ANNIE NIGHTINGALE FIRST LADY OF RADIO DEAF SCHOOL IT’S ART, LA! l MARMALADE SKIES AND ARTISTIC CONSEQUENCES THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY OF GODLEY & CREME’S LOST ’60s RECORDINGS EXCLUSIVE VINYL OFFER! DENIM, VELVET AND SPILT MILK OUR PICK OF UNDER-THE-RADAR ALBUMS FROM THE ’90s ZAL YANOVSKY • BARNEY BUBBLES • GWENNO ISSUE 129•£6.49 CYMANDE • CHRIS BANGS & MICK TALBOT • TRIPTIDES LINDA HOOVER • WAX MACHINE • LIMELIGHT RECORDS contents ISSUE 129, JULY 2022 Features ’90s Albums 52 The Shindig! team pick their favourite under-the- radar long-players from The Decade That Doesn’t Fit Deaf School 60 The second most important band to come out of Liverpool? Let’s find out Godley & Creme 72 Their ’60s pop roots and late ’70s and ’80s grand ambitions Regulars Thoughts & Words 6 Your letters, tweets and emails Shindiggin’ 8 What’s hot on the Shindig! turntable It’s A Happening Thing 10 Gwenno, Barney Bubbles, Linda Hoover, Revelators Sound System, Earl’s Closet, Bangs & Talbot, Triptides, Mr Bongo, Lost Cat, Ghost Woman, Fox Paloma, : Lunar Towers, Wax Machine, Bobby Oroza, Wilderness America, Josiah, Caleb Nichols, Mighty Absalom Family Album 40 Cymande’s 1972 celebratory debut of Caribbean cool Deep Cuts 42 The avant-pop, jazz and electronica of Limelight Records Deep Cuts Extra 44 Limelight Records’ head honcho Robin McBride speaks 20 Questions 46 Broadcaster, writer, deejay and icon Annie Nightingale Reviews 78 The best in reissues, new releases, books and live shows Prize Crossword 97 Win a copy of Picadilly Line’s Yellow Rainbow Vinyl Art 98 The Monkees: big in Japan 66 Zal Yanovsky How The Lovin’ Spoonful’s talented guitarist and zany charmer fell from grace but refused to go away “I thought John’s writing was pretty sappy and, on a flight back from Denver, I told him so. There was a huge fight and then the boys got together and they fired me” welcome Dear Shindiggers, It’s with great pleasure that on the back of this issue’s cover stars we present our fi rst vinyl exclusive. Yes, that’s right. Not only does Michael Björn get the full low- down on how Kevin Godley and Lol Creme became Frabjoy & Runcible Spoon after they’d learned how to “play around”, but we’re issuing, in conjunction with Guerssen Records, their “album that should have been”. Editor-in-Chief: Although only one single, ‘I’m Beside Myself’ / ‘Animal Song’, appeared from Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills the sessions they cut with Giorgio Gomelsky for the proposed 1969 set, esteemed [email protected] music historian David Wells recently tracked down the remaining material, 64 North View Road, London N8 7LL resulting in Grapefruit’s recent CD anthology Frabjous Days: The Secret World Of Reviews Editor: Godley & Creme 1967-1969. On hearing the proposed original album (or what’s Andy Morten [email protected] left of it) I just knew it had to appear on vinyl. After some conversation a deal was Live Reviews Editor: struck, and for the very reasonable price of £20 plus p&p you can now own this Kate Hodges delightful dose of late ’60s pastoral and progressive pop on LP, which we’ve titled [email protected] Fly Away. See pre-ordering details on our website, the subs page and at the end of Senior Editor: our feature on page 77. Act fast, as there will only be 200 copies on tasteful lavender Thomas Patterson vinyl. [email protected] We hope to do more exclusive albums – if it goes well, this may become Assistant Editor: something we do regularly. This issue’s idea chimed perfectly with our wonderful Paul Osborne, [email protected] cover story. I hope you can enjoy both. If we pushed the envelope with both Blondie and New Age Travellers last Editorial Assistance: Phil Suggitt month, this issue brings us back to something a bit more usual, if there is such a [email protected] thing for Shindig! in 2022. Liverpool’s Deaf School tell their fascinating story, and Fiona McQuarrie octogenarian deejay, broadcaster and writer Annie Nightingale undergoes our Martin Ruddock 20 Questions – discussing how she interviewed Sean Connery in a Wimpy bar in Contributors: 1962, her love of The Byrds, being Radio One’s fi rst female broadcaster and her Camilla Aisa, Richard Allen, Joe Banks, Grahame Bent, Michael Bjorn, Christopher Budd, Sean Casey, predilection for American EDM. