank Williams, ‘Wilcovered’, Two Tone; ‘Dance Craze’ & ‘This Are Two Tone’, Hotrats, Yardbirds, Durutti Column, Feminne Complex, Nativity In Black,( Black Sabbath Covers), ‘Serpico’ soundtrack, The Residents, Don Cherry, Snapped Ankles, Lee Fields, Johnny Thunders, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Currensy, Murs & 9th Wonder, Bill Evans, Human race, Willie Tee, The Live band, Gray, Mickey & The Soul.., T La Rock & Jazzy Jay, The King James, Tommy Mcgee. That’s it as it stands but there might be some late arrivals so feel free to ask if there’s a particular title you’re interested in. See you down the front!

Here we have our list of titles which we have ordered for the RSD ‘drops’ this year. We expect to get at least one of every title, but please note that there may be instances where a title has been cancelled or moved to a subsequent ‘drop’., or may not have arrived in time for the day. Please be aware of the release date for these titles, as there are three ‘drop’s for RSD this year: 29th August, 26th September, and 24th October.

Please feel free to get in touch with us if there is something specific that you are looking for!

Casbah Records is pleased to participate in the 2020 edition of RECORD STORE DAY UK on Saturday 29th August!

Opening time 9AM!

Please join us in-store for…

~EXCLUSIVE VINYL RELEASES~

To see the full list of releases, please see the official RSD 2020 website here:
https://recordstoreday.co.uk/releases/rsd-drop-august/

We will be posting our list of stock in the week before on our blog page- stay tuned for regular updates on our facebook page! Get in touch with us if there is anything specific that you are after and we will let you know if we have ordered it in. Please note that this may be subject to change, as the list of releases is being amended and updated regularly. Around 80% of the RSD releases this year will be in the August event. There will also be smaller RSD drops on 26th September and 24th October, more information on this to follow!

~COVID-19 SAFETY INFORMATION~

As in previous years, we are running an in-store event. We operate on a first-come-first-served basis and are unable to reserve any releases in advance. Our advice is to come down early, join the orderly and socially-distanced queue, and enjoy the good vibes!

We highly recommend that you write a list of RSD titles you would like in advance of your visit, ready to hand over to us at the counter so that we can get these together for you asap!

Safety measures in place and things to consider:

*We will have a maximum of 5 people in the shop at any one time. Please be considerate of other people waiting outside and browse smartly. We don’t want to limit anyone’s browsing time, but if we can help you to find a specific non-RSD title then please do let us know! It gets quieter in the afternoon, so this might be an ideal time to return if you want to browse more leisurely.

*Please remember to wear face masks in the shop

*Please respect social distancing guidelines whilst queuing outside and inside the shop

We look forward to seeing you at Casbah Records for RSD 2020!

Recorded in 2015 then reissued on vinyl in 2019, Susan James’s ‘Sea Glass’ is a Californian peach of a record which hasn’t reached the audience it deserves. James teamed up with High Llama Sean O’Hagan to help with the musical vision and arrangements and together they produced an absolute gem of a record. Susan herself calls the style a “California hybrid of melodic psychedelic folk rock” and that’s spot on! From the opening track ‘Poseidon’s Daughter’ to ‘Hey Julianne’ we’re treated to some beautiful lilting melodies set against a subtle orchestrated backdrop that I’m sure Brian Wilson would be very happy with. Echoes of The Free Design, The Poppy Family, Laura Nyro and the Beach Boys abound throughout and the harmonies and instrumentation are reminiscent of late 60’s Californian sunshine pop. There’s a limited aquamarine coloured vinyl out there at the moment and I strongly urge you to track down a copy, you won’t be disappointed!

…So ran the rather lurid tag line from London’s billboards in 1972! The film was initially inspired by the story of the Highgate vampire—a media sensation of the time involving disturbed tombs and grave robbing in Highgate cemetery. Hammer films decided for Christopher Lee’s sixth and penultimate outing as the count that the franchise needed updating to the present. And so, with the help of some young fresh blood in the shapely form of upcoming starlets Stephanie Beacham, Caroline Munroe, and (straight out of ‘Hair’) Marsh Hunt, also ably assisted by Michael Kitchen and Christopher Neame, we have Dracula AD 1972!

The main thrust of the story is this: Neames character Johnny Alucard (Dracula spelled backwards) is a descendant of one of Dracula’s side-kicks from the 19^th century. His mission is to bring Dracula back to life and in doing so gaining power and eternal life for himself. It just so happens that the group he latches onto includes Stephanie Beacham’s character Jessica—the latest in the line of Van Helsings. Alucard convinces ‘the group’ that he has a ‘new way’; ‘the ultimate kick’ to shake off this ‘tired scene, man’! …A black mass, no less, in an old abandoned church! This is where it all starts to go horribly wrong for the kids… Various members come a cropper or are ‘turned’ before Jessica’s grandfather, an expert in the occult, gets involved (played by—yes, you guessed it—Peter Cushing). Cushing knows a thing or two about tackling vampires and he soon gets on the trail of Alucard before finishing off the count in time honoured fashion. 

