Russ Le Roq: Never Let You Slide / Shattered Glass 1983

In 1982 future Academy Award winner actor Russel Crowe was a young and ambitious eighteen year old living in Hillsborough, Auckland, New Zealand. At the time his cousins, Martin and Jeff Crowe, were playing International Cricket for New Zealand. After being labelled "the singing cousin of the cricketing Crowes' " more than once he changed his name to Russ Le Roq.  This is his third single, like the previous two it was released on Ode Records. Never Let You Slide and the B-Side St. Kilda were written by Crowe. Fire is a Pointer Sisters (Bruce Springsteen) cover.  Unfortunately it failed to chart like its predecessors. For the next single (Shattered Glass) he changed to a more Synth-Pop sound. It failed too. It was released on CBS(New Zealand). I did not include the B-slide to Shattered Glass because it is a dub version of the A-Side.

From the back cover of Never Let You Slide

Never Let You Slide personal

Produced by  Graeme Mhyre

Russ Le Roq    Guitar/Vocals
Ken Chung                  Drums
Graham Silcock           Guitar
Pat Roxburgh                Bass

Shattered Glass Personal

Produced by Trevor Reekie

Russ Le Roq                Vocals
Graham Silcock            Guitar
Pat Roxburgh                 Bass
Steve Edger                 Drums
John Cooper                TS808
Rohan Hunt                  Synth

***Warning recorded from vinyl surface noise.***

Never Let You Slide

Fire

St. Kilda

Shattered Glass

Or the whole lot as a .zip

Russ Le Roq 

Fear: I Love Living In The City 1978

Fear were an early Californian Punk band. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1977.  In 1981 they appeared in Penelope Spheeris’ film The Decline of Western Civilization. This lead to an infamous appearance on the 1981 Halloween episode of Saturday Night Live. Which coursed $20,000 worth of damage to the studio. This is their first single released on Criminal Records in 1978. It was the only recording to feature the original line up.

Lee Ving                 Vocals
Burt Good                Guitar
Derf Scratch              Bass
Johnny Backbeat     Drums

I Love Living In The City

Now You're Dead

Poster For Mr. Lee Grant's Farewell Concert 1968

Mr Lee Grant was a huge Pop star in New Zealand in the mid 1960’s. His real name was Bogdan Kominowski. He was born to Polish parents in a Nazi concentration camp just outside Dusseldorf. Sadly, his father didn’t survive the war. Bogdan and his mother emigrated to Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1949. Using the stage name Mr Lee Grant he had six New Zealand top ten singles including three number ones. In 1968 at the hight of his popularity he decided to leave New Zealand and try his luck in Britain. This poster is from his farewell concert. In Britain his pop star career ended quickly. He ended up moving into musical theatre. He did have a small part in the James Bond film "A View To A Kill". In which he played a Russian. 

The Pretty Things: Talking About The Good Times 1968

In 1967 the legendary wild men of the British Blues movement, The Pretty Things, sign to a new label (EMI's Columbia label). They took that opportunity to change their sound to a more Psychedelic one. Their first ‘Psychedelic’ single, Defecting Grey fail to chart. Talking About The Good Times was their second Columbia Records single. Unfortunately it also failed. Recorded at the beginning of the sessions for their S. F. Sorrow album. Although, neither it or the B-Side Walking Through My Dreams appeared on the concept album.

Produced by Norman Smith

Dick Taylor                 Guitar
Phil May                    Vocals
John Povey                Organ
Wally Waller                 Bass
John Charles Alder     Drums

Talking About The Good Times 

Walking Through My Dreams

Pipp / The Fourmyula: Otaki 1970

Formed in Wellington’s Hutt Valley in 1967 The Fourmyula were one of New Zealand’s most successful bands. Ten of their fourteen singles reached the New Zealand Top 20. In 1969 at least one Fourmyula song was in the New Zealand chants every week of that year. Otaki was the last Fourmyula single to chart. It, and the B-Side Which Way Did She Go were written by Wayne Mason. To avoid confusion with a similar named British band The New Formula. They to released Otaki under the band name Pipp (a Danish word meaning 'mad') everywhere in the world bar New Zealand. Released on HMV Records in New Zealand, Decca Records in the UK/Europe and London Records in the U.S.A. Otaki is a town in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. Just up the Kapiti Coast from Wellington.

