"What's It All About? Film & TV Music Of Swinging London" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring TV and Soundtrack Composers Barry Gray, Tony Hatch, Cyril Stapleton, John Barry, Joe Meek, Laurie Johnson, Bob Leaper, John Dankworth, Ron Grainer, Ted Heath Plus Pop & Rock Groups of the Period like Small Faces, Yardbirds, Lulu, Manfred Mann, The Spencer Davis Group, Tom Jones, Vashti Bunyan, The Walker Brothers, Chris Farlowe, Twice As Much, Cilla Black, The Scaffold, The Seekers, Heinz, Laurie Steele, Paul Jones, Herman's Hermits, The Tornados, The Mindbenders, Episode Six, Herbie's People, Katch 22, The Pentangle, Rodney Bewes, Blossom Toes , Arthur Brown, Amen Corner, The Alan Bown Set, The Lemon Dips, Traffic, Pretty Things as Electric Banana, Jasmin-T, Andy Ellison, Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera and more (March 2026 UK Cherry Red/Strawberry 3CD 91-Track Clamshell Box Set with Three Picture Card Sleeves, 40-Page Booklet with Chris Allan and John Reed Annotation and Simon Murphy Masters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

Overall **** 

Amazing breath in the material, fun listens, 

a sea of rarities and discoveries for die-hards, 

beautifully presented, quality audio - not all tracks great

Presentation: ***** 

Lovely Clamshell Box, 3 Card Sleeves, Info-Packed 40-Page Booklet

Audio: 

*** to ***** (mostly ****)

This Review and Over 394 More Like It

Are Available In My E-Book 

 

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CLASSIC 1960s ROCK ON CD 

And Other Genres Thereabouts 

 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

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"...Modesty Blaise...Deadlier Than The Male..."

There are other sets covering this fabulous go-go boots and mini-skirts nostalgia trip, but I dare say they don't do it nearly as well or with such knowledge/passion.

With an amazing breath of Sixties material (91-Tracks across 3CDs – see photos) – you get walloped with fun theme song listens from TV and film, Supermarionation schoolboy crushes, Jason King tache-types, Bond knock-off dysfunctional spies with Tibetan superpowers and Daleks and suitcases and saints and beans on toast as Alfie tries to navigate dolly birds and Sonny Rollins and Mrs. Brown's lovely daughter. Jean Shrimpton, Terence Stamp, Alexandra Bastedo, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Rita Tushingham, Diana Rigg, Lulu, Paul Jones, David Frost, Joe 90, Patrick Macnee – all the shakers are here – and of course deeper dives too into composer giants like John Barry, Tony Hatch, Barry Gray and John Dankworth (to name but a few). Hell, there might even be a freshly lit cigarette hanging from the lips of some anti-hero with a crush velvet shirt.

For the aficionado and diehard collector and with over ninety tracks, you also get a sea of rarities (some first time on CD), cool card sleeves picturing swinging hipster types (names identified below), a jam-packed 40-page booklet with superb period visuals and (largely) banging audio. For my part as a reviewer, to avoid this tale being paperback length (there is a lot to unpack) – I’ve fleshed out each track entry with info past just release dates and catalogue numbers – you get details (from the booklet and bits of my own) on TV stars and films and other related items. Without further goes around the Mulberry Bush, Thunderballs, Blow Ups and To Sir with Love, here are details…

UK released Friday, 27 March 2026 - "What's It All About? Film & TV Music Of Swinging London" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red/Strawberry CR3JAMBX56 (Barcode 5013929435636) is a 3CD 91-Track Clamshell Box Set with Three Period Photo Card Sleeves, a 40-Page Colour Booklet with Chris Allan and John Reed Annotation and Simon Murphy Mastering. It plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:56 minutes, 31 Tracks) 

Michael Caine, Joe 90 and The Spencer Davis Group pictured on card sleeve

1. Theme From The TV Series The Avengers - THE LAURIE JOHNSON ORCHESTRA (December 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17015, A-side - the iconic Avengers Spy TV Show featured Diana Rigg and Patrick McNamee as Emma Peel and John Steed)