Whilst Hammer purists at the time (and some even now) are decidedly lukewarm about the film, citing its cringe worthy use of hippie speak and blatant attempt to appeal to younger hip audience, for the student of Sixties/Seventies pop culture there’s much to enjoy here! The first scene set in the 20^th century features a party with the American band Stoneground (they replaced the Faces who were first choice) playing some funky rock to the assembled ‘kids’ and some rather shocked oldies! There’s some full-on seventies gear on show: hot pants, frilly shirts, crushed velvet, floppy hats… the lot! There’s even the groovy surroundings of the Cavern coffee bar in the Kings Road where the group hang out. This was situated at 372 Kings Road and was still a café up to recent times. Alucad’s flat (72 Hollgate Place in Notting Hill), where he takes Marsha Hunts character Gaynor for some late-night action, is all 70s decadence. And then there’s the music… Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann wrote the score, a funky brass laden gem, plus you have the aforementioned Stoneground, and for the Black Mass scene the far out ‘electric storm in hell’ by Delia Derbyshire’s White Noise can be heard (on reel to reel tape, of course). Best of all though is the dialogue! Christopher Lee was appalled when he read the script and you can see why. However, watching it now there’s a certain period charm to be enjoyed, as long as you like your horror with a large helping of cheese!

Here’s a few choice examples:

Alucard to Gaynor as he puts a record on: “They were really zonked when they made this” 
Gaynor: “yeah, aren’t they always”
 
Alucard at the black mass: “Dig the music, kids”

Van Helsing to the police inspector: “There is a satan” 
Inspector: “Of course, otherwise we wouldn’t need a police force, would we?”.
 
Gaynor: Is this the place Johnny?” 
Alucard: “Yeah, why don’t you drop in for a bite?”

The film has now reached cult status with some fairly prominent fans amongst them, notably horror writer Kim Newman and U.S. director Tim Burton. It’s what most people would describe as ‘so bad, it’s good’ and I can see that. But I adore it! It’s probably up there in my list of top ten films, not just horror films, but all-time greats. A few years ago, I managed to get my DVD copy signed by Caroline Munroe, which was a thrill and, hey, it was released on the 28^th of September which is my birthday—That must mean something!

Here’s the trailer:

Here’s the latest from the RSD official website:

“29th April 2020: In 2020, the world is a different place. And for that reason, Record Store Day has had to adapt to fit into this different place.

Record Store Day will unfortunately no longer be taking place on June 20^th.

Instead, the titles on the RSD 2020 official list will be available from independent record shops (INCLUDING CASBAH RECORDS!) on one of the three following RSD “Drop” Dates: Saturday 29th August, Saturday 26^th September and Saturday 24^th October.”

To see more and check out the latest info on RSD 2020, visit the RSD website here.

This month sees the publication of an excellent new book entitled 100 Unhip Albums That We Should Learn to Love. Seeking to reappraise formerly ignored or derided albums, it makes the case for the unfashionable with examples from Van der Graaf Generator to David Essex, 10CC, Wings, and beyond. A refreshingly new idea, we thought, so by way of tribute, here are some of our choices ripe for critical makeover!

1. Cat Stevens – Foreigner

Upon it’s release in 1973, Foreigner was greeted by the critics with a mixture of polite indifference and outright hostility. The NME’s Roy Carr called it “one of the worst pieces of maudlin tripe pop music has had to suffer”. Harsh words indeed as, listening to it now, it has blossomed and has a great deal to offer. Four albums of mainly acoustic catchy folk-pop had set the template for success both artistically and commercially. But when Stevens announced that the next album would be recorded without regular producer Paul Samuel Smith, with sessions musicians, and in Jamaica, alarm bells began to ring! Upon its release, sales peaked and began to fall away as the new intense and serious style was not what the people were used to. Cat wasn’t quite as cuddly anymore! However, the music is played superbly by crack session players including Bernard Purdie & Phil Upchurch, and it has a free, loose, funky vibe, much in keeping with its Jamaican backdrop. Standout tracks ‘Sweet Blue Love’ and the finale, ‘Heaven Must Have Programmed You’, would have graced any of his previous works. Image result for cat stevens foreigner With the next album Buddha and the Chocolate Box, Stevens went back to the tried-and-tested set-up and with it gained the expected commercial success, but Foreigner is at least a pleasant interlude, and at best a brave artistic statement. Just for a moment, he was a honky cat that was a funky cat!

