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Second volume of early 70s British studio pop hits, misses and oddities.
Issued in 2020, ‘Bubblerock Is Here To Stay’ shone a spotlight on the lost and often murky world of early 70s British Pop, a scene largely controlled by old-fashioned, Denmark Street- based production/songwriting teams as the Rock world concentrated on the album market.
Another four-hour 3CD set, ‘Bubblerock Is Here To Stay Volume Two’ treads the same neglected path to deliver more mouldy old dough from the era’s backroom boys: crack songwriting teams (Cook/Greenaway, Carter/Lewis, Chinn/Chapman), hit-or-bust producers (Phil Wainman, Jonathan King), session singers (Tony Burrows, Sue And Sunny), and writers-turned-performers (Lynsey de Paul, Barry Blue, Phillip Goodhand- Tait).
Featuring a number of hits that define the era but have long been swept under the carpet of critical/collector cool: Slade’s first major single, Brotherhood Of Man’s anthemic ‘United We Stand’, Lieutenant Pigeon’s novelty chart-topper plus Top Ten 45s from de Paul, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Middle Of The Road, The Pipkins, Greyhound, Judge Dread, Marmalade and Blue Mink.
Including numerous fascinating obscurities: Jesus Christ Superstar lyricist Tim Rice channels his inner Del Shannon, the mysterious Kidrock pick up the kinder-pop baton from Mark Wirtz, Raw Holly cut an LP of Buddy Holly songs in a more contemporary musical setting, and a Midlands-based harmony pop act look to break their chart duck by raiding The Grateful Dead songbook.
Joined by late 60s underground renegades attempting to snag a hit single (Fairfield Parlour, Velvet Opera) and sundry one-off studio aliases (Smoky Forbes, Helicopter, the Elaine Paige-assisted Hooters), ‘Bubblerock Is Here To Stay Volume Two’ is another opportunity to wallow in the sounds of what one reviewer of the first volume warily described as “dubious pop”. Dubious pop?! Gimme dat ding!
Tracklist
DISC ONE:
1 SHAKE A TAIL SUZY – Barry Green
2 SUGAR ME – Lynsey De Paul
3 NO MATTER HOW I TRY – Gilbert O’Sullivan
4 WALKING THROUGH THE BLUE GRASS – Stavely Makepeace
5 SUNNY, HONEY GIRL – Fluff
6 GOOD MORNING FREEDOM – Blue Mink
7 IT’S A TALL ORDER FOR A SHORT GUY – Jonathan King
8 AFTER DARK – P. C. Kent
9 DRUGTAKER – Drugtaker
10 VIETNAM ROSE – Whichwhat 11 WELL ALRIGHT – Raw Holly
12 RADANCER – Marmalade
13 DAD YOU SAVED THE WORLD – White Plains
14 MAGICAL SPIEL – Barry Ryan with The Candy Choir
15 MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK – The Paper Dolls
16 ON THE ROAD AGAIN – Iain Campbell
17 IRON HORSE – Christie
18 ROLY POLY – Stamford Bridge 19 HIGH INTO THE SKY – Roger James
20 ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL – The Sweet
21 ROCK-A-BYE BLUES – Kidrock
22 THE PRICE OF LOVE – The Big Three
23 MY FRIEND JOHN – Shape
24 TELEPHONE LINE – Main Attraction
25 UNITED WE STAND – The Brotherhood Of Man
DISC TWO:
1 RUNAWAY – Huddersfield Transit Authority
2 GOOD TIMES – Alan Lake
3 LITTLE BIT O’ SOUL – Iron Cross
4 NINE BY NINE – John Dummer’s Famous Music Band
5 COZ I LUV YOU – Slade
6 BIG SIX – Judge Dread
7 SUNNY SLEEPS LATE – 22nd Street
8 THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT (WIMOWEH) – Dave Newman
9 THE WAY I FEEL – Complex
10 RIGHT WHEEL, LEFT HAMMER, SHAM – The Tremeloes
11 WORKING IN THE CITY – Chain Reaction
12 TIP OF MY TONGUE – Brotherly Love
13 SOLEY SOLEY – Middle Of The Road
14 TOKAIDO LINE – Portrait
15 UNCLE JOHN’S BAND – The Montanas
16 RULE BRITANNIA – The U.K.’s
17 BORN ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY – Paul Ryan
18 EVERYBODY GO HOME, THE PARTY’S OVER – Clodagh Rodgers
19 TEASE ME – Tiger Sue
20 FALLOUT – Five Day Rain
21 YOU KNOW IT FEELS RIGHT – Liverpool Echo
22 I BELONG TO YESTERDAY – Helicopter
23 YOU ARE – Phillip Goodhand-Tait
24 DO YOU – Paul Kent
25 SHE IS STILL A MYSTERY – Summer Wine
26 I REALLY MEAN YOU – Kincade
27 THE SUN HAS GOT HIS HAT ON – Nemo
DISC THREE:
1 GIMME DAT DING – The Pipkins
2 29 YEARS TO DOOMSDAY – Bruce Spelman
3 RAINBOW CHASER – Pica
4 JULIAN THE HOOLIGAN (edited single version) – Rockin’ Horse
5 DOWN DOWN DOWN – Autumn
6 GET READY FOR LOVE – Paintbox
7 YOU’RE READY NOW – Sons And Lovers
8 ALRIGHT – Bay City Rollers
9 SWEAT, DUST AND RED WINE – Deep Feeling
10 MY KIND OF MUSIC – Smoky Forbes
11 GIMME SHELTER – Birds Of A Feather
12 BRING ALL THE YOUNG MEN BACK HOME – Blackwater Junction
13 SAUSALITO – Gary Benson
14 BORDEAUX ROSE – Fairfield Parlour
15 JAM JAM – American Jam Band
16 BLACK AND WHITE – Greyhound
17 SHE KEEPS GIVING ME THESE FEELINGS – Velvet Opera
18 DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN – Simon Turner
19 HURDY GURDY – Muff
20 ONE MORE MILE TO FREEDOM – John Carter
21 OOH LA LA – Dave MacTavish
22 YOU BETTER RUN – Boots
23 LADY SADIE – Hotlegs
24 ROCK ‘A’ BYE – Holy Mackerel
25 SAN JOSE – Shakane
26 TOSSING AND TURNING – Hooters
27 MOULDY OLD DOUGH – Lieutenant Pigeon