Never My Love-The Tidbits

One of my favourite 'girl group' tracks from one of Singapore's finest, The Tidbits. After winning a talent contest with 'I Believe' The Tids(Bits?) were offered a record contract and a pathway to both fame and fortune.

In The Year 2525_Overture+During Rem+Candy MAchine-Zager and Evans

Pretty much everyone knows the monster smash that was 'In The Year 2525' by Zager and Evans but not so many are familiar with the superb album that accompanied it. So here are four tracks from a moog driven future concept pop-psych album of the highest order...it would have made a great film along the lines of Barbarella et all...

Sweet Pea+Work Song+Fendabenda Ha Ha-Friar Tuck

Three great fun tracks from 'Friar Tuck and his Psychedelic Guitar', actually a bunch of session musician's making a freak out record. Which they do very well indeed. Great vocals,guitar and effects...particularly like the drones on 'Fendabenda'.

Walk Away Renée+Pretty Ballerina+There's Gonna Be A Storm-The Left Banke

Sometime a group has so much good material it's hard to whittle it down to one or two tracks so here we have three from the absolutely superb 'Left Bank'. Labelled 'Baroque pop', The Left Bank had top melodies, great vocals and superb arrangements on their super sharp psych-pop songs, the best of which are up there with the Fabs, Beach Boys et all for me.

P.s-You'll probably know 'Walk Away Renée' from the more famous 'Four Tops' version.

Speak Softly+2086-Bit 'A Sweet

From the West Coast to the East and New York with 'Bit 'A Sweet's' 'Speak Softly' and '2086'. I guess New York is now famous for The Velvet Underground and that Greenwich Village stuff, but listening to this we may as well be back in California, rich harmonies and tones, a sunny vibe and a little of 'The Lemon Pipers/Bubblegum' pop-psych thrown in for good measure.

P.s-2086 must be the only song apart 'Snooker Loopy by Chas and Dave' to use snooker balls as percussion instruments...unless you know better?

Boy Wonder I Love You-Burt Ward

Absolute genius here as Frank Zappa takes the 'Boy Wonder' into pop heaven, with a lush arragement that only serves to emphasise his nasty sneering little voice...great lyrics and sound effects also...

Check the details and extract from his Bio 'Boy Wonder-My Life in Tights' here.

Tut Tut Tut-Gillian Hills

Actress and singer Gillian Hills here with 'Tut Tut Tut'. Could have popped in my Franch post awhile back, but more than welcome here among the TV/Movie theme. If you're a fan of Hammer Horror movies (and let's face, who isn't?) then check out 'Demons Of The Mind',1972 featuring Gillian in action.

La Caresse Du Fleuve-Les Fleurs de Pavot

Earlier-ish French psych exploitation album from 1968. Produced Jean Claude Vannier of 'Melody Nelson' fame the tracks on the whole hit the right note, as exemplified here with La Caresse Du Fleuve.