Produced by Chris Andrews

Martin Hope                     Guitar Vocals
Wayne Mason    Guitar / Organ / Vocals
Ali Richardson                 Bass / Vocals
Chris Parry                                 Drums

Otaki

Which Way Did She Go

Double O Zeros: Be A Zero EP 1984

The Double "O" Zeros were formed in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1982. Originally they had a more purer Power Pop / Punk sound and image. After the release of their first single, Pretty Women in 1983, they adopted a more glam look and sound. This is they second release, 1984’s Be A Zero EP. Released on Mountain Records. It was a 7”, 33 1/3 rpm, five track EP. Singer Sammy Serious wrote all the songs. In 1985 Double O Zeros spent six months in London, England. On their return to America they moved to Los Angeles and shorted their name to The Zeros.

Produced By Double O Zeros

Sammy Serious           Vocals
Joe Normal                  Guitar
Mr. Insane                   Drums
Mace Beyers                 Bass

***Warning recorded from Vinyl. Some Surface Noise***

Be A Zero EP

Wimple Winch: Rumble On Mersey Square South 1967

Liverpool’s Wimple Winch originally formed 1964 as Dee Fenton & the Silhouettes, before changing their name to Four Just Men, then to Just Four Men. In 1966 their sound changed from MerseyBeat to a more Psychedelic Freckbeat sound. So, they changed their name once again, this time to Wimple Winch. They got a new manager, and record label (Fontana) and moved to Stockport. Rumble On Mersey Square South was their third and final single. Mersey Square South is in Stockport. Wimple Winch were the house band at The Sinking Ship nightclub, which was near the square. In 1967 they spilt up after all their band gear was destroyed by a fire at the The Sinking Ship and they where dropped by their label.

Dee Christopholus     Vocal/Guitar
John Kelman                      Guitar
Barry Ashall                         Bass
Larry King                          Drums

Rumble On Mersey Square South
Typical British Workmanship

The Bach: I Can Tell You That 2011

The Bach are an alternative pop band from Auckland, New Zealand. The band members are unknown. This is their second single. It was recorded at Gettoe Studios and produced by Karl Tchernegovski. It was released on Double Mono Records.  The B-Side is Public Domain.

I Can Tell You That
Public Domain

20/20: Giving It All 1978

Tulsa, Oklahoma natives Steve Allen and Ron Flynt moved to Hollywood California in 1977. There they teamed up with Mike Gallo to form 20/20. They played Power pop with strong melodies and harmonies. This was their first single. Released in 1978 on Bomp! Records. Fellow Tulsain Phil Seymour played drums on Giving It All. Which was written by guitarist Steve Allen. After this release they signed to Epic / Portrait Records.

Producer     G. Shryock and S. Ripley

Giving It All line up:

Steve Allen    Guitar/Vocals
Ron Flynt       Bass/ Vocals
Mike Gallo               Vocals
Phil Seymour           Drums

Under The Freeway line up:

Steve Allen        Guitar/Vocals
Ron Flynt           Bass/ Vocals 

Mike Gallo   Keyboards/Drums

***Warning recorded from Vinyl. Some Surface Noise***

Giving It All 

Under The Freeway

West Auckland Punk Gig Poster 2 1983

 

Firstly, sorry about the poor quality of the poster. It’s a scan of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy. Not many of these West Auckland gig posters survived. This one is from 1983. No Tag were just about to release their album. The Plunket Boys had become Vicious Circle on their way to becoming The Warners.  Zyklon-B contained members of The Mormons and Agent Orange (the Mt Roskill Punk band not U.S. one).

Here’s three songs by bands who played at this gig.

The Henchmen - Bitch Goddess

Zyklon-B - Youth On Our Side

No Tag - Mistaken Identity

Or all of them as a .zip

West Auckland Punk Gig Poster

Gary Walker & The Rain: Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia 1969

Gary Walker was the other Walker Brother. The former The Standells drummer Gary Leeds joined The Walker Brothers in late 1964 and there after became known as Gary Walker. After their demise in late 1967 he founded Gary Walker and The Rain. Come In You’ll Get Pneumonia was their second single. Released in 1969 on Philips. It was a cover of an Easybeats song. The B-Side, Francis was written by the band.

