Penfro Sounds

The Tams Hey Girl Don't Bother Me / Take Away Probe PRO 532 (1971) Written by Ray Whitley, The Tams originally released this 45 in 1964 where it reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the R&B chart. It was released in the UK on the Stateside label the same year but failed to have any impact. Picked up by the Northern soul scene in the UK, it was re-released in the UK in July 1971 and by September it had reached #1.  The group appeared on BBC's Top of the Pops with the song on eight separate occasions in 1971: August 19 and 26, September 7, 16, 23 and 30, October 7 and for the Xmas special on December 27 (video below). *****

Cat Stevens Kitty / Blackness Of The Night Deram DM 156 (1967) One of his lesser-known tracks is this 45 taken from his album "New Masters". The song was recorded at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London and was released in December 1967.  The song only just made it into the UK charts reaching #47. Born Steven Demetre Georgiou, his stage name came from a girlfriend. He became a Muslim and changed his name to Yusuf Islam in 1977 after his brother gave him a copy of the Koran. The name comes from the prophet Joseph, who was interpreter of dreams. *****

The Sensations [Philadelphia] Let Me In / Music, Music, Music Chess Blue Chip Series 9009 (1972) The Sensations were an American doo-wop group from Philadelphia, PA. The group formed in 1954 under the name the Cavaliers, soon after changing to the Sensations. The group scored two hits on the US R&B chart in 1956 with the Atco Records singles "Yes Sir That's My Baby" (#15) and "Please Mr. Disc Jockey" (#13) but by 1957 they disbanded and lead singer Yvonne Mills married and started a family. In 1961, bass singer Alphonso Howell persuaded Yvonne Mills Baker that the group should re-form, and they won a contract with Chess Records subsidiary label Argo.  They had a hit with a version of "Music, Music, Music", which reached #12 on the R&B chart and #54 on the Billboard Hot 100. A few months later, they released the tune "Let Me In". This was their biggest success, peaking at #2 R&B and #4 on the Hot 100 however later releases were les...

The Cure Never Enough / Harold And Joe Fiction FICS 35 (1990) Taken from their album Mixed Up , this guitar oriented track topped the US Billboard Modern Rock chart and reached #13 in the UK. The 45 also hit the Top 20 in worldwide charts such as Germany, Ireland and New Zealand. Unlike many Cure songs from this era it was guitar oriented and did not feature a synthesiser.  *****

The Escalators [London] Monday / The Munsters Theme Big Beat NS 87 (1983) The Escalators were a band formed by Nigel Lewis and Mark Robertson in 1982 who were original members of legendary London 'Psychobilly' band The Meteors. Other members were Woodie and Bart Cole Due to a serious back injury to Nigel the band were unable to establish themselves as much as they should have. One year after forming Bart Cole left the band at which point the band was reformed as The Tall Boys. This 45 was reissued late '83/early '84 with the The Munster Theme becoming the a side. *****

The Sugarcubes Hit / Theft One Little Indian 62TP7 (1991) Hailing from Iceland (where they are known as  Sykurmolarnir), The Sugarcubes were formed in  Reykjavík in 1986. Perhaps better know as the band that launched Björk (Guðmundsdóttir), they first came to fame in 1988 when their album Life's Too Good was an unexpected international hit. It is credited as the first Icelandic album to have a worldwide impact and influenced Icelandic popular music. This was their 8th UK single and reached #14 in the charts. By 1992, less than a year after this single the band had folded and Björk had embarked on a solo career, coming to prominence with albums such as Debut (1993), Post (1995), and Homogenic (1997). The band did reform for a one off gig in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of their singles (Birthday) but have not worked together since. *****

Manfred Mann Come Tomorrow / What Did I Do Wrong? His Master's Voice POP 1381 (1965) Written by American songwriters Bob Elgin, Dolores Phillips and Frank Augustus for R&B singer Marie Knight, it was issued as a single in October 1961 on Okeh Records. Manfred Mann took this version of the song into the UK Top 10 in 1965 peaking at #4. The song was introduced to the band by the lead singer Paul Jones who owned a copy of the original. A German version was also recorded with lyrics written by Fred Oldörp of the band Die Travellers.  The German title was "Weine Nicht (Pretty Baby)" and released as the flip side to the 45 "Sie (She)". *****

The Creatures Right Now / Weathercade Wonderland SHE 2 (1983) Originally an uptempo jazz instrumental written by Herbie Mann, it was released as the title track on his 1962 album of the same name. Later that year Carl Sigman wrote lyrics to the composition and the song was popularised by Mel Torme who released it on his album "Comin' Home, Baby!"  The Creatures (singer Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie) recorded this highly praised cover version in 1983 and took it to #14 in the UK charts.  *****

