Penfro Sounds

Its that time of the year again when I jump on a plane and take some R&R on a foreign shore.  This year is a bit of a mega trip so there will be no posts for a few weeks but I will be back! If you are wondering where I might be heading there is a big, big clue in the last post (& the picture below).  I expect to return with a few special 45s that will appear in the future on the blog. If you are interested in what I have you can look at my 45cat page in the link below and let me know if there is anything you particularly would like to appear on the blog. So in the meanwhile, take it easy, keep spinning those 45s and check back here later on in the month to see what is next out of my collection. 45cat

Japan Life In Tokyo (Special Remix) / Life In Tokyo (Theme) Hansa HANSA 17 (1982) Written by the famous German producer Giorgio Moroder and band vocalist David Sylvian the track was originally released as a single in 1979 but failed to chart. The 45 made little impact and following the band's success with the 1980  "Gentlemen  Take Polaroids" album it was released for a second time in 1981 and again did not chart in the UK. Following the band's "Tin Drum" album and the successful 45s " Ghosts " & " Cantonese Boy " the track was remixed by Steve Nye and released for a third time in October 1982 where it finally made the UK charts, peaking at #28. The flip side "Life In Tokyo Theme" is in-fact an approximately 2 minutes instrumental version that was almost doubled in length in the mix by being dramatically slowed down. FLAC

The Champs Caramba / Moonlight Bay London HLH 8864 (1959) The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged 1958 instrumental single "Tequila". The group took their name from that of Gene Autry's horse, Champion, and was formed by studio executives at Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-side for the Dave Burgess single "Train to Nowhere". The intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-side, as "Tequila" went to number one in just three weeks. Within a few months of being put together some of the band clashed and two members left.  They were replaced by Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts (and piano player Dean Beard was added).  Seals and Crofts themselves went on to later success as a soft-rock duo. The band attempted with this 45 to continue the Latin infused "Tequila" sound but it was not quiet good enough to have the same success.  Although they released several further 45s none saw the success...

The Temptations All I Need / Sorry Is A Sorry Word Tamla Motown TMG 610 (1967) Released on Gordy in the States and Tamla Motown here in the UK, this was the first Temptation's 45 that was not produced by Norman Whitfield.  Production duties fell to his protégé Frank Wilson. The title track was written by Frank Wilson along with Eddie Holland and R. Dean Taylor.  The flip was written by Eddie Holland along with Ivy Jo Hunter who also produced the track.   Both tracks are very similar to the songs written by the main Motown song-writing and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. "All I Need"  was also recorded the following year by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers and there is also a slower version recorded in 1971 by The Supremes with Jean Terrel on lead vocals. This particular 45 failed to chart in the UK but did ok in the States reaching #8 on the Billboard Top 100. FLAC

Catatonia I Am The Mob blanco y negro NEG107CD (1997) Another post from the Welsh band Catatonia. Having formed in 1992, by the time of this release the band were attracting lots of attention being placed in the up and coming britpop scene with Cerys Matthews (the lead singer) gaining lots of press being a leading figure in the "Cool Cymru" movement. This CD Single was released in October 1997 and reached #40 in the UK charts, their second single to reach the top 40.  The single should have done better but suffered from a lack of radio airplay as the lyrics were supposedly considered at the time as not being radio friendly.  The intro to the track is a short sample from a discussion on bullying lifted from the Jenny Jones American talk show. The track also appears on the album "International Velvet" which was released in 1998. FLAC

The Waterboys The Return Of Pan / Karma Geffen GFS 42 (1993) The Waterboys formed in London around 1983 by the Scottish musician Mike Scott. Over a four decade career he has via the band drawn on musical styles such as Punk, Rock 'n'Roll, Folk & Country.  The band's first period was 1983-1993 at which point he began a solo career however the "band" resurfaced in 2000 however Mike has stated that " there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions." This 45 released in the UK in 1993 was taken from the album "Dream Harder" .  The story of Pan is one that the band had previously explored with a track entitled "The Pan Within" which appeared on their third album "This Is The Sea". The song reached #24 in the UK charts and also reached #10 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Chart. FLAC