FLYING COLOURS-------Art for music's sake.

Did the Beatles invent powerpop? Was it then purloined by the Americans to enliven the seventies? What is the best powerpop song of all time? Is it I Thought You Wanted To Know by Chris Stamey And The DB's? Or I Need That Record by the Tweeds? Or Go All The Way by the Raspberries? Or Teen Line by the Shivvers? Or is it, unlike the aforementioned all American line up, by a British band called Flying Colours? A song with a killer chorus which includes the line "she has a cube instead of a heart" somehow failed to inspire the public to man their paint pots and flourish their brushes. This sister song to My Baby Does Good Sculptures by the Rezillos should have decorated the charts for weeks, instead it sold as many paintings as Van Gogh did during his lifetime. On this ocassion it was the public who had cut their ears off. How could one not be attracted to the tale of a boy who doesn't understand his artistic girlfriend and her penchant for painting green-faced women with purple hair? To him it's a load of Pollocks.

Flying Colours was Tony Love on guitars, John Barton on guitar, Russell Young on bass and vocals and Dave O'Regan on drums. Abstract Art, released in 1981, was their only single and it was backed by a tedious instrumental. Now did the Pleasers invent Thamesbeat? Discuss.

flying colours abstract art.mp3 -

A Scavenge In South London

Yesterday I ventured into the dark and dank South London suburbs. As capitalism teeters on the edge of the crater of oblivion I was expecting to find charity shops full to the brim with credit-crunched scourers. But the usual crowd of bored teenage mothers, escaped lunatics and muddled pensioners greeted me. It's like a convention of the careless in the community out there. Anyway I offered a helping hand to Third Finger Left Hand by the Pearls, a 70's girl group who had a substantial hit with a song called Guilty (no.10 in 1974). TFLH brooded around the top thirty for six weeks back in 1972 and was their first chart success.

Meanwhile among the LP's I had unpleasant slog through prog. Genesis, Caravan (again) and some geezer from Uriah Heep with an unremarkable solo effort. Other LP's included stuff by Nasty Pop, Charlie and Simon Boswell who ended up in Advertising (the band, not the business).
Simon's LP was called Mind Parasites and was, and probably still is, a mediocre effort according to 45 Revs. Out of desperate curiosity I bought the Charlie LP. I'm listening to it now and if I make it to the end (which I doubt) I have Inflammable Material to hand to act as an antidote.

EYE ON EBAY------OverReacta

The amazing Lpman returns with another punky gem. A staggering £187+ is paid for this one off release by Reacta. I paid less than a third of that for my copy off ebay about a year ago.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270359844552

WHAT I WON ON EBAY

Having seen the Shitbirds' Oh Joy (it features the delectable April March) single slip through my grasp twice in recent weeks, once for £33+ and again for only £15+ I was ecstatic to see it appear a third time at the starting price of £5. I then forgot all about it and failed to bid. Fortunately nobody did and the seller put it back on at £2.50. This time it attracted a bid. But it was a tame effort and I won it for less than a fiver. One of those rare ebay stories with a happy ending.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=280335915244

EYE ON EBAY-----Nothing to do with Beatle George

A mad scrambling in the indiepop undergrowth was predicted when the Harrison single appeared. And so it came to pass. These Birmingham boys, or from somewhere near that urban dystopia anyway, can always guarantee a three figure sum for the seller. If you're intrigued to hear it go to Youtube and put in Harrison C86 in the search facility.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200330988909

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 17

1 Sarah Goes Shopping : Yet Another Song About "Love And Peace"
2 B-Team : All I Ever Wanted
3 Kamikaze Pilots : Sharon Signs To Cherry Red
4 Relations : Brainwashed And Blowdried
5 Fontaines : I Want Everything
6 Scoop : You Can Do It
7 Stormclouds : Lost In Space
8 Hot Rain : It's A Lie
9 Josie Cotton : Johnny Are You Queer?
10 Je Suis Animal : Painted In My Face
11 Toys : My Mind Wanders
12 Flying Colours : Abstract Art
13 Golinski Brothers : Bloody
14 Dancing Bears : She's My Girl
15 Northern Portrait : Crazy
16 Devils Hole Gang : Isn't It
17 Comet Gain : Books Of California
18 Sister Rain : Burt Reynolds
19 C-Saim : Give And Take
20 Dancette : Going Green

Green numbers indicate new entries.

