I can’t get enough of these easy listening albums that purport to capture the whacked-out psychedelic mayhem/’Swinging London’-vibe/disco excitement of the 1960s and 1970s. That’s lucky, as there were seemingly thousands upon thousands of them released through that time, and they’re the staple happy find of many a charity shop search. Pretty much every time the most psychedelic part of the album is the cover, as in this beautiful example, with a foxy/terrifying hippy chick as seen through the filter of either heavy LSD dosage or a jobbing middle-aged art director’s take on synaesthesia. There’s also a psyched-up saxophone floating around by her head, for some reason. Bad trip, or something, I guess.
Of course, these albums are very rarely a lost slice of psych madness. Instead, they tend to be – this example included – a collection of covers and ‘original compositions’ played super-competently by a group of session musicians. Interestingly, this is a live album, recorded (according to the rear sleeve) at the Locarno Ballroom, Blackpool, by ‘one of the most popular bands in the British Ballroom’. Happy times! Even more interestingly, Jack Hawkins and his band are in the Michael Caine movie Get Carter, playing ’30-60-90′, which is happily included on this album along with thirteen further tracks that blend in to one another, each transition augmented by ecstatic crowd sounds. A right old barnstormer of a show it sounds, too! It’s not far off sounding like a Spencer Davis Group show, at times…
I can’t find this anywhere! Is there any way someone can email me the track 30-60-90. I have a live album from Jack Hawkins, unfortunately whoever had it before me didn’t care too much about it because it’s already bad sound quality is worse with the scratches.
Drop me a line with your address to simon@nineteenpoint.com, and I’ll see if I can get a decent quality recording together!
E-mail address, I mean…!
I had a signes copy of this album as I was at the actual recording in the Mecca ballroom wBlackpool. The lead singer being Tom Irvine. Unfortunately it has been misplaced over the years. However a friend who also was there has a copy – happy days!
HI there – I am looking to try and download or buy on CD the 30-60-90 track as well; can anyone point me in the right direction?
I was one of the musicians on this album, recorded at the mecca Locarno Blackpool.
How great Allan, thanks for the comment! Good music, still a good listen many years later…
And so was I Mr. Robinson, and my wife sang on it too.Hope you are well.
And so was I Mr. Robinson. Jo, my wife sang on it as well if you recall. Hope you are well.
Anyone know where Tom Irvine and Jack Hawkins are now? I was at this recording too, and had a signed copy, sadly misplaced