An Alternative History of "Pop" Music

[Clatty McCutcheon]

Tear Gas - Woman for Sale

https://youtu.be/s3U_vQaZlgg



Tear Gas effectively became The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in 1972, after the addition of a certain new member on lead vocals. This track is a fairly straightforward hard rock number from their self-titled second album. It lacks the playfulness associated with Harvey, but does feature SAHB's Zal Cleminson, Ted McKenna and Chris Glen.

[Clatty McCutcheon]

Elyse Weinberg - Houses

From the second album by Canadian folkie Elyse Weinberg, recorded around 1971 but not released at the time due to her record company going bust. The YouTube link claims that it is from her debut album (which was 1969, and not 1968, as claimed) but in fact it was only a bonus track on a latter-day CD reissue.

After another shelved album, she disappeared from the music business for several decades. she returned to performing in the new millennium, but sadly died earlier this year.

This track may or may not feature Neil Young on guitar, depending on who you believe.

https://youtu.be/QQu6IpZ7PLc

[jamiefairlie]

Tudor Lodge - Forest

https://youtu.be/XRqAgjGShDQ



Formed in 1968 in Reading, this is from their self-titled debut, and only, album. They split in late 71.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Joy of Cooking - Brownsville/Mockingbird



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZyVVp8xYk

Joy of Cooking were an American music ensemble formed in 1967, in Berkeley, California. Identified with the hippie culture, the band's music melded rock & roll with folk, blues, and jazz, and their lyrics often reflected feminist themes. They released three studio albums in the early 1970s as well as a minor hit single in 1971, Brownsville/Mockingbird. Led by guitarist Terry Garthwaite and pianist Toni Brown, who shared lead vocals, Joy of Cooking were an unusual example of a rock band fronted by women.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

1970 YODEL FUNK DEATH MATCH.
There can be only one winner.

In the Blue Corner, Parliament's "Little Ol' Country Boy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNM7nG2OUQ

In the Red Corner, Sly and the Family Stone's "Spaced Cowboy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcQV0YK_mkc

I'd call that a draw meself. Impossible to pick a winner.

[SpiderChrist]

1970 YODEL FUNK DEATH MATCH.
There can be only one winner.

In the Blue Corner, Parliament's "Little Ol' Country Boy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNM7nG2OUQ

In the Red Corner, Sly and the Family Stone's "Spaced Cowboy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcQV0YK_mkc

Like being asked to name your favourite child. I'm going to Starmer abstain on this one.

[daf]

Shocking Blue - Shocking You



Released in April 1971 -  did not chart

Shocking Blue was founded in 1967 by Robbie van Leeuwen, Fred de Wilde, Klaasje van der Wal  and Cor van der Beek. The group had a minor hit in 1968 with "Lucy Brown is Back in Town".

De Wilde left in 1968 after joining the Dutch army and van Leeuwen was introduced to Mariska Veres, singing at that time with a club band. He persuaded her to take over the vocals and the group charted a worldwide hit with the song "Venus".

Shocking You was the opening track on their 1971 album "3rd Album" - though this was actually their fifth album - presumably ignoring their pre-Mariska 1967 debut 'Shocking Blue' on Polydor, and the 1970 'The Shocking Blue' album on Colossus in the US.

[daf]

Franco De Gemini - Bossa Beat



From the album "A New Harmonica Colour", and featured in the 1971 Italian film 'Si Puó Fare Molto Con Sette Donne'.

[Phil_A]

The Hygrades - Rough Rider

The Hygrades were a Nigerian funk outfit in the 70s headed by Goddy Oku. His instrument of choice is the guitar, and with his guitar he creates magic!

There's only 4 releases on discogs, all 45s, which gives some indication of how had it can be to find old African tunes. The Nigerian scene also withered away due to new synth music and social problems.

Luckily, "Rough Rider" is on the compilation The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria (Part 1).