Turntable Revolution Record Collection 24

Pay No More Than 57p For Old News

There are signs of recovery in the high street; only this week I salvaged the News single 50% Reduction from a local charity shop. That's a few weeks after discovering Bloody by the Golinski Brothers in another local charity shop. Scavenging of late had been a joyless task, there's little mirth to be found in discovering piles of Yes LP's for £1 or myriad Blaster Bates LP's, notwithstanding the schoolyard smirk his name brings to one's lips. Tales of chimney blasting or topographic oceans tend to send me into a Rip Van Winkle-like slumber. I paid 50p for the News single which seemed only fair as it had Limited Edition Pay No More Than 57p emblazoned on the label. I have the A side on a comp so it was the B side that fascinated me most. Called High Society it sounds like a musical punch up between Sparks, Sweet and Classix Nouveau which may sound grim but does acquire a sneaky charm after four plays.

On a more prosaic note I also came across two Caravan LP's, In The Land Of Grey And Pink and Waterloo Lily. Now I'm not going to discuss the merits of Caravan, I hardly feel qualified to as they were a little before my time, but burdening both LP's with a £25 price tag seems excessive. That's what they're worth in the RRPG but they have to be in mint condition to deserve that valuation. A high price of £50 was tagged onto Fresh Cream by Cream. In mint condition fine but these LP's weren't. And £10 for Queen 2. That's not even in the RRPG. (Not that I'm claiming the RRPG is infallible; the News single is worth at least £20 and it doesn't merit an entry). This was Oxfam, famous for overpricing, and though I don't begrudge them getting the highest price for their wares I only hope these LP's aren't going to be sitting there for six months. That doesn't benefit anyone.

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 10

1 B-Team : All I Ever Wanted
2 Relations : Brainwashed And Blowdried
3 Sarah Goes Shopping : Yet Another Song About "Love And Peace"
4 Kamikaze Pilots : Sharon Sings To Cherry Red
5 Scoop : You Can Do It
6 Golinski Brothers : Bloody
7 Fontaines : I Want Everything
8 Toys : My Mind Wanders
9 Hot Rain : It's A Lie
10 Dancing Bears : She's My Girl
11 Flying Colours : Abstract Art
12 Comet Gain : Books Of California
13 Sister Rain : Burt Reynolds
14 Stormclouds : Lost In Space
15 C-Saim : Give And Take
16 Je Suis Animal : Painted In My Face
17 Northern Portrait : Crazy
18 Dancette : Going Green
19 Screen 3 : City Of Souls
20 Elephant Noise : Remember The Big Time

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY------------No Way, yes way.

Lpman returns with a single from Stockton's No Way. Only 500 copies were pressed and the sale price, a few pence short of £300, reflects its rarity. Two members of the band went on to play in the Amazing Space Frogs. One wonders what remains in Lpman's attic. Want to hear one of the tracks? Seek out a copy of Bored Teenagers 1 which won't cost you £300. If it does you've been ripped off.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270345992658

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 3

1 Golinski Brothers : Bloody
2 Sarah Goes Shopping : Yet Another Song About "Love And Peace"
3 B-Team : All I Ever Wanted
4 Relations : Brainwashed And Blowdried
5 Toys : My Mind Wanders
6 Scoop : You Can Do It
7 Comet Gain : Books Of California
8 Kamikaze Pilots : Sharon Signs To Cherry Red
9 Flying Colours : Abstract Art
10 Sister Rain : Burt Reynolds
11 Dancette : Going Green
12 C-Saim : Give And Take
13 Fontaines : I Want Everything
14 Go Sailor : Fine Day For Sailing
15 Screen 3 : City Of Souls
16 Dancing Bears : She's My Girl
17 Northern Portrait : Crazy
18 Hot Rain : It's A Lie
19 Elephant Noise : Remember The Big Time
20 Patsy Ann Noble : Tied Up With Mary

Green numbers indicate new entries.

