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Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage

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Electric Six Danger! High Voltage XL Records XLS 151CD (2002) Electric Six is an American band formed in Detroit in 1996. Originally called The Wildbunch they changed their name due to pressure from the UK collective known as The Wild Bunch. The band composed of lead singer Dick Valentine (Tyler Spencer), drummer M. (Cory Martin), lead guitarist The Rock and Roll Indian (Anthony Selph), rhythm guitarist Surge Joebot (Joe Frezza), and bassist Disco (Steve Nawara, formerly of the Detroit Cobras). They were very much a part of the Detroit scene that produced among others The White Stripes. The band had a temporary split at the end of the 90s but reformed to record and release this track. This track, recorded in 2001 was released in the UK in 2003 and proved to be a hit. The song was rumoured to feature The White Stripes frontman Jack White as the unidentified second vocalist although it was officially credited as someone named John S O'Leary. Although this was presented as fact in mul...
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The Beatles - Compact 7 EP

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The Beatles Compact 7 EP Apple AP-4113 (1971) This Japanese EP was originally released in 1967 on the Odeon label. My copy is the 1971 re-issue on the Apple label. All four tracks originally appeared on the 1965 "Help!" album. This 33⅓ rpm EP is part of a series of EPs released in Japan during the 1960s under the "Compact 7" banner. The "Help!" album was the band's fifth studio album and the soundtrack to their second movie.  It also was the fifth time that Ringo's vocals were used for a released track, in this case "Act Naturally" . "Act Naturally" was a cover of the Johnny Russell song that was originally recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos.  Buck's version reached #1 on the US Country charts in 1963. FLAC
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Ronnie Spector & The E Street Band - Say Goodbye To Hollywood

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Ronnie Spector & The E Street Band Say Goodbye To Hollywood / Baby Please Don't Go Epic S EPC 5185 (1977) During 1977 Bruce Springsteen was engaged in a dispute with his former manager Mike Appel and was for some time legally prevented from recording new material. That meant the members of his band were also unable to work, and Bruce was running low on cash to pay them. Some of the E Street Band had decided that they were going to leave the band and take up session work to pay their bills.   Cleveland International Records executive Steve Popovich suggested working with Ronnie Spector, who had just started singing again after several years of retirement. When Ronnie agreed to record a cover version with the E Street Band she helped ensure that the band could stay together As said by Stevie Van Zandt, the band's guitarist and also the producer of this song: "We all fell in love with that voice, that combination of innocence and a little bit of sensuality and sexuality....
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The Mighty Clouds Of Dust - Mr. Custer

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The Mighty Clouds OF Dust Mr. Custer Dead On Records DOR-001 (1983) This 45 that has a lot of connections to the 80s Irish music scene.  Released in 1983 on Dead On Records, the label was created by the former co-manager of The Nips, Phil Glaston along with Deirdre O'Mahony.  The Nips of course were an early band of Shane McGowan who went on The Pogues. Basically the story goes that Phil Glaston had always wanted to make a cowboy record and this was it.  Phil was the lead singer "Big Dusty" along with Phil Chevron as "Johnny Jukebox" (Phil is better known as the lead guitarist with The Pogues). "Wild Slim Mustapha" was Ben Mandleson from 3 Mustapha 3.  "Chopper" was Ray Cooper (aka Chopper) also from 3 Mustapha 3 and later The Oyster Band.  "Hank Raven" was Charles O'Connor from The Horslips and "Paddy Guitar Paddy" was Jimmy Crashe former drummer with The Radiators. The cover for the release was an A3 printed sheet fo...
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Time Out

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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
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Japan - Life In Tokyo

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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
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The Champs - Caramba

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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...
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