Mark McDowell - Girls Of Belvoir Octopus Syng - Listen With The Moths Regal Crabomophone WINKLE 13 (2014) Issued on the Fruits De Mer sub label this 7" single (33⅓ rpm) was The Regal Crabomophone Annual for 2014 issued in black or orange vinyl versions. Mark McDowell's 'Girls Of Belvoir' is an original, beautifully-constructed, classy piece of baroque pop, but with added electric guitar; the song is based on a notorious tale of witchcraft and death at Belvoir Castle in the Vale of Belvoir Leicestershire in the 17th century. Octopus Syng is a Finnish psychedelic retro band originally started as a solo project by Jaire Pätäri. "Listen To The Moths" has an eerie, squeaky, unbalanced, acid-folk/psychedelic feel to it that worms its way into your brain and stays there. ****

The White Stripes Forever For Her (Is Over For Me) / Spitting Tacks Third Man Records TMR 1023 (2025) Both of these recordings are tracking rehearsals from the Get Behind Me Satan album sessions and were released as part of the 2025 20th anniversary package via Third Man Vault. The A side is an exploration of the song with Jack guiding Meg along on an electric guitar before transitioning to electric piano, finally settling on an organ accompaniment.  Flip side is a track that originated when Jack was still a full-time upholsterer and was revisited many times over the course of the band's existence yet never finding a place in their catalogue. *****  

Ruts West One (Shine On Me) / The Crack Virgin VS 370 (1980) The Ruts (also known as The Ruts D.C.) formed in 1977 as a pub rock band called Hit & Run.  A name change to The Ruts followed and by 1979 they were in the UK Top 10 with "Babylon's Burning". An earlier single, "In a Rut", was not a hit but was highly regarded and regularly played by BBC DJ John Peel.  Having had chart success, it was cut short by the death of lead singer Malcolm Owen from a heroin overdose in 1980. Despite this, the band continued under a different musical style as Ruts D.C. until they disbanded in 1983. The flip side of this 45 is dedicated "For Malcolm Who Lived For The Crack - Shine On". Note the video below is the album version of the song. *****

Bette Bright Hello I Am Your Heart / All Girls Lie Korova KOW 3 (1980) Born Catherine Anne Martin in Tankerton UK in 1953, Bette started out in the 70s as the singer with the band Deaf School.  After Deaf School disbanded she began her solo career with her backing band being "The Illuminations".  Band members included Rusty Egan (who went on to Visage) and Glen Matlock of Sex Pistols fame. This, her 3rd single was released in February 1980 and was the only one to chart in the UK reaching #50.  The single features Lee "Kix" Thompson of Madness on saxophone. Around this time she also spent some time as the singer for the Dutch band Gruppo Sportivo (using her birth name). She also appeared in the Sex Pistol movie "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle". In 1981 she married Suggs (Graham McPherson) the lead singer of Madness. FLAC

Beastie Boys Intergalactic Grand Royal CDCL 803 (1998) Beastie Boys have over time sold in excess of 20 million records just in the USA with several platinum albums included in that tally. Originating from a hardcore punk band called The  Young Aborigines they first appeared in 1985 with a comedy hip hop single called Cooky Puss . A tour supporting Madonna followed and their first album  Licensed to Ill  was released in 1986. This CD single, taken from the album Hello Nasty , won them the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The album also won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. This was the first time a band won awards in both rap and alternative categories. FLAC

Fats Domino Blue Monday / What's The Reason I'm Not Pleasing You Imperial X5417 (1956) First recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1953, his version was released as a single in January 1954.  This version by Fats Domino is the better known of the 45s especially as it appeared in the film "The Girl Can't Help It". It became one of the earliest rhythm and blues songs to make the Billboard charts, peaking at #5 and reaching #1 on the US R&B Best Sellers chart. The single, released in the UK on the London label, reached #23 on the UK Singles Chart. FLAC

Dusty Springfield Dusty EP Philips 433 669 BE (1964) A s was the norm in the 60s, many artists released 7" Extended Play discs featuring previous single or album tracks.  Dusty was no exception releasing several in the UK, this release being her 2nd EP. All 4 tracks on this disc can be found on the album A Girl Called Dusty which had been recorded at Olympic Studios, Carton Street, London W1 during January 1964.  The album was released in April and this EP was then issued in July. The video is a clip of Dusty performing on the Ed Sullivan show on May 2nd 1965. FLAC