The Box Tops - Cry Like a Baby

I've just finished Utopia Avenue, David Mitchell's terrible doorstop  'account' of a fictional rock band during a particularly fertile and febrile time for British and American pop (1966-68). Cry Like a Baby could be a Utopia Avenue original.

The song was number 39 in the charts so its inclusion was evidently at the behest of Mr Gambaccini. No complaints this week. 6/10

Iconic British athlete Lillian Board - a silver medal at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, a gold medal at the European Championships in 1969, and then tragically lost her life to cancer in 1970.

Ain't Nothing But a House Party - The Showstoppers

Elvis Presley - Guitar Man

Elvis in Johnny Cash mode. I much prefer post-Comeback/Fat Vegas Elvis to this sort hunka/hunka stuff, but it's alright. 

Because it's Elvis. 6/10

 

John Rowles - If I Only Had Time

New Zealand's first superstar. This portentous record sounds much much better if you imagine Big John 'Cheese and Onion' Rowles recording it whilst he was sitting on the lavatory. 6/10

 

The Beach Boys - Darlin'

Serendipitously, I've been listening to California dreampoppers Sweet Trip's Seen/Unseen album all week. I'm not a big fan of covers but they do an awesome cover of this already awesome record. That Darlin' is in The Beach Boys Top 3 is without question, so it's strange that Joe Bastard Public only deemed worth placing no higher than number 11. 10/10

 

Joe Bastard Public yesterday (and indeed, most days): twats - every man Jack (and Jill) of them

The Lemon Pipers - My Green Tambourine

An undemanding slice of mild psychedelia and a deceptively good record. 8/10

Utopia Avenue - the world of The Lemon Pipers, The Boxtops and The Move, as envisaged* by David Mitchell.

*badly

Solomon King - She Wears My Ring

In 1968, there were Englebert Humperdinck copycats - really - Solomon was one of them. Had it been better known, it would have been a pub singer classic. 5/10

 

Paul Mauriat - My Love Is Blue

I much prefer Euro rockers Tyrion's Rammstein-like version of this Eurovision classic. My Love Is Blue was everywhere in 1968. The great Vicky Leandros had done the vocal version at Eurovision 1968, and Paul Mauriat's orchestral version has a Robinson Crusoe (the black and white TV version)/Morricone feeling to it. Cheesy, but OK. 6/10

 

The Move - Fire Brigade

I love The Move. Fire Brigade is one of The few pop songs with a bass break built into its chorus. A tremendous, almost bubblegum pop song. 9/10

 

Cilla Black- Step Inside Love

Cilla spoils the chorus of a decent Paul McCartney composition, but 'nails' the verses. Plus ça change. 6/10

Bizarre, strangulated vowels: "D'yer know who I am?"

Lulu - Me, The Peaceful Heart

There are some great, undiscovered records in Lulu's back catalogue, but normally her attempts at 'emoting' just get on my threepennies.This sounds like it was written in three minutes. On the toilet. Great title, crap song.  3/10

 

The Four Tops - If I Were a Carpenter

A pedestrian and perfunctory retread of Bobby Darin's 1966 hit, but extra points added for Levi's vocals and the excellent grammar of the title. 7/10

 

Donovan - Jennifer Juniper

I'm not usually a Donovan fan, but this is a lovely, gentle and charming proto-hippy pop song. 7/10

 

Cliff Richard - Congratulations

Very much from the bing binga bong school of Eurovision writing, Cliff's British entry came second in 1968. Even at a very young age, I knew that Congratulations was terrible - although it didn't half upset me as I watched my second ever Eurovision for Cliffington to be pipped at the post by the Gibraltar entry Ping Pinga Pong.

But Lord Clifford's second place didn't upset me anywhere near as much as Brexit did, some 48 years later. Like I said, Joe Bastard British Public always let you down. 2/10

 

Joe BB Public: The Brexit Hunters - they came in search of 'parasites'

Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World

Difficult to appraise/criticise this record. It just seems to have always been there.

It's either boss or stomach aching, vom-inducing toss of the highest order - depending on what sort of mood you're in. 8/10

 

Dave Dee, Beaky etc - The Legend of Xanadu

Ridiculous and great in equal measures, TLOX is a must for all whip-cracking perverts everywhere. Talking Pictures favourite Derren Nesbitt, for example. 7/10

 

Esther and Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockafella

Bizarre in 1968, even more so in 2022. 5/10

 

Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay

A timeless and beautiful record. 

Why are so many American musicians named after British towns and cities? Otis, Dionne Warwick, Terence Trent Darby, Melissa Manchester, Julie London, Tennessee Ernie Ford Estate, Juice Newton Le-Willows, Bing Crosby, Hank Skem…the list is almost endless. 8/10

 

Tom Jones - Delilah

Horrible. 0/10

 

 

Ian Anthony as Tom Jones - I know; it's uncanny, isn't it?

 

The Beatles - Lady Madonna

Not much to say about this - a decent enough Beatles number one. If you like that sort of thing. Oh, and there's a very nice Ringo mural just been unveiled in Dingle. Again, if you like those sort of things. 7/10

 

Gambaccini: OK this week. 6/10

Programme as a whole - you get more songs for your money in 1968 - a good programme, spoiled only by the sound and smell of Gary Barlow promoting one of his crappy programmes at some stage in the proceedings. 7/10

Best: Beach Boys

Worst: Tom

 

Click on the link to hear the song:

SV 26.3.23

 

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