2. Linda Lewis – Woman Overboard

When the Raft label folded in the early 70s, it left Linda Lewis high and dry and without a contract. Three albums of charming folk-soul-pop had given her a loyal following and critical acclaim but ‘Rock-a-doodle Doo’ apart, they achieved modest commercial success. So, when Arista got Lewis to sign on the dotted line, they were determined to market her as a pop-disco diva with her high vocal range as her gimmick. This meant Lewis’s own songs were pushed into the background, onto B sides, in favour of cover-versions of soul classics and newly written pop fayre. Woman Overboard was released in 1977 and was very much a compromise between Lewis and the label: plenty of silky-smooth soul, pleasant though not particularly inspiring. What it does have are three outstanding songs, all completely distinct, which makes it a must-have for fans! First up is ‘Bonfire’, written for her by ex-squeeze Cat Stevens, which sadly only just dented the top 30. Next, there’s a beautiful version of ‘The Moon and I’ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. This girl could handle opera with the best of them, and even though it’s a slightly less formal rendition, it’s not going to cause Arthur Sullivan any swivels in his coffin! The standout for me is her version of Family’s ‘My Friend, the Sun’. It’s a sweet autumnal acoustic, a shimmering masterpiece that still gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. So if you see this album, with its sexy 70s disco diva cover, languishing in a bargain bin, do yourself a favour – liberate it and give it a home immediately!

3. Eric Clapton – There’s One in Every Crowd

The follow-up to Eric’s bestselling comeback LP, 461 Ocean Boulevard, came as something of a disappointment to ‘Slowhand’ followers, who thought the new laidback Clapton was but a parting phase. This is about as laidback as it gets without actually falling over! After the opening two gospel-flavoured tracks, one of which, ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’, was rendered in a relaxed cod-reggae style, listeners could be forgiven for not pressing ahead with much enthusiasm. But Side 2 reveals three of Clapton’s most endearing compositions from this period: ‘Better Make it Through Today’ is a touching, heartfelt prayer to self-preservation, presumably inspired by the recent therapy and cure of his heroin addiction. Next up, ‘Pretty Blue Eyes’ and ‘High’ are vintage badge-esque melodic, bluesy pop songs that Clapton excelled at writing during the late 60s and early 70s. It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch but does contain some absolute gems and is definitely worth reinvestigation. Plus, it’s got a very cute dog on the cover…

4. Rod Stewart – Smiler

I don’t know what it is about 1974 but this seemed to be the year that established artists delivered albums that the critics dismissed as not up-to-scratch. Prime example was Rod’s Smiler. It has all the ingredients of previous smash hit sellers: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ and ‘Never a Dull Moment’ with the (or most of the) Faces backing him up, a ‘Maggie May’/You Where it Well’-style single & co-write with Martin Quittenton in ‘Farewell’, and some cracking cover versions in Sam Cooke’s ‘You Send Me’, Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller’, the obligatory Dylan cover (which is better than the original) ‘Girl From the North Country’ and a couple of top-grade, top-mates contributions in Elton’s ‘Let Me Be Your Car’ and ‘Mine For Me’ from Sir Lord of Macca! What it also has, however, is a slightly dodgy sleeve design with Rod resplendent in his 19th-century silks and satins facing out from an antique mirror laid on top o f a tartan cloak. A bit too Scottish for most of us (especially as he was from North London…). That apart, there’s much vintage Rod to enjoy here, so ignore the sleeve art and dig in!

Sad to say that for obvious reasons we now feel compelled to shut the shop as of this evening for an indefinite period (hopefully not for too long!). We will be loading as much stock as we possibly can onto our Discogs page, including new releases and plenty of new additions to our vintage vinyl as well- so please keep checking out our facebook page for our top picks! If you see anything you like then you can buy directly from our Discogs [https://www.discogs.com/user/CasbahRecords], or get in touch with us and pay by paypal or card and we will post it out to you. When the sun does rise again, we’ll see you all again in person. In the meantime, please keep buying our records, because we are nice people!

Hey there pop pickers! We’ll be stocking a cool selection of limited releases for the Black Friday mini Record Store Day event. Here’s a run down of some of the artists we’ll have:

*********************

SLIPKNOT, LOU REED, ALICE COOPER, THE DOORS, THE JB’S, THE HOLD STEADY, HERBIE HANCOCK, MILES DAVIS (two different titles), NAS, EDAN (U.S 60’s psych/soul), KINGS OF LEON, PEARL JAM, ELVIS, JEFF BUCKLEY, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, HENDRIX, JOE SATRIANI, ARCADE FIRE, U2, THE COMET IS COMING, JAMES BROWN, PAUL McCARTNEY, ROYAL TRUX, ALBERT HAMMOND JR, BUFFY SAINT MARIE, NICK LOWE, T. RUNDGREN, FREDDY KING, BILL EVANS, STEPPENWOLF, WILLIE COLON, IAN & SYLVIA.