2. I've Got Mine - SMALL FACES (November 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12276, A-side - featured in the film 'Dateline Diamonds' - first Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane song collaboration)

3. On The Brink - MIKE VICKERS (August 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Columbia DB 7657, A-side - Mike Vickers had been in Manfred Mann - this Northern Soul anthem was also once used as the theme song to a BBC TV programme called 'The Wednesday Play')

4. Choc Ice - LULU AND THE LUVERS (from the June 1965 UK LP "Gonks Go Beat (Original Soundtrack Recording From The Titan Production) on Decca LK 4673 in Mono - film featured Kenneth Connor and 'The Gonk' was a popular toy of the era that appears in the opening credits of the Sci-Fi Fantasy Movie)

5. Title Theme From Joe 90 - BARRY GRAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (October 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17625, A-side - part of Gerry Anderson's array of Supermarionation TV shows from the Sixties that included Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet - Joe 90 was a kid who could be imbibed with all manner of adult expertise through a machine thus becoming an unlikely hero. Barry Gray's fabulous themes became synonymous with Anderson's shows and were beloved by every schoolkid in England)

6. Deadlier Than The Male - THE WALKER BROTHERS (December 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Philips BF 1537, A-side - theme to a movie of the same name)

7. Theme From Department S - CYRIL STAPLETON AND HIS ORCHESTRA (August 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17807, A-side - a UK Spy TV show cashing in the Bond 007 craze that first featured the character of Jason King as played by actor and future musician Peter Wyngarde. 'Jason King' the TV show would appear in 1971 and become notorious for its deeply un-PC portrayals and hipster soundtrack)

8. Winter Is Blue - VASHTI (from the November 1968 UK Soundtrack LP "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" on Instant INLP 002 in Mono - a Soundtrack LP that also featured The Pink Floyd, Small Faces, Chris Farlowe, Twice As Much - VASHTI BUNYAN would go on to release the hugely collectable Folk-Rock cult LP "Just Another Diamond Day" on Philips Records in November 1970)

9. Alfie's Theme Differently - SONNY ROLLINS with ORCHESTRA Conducted by NELSON RIDDLE (from the 1966 UK Soundtrack LP "Sonny Plays Alfie" on HMV Records CSD 3529 in Stereo - Michael Caine played the titular character in the famous Sixties moral shocker of a movie - Rollins was a US Jazz Tenor Saxophonist)

10. Paint It Black - CHRIS FARLOWE (August 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate Records IM 071, A-side - a cover version of The Rolling Stones classic and also featured on the 'Tonite Let's All Make Love In London' soundtrack mentioned on Track 8)

11. Accroche Toi, Caroline - PARIS STUDIO GROUP (CLAUDE VASORI) (from the 1967 UK 10" Library Music LP "Voices In The Wind" on Sylvester Music Company SMC LP 502 in Mono - most remembered as the theme music to the UK Art Show 'Vision On' featuring Tony Hart)

12. Modesty (Modesty Blaise Theme) - DAVID AND JONATHAN (May 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 700, A-side - Spy Spoof Movie starring Terence Stamp and Monica Vitti in the titular role)

13. Man Alive - THE TONY HATCH SOUND (November 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 15972, A-side - theme music to a BBC hard-hitting subject-matter current-affairs TV show that ran right up to 1981)

14. When I Come Home - THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (August 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 739, A-side - the band featured Steve Winwood and Spencer Davis - music was from a 1966 comedy musical film called 'The Ghost Goes Gear' - the movie featured Acker Bilk, Dave Berry and future TV legend Nicholas Parsons)

15. 007 - THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN AND ORCHESTRA (October 1963 UK 7" 45-single on Ember EMBS 181, A-side - this famous part-of the James Bond music pantheon was first showcased in the second Bond movie 'From Russia With Love' but would be returned to in 'Thunderball' and 'Moonraker' - an instrumental usually used when 007 is outsmarting his Spectre opponent)

16. High Wire - THE BOB LEAPER ORCHESTRA (September 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 15700, A-side - famous for being used as the theme music to the Patrick McGoohan spy show 'Danger Man' (renamed 'Secret Agent Man' in the USA))