WHAT I LOST ON EBAY----------Not quite as extinct as the Dodo

A four track EP of great rarity, the Sex, Violence And The Eternal Truth 7" contains contributions from the Dodos, Venom, Lost Boys and What To Wear. The seller had the initiative to treat potential buyers to a clip of What To Wear's We're The Martians Now which was rather wonderful. Slightly superior to anything on their earlier EP which rarely visits ebay, although when it did as a Buy It Now for about £5 I was quick to pounce. My luck ran out around the £60
mark on this though, the final total being £144.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=180343071913

EYE ON EBAY-------A sentiment I'd only apply to certain oligarchs

First heard Carl Gustav And The 84's on a Messthetics CD. That track was the B side, Through Birds, Through Fire, But Not Through Glass which was an interesting post punk effort. Never heard the A side, I Want To Kill Russians, but am annoyed I didn't risk a punt on this as it went cheaply.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110374285967

EYE ON EBAY--------They'll eat your daughters' peaches

With that fun festival of frivolity the Elton John fashion parade, more commonly known as the Eurovision song contest, looming on the horizon like an inverted rainbow it's time to look back to a time when a punk band unsuccessfully attempted to represent England in that clownish carnival. Door In My Face was an apt title for the Fruit Eating Bears' song as they promptly had their faces slammed into it. I can actually remember seeing them perform the song on a BBC programme dedicated to find the UK representative. I think the general public telephoned in votes and I'm sure they came last. Rock Bottom, a prophetic name in view of our recent performances at Eurovision, was chosen that year, I think, sung by Lynsey De Paul and some bloke who looked like Mr. Lucas from Are You Being Served? These days a slice of vintage punk might ensure we at least get 10 points. If the atrocious Lordi can win it..............

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=390040039484

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 mar 27

1 Golinski Brothers : Bloody
2 Comet Gain : Books Of California
3 Toys : My Mind Wanders
4 Sister Rain : Burt Reynolds
5 Flying Colours : Abstract Art
6 Go Sailor : Fine Day For Sailing
7 C-Saim : Give And Take
8 Dancette : Going Green
9 Screen 3 : City Of Souls
10 Pete Green : Everything I Do Is Gonna Be Sparkly
11 Northern Portrait : Crazy
12 Patsy Ann Noble : Tied Up With Mary
13 Carrots : Doing Our Part
14 Elephant Noise : Remember The Big Time
15 Clay People : Wreathes And Seashells
16 Sarah Goes Shopping : Yet Another Song About "Love And Peace"
17 Small World : First Impressions
18 Northern Portrait : I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
19 Pocketbooks : Falling Leaves
20 Cold War : The Machinist

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY------For gold-plated tomato soup

Extremely rare despite it being on Logo the Tinopeners 7" causes much excitement and leaves Remunj £391.60 the poorer. Highly rated by those in the know but I remain uncognizant of this record's charms. Go on, enlighten me someone.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=320353439576

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 mar 20

1 Toys : My Mind Wanders
2 Golinski Brothers : Bloody
3 Flying Colours : Abstract Art
4 Comet Gain : Books Of California
5 Dancette : Going Green
6 Pete Green : Everything I Do Is Gonna Be Sparkly
7 Go Sailor : Fine Day For Sailing
8 Sister Rain : Burt Reynolds
9 Patsy Ann Noble : Tied Up With Mary
10 Clay People : Wreathes And Seashells
11 Carrots : Doing Our Part
12 Northern Portrait : Crazy
13 Elephant Noise : Remember The Big Time
14 Screen 3 : City Of Souls
15 C-Saim : Give And Take
16 Small World : First Impressions
17 Pocketbooks : Falling Leaves
18 Cold War : The Machinist
19 Sarah Goes Shopping : Once I've Seen Him
20 Northern Portrait : I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY--------Nothing is free

I have visions of Lpman planning a round the world trip. His latest sale for a single by the Nothing plus twelve other 7" records raises him a staggering £1,129.62. That should get him as far as New Zealand. I know nothing about the Nothing but they mean something to somebody.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270348900394

THE SCOOP----------So good ladies took their clothes off for them.

The Daily Mail, the paper which helps the ignorant become the misinformed ignorant, would shudder at this lewd cover. There is something of the MacBethian-hag-at-cauldron look about these two unashamed nudes disporting themselves on the cover of the Scoop's single. The longer I gaze on them the more a certain actress named Patricia Hodge comes to mind.

Musically the Scoop delight in amateurish mod-friendly unfussy tunes a little reminiscent of the Head. The band consisted of Martyn Clapson on lead guitar/vocals, Sam Hodgkin on vocals, James Morris on bass guitar and John Turner on drums and vocals. The record was released in the dying days of the seventies on the band's own label Sharp. In early 1981 they recorded a tape only LP before being ladled into the great incinerator of obscurity.

scoop anonymity.mp3 -

WHAT I LOST ON EBAY

Somehow it seems inappropriate to part with prodigous sums of money for an old cassette. Ethics, a fickle principle, call it what you will, it means I won't get to hear the Penny Candles song Sometimes. Just how many songs are called Sometimes? It's been used by Firehose, Erasure, James, Britney Spears and Ash. Yes I know there are more.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220375249953

EYE ON EBAY------Got it on tape, but at a price.