COMPILATION TITLES/VARIOUS ARTIST TITLES include: ‘More Oar’ , ‘Jingle Workshop’, ‘ File#733: U.F.O’ Motown Rarities compilation’, Daptone label’s ‘Rhythm Showcase’.

***********************

We’ll open at 10.30am as usual. Same rules as RSD proper apply (first come first served, one title per person, etc.). We’ll also have a poster in the window with the above and how many copies we’ve got of each. If you want more detailed info on the titles released you can go to the RSD website here (https://recordstoreday.co.uk/news/posts/2019/record-store-day-black-friday-to-take-place-29th-november/). Also, unfortunately the Zappa and the Madonna titles have been cancelled as they were not going to be ready in time.

See you down at the front, eager pop pickers!!

Hard to imagine it these days, but back in the late Sixties and early Seventies many artists had a cushy little sideline performing hits of the day for compilations on budget labels such as Top Of The Pops, Saga, Rediffusion and Hallmark. There was also a craze for making uncredited guest appearances on friend’s records, mainly due to record company rules at the time. Was that not Mick Jagger in the background on Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’? Isn’t that Rod singing lead on ‘In A Broken Dream’ by Python Lee Jackson? John & Paul sang on the Stone’s ‘We Love You’; Clapton played guitar on the Fab Four’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and George returned the compliment by playing on Cream’s ‘Badge’. Lynsey (sugar me) De Paul did the sexy voiceover for Mott The Hoople’s ‘Roll Away The Stone’.

Roy Wood of Wizzard was, at the time of his huge hit ‘See My Baby Jive,’ dating TV and pop singer Ayshea Brough. Ayshea sang backing vocals and performed with them on Top Of The Pops, (sadly now wiped by the BBC). Roy then wrote, played on and produced what was essentially a Wizzard track for Ayshea called ‘Farewell’. Even the dream combination of Wood, Harvest Records and Pan’s People couldn’t get her a hit though!

The bubblegum pop song ‘You’re Ok With Us’ that accompanied the TV commercial for ‘Us’ underarm deodorant was sung by David Essex. This was released as a single before Essex-mania well and truly took hold.

All this led to much debate in the school playground, especially when it became known that certain popular superstars had been moonlighting in their pre-fame days and earning a few extra quid by doing session work for covers LP’s. These records were hugely popular, since they usually came in at under a pound and had twenty-or-so hits that sounded pretty similar to the original- if a little lifeless. The sleeve designs normally displayed scantily clad women in seductive poses with tag lines such as ‘today’s hits sung by original artistes’ (not ‘artists’, you see!)

Elton John was the king of the cover version around 1970, before ‘Your Song’ hit the charts. There are some fabulous versions of songs like ‘Spirit In The Sky,’ ‘Yellow River’ and ‘Baby Loves Lovin’’ to be found on Top Of The Pops and the Chartbusters labels. These records are much sought after by Elton fans and can still be found at boot sales and charity shops for pennies, if you know which ones are which (the internet will provide the less patient collectors with all the details). It was even rumoured that David Bowie got in on the act with a cover of Penny Lane on Music For Pleasure’s 1967 Hot Hits compilation. It does sound remarkably like Bowie doing the Beatles in a Tony Newley style and I’d love it to be true, but sadly it is but an urban myth!

This trend continued in the Rock underground scene, too. Thin Lizzy made a whole album of Deep Purple covers under the name of Funky Junction. Sixties Freakbeat band The Eyes made a tribute to the Rolling Stones on the Wing label under the nom de plume of The Pupils (get it?). The budget album of Raga pop by Sagram, ‘Pop Explosion Sitar Style’ on the Windmill label, was in fact the Acid folk band Magic Carpet. They, along with singer Alisha Sufit, went on to make a much sought after self-titled album on the Mushroom label.

Space Rock band Hawkwind did their super-fan sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock a big favour by recording an album with him called ‘The New Worlds Fair’ under the name of Deep Fix in 1975 when they were huge! The film version of Moorcock’s novel ‘The Final Programme’ did originally contain a scene featuring Deep Fix but sadly it didn’t make it to the final edit and hasn’t appeared on any DVD extras either.

There’s real joy to had from digging around the world of budget labels and ‘Junk-shop Glam,’ as they call it. I always enjoy seeing the raised eyebrow of a dealer when you fish some ‘Hot Hits’ record out of their cheap box and gleefully hand over a quid. “What’s he buying that for?” You can see them wonder behind their bemused expression. “This, mate, is pure gold” would be my retort of preference. Always very satisfying to unearth a little gem that not many other people are aware of! It’s fun and in most cases inexpensive, which is an ideal combination. Exciting and easy on the pocket! The quest continues… Happy exploring!