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Zal Yanovsky’s exodus is Stuart Draper, Duncan Fletcher, Mike Fornatale, Peter charted, Gwenno talks about her new album Tresor, Cymande’s debut falls under Gallagher, Ben Graham, Sarah Gregory, Lenny Helsing, the spotlight and we curate a selection of our favourite albums from the ’90s that we Paul Hillery, Kate Hodges, Henry Hutton, Johnnie think merit your attention and may have passed some of us by the fi rst time round. Johnstone, Murdo Mathewson, Fiona McQuarrie, Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills, Andy Morten, Paul Osborne, Thomas I also want to thank you for your continued support, and must ask for those of Patterson, Jeff Penczak, Ben Phillipson, Jeff Pitcher, you who love the Shindig! but are yet to subscribe to please do so. It really does help Paul Ritchie, Martin Ruddock, Vic Templar, Elvis us invest in bringing you the best magazine we possibly can. People’s shopping habits Thirlwell, Chris Twomey, Gary von Tersch, Michael are changing, as is the high street, and I’d hate to think that you may somehow miss Todd, Andrew Ure, Simon Wordsworth, Melanie Xulu an issue. Our subscribers’ prize draw this month is a bountiful, limited edition £325 Publisher: Tom Saunders, Silverback Publishing Al Stewart box, so if you want to win you really do need to sign up now. [email protected] Don’t forget to keep your correspondence coming in and to follow us on social 14 Victoria Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4RT media to join in the discussion. Alongside our Tel: 07841 412199 monthly show on Soho Radio, we now also include Director: Andy Crispin a Spotify playlist on the website each month, so you Commercial Manager: Alan Thomas can venture even further into the artists we write [email protected] about. The site is now also being updated weekly Tel: 07830 168076 with features from back issues, alongside our unique Subscriptions: [email protected] online interviews. Dive deep into the Shindigverse. Tel: 07841 412199 Regards, Design: Andy Morten, Martin Cook Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills, Editor-In-Chief Printed by: Warners Group If you have trouble fi nding Shindig! magazine in the UK please contact Susan Stone, Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1 A 9PT on +44 (0) 207 429 4073, email: [email protected] While every effort is made in compiling Shindig! magazine the publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. Readers are advised to pay by credit card when ordering goods off the page as they are regu- lated under Consumer Act 1974, unlike debit or charge cards, which are not. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any storage or retrieval system, Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills listens to records on the Pro-Ject X2 record deck through the Phono without the consent of the publisher. Registered at Stationers Hall Copyright. Direct Input by Silverback Publishing Ltd. Box DS2. For high quality streaming he uses Tidal. For more information go to henleyaudio.co.uk/brands/ProJect-Audio-Systems and tidal.com. 4 thoughts&words shindig-magazine.com [email protected] facebook.com/Shindig.Magazine @shindigmagazine shindig_magazine PLANTING POTATOES BEATNICKS D’OCCASION these can be easily found on YouTube. Of course, though, Hello Jon, Hello Jon, she is still in the music business today and still an amazing I had to smile when Shindig! mentioned The Edgar Broughton I wanted to commend you for the in-depth reporting on singer – after all, she has been the principal singer in the Band and the line, “Do you want to plant potatoes boy?” I can the careers of members of the wonderful psych band The legendary French progressive band Magma since the early remember my cousin playing me that record when it fi rst United States Of America. I remember buying that album way to mid-70s. She is now, of course, Stella Vander, who was came out. I must have been 10 or 11, and it has stuck in my back, more than 50 years ago, and loving the heck out of it. married to master drummer Christian Vander, and is now mind since then. Clearly, a great deal of research went into the article and I married to Francis Linon, the band’s sound and recording Back in those days, my cousin had his bedroom painted am happily surprised to see how the musicians in the band engineer. She is at work preparing a new Magma record bright orange and on the ceiling was a painting of a giant eye! lent their talents to such a wide variety of artists across the right now, in fact, set for release in October. She is 71, still Proof that psychedelia was alive and kicking in Chesterfi eld musical spectrum. Huzzah! gorgeous and a force to be reckoned with. I believe that she as well as Swinging London. The yé-yé girls article was equally well researched. has