Another guest blog as Dave Heatley steps back up to his Dansette in London to spin a few more of his impeccably selected waxings. Enjoy!
First Word
Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. Shall we see what’s inside it today?
I am delighted to have been asked back by Alan to do another guest spot. I have to say it’s been a bit like the difficult second album syndrome – maybe there are tracks here you’ll be unfamiliar with, but hopefully enjoy and go on to explore the artists further.
The WeekInSound blog is the digital version of walking into school with a bundle of records under your arm… ‘What you got there Dave, give us a squint, eh?’.
‘Well alright here you are – careful with your greasy fingers…..’
How Does It Feel to Feel – The Creation (1968)
The Creation are one of the most criminally underrated bands of the 1960s alongside The Action and Fleur de Lys.
Formed in 1966 after a few years as The Mark Four they first made the UK top 50 with Makin’ Time that same year. On this debut, guitarist Eddie Phillips was the first to use a violin bow as a guitar technique (not Jimmy Page as some will tell you). Allegedly Pete Townsend asked Phillips to join The Who. Whether this is true or not is another matter.
The next single, Painter Man, made the top 40 in 1966. It was later covered by Boney M and was a top 20 smash for them in 1979. Band member, Kenny Pickett, wrote Grandad with the late Herbie Flowers for Clive Dunn. Let’s not hold this against Kenny and Herbie, everyone’s entitled to one Grandad-shaped mistake in their career. Kenny Pickett and Eddie Phillips also wrote Teacher Teacher for Rockpile which appeared on their 1981 album Seconds Of Pleasure. Eddie Phillips left the The Creation in 1967 and was eventually replaced by Ronnie Wood (The Birds, Faces and Rolling Stones). The band split in 1968.
I had the pleasure of seeing Eddie Phillips on stage with Stone Foundation at The Mod Christmas Ball at the 100 Club in 2015 where they played 3 or 4 Creation songs in their set. There’s a couple of videos of Eddie with Stone Foundation on YouTube should your curiosity be tickled.
How Does It Feel To Feel was released in the UK in January 1968 and unbelievably didn’t make the top 40. It is one of my favourite 45s from this period.
And talking of Stone Foundation…..
I’m Going To Tear Your Playhouse Down – Stone Foundation with Graham Parker (2019)
Probably the band I have seen live most over the last 10 years. Their albums and live performances have included some great guest vocalists over the years, William Bell, Paul Weller, Melba Moore, Betty Lavette, Durand Jones, Nolan Porter and the aforementioned Graham Parker.
I have to confess that I don’t think the original version of this song can be beat. A wonderful slice of Southern Soul, it first appeared on Anne Peebles’ I Can’t Stand The Rain album from 1974. When Graham Parker was playing with The Rumour, they also covered Playhouse on their 1977 Stick To Me LP.
But I have gone for Stone Foundation’s version because I am a big fan of the band and they’re lovely blokes to boot. They’ve been going for 25 years now and have evolved into a very tight modern soul band, both in the studio and live. They’re touring the UK this autumn, including Edinburgh in October and London at the back-end of November. Go and see them if you get a chance, they’re fantastic live.
She’s About A Mover – Sir Douglas Quintet (1965)
As I was walking down the stairs of the 100 Club in December 2015 for that Stone Foundation gig, the DJ started playing this. I had to make it to the dance floor quickly.
Formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1964 by Doug Sahm and organist Augie Meyers, Sir Douglas Quintet developed a tex-mex style, incorporating blues and soul. In the mid 60s they relocated to San Francisco and a more West Coast/psychedelic sound came to the fore. The albums Mendocino (1969) and 1+1+1=4 (1970) are well worth exploring. The latter I discovered in a little record shop in Totnes, Devon back in August.
She’s About A Mover, or as my wife misheard, Jitter Bug A Moonbeam, got to number 15 in the UK charts in 1965. Augie Meyers organ drives the song from the off. It’s a real dancer. When the evening is getting on and a few drinks have been had this is one that always goes on the Dansette and dancing always ensues.
I Woke Up – Paul Weller (2024)
Taken from Paul Weller’s latest album, 66, this is such a lovely track. Featuring the wonderful Richard Hawley, original Jam member Steve Brookes and with strings arranged by Hannah Peel.