17. Night Time Girl (Soundtrack Version) - TWICE AS MUCH (see Track 8)

18. The Champions - THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (August 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17814, A-side - a Spy/Super Heroes TV show starring the gorgeous Alexandra Bastedo with handsome Stuart Damon and studio William Gaunt as a trio of conscientious types who return from a Tibetan plane crash as enhanced human beings)

19. Take This Train - THE LONG AND THE SHORT (see Track 4)

20. The Frost Report - JOHN DANKWORTH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (May 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 700, A-side - theme music to a satirical TV show fronted by the famous interviewer and chronicler of the times David Frost)

21. Georgy Girl - THE SEEKERS (September 1966 US 7" 45-single on Capitol Records 5756, A-side - theme to the film of the same name starring Alan Bates and Lynn Redgrave in the Lead Roles - a No.1 Pop hit in many countries)

22. West End - THE LAURIE JOHNSON ORCHESTRA (Not Originally released commercially - theme to Alan Whickers TV programme 'Whicker's World')

23. Off And Running - THE MINDBENDERS (August 1967 Canadian 7" 45-single on Fontana -1595, A-side - used in the film 'To Sir With Love' starring Sidney Poitier)

24. The Spies Theme - CYRIL STAPLETON (February 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N. 17052, A-side - a UK Spy TV series starring Dinsdale Landen - said to be only one episode in existence as the BBC wiped the tapes)

25. Liver Birds - THE SCAFFOLD (October 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 5812, B-side of "Gin Gan Goolie" - famous TV song theme to a hugely popular TV programme about single ladies navigating the Swinging Sixties while society still has one foot in 40s and 50s traditions)

26. The Ipcress File - JOHN BARRY (from the 1965 UK Soundtrack LP "The Ipcress File" on CBS Records S BPG 62530 in Stereo - Michael Caine's anti-hero Harry Palmer would become a mid-60s icon - this slow ever so slightly menacing instrumental perfectly captured the paranoid world of Sixties espionage from an English egg 'n' chips bedsit point of view)

27. This Is The Moment - THE NEWS (August 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12447, A-side - featured in a TV episode of 'Adam Adamant Lives!' TV Series called 'Sing A Song Of Murder' - Eighties UK Pop Star Adam Ant took his name from this show)

28. Alfie - CILLA BLACK (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 5427, A-side - used in the end credits of the Michael Caine 'Alfie' film - the song was written by the legendary Burt Bacharach and Produced by Beatles collaborator George Martin)

29. Accident - JOHNNY DANKWORTH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (March 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 805, A-side - theme to the movie of the same name starring Dirk Bogarde, Stanley Baker and Jacqueline Sassard from a screenplay by Harold Pinter)

30. Let's Live For Love - THE SPECTRUM (from the US Soundtrack LP "The Bliss Of Mrs. Blossom" on RCA Victor LSP-4080 in Stereo)

31. Thunderbirds - THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (December 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17016, A-side - famous theme to this beloved Gerry and Sylvia Anderson Supermarionation TV Series where the reclusive Tracy Family living on a tropical island turn out to Worldwide problem solvers and rescuers with their advanced Thunderbirds machines invented by Brains)

CD2 (78:49 minutes, 34 Tracks)

Sean Connery (as Bond), 60s Supermodel Jean Shrimpton and Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann) in the Film 'Privilege' with actor Richard Bradford from the 'Man In A Suitcase' TV Show pictured on card sleeve

1. The James Bond Theme - JOHN BARRY ORCHESTRA (September 1962 UK 7" 45-single on Columbia DB 4898, A-side - Vic Flick played Guitar on this world-famous recurring theme music to the first Bond 007 film outing 'Dr. No' in 1962)

2. Blow Up - THE IN CROWD (Not originally released - bnd made two songs for the film 'The In Crowd' but neither was used - they were replaced by England's Yardbirds - The In Crowd would later become Tomorrow in 1969)

