Penfro Sounds

The Summer Set Overnight Changes / It's A Dream Columbia DB 8215 (1967) The Summer Set were one of many bands that toured up and the down the country in the late 60s with only limited success in recorded output in the UK.  The band were a favourite with The Who's Keith Moon due to their mix of surf, mod and freakbeat.   The band as well as plying their trade throughout the UK spent some time in Germany where they became one of the house bands at The Top Ten Club in Hamburg. Whilst in Germany they recorded several tracks under different names (due to UK contract obligations) including one called " Pim Pim Pim " which topped the German charts.  On returning to the UK they signed with Columbia and released two singles, which although at the time sold poorly, have both stood the test of time.  The band split up around the end of 1968 and the members went on to other projects including the German psychedelic supergroup Wonderland and The Les Humphries singers (o...

Anne-Marie David Wonderful Dream / Tu Te Reconnaitras Epic S EPC 1446 (1973) Anne-Marie won the 1973 Eurovision song contest with the song " Tu Te Reconnaitras " (which translates as " You'll Recognise Yourself "). Anne-Marie was French however she represented Luxembourg. She is one of the few Eurovision winners to return to the contest.  In 1979 she represented France with the song "Je suis l'enfant soleil" coming third. This 45 contains the English language version which for some reason was entitled " Wonderful Dream " backed with the winning French version on the flip.  She recorded and released the song in five different languages namely, French, English, German ("Du bist da"), Spanish (" Te reconocerás ") and two Italian versions (" Il letto del re " and " Non si vive di paura ") although chart success was mostly limited to the Netherlands and Belgium. For those interested in Eurovision, 1973 w...

Dionne Warwick I Say A Little Prayer / (Theme From) Valley Of The Dolls Scepter SCE-12203 (1967) A song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne.  The lyrics (penned by Hal David) are intended to show her concern for her man serving in the Vietnam war. The song was recorded in April 1966 however Burt Bacharach was unhappy with the finished recording so the track went unreleased until September the following year.   The flip side was composed by Andre and Dory Previn for the movie.  Judy Garland was cast in the film as "Helen Lawson" and was scheduled to sing the theme song however due her addiction issues she was released and replaced by Susan Hayward. Barbara Parkins who played "Anne Wells" suggested the Dionne sing the song and the rest is history. FLAC

The Pogues & The Dubliners The Irish Rover / The Ould Mountain Dew Stiff Records BUY 258 (1987) This is an old Irish folk song about a magnificent but fictitious sailing ship that meets an untimely end.  The song can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century with the first written version being around 1937.  The song has been recorded many times and each version has its own change of lyrics. This version recorded for The Dubliners album " 25 Years Celebration " describes the ship as having twenty seven masts, a vast crew and varied types of cargo in vast amounts. With each verse the wonders of the ship grows and grows until after seven years at sea the ship suffers a measles outbreak killing all but the story teller and the ship's dog. FLAC

Margo Price Letting Me Down / I'd Die For You (Synthphonic) Loma Vista LVR01402 (2020) Another offering from Margo Price.  She released a mail order record club "A Series Of Rumours" which featured a mixture of songs from the album " That’s How Rumors Get Started " sessions at both Hollywood’s East West Studios and Nashville’s Butcher Shoppe, songs from pre-production sessions in Texas with Band of Heathens and also lockdown recordings with Price’s band The Pricetags. There was a total of 7 discs released and this single is #2 in the series. FLAC

Albion Dance Band Hopping Down In Kent / Merry Sherwood Rangers Harvest HAR 5113 (1976) The Albion Dance Band (also known as The Albion Band, The Albion Christmas Band & The Albion Country Band) was brought together and led by Ashley Hutchings.  The band was formed in 1971 to accompany his then wife Shirley Collins who sings vocals on this single. The band has had many members over the years including Maddy Prior, Richard & Linda Thompson and Brian Protheroe but the constant has been Ashley. Both sides of this single appeared on the 1976 album " The Prospect Before Us ". FLAC

The Vibrators Judy Says (Knock You In The Head) / Pure Mania Epic S EPC 6393 (1978) The Vibrators were a UK rock band formed back in 1976.  The band took their name from the Stiff Little Fingers song " We Vibrate ". Like many that were part of the punk rock scene of the late 70s, the band may well have had the ethos and energy of punk but 50 years on the sound is more rock than punk rock. First being noticed as a backing band for Chris Speeding, they were initially signed to RAK.  In 1977 they moved to Epic Records and released their debut album " Pure Mania " in 1977. The single here was released in 1978 and unfortunately only just scrapped into the charts at #70.  Note the B side shares the name of their debut album but it did not appear on that album, it was the opening track on their second album " V2 ". FLAC

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

Rod Stewart You Wear It Well / Los Paraguayos Mercury 6052 171 (1972) 1972 - all those years ago! Back then Rod The Mod was considered the fashionable young rock star.  A classic pairing of tracks on this 45 both taken from his fourth solo album " Never A Dull Moment ". Rod had left the Faces long behind by the time this was released however on this reaching #1 in the UK charts Rod appeared on Top Of The Pops with the full line-up of the Faces along with Martin Quittenton (who co-wrote the song) on classic guitar.   You will see from looking at the label scan below that Martin didn't get a credit on the first pressing of this 45 but the matter was rectified on subsequent pressings. FLAC

Steve Hillage Getting Better / Palm Tess (Love Guitar) Virgin VS 212 (1978) A reasonable cover of the Lennon/McCartey tune covered by the British guitar wizard.  The original version appeared on The Beatles Sgt Pepper's album and has since been covered (and released) by others such as Status Quo, Peter Frampton (with The Bee Gees) and The Flaming Lips. On this version Steve plays guitar, Moog and sings.  Other musicians on the recording are Miquette Giraudy (synthesizers, vocals), John McKenzie (bass) and Joe Blocker (drums).  The track is produced by Steve with Nick Mason. The 45 was released in the UK in a picture sleeve which I am lacking.  Also missing is a YouTube video for this single but I have found a video of the flip side for your viewing pleasure. FLAC