had by far the longest career of any yé-yé singer. It is Regards, And it is a topic that deserves attention. I think you missed worth mentioning. Andrew Redding a signifi cant opportunity here in one small regard: Stella. You do wonderful work with Shindig! I enjoy every issue. Stella began her singing career as Stella Zelcar, and released Sincerely, Ha brilliant. What must have your parents thought? several strong yé-yé singles back in the mid-60s – all of Dana Lawrence Thanks Dana, so glad you apreciate what our brilliant writers put in. Did you see our Magma feature in issue #95? If not, it can be bought from our online store. REMEMBER THE FUTURE Hello Jon, Thanks for a nice article about Nektar. This reminds me of a good moment from way back in 1973 or ’75. One evening in the Forest-National arena, here in Brussels, Nektar opened for the mighty Frank Zappa & The Mothers. My friends and I were very impressed. That light show (Mick Brockett – thanks) was unbelievable. This was something we had never seen. Brussels isn’t London nor San Francisco. Nektar was so good that 7,000 Zappa fans asked for an encore! Zappa was his formidable self. What a great night. New Age Travellers, Phil Gosez The Tibetan Ukrainian Mountain Troupe off er some sage And what a band! So glad to see them getting so much advice of how to live in love. Thatcher’s Britain STAR LETTER IN THE FLESH Hi Jon, Reading the Blondie the article brought back memories of seeing the band support the magnifi cent Television at ON THE ROAD the life of the New Age Traveller. I’m more of an Old Age Manchester’s Free Trade Hall in May 1977. They had a hard Hi Jon, Traveller myself now, but glad I was there in the new age. time winning over the audience, Clem Burke making his “New Age Travellers, not in this age, not in any age,” Loving your Spotify play lists and, as ever, the mag feelings known by smashing a bottle on his kit, as the crowd said John Major, then Prime Minister. After The Battle and radio show. Of The Bean Field the authorities stamped down hard Yours, on the travellers and made life very diffi cult for them. R M Booker I attended many travellers’ festivals and gatherings at sites all across Britain at the time and used to get stopped As far as history goes, this period is relatively recent, regularly and searched, and asked silly questions like “Did but man, it really does feel like an entirely different my dog catch rabbits?”, “Was I working”, “Was I carrying time. A better one in so many ways. I’m glad to have illegal substances?” etc. But beyond this we had a great grown up through it, as time seeing the festival bands and performing artists, and it certainly informed so the vibe was a real happy one for most of the time. The many of us. I hope you festival scene was really big and little ones used to crop enjoy the Seelie Court up at stone circles that were off the radar. Your article reissue of Bertie’s 1970 brought back lots of memories, good and bad. I never took private pressing that to the road but have friends who did and are still living I’m sending you. The New York scene ventures North 6 resorted to appalling sexist nonsense aimed at Debbie Harry. Clem is still the greatest drummer I have ever seen. What a band. What a gig. Television, for all their static, too cool for school, calculated inertia were truly superb. Two great bands, I was very lucky to see them both at that time. Best, Bri Davies Thanks Brian. It’s great to hear your memories about Blondie. AROUND AND AROUND Hi Jon, In the latest issue, there’s a letter on inner sleeves, with a picture of a CBS Greatest Hits sleeve and a question about inner sleeves. You say “We’ll explore this idea.” This crosses over with the latest addition to Around & Around, my record collecting site. I just completed a long piece on inner sleeves with illustration… way longer than you’d need, but it has the basics. aroundandaroundcom.wordpress.com/lp-inner-sleeves Have a look around while you’re there. The most popular section is ‘Reviled: The Albums Critics Love To Hate’ – see the top bar. Best wishes, Peter Viney I’m sure our readers, especially those who spend time dwelling on the magic of inner sleeves, will find much to love on your site. UNIVERSAL STRANGERS Hi Jon, Just a line of thanks as regards the Diesel Park West item – so great to see them getting some supportive press after all these years. No, that’s a trifle harsh – press has been supportive throughout – it was just a lack of breakthrough sales. I have been an admirer since first hearing ‘All The Myths On Sunday’. Besides their canon