3. Dancing Frog - WYNDER K. FROG (February 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Island WIP 6006, A-side - Wynder K. Frog is a pseudonym for Hammond-Organ player Mick Weaver - song was featured on the Soundtrack LP to "The Untouchables") 

4. Stroll On - THE YARDBIRDS (from the 1966 UK LP "Blow-Up (The Original Soundtrack Album)" on MGM Records MGM-CS-8039 in Stereo - while all of the album is credited to and by Herbie Hancock - The Yardbirds get this one song on it)

5. A Man In A Suitcase - RON GRAINER (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17383, A-side - US Disgraced Gumshoe TV Series starring Richard Bradford as Private Eye McGill (Bradford is pictured on the card sleeve to CD2) - the show gave breaks to Felicity Kendal and a young Donald Sutherland)

6. Thunderball - TOM JONES (November 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12292, A-side - theme song from the fourth James Bond movie starring Sean Connery)

7. The Theme From The Power Game - CYRIL STAPLETON (January 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17040, A-side - theme to a TV Series starring Patrick Wymark)

8. Changing Of The Guard (7" Version) - MARQUIS OF KENSINGTON (May 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 052, A-side - the 7" version of this witty societal one-up-manship song is a slight edit - the LP cut on "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" is longer because it has a refrain of 'God Save The Queen' in the fade out)

9. Joe's Theme - LAURIE STEELE (December 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca DFE 8672, A-side - Theme to a children's TV show called 'Joe' - first time on CD)

10. Free Me - PAUL JONES (from the 4-Track UK Extended Play (EP) "Sings Songs From The Film Privilege" on HMV Records 7EG 8975 - Paul Jones was the Lead Singer in Manfred Mann and had a long solo career after the band - Swinging Sixties Supermodel Jean Shrimpton was also in the mpvie and both Jones and Shrimpton are pictured on the front cover of CD2)

11. The Ice Cream Man (Original Speed) - THE TORNADOS (Not originally Released - from the film 'Farewell Performance' - Joe Meek Producer)

12. Stingray - GARY MILLER with THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (October 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 15698, A-side - Vocals by Gary Miller - theme to Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation TV Series)

13. Softly Softly - THE LONDON WAITS (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 030, A-side - theme to the UK TV Series 'Softly Softly' itself a spin-off from the 'Z Cars' TV Series)

14. Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter - HERMAN'S HERMITS (June 1965 UK 7" 45-single 4-Track EP "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" on Columbia SEG 8440 - a Comedy Musical Film)

15. Hit And Miss - TED HEATH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (April 1965 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12133, A-side - The John Barry Seven and Orchestra had the original theme song to the UK's pop-show 'Juke Box Jury' - but in the last few months of its airing, it was swapped out for this variant by Ted Heath)

16. It's Getting Harder All The Time - THE MINDBENDERS (from the July 1967 UK Soundtrack LP "To Sir With Love" on Fontana STL 5446 in stereo - film starred Judy Geeson and Sidney Poitier)

17. Birds - THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (March 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17496, A-side - theme to the BBC's 'Eurofashion 68')

18. The Last Goodbye - CHRIS FARLOWE (April 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 066, A-side - although the label credits the song as being from a film of the same name - it didn't exist - title was just something label owner Andrew Loog Oldham thought 'sounded' like a film title)

19. The Saint - THE ELIMINATORS (from the 4-Track UK Extended Play (EP "Top T.V. Themes" on Pye Records NEP 24276 - a cover version of the popular Roger Moore Spy Show theme to 'The Saint' where Moore played the character Simon Templar)

20. The Adam Adamant Theme - KATHY KIRBY (June 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12432, A-side - theme music to the UK TV Series 'Adam Adamant Lives!' starring Gerald Harper as Adam Adamant, a man from Edwardian England who is frozen in time only to wake up in Swinging 60s London where he begins to solve crimes with his old swashbuckling ways)

21. Live It Up - HEINZ (from the December 1963 UK 4-track Extended Play EP "Live It Up" on Decca DFE 8559 - featured Joe Meek produced bands including Heinz)

