Repton Boxing Club - "Jab and Move"

Jab and Move b/w The Hook (1980 Bridge House - UK issue)

Here's nice little Cockney collaboration between actor/boxer Glen Murphy and Lea Hart of Slowbone/Roll-Ups. Backing vocals provided by the Boxers from Repton. Murphy is the son of Bridge House Pub landlord Terry Murphy. Slowbone played regularly at the Bridge House. Released on Bridge House Records, it's all pretty incestuous. Any fan of the Roll-Ups should appreciate this! The B-side (or "Round 2") is an instrumental version. Currently, there's an acetate of this on ebay with "Repton Boxing Machine" written on the label. Who knows, might even be a different version of the song.

FREE BLACK EYE with every copy!

Nicky Rolfe - "Ooh-Sha-La-La"

Lucky Three b/w Ooh-Sha-La-La (1975 Bell - UK issue)

Nicky Rolfe was Barry Rolfe, who gave us the storming "Look the Business." As Nicky, he did two singles for Bell, with career sideman/producer Peter Solley co-writing and producing. With his combined 5 singles, somebody has got to know something about Barry/Nicky! Anybody??

The A-side is ok, I guess. It reminds me of Leo Sayer, mixed with some Paul Williams' Bugsy Malone type stuff. Side B is more my thing, glammy reggae with an interesting vocal and crazy synths!

Autumn - "My Little Girl"

My Little Girl b/w Sun, Sunshine (Pye 1971 - UK issue)

Nice cover of this Harmony Grass tune, though a bit of a softer approach than the original. Is it me, or does the tempo slow down a bit during the bridge? The flip "Sun, Sunshine" is, not surprisingly, sunshine pop.

Bio and discography borrowed from "Tapestry of Delights," by Vernon Joynson:

DAVE CHARLWOOD drms A
JOHN COURT gtr A
PETER CRAMER bs, vcls A
KEITH PARSONS gtr A
RON SHAUGHNESSY gtr, vcls A

45s:
1 My Little Girl/Sun, Sunshine (Pye 7N 45090) 1970 37
2 Not The Way She Looks/Stood Up (Pye 7N 45144) 1970 -
3 Down, Down, Down/October (Pye 7N 45249) 1973 -

A semi-professional five-piece, from Brighton, who formed in late 1968. They scored a contract with Pye in 1970 and had a minor hit with the Tony Rivers composition My Little Girl.

Compilation appearances have included: My Little Girl on Ripples, Vol. 1 (CD); Sun Sunshine on Ripples, Vol. 2 (CD); An acetate track Shy Fly, which has resurfaced on Mynd The Gap (LP) also may be by this act.

Napoleon Jones - "Lazy Love"

Lazy Love b/w I'm Ready (Robin Song 1974 - French issue)

Napoleon Jones was David Christie, real name Jacques Pepino of Lyon, France. If that weren't convoluted enough, he also used the name "James Bolden," under which he wrote disco funk tunes for the likes of Grace Jones and Gloria Gaynor. He committed suicide in 1997.

"Lazy Love" is DRENCHED in reverb, which results in the muddy sound in the beginning. I feel the mix is a bit sloppy but, overall, it's a nice little pop song.

The B-side is pretty funky, more tastefully so than his later stuff under the David Christie name. It's kinda catchy, if you're into bongos, electric piano, and that early 70's Curtis Mayfield-style guitar.

He released at least 3 singles and an album as Napoleon Jones. Has anyone heard the others?

Writing On The Wall - "Man of Renown"

Writing On The Wall - Man of Renown b/w Buffalo (1973 Pye - UK Issue)

Scottish four-piece psych/prog band, formed in Edinburgh, then moved to London, in search of fame and fortune.

Their final single, it's a semi-autobiographical story about trying to make it in the big city. After this record didn't hit, and the band's gear got ripped-off, they called it a day.

B-side is an edited version of "Buffalo," probably their best-known song. I'm sure it was placed on the flip to help sales out. What happened though, DJs ended up playing the already-known B-side, sending "Man of Renown" into obscurity. The downer-psych/prog of side B is much more representative of the rest of their recorded output.

You can hear a solid live version of the A-side, as well as multiple versions of "Buffalo" on the RPM/Ork Reissue of their first LP, Power of the Picts. This version of "Man of Renown" was comped on TREMORS, which I'd highly recommend purchasing.

Mr. Curt "Write down your Number"

Write Down Your Number b/w I'm Going Blind (Euphoria 1978 - US issue)

Boston's Curtis Naihersey, AKA, Mr. Curt was in an embryonic version of the Real Kids, way back when they were known simply as The Kids. Mr. Curt sings only on this track, backed by La Peste. This is perfect pop! The B-side is a masturbation tune performed by Pastiche, a band that Mr. Curt still plays guitar with. Eh, it's ok. I've heard a handful of tracks from Mr. Curt's various projects. This is the one to get!

Equals - "Back Streets"

No Place to Go b/w Back Streets (Moggie 1983 - UK issue)

This track is a bit of a departure for this blog. As far as I can tell, this is the last 45 released by The (noticeably older) Equals. They did record some tracks later on, and re-record others, but this was the last new vinyl.

At the time this was released, Eddy Grant was riding the success of "Electric Avenue." It doesn't appear that Eddy was involved in any way on this. A-side is boring. B-side isn't the Equals of the 60's and 70's, but it has grown on me quite a bit. Scan is of the back of the sleeve, as it's almost identical to the front, but it has some production/writing credits. This also got a 12" release, but doubt it got many spins in the club. Produced by Bruce Baxter, arranger for Billy Fury, and all-around industry mogul Hal Carter, who produced the incredible Rockin' Horse!!! Moggie Music was Hal Carter's publishing company. The record label was probably just a one-off.