"Rough Rider" is a confident strut through Lagos, which showcases Oku's psychedelic guitar playing alongside an outrageously groovy bassline, a sharp drum break, and a steady flowing riff from another guitar.

It's a nice piece of Afro-rock that stands out as a good blend of Western inspired Psychedelic Rock and the funk styles prevalent in Nigeria at the time.

The song was released in 1971 on HMV's label.

[Brundle-Fly]

Nottanum Town - Oberon. Released on no label in 1971



A bit of English autumnal atmospheric folk for you from the king of the faeries.

https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2013/03/oberon-interview.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHaPnVyQN4k&feature=emb_logo

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Kevin Ayers - Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc9w_7OhmwI

Has any singer ever sounded more insouciant, more immaculately, pleasantly stoned than Kevin Ayers? I've never been a stoner, I can't stand the smell and I don't like feeling artificially confused, but I envy his witty, geeky loose-limbed cool. A magnificent English eccentric who was entirely comfortable in his own skins.

[daf]

Broken Toys - Broken Toys



Released in November 1971 - did not chart

Written by prolific songwriters Chris Arnold, David Martin and Geoff Morrow. In the early 70's they decided to release their own songs under the name Butterscotch, and had a UK Top 20 Hit with "Don't You Know". After their brief flirtation with performing they went back to writing for other artists.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

The Hygrades - Rough Rider

That's fantastic! I love this thread.

[jamiefairlie]

Keith Christmas - Evensong

https://youtu.be/akAaR5p_WWQ



An English singer/songwriter, this is from his third album, Pigmy.

[daf]

Comus - Winter Is A Coloured Bird



Released on a three track 33⅓ rpm 'maxi-single' in February 1971 - did not chart

Comus were formed in 1969 by fellow art students Roger Wootton and Glenn Goring, who developed their musical style performing in folk clubs in and around Bromley in Kent. The band grew from an early folk duo to a six-piece ensemble; in that later form, Dave Bowie came to appreciate them. They appeared regularly at his Arts Lab project in Beckenham, Kent. He also invited them to be his support act in a 1969 concert at London's Purcell Rooms.

Their first album, First Utterance, with cover art by Wootton and Goring, appeared in 1971. The music - memorably described by reviewer Penny Valentine as "a cross between a frenzied version of the witches chorus from Macbeth and Marc Bolan being squeezed to death" - is largely acoustic art rock that blends elements of Eastern percussion, early folk and animal-like vocals. The lyrics involve violence, murder, mental disorder and the mystical.



After the album, woodwind player Rob Young was replaced by Lindsay Cooper, and the new lineup developed material for a never-released second album. No recording by this lineup would see the light of day for another 40 years.

The group disbanded for a time, but Wootton, Andy Hellaby and Bobbie Watson reformed the band with new members for their second album, To Keep from Crying, in 1974. They reformed for the Mellotronen Festival in Sweden in March 2008. They have continued to perform occasional gigs, including some new material.

[Larry Heliotrope]

Jimmie Spheeris' Isle of View is one of those albums you want to buy every time you see it to pass on to someone you know will appreciate it. It's gorgeous - like an American Nick Drake. Tim Smith out of Midlake is a huge fan apparently, and you can hear its influence especially in Van Occupanther.
https://youtu.be/iVgHh9OnsQ0

[jamiefairlie]

Sandy Denny - Late November

https://youtu.be/PQiWL0HfIJs



After leaving Fairport Convention in 1969, Sandy formed Fotheringay in 1970 but, after pressure from management, she reluctantly started a solo career in 1971 (albeit still with Fotheringay as her band, just not that title).

This is from her debut solo album,  The North Star Grassman and the Ravens (such a 1971 title) and it's a meditation on the death of Fairport's drummer Martin Lamble in 1969.

