And lava on my lamp.
Twin snare attack from the most kick-ass, bubblegum-baiting, glam backing band Mike Leander could hope for. Also released as a 45 in July, 1974. Going it alone for a string of hits, they sounded infinitely snide and genuinely antagonistic. Don't allow the discomforting guilt by association force you to turn the other cheek.
John Springate: bass, vocals; Gerry Shepard: guitar, vocals;
Harvey Ellison and John Rossall: saxophones;
Pete Phipps and Tony Leonard: drums.
Produced by Mike Leander.
Written by Gerry Shepard and John Rossall.
Harvey Ellison and John Rossall: saxophones;
Pete Phipps and Tony Leonard: drums.
Produced by Mike Leander.
Written by Gerry Shepard and John Rossall.
▼ THE GLITTER BAND: JUST FOR YOU from "Hey!" LP (Bell) 1974 (UK)
PURCHASE HEY! ON CD
ib, thanks for this - not heard it for years, despite the vinyl lurking somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI never caught 'em in the heyday, but sometime in the eighties, two or more of the band were Gary's backing for tours, & what a difference they made - the songs actually sounded like the records. The Glitter band would do a few songs w/o Gary, and it was very impressive how well they could reproduce the Leander sound live.
Me n some pals slogged down to Weymouth one year, cuz Gary Glitter was meant to be playing there with a circus (literally) & coming in on the back of a 'bike on the highwire - woulda been priceless, but the tour got cancelled & it seemed the NME didn't mention that.
Gary Glitter gigs, esp Christmas shows, were some of the happiest events I've ever been to : little kids, their grandparents, students all having a marvellous time.
I love all those old Bell 45s.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've often been tempted in the dim and distant, I've never caught a live performance.
It's all very sad. While I do my best to dissociate those great moments from recent revelations, it's not always so easy to escape the tarnish. Mind you, when I'm drunk... Fuck it, out come the golden hits. I absolutely believe that "Rock N' Roll" was one of the best pop 45's ever produced. What an amazing sound; and I'm convinced that Iggy - in partnership with Bowie - consciously ripped it off in "Nightclubbing". Bill Drummond's celebration of it not withstanding, it still deserves a lot more credit.
I love their album - 'Hey' tainted love or not - it's still Glamtastic
ReplyDeleteCheers, PM. United we stand.
ReplyDeleteIn our appreciation of sparkly tat, I mean.
ReplyDelete