of work, which has rarely suffered from any slip in standards, I found that John Butler’s Universal Stranger release from 2017 was a fine piece of work – particularly with the bonus CD A Backward Glance – what a shame no major selling artist has never trawled his work for material. For me ‘The Girl With The Name’ was just about the finest thing that paid homage to the hallmark traits from the well from which they drew their inspiration. Pure genius that Nicky Hopkins graced ‘When The HooDoo Comes’. If only ‘Like Princes Do’ had been their breakthrough hit …… I really enjoyed catching them whenever they played The Borderline. And, whenever they did a cover, it always had the required degree of reverence yet they made them their own – their 2017 ‘Summer Of Love’ being as good a case as you could find. Worthy of mention also is their cover of Dylan’s ‘The Man In The Long Black Coat’. Thanks for the recent Nektar and Dave Davies articles too. I wonder if any of these may be worthy of a future Shindig! article: The House Of Love, The Chameleons, Comsat Angels, Donovan’s Brain, Scott Miller, Scott Matthews. Keep up the impressive standards – we’re fortunate to have such a tome of quality reference. Regards, Richard Gould Hi Jon, I just wanted to say how good it was to see Diesel Park West featured. I loved Shakespeare Alabama when it was released and return to it often. I could not understand how it wasn’t a huge seller at the time, but as the article explains, if you couldn’t get on Radio One at the time you were struggling. Radio One was all powerful at the time, it’s a rather different broadcasting landscape these days. I did also buy the follow up album Decency and enjoyed it but it did feel as though the moment had passed. That first album is, however, a classic! All the best to you, Roger Nicholls Richard and Roger, it’s lovely to hear your respect for the unheralded Diesel Park West. Being able to rekindle memories and steer others to bands they may have missed out on is always a great pleasure. What’s HOT on the Shindig! turntable The brand new releases, compilation standouts, old album tracks and dusty 45s rockin’ our world this month APHRODITE’S CHILD PENZA PENZA The Four Horsemen Jaw Drop The recent loss of synth visionary Vangelis has had Estonian multi-instrumentalist and producer Misha many reaching for the florid prog-psych of his late ’60s Panfilov has become one the most prolific and interesting band Aphrodite’s Child. The best-known track from the musicians to emerge in recent times, creating a canon Greek combo’s strange, sometimes beautiful, and often of wonderful, inventive music under various incarnations terrifying double concept album swansong 666, the that fuse disparate styles such as library atmospherics, doomy ‘The Four Horsemen’ sees them at their most heavy-funk, Zamrock and cinematic soundscapes. This driving. Vangelis largely provides spooky ambience, tune, the flipside of a killer two-sider under his super- while guitarist Silver Koulouris goes nuts with squalling heavy Afro and funk-rock channelling Penza Penza wah-wah licks and Loukas Sideras thrashes his kit. Atop all this are the bemused, but utterly moniker, is an outstanding slice of raw, fuzzy garage-funk that maintains an otherworldly, lo-fi haunting tones of Demis Roussos. Altogether now. “The leeeeading horse is whiiiite...” analogue vibe whilst still managing to hit hard. Available on: 666 (MUSIC ON VINYL 2-LP) Available on: Funk Night 45 CHRIS BANGS & MICK TALBOT WESLEY GONZALEZ Blues Walk Greater Expectations While the preceding 11 tracks of Bangs and Talbot’s Only a brave gambler would’ve taken a punt that members mod-jazz instrumental album evoke smoke-filled of mid-noughties novelty girl group The Pipettes would basement clubs packed with sharp-dressed groovers, be making some of the most interesting music around 15 ‘Blues Walk’, with its bop-jazz feel, conjures up a brisk years later, but here we are: Gwenno Saunders gets prime but contemplative journey home in the wee small billing at the front of this month’s IAHT whilst Rose Elinor hours after the clubs have all closed their doors. It also Dougall has released a trio of delightful albums and now presents a chance for the track’s guest players to shine: co-written and co-sings the opening track from London Dave Priseman’s trumpet takes the melody line, Roger singer/songwriter Wesley Gonzalez’s brilliant new LP Wax Beaujolais lays down perfect accompaniment on the vibes, while in-demand session guitarist Limousine. It’s an indelibly catchy Alexandra Park-set slice of romantic