22. John Peel - THE EAGLES (from the 1964 US LP "Nothing But The Best" on Colpix CP 477 in Mono)

23. Mio Amore Sta Lontano - ANGELIQUE (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17066, A-side - an Italian cover version of The Zombies song "I Remember When I Loved Her" written by Keyboardist Rod Argent (of the band Argent) that occasionally turned up in the 'Danger Man' show starring Patrick McGoohan)

24. Beefeaters - JOHN DANKWORTH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (November 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 512, A-side - theme to the UK TV Show 'Search For A Star' - this instrumental was also used as one of the pieces of music to open Radio 1's first broadcast in 1967 - the first actual song was 'Flowers In The Rain' by The Move)

25. Captain Scarlet - THE BARRY GRAY ORCHESTRA (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17391, A-side - sixth theme for Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation series - Spectrum Agent and indestructible due to fusion with future tech, Captain Scarlet does battle each week with alien-naughty-boys The Mysterons hell bent on taking over the world)

26. The Doctor's Theme - THE TONY HATCH ORCHESTRA (December 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17864, A-side - theme to a UK TV show called 'The Doctors' starring Justine Lord, Nigel Stock and Linda LaPlante)

27. Ya Ya Da Da - THE NEWS (August 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12477, B-side of "This Is The Moment" (see Track 27 on CD1 for the A-side) - from UK TV programme 'Adam Adamant Lives!')

28. Mouse On The Moon - THE COUNTDOWNS (May 1963 UK 7" 45-single on United Artists. UP 1024, A-side - a cover version of the Ron Grainer theme to the 1963 film 'Mouse On The Moon')

29. That Was The Week That Was - MILLICENT MARTIN with DAVID FROST (February 1963 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 4998, A-side - TV Show Theme recorded live)

30. (Theme) Who-Dun-It - TONY HATCH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (august 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Pye International 7N 17814, A-side - theme to the ATV TV Show 'Who-Dun-it' that starred Gary Raymonde)

31. A Place To Go - MIKE SARNE (April 1964 UK 7" 45-single on Parlophone R 5129, A-side - Sung By and also Starring Mike Sarne alongside Rita Tushingham in the movie 'A Place To Go')

32. La Vetrina Delle Bambole - ARMANDO SCIASCIA AND HIS ORCHESTRA (March 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Ember EMBS 228, A-side - theme to the 1966 Granada TV series 'The Liars' - starred Ian Oglivy (later played Simon Templar in the re-boot of The Saint) and Nyree Dawn Porter who starred in The Protectors)

33. Born To Lose - JACKIE LEE (September 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Decca F 12663, A-side - featured in a crime film called 'Robbery' starring Stanley Baker)

34. Fanfare & Opening Titles (Doctor Who And The Daleks) - MALCOLM LOCKYER (Not Originally Released - with electronic contributions from Barry Gary of Thunderbirds fame - the 1965 movie starred Peter Cushing as the first Timelord - the soundtrack was unissued at the time but reissued in 2009)

CD3 (75:44 minutes, 26 Tracks):

The Daleks from Doctor Who, Liza Goddard and cast from Take Three Girls TV Show and Sidney Poitier are pictured on the card sleeve

1. To Sir With Love – LULU (June 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Columbia DB 8221, B-side of "Let's Pretend" – theme song from the 1967 film of the same name produced by RAK Records founder and music impresario Mickie Most – starred Sidney Poitier as a Guianan teacher in inner city London – singer Lulu was also in the cast – Director James Clavell also wrote the screenplay for The Great Escape – Poitier is pictured on the card sleeve)

2. Residential Area - HERBIE'S PEOPLE (February 1967 UK 7" 45-single on CBS Records 2020584, B-side of "Hummingbird" – from the Ken Loach film 'Poor Cow' starring Carol White and Terence Stamp)

3. Theme From Girl On A Motorcycle - THE BRITISH LION ORCHESTRA (December 1968 US 7" 45-single on Tetragrammaton T-1511, A-side - Les Reed instrumental from the film of the same name starring Marianne Faithfull and Alain Delon)

4. Gentlemen Of The Park - EPISODE SIX (from the shared 1969 Soundtrack LP "Les Bicyclettes De Belsize/Twisted Nerve" by Les Reed, Barry Mason and Bernard Herrmann on Polydor 583 728 in Stereo - song written by Les Reed/Barry Mason)

5. Here Come The Nice - SMALL FACES (June 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Immediate IM 050, A-side - also on the 'Tonite Let's All Make Love in London' soundtrack LP - title of the song comes from a monologue in the film by British comedian Lord Buckley that says "...here comes da nazz...")

