HEY LOVE
This one is all Searchers with a Beatles’ NOWHERE MAN influenced electric 12-string guitar solo from Johnny Z thrown in for good measure.
LONDON UNDERGROUND
The obvious double-meaning tune stems from Walter’s ramblings around London on return from the band’s Cavern appearance in Liverpool; dealing with music business and personal disappointments no different now then back in the day.
The layered 12 and 6-string acoustics with mandocello and tambourine evokes HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY-period Beatles. In an attempt to find a suitable wind instrument sound, Johnny Z pulled out his i-phone ocarina APP and laid down a haunting riff. After all, The Troggs used an ocarina in WILD THING, so it must an authentic Brit sound!
Andrew Loog Oldham completes the song with his Dickens-esque reading of the chorus; like the ghost of debauched RnR-past lurking in the tunnels of the tube.
JUST A LITTLE BIT
Buddy Holly meets The Hollies. All the elements are here; from the lush Hollies vocals to the attaché case Buddy Holly used for a drum on PEGGY SUE and the celeste from EVERYDAY. The Hollies’ own Tony Hicks adds his distinctive vocal touch to ensure authenticity. A little more of the American influence comes through at the end with the key change, staccato guitar breakdown reminiscent of Tommy James & the Shondells’, I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW.
A BIT OF AWRIGHT
Spencer Davis sets the tone with his blues harp on this tongue-in-cheek romp through the London sights with your favorite “poshest bird”. Ian Whitcomb adds a YELLOW SUBMARINE touch with his megaphone-style reading.
FACTORY GIRL
Although bearing no resemblance to either the Donovan or Rolling Stones FACTORY GIRL, it is vintage Rolling Stones with a touch of Rod-era Faces but sung in Manchester. Skiffle legends, The Quarrymen provide the choruses with scouser-edged authenticity. Johnny Z brings in some Brian Jones blues harp and Johnny Z, jr some Jeff Beck lead guitar.
FREE
A personal one from Walter. Johnny Z throws in some riffs from SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK AND ROLL STAR and TIRED OF WAITING; which pretty much spells out what happened
BITTER GREY
Take a dose of LADY JANE/PLAY WITH FIRE-era Stones and mix it with The Left Banke (probably the most Britishy of the American ‘60’s groups) and add a drum riff from The New Colony Six (another Yankee cum Brit outfit). Johnny Z’s harpsichord and reading set the tone and Peter Jamieson’s acoustic 12-string drives it along. Two young musicians from the Royal Academy of Music, Virginia Rockwell and Daniel McCallum, on violin and oboe complete the portrait.
DO
Pure Yardbirds; but as sung by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Ian Whicomb adds some Jerry Lee Lewis piano and Walter ends it with a STROLL ON/TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN’ riff and a Cousin Brucie yelp to send you back to 1964 WABC-AM
DIT DIDIDIT
The Dave Clark 5 meets Manfred Mann on this one. Starting off with the Troggs’ Richard Moore blasting on the WILD THING ocarina.
GOOD TONIGHT
Chad & Jeremy add their distinctive harmonies to this song of turnabout; where it’s the lady who just wants a one-night stand. The Fortunes’ David Carr adds his distinctive touch on the piano lead.
SHE COMES AROUND
The Byrds meet The Pretty Things and Faces with a touch of Roy Orbison drum beat.
DIAMOND RING
The Animals as sung by the Leon Russell-led Shindogs. Vintage Keith Richards Stones’ rhythm guitar leads to the obvious homage to the classic Alan Price HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN organ solo which then sets the stage for Johnny Z’s, Jeff Beck Yardbirds’ MISTER YOU’RE A BETTER MAN THAN I influenced guitar solo. Whew! My blisters have blisters!
SO BAD
Starting out with The Troggs’ Richard Moore doing the opening guitar pull reminiscent of WILD THING the band launches into a Swingin’ Bluejeans influenced Hippy Hippy shake style riff, adds some Mike Smith organ and ends up with the requisite 60’s-era frenetic screaming
VENTURE INTO THE SHADOWS
When putting together the concept for this album I wanted to pay tribute to The Shadows, who are probably responsible for the majority of the British players picking up an electric guitar. (The Ventures had the same effect on American players.)
Original Ventures’ guitarist Nokie Edwards lays down the lead line with The Shadows’
Mark Griffith and John Farrar right beside him with harmony and counterpoint. The Ventures’ keyboardist David Carr completes the picture. This appears to be the first time players from both bands have been on the same tune; truly a legendary recording.
As a final touch, the album was mastered at Abbey Road Studios and the cover photo taken by legendary British photographer, Gered Mankowitz.
©2010 John Zambetti
