France Gall - "1968" Vinyl, Album, Reissue, 1968/2020 (Third Man Records)

France Gall, a teenage singer, for whom Serge Gainsbourg wrote many of her hits. That is interesting, but France is also a great Jazz orientated singer singing French Pop. Beside Gainsbourg, her pop, Robert Gall, wrote a lot of her lyrics with various composers. On the surface, Gall sang for teenagers, but the songs were all written by men in their 30s. This is not an unusual occurrence in the world of French pop music. One of her principal arrangers is Alain Goraguer, a remarkable music figure as well. He worked with everyone from Boris Vian, to Gainsbourg and made a significant electronic soundtrack album "La Planète Sauvage." The other arranger on this album is the English composer and arranger David Whitaker. All of the above, including France Gall, contributed to "1968."

The album captures the year 1968 as if it was an early colored photograph. "1968" yells out the decade due to the exotic instrumentation as well as the balance of pure pop with something substantial. The interesting thing about following French pop music is one should not only pay attention to the headliner (the singer of course) but also equally important are the arrangers. Whitaker and Goraguer have a unique sound, and they truly put their mark on their recordings. "1968" is not only a great France Gall disc but also a crucial recording made by the French, with the help of an Englishman (Whitaker) in a highly inventive album. There are two Gainsbourg songs on the album as well. They are highly recommended. 

Vince Taylor & His Playboys - "Vince Taylor Rocks" Vinyl, Compilation, 2017 (Not Now Music)

Vince Taylor is an extreme version of Gene Vincent. He's a British subject that lived in the U.S., and then went back to London to make records, and eventually became a massive star in France. Vince went insane due to Acid and whatever else. He became a hero to David Bowie, who based his Ziggy Stardust character on specific characteristics of Mr. Taylor. Finding Vince Taylor recordings is not impossible, but a difficult journey. "Vince Taylor Rocks!" is probably the easiest to find, but also includes both his French and British recordings. "Brand New Cadillac" is the only composition by Vince, and it's a classic. Clash recorded it, and therefore their version is more known to the general public. Otherwise, Vince covered the early rock n' roll hits of such artists like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Eddie Cochran. What makes Vince unique is that he takes the imagery and sensuality of early Rock n' Roll and makes it into a personal statement. From the YouTube footage, one gathers that Vince was probably one of the great performers in that field of music. To me, he's essential that he is a Kenneth Anger image of rock, and fueled Bowie's imagination. But also, his recordings are a total delight. Seek Vince Taylor, and you will find bliss. 

The Box Tops - "The Letter/Neon Rainbow" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1967 (Bell)

I have to presume that this is the first Alex Chilton album, as him being a member of The Box Tops.  The blue-eyed soul of Chilton's singing plus the aural pleasures supplied by producer and songwriter Dan Penn makes "The Letter/Neon Rainbow" a real delight.  I'm intrigued by Penn's production of the album.  The orchestration is both understated and there to support Alex's vocals. I don't get the feeling that this is a band at work, but more of a singer with a remarkable writer and arranger.  I love "Trains & Boats & Planes" as well as their version of "Whiter Shade of Pale."  There is a mellow aspect to the vocals, and yet, it is hard to believe that Alex was a teenager at the time of these recordings.  Chilton had that genius aspect in that whatever he touches on, it becomes gold. Penn and Chilton are a great working relationship. 

Vanilla Fudge - "Vanilla Fudge" Vinyl, Album, LP, 1967 (ATCO)

A very popular album when I was a young teenager.  I think every other teenager in Topanga Canyon and the San Fernando Valley had a copy of Vanilla Fudge.  I didn't hate them but was very suspicious of them.  For one, it didn't seem that they wrote any of their songs and there is also an icky aspect to them, that I couldn't put my finger on.  On the other hand, I did have admiration for the album cover art.  It seems like a French cartoon, then an album cover for a NY band.  So, very much in my youth, although my friends had this album, I avoided it like it was the plague.  It struck me as being too straight, and almost Squaresville.  Not until I was in my mid-60s did I purchased a used version of this childhood product. 

