Penfro Sounds

Edwyn Collins A Girl Like You / You're On Your Own Sentanta ZOP 003-7 (1995) Edwyn first found fame with his band Orange Juice.  The highly influential indie  band started back in 1976 as the Nu-Sonics becoming Orange Juice in 1979 and then continuing until they eventual split in 1985.  At that point Edwyn embarked on a solo career.   This track, taken from Edwyn's third album " Gorgeous George ", samples the drum track from Len Barry's 1965 hit " 1-2-3 ".  Talking of drums, Paul Cook (ex Sex Pistols) plays on this track. The single was very successful worldwide and reached the top 10 in the UK charts.  The UK chart run was achieved via CD single and cassette sales (the main medium at the time), making this 7"  quite rare and selling, as at 2024, in excess of £50 a time. FLAC

Various Artists Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited EP Polydor 9839472 (2006) An English language tribute album to the works of the late Serge Gainsbourg was released in 2006 and from the album this limited edition EP was produced.  The actual release is not an EP per say but 2 x 7" vinyl discs in a gatefold sleeve (normally referred to as a double pack). Regardless of the format name here are 4 great English versions of Gainsbourg's work.  Tracks 1-3 are featured on the original album whilst track 4 was only (initially) available via this "EP".  My favourite is Cat Power & Karen Elson's "I Love You (Me Either)" the English version of "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus" .   The song was written in 1967 for Brigitte Bardot and she sang on the original recorded version .  Although she was in a relationship with Gainsbourg, she was at the time of recording still married to the German millionaire playboy Gunter Sachs. He heard via press reports of the rec

Gillan No Laughing In Heaven (EP) Virgin VS 425 (1981) Gillan was a heavy rock band fronted by ex-Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan.  Formed in 1978 the band caught the NWOBHM rise and went on to some worldwide commercial success during the 80s but they never really broke into the American market.   Band issues (mostly money or the lack of it being paid) followed and by 1982 it was all over as Ian dissolved the group and then took up an offer to front Black Sabbath. Released in June 1981 this 4 track EP which features a storming cover of Little Richard's " Lucille" reached #31 in the UK chart s . FLAC

Voice Of The Beehive Monsters And Angels London LONX 302 (1991) The band was formed in 1986 and featured American sisters Tracey Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland along with Mike Jones, Martin Brett, and Daniel Woodgate (Woody, at the time a former member of Madness). A few chart hits followed including this one which peaking at #17 in the UK. The group's name comes from Melissa's name which in Greek means honeybee. This single in my collection is the 12" version with 4 tracks,  the first one to be listed on this blog. FLAC

Lou Reed I Love You, Suzanne / Vicious RCA 417 (1984) This 45 was lifted from the album "New Sensations" (the flip from the "Transformer" album).  As described by Lou Reed as a simple rift, a cheap D chord this song was released on both 7" and 12".  Here in the UK it just scraped into the charts at peaking at #78.  The video had a bit of rotation on MTV at the time of release but quickly disappeared from the playlist. Personally I prefer and adore the flip (famously produced by David Bowie) but the A side is a good tune and worth a spin.  Have a listen and decide yourself. FLAC

Bobby & His Orbits  Felicia / Bandstand Dancing Rock'n Mania RM-002 (1982) This band hailed from Huntington, NY, and had this Cajun-styled 45 in 1959. The band consisted of Bobby Groccia, his sister Maryjane Groccia who sang and played the accordion and a Joe Boccia & John Juliano. A few 45s followed through to the early 1960s including one release where it was credited as Bobby Grayson & The Orbits.  Bobby must have though a more anglaised name would bring better success. The original release was on the Seeco label, my copy as seen by the labels below is a 1982 re-issue on the Rock'n Mania label. FLAC