Thursday, April 04, 2013

More vinyl obscurities

Here are some 45s from a collection that I bought yesterday which are mostly on the obscure side, but all in excellent condition. Most of them are by British beat and/or instrumental groups of the sixties and are nothing to write home about. They are largely forgotten now - rightly so in some cases I think. The two at the bottom may be of interest to John Spencely in particular, knowing as I do  his tastes in records. I've included Youtube links where I have been able to find them.
1. The Zephyrs - What's All That About/ Oriental Dream. Mint Value £40.
This is the first of half a dozen singles released by this London based group who failed to have a hit. Like many 45s of the time it's an instrumental, and a fairly uninspired one, but surprisingly valuable. Maybe that's why I can't find it on Youtube.
2. The Marauders - That's What I Want/ Hey What D'ya Say. Mint value £15.
This one is quite a decent typical 60s beat number by a group from Stoke on Trent, who played the Cavern Club on occasions. It sneaked into the top 50. Worth a listen.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEPXYTzmcs0
3. The Big Three - If You Ever Change Your Mind/ You've Got To Keep Her Under Hand. Mint value - £15.
The Big Three were one of the biggest names in Liverpool at the time the Beatles started and often played the Cavern Club. Discovered by Larry Parnes, they were later signed by Brian Epstein and played in Hamburg before releasing their best known single, a cover of Ritchie Barrett's Some Other Guy. This is their fourth and final single and I've selected the B-side, which is written by the band members and I think is rather better than the official A side, a second rate cover of Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ctTJ1uXjXo
4. The Fentones - The Mexican/ Lover's Guitar. Mint value £10.
Another instrumental, this time by Shane Fenton's backing group. Originally from Mansfield, the Fentones had a couple of singles released and this one scraped into the top 50.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRO71v3Xz_Q
5. Shane Fenton - A Fool's Paradise/ You Need Love. Mint value £10.
This is the first solo single by Shane Fenton, aka Bernard Jewry, who later became Alvin Stardust of course. A bit of trivia: he wasn't the original Shane Fenton, as the original Shane, lead singer of the Fentones (real name Johnny Theakston), died aged just 17 and Bernard replaced him. This is a poppy Eden Kane penned number.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A41gP0zp9wc
6. The Sundowners - Where Am I/ Gonna Make The Future Bright. Mint value £8.
A Kent based group, the Sundowners released several singles without success, including the first UK cover of House of the Rising Sun (pre Animals) and A Shot of Rhythm and Blues. I couldn't find Where Am I on Youtube so here's their version of House of the Rising Sun.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmudtYbrJOo
7. Johnny Duncan & the Bluegrass Boys - Kansas City/ That's All Right Darlin'. Mint value £5.
Tennessee born Johnny Duncan came over to the UK to make his name and got caught up in the skiffle boom, having a hit with Last Train to San Fernando. He went on to record many rather weak rock and roll songs and country numbers, including this insipid cover of the Leiber and Stoller  classic.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub3BbWLFPfU
8. Duane Eddy - Bonnie Came Back/ Movin' n' Groovin'. Tri centre. Mint value £15.
I've included this excellent double sider not because it's obscure, but because it's the highest numbered London tri centre 45 that I've obtained - and I know how John S loves his London tris! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Kwt_HNbLM

1 Comments:

At 7:45 pm , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just a little jealous of the Duane Eddy Tri - such a great two-sider as well. I agree about the Johnny Duncan cover of 'Kansas City' but the flipside 'That's alright Darlin'' is one of his best ones. See you tomorrow night mate
John

 

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