What drew me to Vanilla Fudge is Shadow Morton.  I have always loved his work with the remarkable Shangri-Las and he produced the second New York Dolls album, which I like a lot.  So, therefore, and since he produced the Vanilla Fudge, there must be some worth to this album. The way it's packaged it seems to be a statement by Mortan than Vanilla Fudge.  For whom by the way, also had the worse name for a band ever in my existence. Still, side-one is like a novella, in that each song or track fits into the next one.  The Zombies "She's Not There," merges into Sonny Bono's "Bang Bang," which done by The Fudge seems to be the ultimate Existential moment. 

It dawned on me by the time I finished hearing this album, that it is a masterpiece, and somehow through my snobbish youth, I totally missed the drama that is built in this recording.  Heavy on the beat and the organ, this is not garage rock, but almost an operatic practice in doing pop music. In my youth I didn't get it (although everyone else around me got it); this is music that truly reflects the San Fernando Valley in 1967. 

Billy Nicholls - "Would You Believe" 2 x Vinyl, Compilation, Limited Edition, 2007/1968 (Immediate)

I had the CD of the original album but recently purchased a reissued limited-edition double-set, with the extra songs being demos and stuff that didn't make it on the original release in 1968.  "Would You Believe" is incredible.  Imagine the Psychedelic sounds of The Small Faces meeting The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds," and that equals Billy Nicholls.  I don't have that much information on Nicholls, but I believe he is sort of like Speedy Keen of Thunderclap Newman, who was a pal of Pete Townshend and helped out in the studio here and there.   Billy did the same thing for The Who in the 70s and afterward.  This comes to mind perhaps Pete hires people more talented than him!

The Small Faces helped out with the production and arrangement for the song "Would You Believe," and it clearly has their sound, but Nicholls' talent doesn't disappear in the mix whatsoever.  This album is full of brilliant British musicians of its time, with great arrangements by John Paul Jones and Arthur Greenslade, who even worked with Serge Gainsbourg.  My favorite cut here is "Girl From New York," which is the perfect combination of power pop melody with heavy 60s guitar groove that is total Mod-tastic.  The album comes from the sensibility of British Mod-era music as it went into the late 60s.  This album is the perfect sound and example of what was happening at that time, especially in London.  Try to find the double-album set, with the demos attached, because they to are fantastic.  Perfect record. 

Marc Bolan - "Pictures of Purple People" Vinyl, LP, Album, Remastered, 2019 (Easy Action)

A fascinating album of demos by a young Marc Bolan that shows him off as being very influenced by Bob Dylan, and then quickly he turns his obsessions to American cars and girls.  A road map that leads to T Rex.  The great majority of the songs here are just Marc with acoustic guitar, and it is also interesting to see how he used his voice in the early stages of his career.  For the T Rex obsessive, and those who want to study how Dylan influenced many artists. 

The Associates - "Wild and Lonely" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1990 (Circa)

There is no such thing as a bad Associates or Billy Mackenzie record.  It doesn't really exist. Still, the early recordings with Alan Rankine are for sure the more artful era of The Associates.  Compare early Bryan Ferry with Eno Roxy Music, and later era of that band.  Both are still great, but very different. "Wild and Lonely" is basically Billy solo, even though he kept the band's name, it is a solo album.  It is also a brilliant pop album with a strong groove.  I think Billy was listening to Michael Jackson "Off the  Wall," in that he mixes the pop with the Rn'B in an organic manner that it seems effortless.  There is not a bad cut on the album, and why it wasn't successful either in the UK or in the U.S., is sort of an odd mystery, but more of a great disappointment.  

"Strasbourg Square" is a lush and beautiful ballad.  European to its soul, one would have hoped that Billy moved to Paris or even Berlin, but alas, a man of Scotland to the very end.  A great album.