Penfro Sounds

Time to leave the wintery shores of West Wales in search of some sand, sea & fun.   Will be back refreshed and ready to go before you know it!

Wayne Newton Husbands And Wives / I Just Can't Help Believin' MGM K 14014 (1968) Wayne Newton was one of the most popular singers of the mid 20th century, at his peak being credited as being more popular in Las Vegas than Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Starting his musical career in the early 50s he was performing well into his later years including a headlining show at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas in 2019. This late 60s 45 is very much in the style of popular music at that time, sounding very much like a Jimmy Webb tune but actually written by Roger Miller the US country singer/songwriter.  Whilst an interesting tune it's own right it is the flip side that interests me most. The song I Just Can't Help Believin ' is perhaps mostly associated with Elvis Presley however this classic tune, written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Well, was recorded by several singers before Elvis released his 1971 definitive version.  Prior to Elvis, versions were recorded by BJ Thomas,...

Charley Ace - The Commandments Of Joshua Gaby And Wilton - Only Love Camel CA 92 (1972) Camel was a British reggae label active between 1969 and 1975.  In its brief lifetime it issued in the UK over 100 45s before disappearing in 1973.  It made a short comeback in 1975 with around 10 new releases and a reissue of many of its early releases but by the end of 1975 it was no more. Charley Ace was one of the original Jamaican DJs running the Swing A Ling Mobile Record Shack in the Kingston area.  From this old Morris Van he would sell records. Gaby & Wilton is a little known artist/artists(?) who released a few 45s in the early 70s under the names of Gaby & The Rebels, Gaby & The Cables and also Gaby Wilton. There was also some 45s issued credited to Gaby Wilton & Charley Ace so I assume although this 45 is credited to Gaby & Wilton the singer is Gaby Wilton in her own right.  Feel free to leave a comment if you have any information. FLAC

Hot Chocolate Band Give Peace A Chance / Living Without Tomorrow Apple 18 (1969) The Hot Chocolate Band (later known as just Hot Chocolate) had their first music break with this  recording of the John Lennon anti-war song.  The song whilst credited to Lennon-McCartney is in-fact a solo effort on John's part.   Originally recorded by John with Yoko Ono and a small group of friends in a hotel room in Montreal, Quebec, Canada it became John's first solo single (released whilst still a member of The Beatles). Although signed to Apple Records, Errol Brown had to submit his version for John Lennon's approval before it was given the go-ahead. Although most of the later 45s recorded by Hot Chocolate were produced by Mickie Most this 45 was produced by the band's bassist Tony Wilson. Whilst this reggae version of the song failed to chart and pales in comparison to John's original version, it was the launching of the band's musical career that resulted in at least one hit...

Lord Brynner Wrecker Poom Poom / Games People Play Hilary LB 401 (1969) Kade Simon (1937-1985), better known as Lord Brynner, was born in Erin, Trinidad.  Inspired by the actor Yul Brynner, he adopted the name and also the shaved head and he became a popular calypsonian in the late 1950s. Having joined the Army (West Indian Regiment) he was posted to Jamacia where he continued to perform until he returned to Trinidad in 1962.  That same year he won the Trinidad & Tobago Independence Calypso Contest in August 1962 with the aptly-themed "Trinidad and Tobago Independence", beating the likes of Mighty Sparrow, Nap Hepburn and the Mighty Bomber.  Although known more as a calypso singer he also recorded many ska tunes releasing in total over 50 45s worldwide in his career. This American released 45 on the New York based Hilary label uses the carol "Little Drummer Boy" for inspiration with the flip side being a ska cover of Joe Simon's big hit "Games People Pl...

King Sunny Adé & His African Beats  Synchro System / Ire Island 12IS 122 (1983) King Sunny Adé is a Nigerian ju-ju singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Born in 1946 his full name (and title) is Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye.  His title comes from being born as a Omoba of the Yoruba people, a West African royal family.  His mother is a member of the Adesida dynasty. He formed his backing band The African Beats in 1967 and throughout the 70s gained national success in Nigeria. In the early 80s he was signed to Island Records and achieved a wider, international success including a Grammy nominations in 1983 and 1998. His music is characterized by, among other instruments, the talking drum – an instrument indigenous to his Yoruba roots, the guitar and the peculiar way he uses the instrument. His music is in the age-old tradition of singing poetic lyrics (ewi in Yoruba) and praise singing of dignitaries as well as components of Juju (traditional African belief...

T. Rex Metal Guru / Thunderwing / Lady T. Rex MARC 1 (1972) In 1972 as a 10 year kid I was inducted into the glam rock sounds by religiously watching Top The Pops (TOTP) every Thursday night.  Marc Bolan was something special, talk of the playground and at the time of this release at top of his game. T. Rex mania was everywhere. This was his fourth #1 UK single and it also happened to be his last one to reach the #1 slot.  The basic track was recorded during the Slider sessions at the beginning of 1972 and in a later studio session in London vocals were added including Backing vocals from Flo & Eddie (previously members of The Turtles).  The single was released in the UK on 5th May entering the charts at #9.  The following week after appearing on TOTP it reached #1 on the 14th May and remained there for 4 weeks. It also reached #1 in Ireland and Germany but surprisingly it failed to chart in the US. Whilst the 45 was a slice of glam rock pop the song supposedly h...

Moments & Whatnauts Girls / More Girls All Platinum 6146 302 (1975) Following on with the disco vibes from the last blog, this 45 pulled at random from my collection is a collaboration from the Washington DC band The Moments and the Baltimore band The Whatnauts.  Both bands had existed since the end of the 1960s and they were signed to Stang Records which was a subsidiary of Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum label based in Englewood NJ.  Sylvia became known as the Mother Of Hip Hop especially after another of her labels recorded and released 1979's  "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang. Both The Moments and The Whatnauts had by 1974 gained reputations as solid vocal soul groups.  Each had released several 45s on Stang Records which had given them individual success in the US with a handful of The Moments' 45s appearing in the UK on London Records.   This joint 45 was the most successful of their careers giving them a UK #3 hit and #25 placing on the U...

Chic I Want Your Love (Remix) Atlantic LV16 (1978) At the time of this 12" release Chic were at the height of their powers with Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodger's hits being played at every disco worldwide.  They had just stormed the charts with " Le Freak  "and this follow up was released in the UK on 7" and 12" versions. Chic had been formed in 1972 by Niles and the bass player Bernard in New York.  The pair had been working as session musicians before forming a band called The Boys which later had a name change to The Big Apple Band .  Not being able to secure a recording deal the pair joined the band New York City but that band folded in 1976.  Their Big Apple Band still existed and when Walter Murphy had a hit in 1976 with his band called The Big Apple Band (" A Fifth Of Beethoven ") they decided to change their name to Chic. During 1977 they expanded their band line-up and later that year they were signed to Atlantic Records and that year...