I own up to being a fan of Weller’s since The Jam reeled me in with their first single In The City in 1977. I’m not one of those who can’t see further than PW’s first band. The first Style Council album, Cafe Blue, was more Modernist than The Jam ever were and led me to new musical areas including Hammond organist Jimmy Smith and Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage and Speak Like A Child LPs.
Weller has hit a rich seam over the last few years, never standing still and continually exploring new musical avenues. 2018’s Festival Hall orchestral gigs were astounding. A lot of credit for this has to go to Hannah Peel who arranged the strings and conducted the orchestra. Other Aspects, the live album of these gigs showcases her contribution. She’s a recording artist in her own right and has written some wonderful music. The album Mary Casio: A Journey To Cassiopeia is beautiful. For more of her work listen to Steve Pilgrim’s (Weller drummer and member of early 2000s Liverpool band The Stands) album Out Of All This Blue.
I saw Weller do a great set at Edinburgh Castle in July and will be seeing him again in Brighton in October.
My pal Simon, a South London geezer, took his now wife on their first away date to Brighton. Si and I had been discussing Mods and Rockers fighting at South Coast resorts on long gone bank holidays . I messaged him: ‘Have a great weekend mate and remember, no rucking on the beach’. Unfortunately with the assistance of predictive text this came out as ‘no f*@%ing on the beach’. He was grateful for the advice. As, I guess, were the general public…
Midnight In Harlem (Live) – Tedeschi Trucks Band (2012)
Formed from two groups, The Susan Tedeschi Band and, go on have a guess… That’s right! The Derek Trucks Band. Susan and Derek are married. Derek is the nephew of the late Butch Trucks, the Allman Brothers Band drummer. He also played in later incarnations of the Allman Brothers along with Warren Haynes of Govt Mule.
I first saw Tedeschi Trucks supported by the great Mavis Staples about 10 years ago at the Royal Albert Hall (or Kensington Village Hall as some would have it). Bill Oddie of The Goodies was seated behind us.
They played this song and it was one of those rare absolutely perfect moments. Susan Tedeschi’s bluesy vocals, Derek Trucks’ wonderful guitar playing, the Hammond organ’s groove kicking in, the way the song builds to its finish, from a whisper… I rarely get excited or wax lyrical about guitar players but I’ll make an exception for Derek on this track. This live version has a 2 minute intro, Swamp Raga, before the band slip into Midnight In Harlem.
My Bolivian Pal Mario was at this Albert Hall gig. It was part of the London Blues Festival. Bobby Womack was the next session, separate tickets required. Having left their cheap seats, Mario and his wife Heather were standing outside the door to a box prior to departing the venue. A helpful member of staff assumed it was their box and opened it up for them! Free gig for Mario.
I once had this exchange with Mario late on one Cropredy festival:
Me: Did you know that Tony Benn is related to Margaret Rutherford?
Mario: No, he can’t be
Me: What do you mean ‘no’?
Mario: He’s American..
Me: He was an MP and cabinet minister in a Labour government he wasn’t American.
Mario: What? Tony Bennett?
Me: Not Tony Bennett, Tony BENN.
Anyway on to the last one. I only told you the Tony Bennett story because I’ m still working out how to finish this week.
Try Me – The Tremeloes (1970)
A couple of weeks ago I was looking through my 45s boxes for my picture sleeve copy of XTC’s Life Begins At The Hop. As I was doing this, I came across this single which hadn’t seen the light of day since 1973 at the latest. Try Me is the b-side of The Tremeloes 1970 UK number 4 hit Me And My Life.
My only memory of this 45 is hearing it on Radio 1 one Saturday before my dad turned over to Radio 2 for the second half football commentary. So hearing Try Me again for the first time in 51 years was like hearing it for the first time. There’s a Beatlesque guitar riff that would sit comfortably on Help, a stomping proto glam rock beat redolent of early Slade, great harmonies and a Blues rock vocal on top. To be honest, it doesn’t know what it wants to be but it works. You can find the track on the LP Masters from the same year.
Last Word
Thanks again to Alan for bringing me off the bench for a run out. Good job I brought my boots!
All tracks available at the link below.
DH
[This excellent guest blog was already written by Dave for use in a couple of weeks time but it replaces the scheduled blog this week as WIS is now going into hibernation for a short while due to a family bereavement.]
AR
If you loved this, there is plenty more where that came from. Sign up above to receive a link in your inbox every Friday evening UK time. You can’t start the weekend without it.
Week In Sound 
Leave a comment