Penfro Sounds

The Strangeloves I Want Candy / Cara-Lin London HLM 10481 (1973) A catchy rock song from 1965 that became a firm favourite with many. Known for its distinctive drumbeat and catchy chorus, I Want Candy has been covered by various artists over the years, including Bow Wow Wow in 1982, who added a new wave flair to it.  Originally released in the USA on Bang Records and Stateside in the UK, this copy in my collection is the 1973 reissue on the London label. FLAC

Jody Miller Queen Of The House / The Greatest Actor Capitol 5402 (1965) Released in 1965, this is a clever response to Roger Miller's hit " King of the Road ." Jody captures the life of a typical housewife in the 60s with humour and also some social commentary. While the song "King of the Road" is about the carefree, nomadic life of a man on the road, "Queen of the House" offers a portrayal of domestic life, showcasing the daily routine of a housewife in a humorous way. Using a similar tune, Miller sings about juggling household chores, taking care of children, and attending to her husband. She sings " Up every day at six / Bacon and eggs to fix " and manages to paint a vivid picture of her daily grind, making it easy for listeners to visualize the routine she describes. Jody Miller’s voice, with its smooth and strong country twang, perfectly conveys both the charm and exhaustion of the housewife character. " Queen of the House " st...

The Nite People Summertime Blues / In The Springtime Fontana TF 885 (1967) The Nite People originated from Bournemouth.  Having played in several local bands in the early 60s, drummer Chris 'Fergie' Ferguson decided to form his own band and in early 1964 this band was born. The band like many others toured extensively and by 1966 they secured a contact with Fontana who released their first single "Sweet Tasting Wine".  A handful of 45s were issued over the next few years with this single being released in Nov 1967. Despite some success and lots of touring (including a tour package with the Beach Boys in 1967 and being a regular support band at The Marquee) the band called it a day in 1970 and the members moved on to a variety of work both in and out of the music business. This single of course is the classic song written by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capeheart which have been covered by many over the years.  This 45 is an interesting, organ driven, instrumental version. ...

Swinging Soul Machine Spooky's Day Off / Nobody Wants You Polydor 56760 (1969) The Swinging Soul Machine were a Dutch band who initially released this single in the UK during 1969 with the band name credited as The Machine.  It was subsequently released the same year with the full band name.   The band had been formed in 1966 by Hoeney Chen and Jan de Bliek.  Vocals were occasionally provided by Ivan Groeneveld (aka Spooky) and as the title suggests the A side was recorded on one the days he was not in the studio hence it being an instrumental.  In their native Netherlands Spooky's Day Off was the flip side of this 45. The 45 did not chart in the UK however it did gain a bit of a play on the Northern Soul scene. FLAC

The Mindbenders A Groovy Kind Of Love / Love Is Good Fontana TF 644 (1965) The Mindbenders were an English group originating from Manchester.  Originally the backing group to Wayne Fontana, The band became a trio in 1965 when Wayne left to pursue a solo career. This was the first 45 they released without him on main vocals. It is said to be  the first 45s to feature the slang term groovy.  The song had already been recorded by the American duo Dianne & Annita and their version appeared on a French EP titled One By One . Whilst the A side is a well known pop tune the flip side is more like the earlier northern beat sound, a little more of r&b/blues than pop.  To my ears it is the better track but have a listen yourself and make up your own mind. FLAC

Ray Charles Busted / Making Believe His Master's Voice POP 1221 (1963) Busted is a song written by Harlan Howard and has been recorded by several individuals such as Johnny Cash (with The Carter Family), Nazareth and this version by Ray Charles (1930-2004). Written in 1962 this version (and Johnny Cash's) were both recorded in 1963.  Ray's version reached #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. The flip side is an older country tune written in 1955 by Jimmy Work. Like Busted it has been covered by several singers over the years including Bob Dylan, Wanda Jackson, Social Discord and Dolly Parton to name just a few. Ray's version first appeared on his 1962 album Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Volume 2 . FLAC

Saxon And The Bands Played On / Hungry Years / Heavy Metal Thunder Carrere CAR 180 (1981) Saxon are a British heavy Metal band formed in 1975 and they had by the end of the 70s established themselves as one of the top NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) bands.  Cited as influence or inspiration for many rock bands such as Mötley Crüe, Metallica and Pantera, they had many hits on the UK charts as well as great success overseas in Japan, Europe and America. This 45 released in 1981 (taken from the album "Denim & Leather") reached the UK top 20 (#12).  The flip side tracks were taken from the 1980 album "Strong Arm Of The Law". FLAC