This performance was recorded live for the BBC and it perfectly captures the raw haunting power of her voice. Fore me, it's up there with the select few TV appearances that stop you in your tracks and demand quite, respectful attention (PIL on Whistle Test and JD on Something Else are two others that come to mind)

[jobotic]

Norma Tanega - Nothing Much is Happening Today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmP1Sf50Hk0



She's been in the thread before, with songs from her more famous first album. This one is from her 1971 album I Don't Think It Would Hurt If You Smiled

[Larry Heliotrope]

Laurie Styvers from Spilt Milk, the first of just two solo albums she made. She was a US singer based in Britain and this had all sorts of top session musos playing on it. Christgau hated it, but for any sensible person that should be a recommendation.
https://youtu.be/APM0KO1cJzs

[Larry Heliotrope]

Norma Tanega - Nothing Much is Happening Today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmP1Sf50Hk0



She's been in the thread before, with songs from her more famous first album. This one is from her 1971 album I Don't Think It Would Hurt If You Smiled

One of those "maybe I'll come across this one day" albums...

[Larry Heliotrope]

Lotti Golden - Do You Use It?
It's not as great as 1969's Motor Cycle but her follow-up does contain this gem
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5Au48ranSs0

[Brundle-Fly]

Daybreak - Joe & Bing.  Released on no label in 1971.





Effortlessly beautiful baroque sunshine pop.

http://poprunners.blogspot.com/2018/08/folk-rocksoft-rock-joe-bing-daybreak.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR8dmaqqEq8

[Larry Heliotrope]

Last one for now - April Rain: gentle psych folk by Karen Beth
https://youtu.be/2fthTTA3Wi8

[jobotic]

One of those "maybe I'll come across this one day" albums...

I never will as I couldn't even write the title correctly.

[Larry Heliotrope]

Daybreak - Joe & Bing.  Released on no label in 1971.





Effortlessly beautiful baroque sunshine pop.

http://poprunners.blogspot.com/2018/08/folk-rocksoft-rock-joe-bing-daybreak.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR8dmaqqEq8

Lovely!

[daf]

The Barbara Moore Singers - Cuckoo



Released in 1971. Written by Arthur Birkby for 'Music Movement Mime' - a BBC Radio series for schools.

[jamiefairlie]

Spirogyra - At Home in the World

https://youtu.be/OhzEsQtkGF0



formed as a duo in Bolton in the summer of 1967. This is from the first of their three albums , St. Radigunds. They disbanded in 1974.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Marvin Hamlisch - Main Title (Quiero La Noche)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3dibzSRVek

The theme song from Bananas, Woody Allen's second film as writer/director.*

Marvin Hamlisch was an American composer and conductor. He was one of only sixteen people to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. This collection of all four is referred to as an "EGOT". He is also one of only two people (along with composer Richard Rodgers) to have won those four prizes and a Pulitzer Prize ("PEGOT").

What an amazing career he had: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Hamlisch

Bananas is a 1971 American comedy film directed by Woody Allen. Written by Allen and Mickey Rose, the film is about a bumbling New Yorker who, after being dumped by his activist girlfriend, travels to a tiny Latin American nation and becomes involved in its latest rebellion.

* Third if you count What's Up Tiger Lily?, but that's not really a self-directed film as such.

[jamiefairlie]

Steeleye Span - When I Was on Horseback

https://youtu.be/_Q4BrtuM5mU



From their second album, Ten Man Mop or Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again, following their debut in our list with their 1970 debut.

[daf]

The Hollies - Hey Willy



OK, this did reach #22 in the UK in May 1971, but not one of their more familiar hits, and, hopefully, obscure enough for this thread.

By 1971, like Graham Nash before him, frontman Allan Clarke was growing frustrated, and he too began clashing with producer Ron Richards over material; after seeing Nash's success since departing, he was eager to leave the group and cut a solo album. After the 1971 album Distant Light, which concluded the band's EMI/Parlophone contract in the UK, Clarke departed from the Hollies in December.