In the grip of some crazy fever a cassette featuring the Penny Candles and the Wallflowers ( from Slough ) sells for a hefty £75. I can't fault anyone for liking the Penny Candles ; this is the second cassette featuring songs unavailable elsewhere as far as I know. How about a Penny Candles retrospective CD? Hull should have something to be proud of, now the football team is sinking fast.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220383195932

EYE ON EBAY--------Now that's what I call music

Lpman secures another fine wad of cash for the Now's second single on Raw records. That's a rare record but the tracks are easy to obtain so no need to sacrifice £444.71.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270349357588

Singles Slide Show

EYE ON EBAY--------A Luxury I Can Afford

I let this one go as I have both sides on a CD comp. The Luxury single though is one of the best American powerpoppers of the late 70's. Both sides are sublime. If I'd had more money to spare I'd have made a handsome bid for it as we all know vinyl has a superior sound to CD. A paltry £28.41 ssecured this gem.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220376916661

EYE ON EBAY-------What a Scoop

The Scoop's four track EP sells for an invigorating £171. Quite beyond my price range which is why I'm glad I scooped it up a few weeks ago for a tad over £50. I feel a little smug.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120389209271

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 mar 13

1 Toys : My Mind Wanders
2 Flying Colours : Abstract Art
3 Golinski Brothers : Bloody
4 Comet Gain : Books Of California
5 Patsy Ann Noble : Tied Up With Mary
6 Dancette : Going Green
7 Carrots : Doing Our Part
8 Pete Green : Everything I Do Is Gonna Be Sparkly
9 Go Sailor : Fine Day For Sailing
10 Elephant Noise : Remember The Big Time
11 Cold War : The Machinist
12 Small World : First Impressions
13 Sister Rain : Burt Reynolds
14 Clay People : Wreathes And Seashells
15 Northern Portrait : Crazy
16 Pocketbooks : Falling Leaves
17 Sarah Goes Shopping : Once I've Seen Him
18 Northern Portrait : I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
19 Aerial FX : So Hard
20 Evening Outs : Channel

Green numbers indicate new entries.

Turntable Revolution Record Collection 23

B-TEAM-------TOO GOOD FOR THE RESERVES

Yesterday a much sought after mod revival single turned up in one of my esteemed haunts, Alan's record shop in East Finchley. The B-Team single was as hard to pin down as the A-Team. Three or four times it refused to succumb to my bidding on ebay. Not in pristine condition but worth the £4 I paid for it as it last sold on ebay for around £60. Outbid at the last that day finding it yesterday was a succulent joy.

Released on the Diamond Record Corporation in 1985 it is apparently the label's eighth attempt at chart success. So what are the others?

The B-Team consisted of Tony Vessey on bass, Kelvin Davis on guitar/vocals, Doug McNair on keyboards and Steve Bessemer on drums. On the sleeve the band are nonchalantly hovering around an E-Type Jag, ostensibly void of all envy but secretly hoping record sales will boost their accounts and enable them to ditch their Vespas and secure ownership of the sleek contraption they are defiantly trying to ignore. What halted their path to glory? Lack of airplay, bad promotion, poor distribution or the uncanny resemblance one of the band has to Jimmy Nail. We can only speculate but the irony is that if one of the band had fifty copies of their single fraternizing with dust in the attic and he released them into ebay world he'd probably be able to buy an E-Type Jag.

b team all i ever wanted.mp3 -

EYE ON EBAY-------It's art, apparently.

Lovely comp with such luminaries as the Gifted Children, Direct Hits, TV Personalities, Pastels, Revolving Paint Dream and the Laughing Apple featuring. It's on Whaam! so the mighty Ed Ball has his over-sized hand involved in this. Fetched a decent £62.60.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=400035934741

WHAT I LOST ON EBAY

Redball records released the Buzz single in 1979. The band were based in Shrewsbury, that hotbed of mischief and militancy. Not satisfied with one stab at fame they poked destiny in the chest by producing an LP but fate refused to bend and they embraced obscurity. I threw a meagre £34 at this and was not surprisingly outbid but the sale price seemed low at £46.57.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=350176086795