 

 

Gary Walker                             Drums
Joey Molland                            Guitar
Charles "Paul" Crane    Vocals/Guitar
John Lawson                               Bass

***Warning recorded from vinyl. A lot of Surface Noise.***

Come In, You'll Get Pneumonia

Francis 

As a bonus here's their first single Spooky

Spooky

The Nipple Erectors: King Of The Bop 1978

The Nipple Erectors are today remembered as the first band of  The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan. Formed in 1976 by early converts to Punk, MacGowan and Shanne Bradley. They playing their first gig at the legendry Punk venue the Roxy Club. At a time when Teddy Boys and Punks saw themselves on opposite sides, the Nipples Erectors were punks influence by rockabilly and played songs with the ’12 Bar’ blues structure. They were Punks who wore Zoot Suits. Released in 1978 on Soho Records, King Of The Bop was their recording debut. After its release they changed their name to The Nips and released a further three singles and a live album. Calling it quits in 1981.

Shanne Bradley & Shane O'Hooligan

Roger Towndrow                            Guitar
Arcane Vendetta                            Drums
Shane O'Hooligan  (MacGowan)   Vocals
Shanne Bradley                               Bass

***Warning Ripped from Vinyl. Some Surface Noise.***

King Of The Bop

Nervous Wreck

Blind Willie McTell: Three Women Blues 1928

William Samuel McTier was born in Thomson, Georgia, USA in 1898. He recorded under many names including Blind Sammie, Georgia Bill, Hot Shot Willie, Blind Willie, Barrelhouse Sammie and Pig & Whistle Red but is best known as Blind Willie McTell. From the early 1920’s, like many Blues Artist at the time, he made a living as a wandering busker. His recording career began in 1927 for Victor Records. Statesboro Blues from 1928 is his most well known song due to its many cover versions, including The Allman Brothers. It was originally the B-Side to Three Women Blues (Victor V38001). Which was his third release. By his death in 1959 he had recorded 149 songs.

***Warning taken from a 78. Surface Noise***

Three Women Blues

Statesboro Blues

As a bonus here's God Don’t Like It with his then wife Kate McTell.  Released in 1935 on Decca. Curley Weaver played the second guitar on the recording. 

God Don't Like It

All Night Workers: Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket 1965

During their time at Pickwick Records Lou Reed and John Cale worked on more that just the Primitives Do The Ostrich. They also wrote Why Don't You Smile. Which became the B-Side of the All Night Workers’ 1965 Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket single. All Night Workers were friends of Lou Reed from Syracuse, New York. They were also signed to Pickwick Records’ subsidiary Round Sound Records. The A-Side written by Bill Elmiger, was a regional hit and later a Northern Soul favourite. But the B-Side Why Don't You Smile is more of a drone.  Credited to Lou Reed, John Cale, Terry Philips, and Jerry Vance. It is not known if Cale or Reed played on the single. It was produced by Lee Harridan Productions.

Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket 

Why Don't You Smile

As a bonus here's the unreleased 1962 Bob Shed produced Merry Go ‘round. Listed as by Lewis Reed

Merry Go ‘round

Or here's all three as a .zip
All Night Workers & Lewis Reed

The Gun Club: Ghost On The Highway 1981

 

Formed in 1980 in Los Angeles by the president of the Blondie fan club, Jeffrey Lee Pierce. But The Gun Club didn’t sound anything like Blondie, in fact they didn’t sound like anyone else at the time. They mixed Blues, Country and Rockabilly playing them with the energy and simplicity of Punk. Their influence can be heard in bands from The White Strips to R.E.M. though a multitude of Alt Country bands.  Ghost On The Highway was their first single. Released by Beggars Banquet, licensed from Ruby Records. Both Ghost On The Highway and the B-Side (Sex Beat) were written by Jeffrey Lee Pierce.

Ward Dotson                       Guitar
Jeffrey Lee Pierce    Vocals/Guitar
Rob Ritter                              Bass
Terry Graham                     Drums

Produced by Chris D

Ghost On The Highway
Sex Beat

Or both as a .zip
The Gun Club