'The London Boys: Bowie, Bolan and the 60s Teenage Dream' published on 30 October

 

Rock n roll fanatics, mods, beat group wannabes, underground hippies, glam rock icons: David Bowie and Marc Bolan spent the first part of their careers following remarkably similar paths. From the day they met in 1965 as Davie Jones and Mark Feld, rock n roll wannabes painting their manager's office in London's Denmark Street, they would remain friends and rivals, each watching closely and learning from the other. In the years before they launched an unbeatable run of era-defining glam rock masterpieces at the charts, they were both just another face on the scene, meeting for coffee in Soho, hanging out at happenings and jamming in parks. Here, they are our guides through the decade that changed everything, as the gloom of post-war London exploded into the technicolour dream of the swinging sixties, a revolution in music, fashion, art and sexuality. Part duel-biography, part social history, part musical celebration of an era, The London Boys follows the British youth culture explosion through they eyes of two remarkable young men on the front lines of history.

'Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances: A Life In Mod – From the Revival to Acid Jazz' by Eddie Piller to be published on 7 April 2023

 

Book Description

The ultimate mod memoir - from Britain's best-known 'face'.

About the Author

Writer, record producer, label owner, broadcaster, and entrepreneur EDDIE PILLER is heavily involved with the mod subculture, an interest which started in 1966 when his mum ran the fan club for East End mod super-stars, The Small Faces.

He is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Acid Jazz records which recently celebrated its 35th birthday and remains one of the most successful indie labels of a generation.

In recent years Piller has seen great success with the acclaimed jazz and soul compilation series 'Martin Freeman & Eddie Piller Present...' with the award-winning actor. He is also behind the chart-topping BBC album, 'Eddie Piller presents...The Mod Revival.' A thirty-year career in specialist radio has included successful spells presenting at radio stations such as Jazz FM, BBC Radio London, 6 Music, and Kiss FM. In 2019 he founded specialist internet radio station, Totally Wired Radio (TWR) and is especially well known for his regular Modcast show. Piller has recently written two books for Omnibus on the subject of Fanzines, and has written nine documentaries for Sky, ITV and the BBC as well as two radio documentaries. He has been the headline DJ at Glastonbury and Bestival, and Paul Weller's tour DJ. Currently, Eddie, among other things, manages the actor/musician Matt Berry and can be spotted, if you're eagle-eyed, in the latest series of Toast as a Californian cop.

'The Jam 1982' book by Rick Buckler & Zoe Howe out on 17th November

This richly illustrated oral history account of The Jam’s rollercoaster final year, led principally by the voice of Jam drummer Rick Buckler, contains a number of previously unseen images and takes in everything from the recording and release of final studio album The Gift and the rigours of the road to the announcement of the split, the final tours, The Tube and more.

In addition to Buckler’s memories of this final year, The Jam 1982 also brings together testimonies from Gary Crowley, producer Peter Wilson, A&R manager Dennis Munday, photographer Neil ‘Twink’ Tinning, Eddie Piller, Paolo Hewitt, Mat Osman, Belle Stars singer Jennie Matthias (‘The Bitterest Pill’), touring musicians Jamie Telford and Steve Nichol and others, to tell the tale of a single, fateful year: the year The Jam, for better or worse, went out at the very top of their game.

The Beatles release 'Revolver' as Special Edition Super Deluxe Box Set on 28th October

Revolver Special Edition Super Deluxe 5CD

This Special Edition of The Beatles’ REVOLVER features a new mix by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, plus the original mono mix, a 4-track EP, 31 session takes and home demos, a 100-page book with a foreword by Paul McCartney, an essay by Questlove, detailed track notes, photos and ephemera including handwritten lyrics, tape boxes and extracts from Klaus Voormann’s graphic novel on the making of the cover art. On 5 CDs in a 12.56” x 12.36” slipcase.