6. The Knack (Main Theme) - JOHN BARRY (October 1965 Dutch 7" 45-single on CBS Records 1960, A-side - Instrumental from the movie soundtrack to "The Knack...And How To Get It" starring Rita Tushingham, Ray Brooks and a pre-Betty Michael Crawford with sexpots Charlotte Rampling and Jane Birkin both making screen debuts - its rare picture sleeve is shown on Page 31 of the booklet)

7. Out Of My Life - KATCH 22 (March 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 1005, A-side - taken from the 1969 Film "Baby Love" starring Rita Tushingham, Ray Brooks and Michael Crawford)

8. Light Flight - THE PENTANGLE (October 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Big T Records BIG 128, A-side - Jacqui McShee on Lead Vocals with Bert Jansch, John renbourn and Danny Thompson - theme music to the BBC TV Show 'Take Three Girls' - the actresses are pictured on the front card sleeve)

9. Return From The Ashes - THE JOHN DANKWORTH ORCHESTRA (February 1966 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 675, A-side - theme from the movie of the same name starring Ingrid Thulin directed by 'Guns Of Navarone' and 'Cape Fear' maverick Lee J. Thompson)

10. Dear Mother, Love Albert - RODNEY BEWES (July 1970 US 7" 45-single on Revolution Pop REVP 1001, A-side - Bewes was the Singer and Star of the ITV TV Show called 'Dear Mother, Love Albert' about a country lad pretending to be having a swinging time living in London - show also featured Garfield Morgan later of 'The Sweeney')

11. Look At Me, I'm You - BLOSSOM TOES (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Marmalade 589002, A-side - This Psych Track was part of the French Comedy Drama 'La Connectionneuse' (The Collector in English) and was also on their 1967 debut album too "We Are Ever So Clean" on Marmalade 608001 in Stereo)

12. Opening Titles: Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 - BILL McGUFFIE (Not Originally Released - 1966 Film starring Peter Cushing as Time Lord Doctor Who - the film score was unreleased at the time - finally issued like its predecessor in 2006)

13. She - TUESDAY'S CHILDREN (November 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Mercury MF 1063, A-side - featured in the film '29' starring Alex Kanner (later on Softly Softly) and Yootha Joyce (later in George & Mildred))

14. Scream And Scream Again - AMEN CORNER (from the 1969 UK LP "Farewell To The Real Magnificent Seven" on Immediate Records IMSP 028 in Stereo - Written by Dominic King - it was used in a 1970 Hammer Horror film of the same name starring the unholy triumverate of Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Vincent Price)

15. So Evil So Young - BILL LE SAGE (from the 1961 Mood Music Library UK LP "Light Comedy" on Ember ERL 3314 in Mono - Sage was a British Jazz Pianist who had played for John Dankworth's Orchestra - song became the theme to the ITV Series 'The Cheaters' starring John Ireland)

16. Jeu De Massacre - THE ALAN BOWN SET (from the 1967 French Extended Play EP 'Bande Sonore Originale Du Film "Jeu De Massacre"' on Vogue EPL 8537 - in the satirical film aka 'The Killing Game')

17. Who's Gonna Buy - THE LEMON DROPS (from the 1969 UK Library Music LP "Who's Gonna Buy?" on Music De Wolfe DW/LP 3114 - song written by Peter Reno and featured in the film 'Haunted House Of Horror' starring US Pop Star Frankie Avalon and future 'Man About The House' UK TV Star Richard O'Sullivan)

18. Left Bank Two - THE NOVELTONES (1973 UK 7" 45-single on DW (De Wolfe Music) DWSR/100 - Written by Wayne Hill from the De Wolfe Music Library team - it was heavily featured in the children's TV show 'Vision On' in the Sixties - the song had been around since 1964 hence its use on this Box Set) 