indie-pop that should find Julian Burdock busts loose with a solo on the outro. Hip, happening and damn groovy! its way onto the opening credits of a British indie flick asap. Are you listening, Edgar Wright? Available on: Back To Business (ACID JAZZ LP) Available on: Wax Limousine (MOSHI MOSHI LP) KIKAGAKU MOYO FOTHERINGAY Monaka The Way I Feel The lead track from Japanese psychedelicists This Gordon Lightfoot cover from Sandy Denny’s post- Kikagaku Moyo’s final album fuses a lot of what has Fairport band’s sole album during their lifetime is often made them so compelling over the past nine years overlooked, probably because Denny only sings low-key into one five-minute East meets West piece. A taut backing vocals behind husband Trevor Lucas’s moody kraut groove blends with sitar and a Japanese melody, lead. Yet instrumentally it’s one of the group’s finest five ending with a blast of acid guitar, resulting in analogue minutes, from Gerry Conway’s rolling, propulsive drums to heaven. Continuing the spirit of Flower Travellin’ Band Jerry Donahue’s scorching electric guitar. And then there’s into the 2020s, just check out these guys’ socials that moment when it drops back to just Pat Donaldson’s to see how far and wide the word has spread. It’s sad to see them go, but we’re sure Go nimble, surprisingly funky bass before the final flourish. Fotheringay was much more than just a Kurosawa has more up his flowing sleeves. vehicle for their supernaturally talented female singer and here, should you need it, is the proof. Available on: Kumoyo Island (GURUGURU BRAIN LP) Available on: Fotheringay (ISLAND LP) LYDSYN THE CITRADELS To Syge Skud Racing Cars Uffe Lorenzen of On Trial, Baby Woodrose and Spids Fire up the lava lamps and break out the party favours, Nøgenhat fame has formed a new trio called Lydsyn that Melbourne’s psychedelic astral travellers are back includes his old friends Palle Demant (The Sledge) on bass to feed your head – and they brought their toys with and Jens Eyde on drums. The first fruits of their labours them… literally. Having recently built their own analogue to be shared with the world is ‘To Syge Skud’ (‘Two Bad synthesiser, they decided to test drive it on their Seeds’), a tale of two low-down lovers very much in Baby 11th album Contractor. The resulting dreamy, moody, Woodrose’s fuzzy garage-rock style but boasting folky cinematic floaters occasionally ebb and flow with Eno- minor key melody reminiscent of The Byrds’ ‘John Riley’. esque ambience and the warmth of ’70s synth pioneers, We’re ready for the band’s self-titled debut album, due on 23rd September on Bad Afro. most readily apparent on this saucer-eyed glacial trawl across marmalade skies. Available on: Bandcamp Available on: Contractor (BANDCAMP DIGITAL) THE ROLLING STONES MORNING Bitch Roll ’em Down So much about this is just perfect. It’s a low in the Imagine, if you will, the SoCal brothers of The Band pocket, dirty ass groove, anchored deep by Charlie Watts’ circa “the brown album”, crafting meticulous, signature swing with Keef and Mick Taylor’s duelling, riff- hydra-headed songs as the early morning sun seeps locked guitar lines driving the song relentlessly forwards. in through the blinds and the mescalin flashes start They’re augmented to great effect by the horns of Bobby to abate. That’s Morning’s self-titled debut right Keys and Jim Price with one of the quintessential Jagger there. Few albums span the sounds of 1970 with such vocal performances front and centre. The Stones have freewheeling lysergic ambition, sucking country, seldom sounded more completely in their element and folk, acid-rock and pop influences into an endlessly of the moment than on the strutting bump, grind and outrageous swagger of ‘Bitch’, which listenable whole. ‘Roll ’em Down’ may represent the straighter end of the record but it’s no perfectly crystalises exactly where they were at circa 1971. less thrilling. Available on: Sticky Fingers (ROLLING STONES RECORDS LP) Available on: Morning (VAULT LP) Visit shindig-magazine.com to check out Shindiggin’ playlists, podcasts and much more 8 SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! Subscription Subscribers’ PRIZE DRAW deals,from TThhiiss iissssuuee,, oonnee lluucckkyy ssuubbssccrriibbeerr wwiillll wwiinn MMaaddffiisshh’’ss 5500CCDD eeppiicc AAll Stewart boxset, TThhee AAddmmiirraallttyy only £17.00! LLiigghhttss:: CCoommpplleettee SSttuuddiioo,, LLiivvee aanndd Rare 1964-2009,, aallssoo iinncclluuddiinngg hardback book and lots of ephemera. 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