Paul Weller to release 'Will Of The People' rarities 2002-2021 collection on 28th October

Back in the autumn of 2003, the Fly On The Wall 3LP & 3CD collection brought together a wealth of Paul Weller solo recordings that stretched back to 1991. The B-sides, 12” EP tracks, single remixes and ‘live’ recordings featured all had one thing in common, namely that they hadn’t been included on any of his hugely successful solo albums. Furthermore, in many instances, they’d become highly sought after as the original 7”, 10”, 12” and CD singles and promo’s that first aired them were fetching significant sums from fans and collectors.

Will Of The People follows up Fly On The Wall and takes the listener through a similar mix of rarities, this time spanning the period 2002 to 2021. Like its predecessor not only does it make for some great listening but it’s a superb way to hear all those hard to get solo tracks that haven’t been featured on an album before. This collection has been compiled by Paul Weller himself and Paul has provided artwork ideas and sketches for the design. Alongside this Paul has written track-by-track sleeve notes. The release includes additional sleeve notes from writer and broadcaster John Wilson.

The Prisoners 40th Anniversary Shows for 'A Taste of Pink' - tickets still available for Wednesday 30th November

 

COMING SOON: The Mark Three - 5 x 3 EP on 12" (F.A.B. Records)

 

The Mark Three

 

The 5 x 3 EP

 

Side 1

1)      One Last Time (Paul Hooper-Keeley)

2)      The Road and the River (Mark le Gallez)

 

Side 2

 

1)      Kiss Me (Mark le Gallez)

2)      I Can’t Live Without You (Paul Hooper-Keeley)

3)      The Rest Of My Life (Paul Hooper-Keeley)

 

The Mark Three are: - 

Mark Le Gallez – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Bass & Handclaps

Paul Hooper-Keeley – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Hammond B3, Piano & Handclaps

Emma Page – Backing Vocals, Drums, Tambourine & Handclaps

 

Recorded at Robannas Studio on 4^th & 5^th June 2022

Engineered by Miguel Seco

Produced by The Mark Three

 

52 Hours in Birmingham

Mark Le Gallez, Paul Hooper-Keeley and Emma Page first came together at Robannas Recording Studio & Rehearsal Rooms in Birmingham at 4pm on Friday 3^rd June 2022. The intention was to rehearse and record ‘One Last Time’ and ‘Kiss Me’ for a 7” single, with demos of the two songs having been circulated in advance. But something special happened in that 4-hour rehearsal session with the instant chemistry between the three musicians resulting in additional songs, previously unheard by anyone but the songwriter, being thrown into the mix and coming together almost instantaneously. The Mark Three were born. 

Over the next two days, recording and mixing sessions from 10am to 8pm took place, engineered by the wonderful Miguel Seco until, after 52 hours in Birmingham from the band’s formation, The Mark Three had the masters to the 5-songs on this EP in their hands. 

We hope you enjoy these recordings and, if so, The Mark Three may just descend upon Robannas again to see what we can come up with over another 52 hours in Birmingham.

SMALL HOURS, THE - Midnight To Six : The London Sessions LP (Detour)

 

This is the story of the “lost” album. Shortly after The Small Hours had three tracks included on the Mods May Day '79 album, we went back into the recording studio to record an album of our own. Most of the songs were recorded in one take in London. At least one was recorded as a jam session while waiting for the sound engineer to adjust his settings.

This gave the album the raw energy and drive of a live performance. We had everything: great songs, strong band dynamics and a large and enthusiastic live following. The only ingredient missing at the time was a record contract.

So the tapes were mothballed and life moved on… until some 43 years later Carol Isaacs found a copy of the tape in the back of a cupboard. Carol sent it to Dizzy Detour, who in turn passed it to his genius sound engineer, James Perret. With 21st century technology, James was able to do a total remix of the sound adding double/ triple tracking, delay and echo.  The result is an astonishing  “virtual reality”  of what the band would have sounded like live.

As Neil Thompson would say, we had "Ingredient X”. A  meld of the individual members of the band into a complete sound. The sound that was held together by a great drummer,  the late Iain Shedden.

As the saying goes," All things come to those who wait”.  Thanks to Carol, Dizzy and James Perret, the wait is over.

The Small Hours

FEATURES

Soul Stew

The Kid

Too Late

Knock Me Out

I Can’t Help Myself

The Mess

Underground

I Can’t Do Without You

But It’s Alright

Midnight To Six

Hanging In The Balance

Outro… End Of The Night…

The Britalian Job in Nottingham this Saturday 15th October

 

MARK LE GALLEZ - Mark Two (GREEN VINYL) LP available via Detour Records

 

DETOUR RECORDS

ARE PLEASED TO  BE ABLE TO OFFER YOU

THE BELOW RELEASE

MARK LE GALLEZ - Mark Two (GREEN VINYL) LP

He's Back and what a blinder!!!

Over nearly 40 years later prolific singer songwriter and bassist, guitar player and multi instrumentalist MARK LE GALLEZ releases his follow up to MARK ONE. Mark is best known as bassist and singer with MOD/POWERPOP band THE RISK, also singing in garage psyche band THE SACRED HEARTS  and garage punk band THEE JENERATORS, and of course not forgetting mod/power pop band SPEAKEASY! also known for such alter egos as STEAMPUNK ARTISTE and general mischief maker THE CROWMAN and BABA GANOUSH rhythm and soul nutter. He has also played bass and guitar in skiffle turn THE JOHN WESLEY STONE. Mark has toured extensively played many many gigs and worked with quite a few, shall we say interesting people.

So why release the follow up now, well, to be honest had the time and energy a meeting in the pub in GUERNSEY and the help of long term multi instrumentalist, producer and engineer:

JAMES LE HURAY’

This release is a limited run of only 250 copies of high quality green vinyl. 10 tracks are featured and are basically a potted history of the man’s song writing and career over many years.

COLIN LEACH, Mark’s colleague and guitarist and singer from THE RISK produced the artwork and KERRIN SEARS did the photography, and yes the jacket still fits and is the same one worn on the original MARK ONE.

FEATURES

TRAFFIC JAM

GHOSTS

ELVIS

LUCIFER LADY

GOD BLESS YOU, GENE CLARK

ONLY CRY THE LONELY

YOU CAPTURED MY HEART

SOLD MY SOUL

YOU SAY

MYSTERY TRAIN

 

£16.99
Plus delivery

Graham Day - 'The Master Of None' album released today by Acid Jazz Records

 

Countdown Records is proud to announce the return of Graham Day to their roster. Their relationship with Graham stretches back to 1986 when his renowned band The Prisoners released their album In From The Cold on the label.

Fronted by Graham on vocals and guitar, The Prisoners were a pioneering and inspirational 80s British garage band, who fused beat-era rock with R&B, American garage and psychedelia. A restless and independent spirit, Graham has released albums under many guises, including: Solarflares, Graham Day and The Forefathers, and current group, The Gaolers. He has also worked as a producer and long-time collaborator with fellow Kent coast musician Billy Childish, briefly playing drums in Billy’s group The Mighty Caesars and later bass in The Buff Medways.

Graham’s debut solo album ‘The Master Of None’ is more the result of circumstance than by design. Demoing songs for the third Graham Day and The Gaolers album, Graham’s plans were scuppered by lockdown – with a drummer based in the U.S. there was no real chance of recording the album in the foreseeable future. Despite his urgency as a writer, and reluctance to dwell on a song for too long, Graham set himself the challenge of trying to turn his Logic Pro X demos into an album-proper. Building each track up from scratch, he added bass guitar, Hammond and congas to the exciting vocal and electric guitar track, and the most challenging instrument of all, drums. These had to be played along to the demos, which were built on quantised computer drum tracks.

The resultant 12-track album is a remarkable achievement. It defies the fact it’s been pieced together, sounding more like a live studio album recorded by a full band. Packed full of great hooks, melodies, killer riffs and Graham’s gift for writing a short, sharp visceral garage-pop song, The Master Of None is one of his finest albums to date. Full of youthful exuberance it belies its creator’s years and is the sort of album younger garage bands would love to create.

Released 25th March 2022.