19. I'll Never Be Me - ELECTRIC BANANA aka THE PRETTY THINGS (from the 1969 UK Music Library LP "Even More Electric Banana" on De Wolfe Music DW/LP 3123 - Electric Banana was The Pretty Things and it is they that feature playing this song in the 1969 movie 'What's Good For The Goose' - starring legendary British slapstick comedian Norman Wisdom and actress Sally Geeson - for another song from this LP see also Track 24 on CD3)

20. It's Been A Long Time - ANDY ELLISON  (December 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Track Records 604018, A-side - Lead Singer with John's Children - song featured in the film 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush' starring Barry Evans and Judy Geeson)

21. Virginals Dream - THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (from the 1968 UK Soundtrack LP "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" on United Artists SULP 1186 in Stereo - film starred Denholm Elliot, Diane Keen and Nicky Henson - see also Tracks 20 and 22)

22. Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush - TRAFFIC (October 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Island WIP 6025, A-side - also title of and featured in the movie of the same name - for other songs from the movie see also Tracks 20 and 21 on CD3)

23. Talk Of The Devil - ELMER GANTRY'S VELVET OPERA (Not Originally Released - from the 1968 film 'Talk Of The Devil' - members of Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera would form The Strawbs)

24. The Dark Theme - JASMIN-T (from the 1969 UK Library Music LP "Even More Electric Banana" on De Wolfe Music DW/LP 3123 - title music to the film 'Haunted House Of Horror' - written by Reg Tisley and Barry Womersley)

25. Nightmare (Version from 'The Committee') - THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN (November 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Track Records 604026, A-side - featured in the film 'The Committee' starring Manfred Mann's Paul Jones) 

26. Liberty Bell - THE REGIMENTAL BAND OF THE SCOTS GUARDS (from the 1968 UK Library Music LP "The Band Of The Scots Guards" on Music De Wolfe DW/LP 3085 - most famously used as the theme song to the British TV Show anarchy of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus')

While the card sleeves are tasty to look at - the 40-page booklet compiled and annotated by CHRIS ALLAN with input from JOHN REED is a joy to behold. Cherry Red and their label imprint Strawberry Records have produced plenty Clamshell Box Sets - but the Sixties ones are fabulous. You get the usual seven-inch label repro's for Columbia, Fontana, Immediate, Decca, Parlophone, Polydor etc UK 45s strewn across the text pages with rare Euro pic sleeves, album artwork and sheet music pumping up the rest. As pictured above - composer titans of TV and Film are given due respect by having a page-photo - Laurie Johnson on CD1, John Barry for CD2 and Tony Hatch for CD3. The Sixties and certainly Swinging London can only look cool even when their puppets or wannabe spies fighting the good fight. Allan's notes on each track are brief but jam-packed with interesting facts. This took time and effort to put together and as somewhat of a Box Set veteran - I'm impressed. 

SIMON MURPHY has been associated with Edsel, Ace and Cherry Red for years. While this huge number of tracks (and from the Sixties) is bound to bring varying audio quality as we leap from year to year - major studio to independent cubicle - for the most part the Audio is 'so' damn good. Contrasts come for instance in the Twice As Much song on CD1 "Night Time Girl" (from the "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" soundtrack LP) as compared to Tony Hatch's brass-blasting Champions theme - the latter is not great while Tony Hatch's is - Alexandra Bastedo and pals done proud by our Tone. Following those are the Harmonica-driven "Take This Train" by The Long And Short and Dankworth getting all Sixties-hip with his 'Frost Report' theme music. The latter good to very good - Dankworth however in yer face for all the brass-blasting mono reasons. The drums and orchestra kick in Barry Gray's fantastic "Thunderbirds" theme absolutely marches into your living room - the boys already sliding along those tubes into their dinky IR uniforms to their wonder-machines.

CD1: Highlights include that stunning Avengers opener from Laurie Johnson and the brass-belting instrumental groove of Mick Vickers "On The Brink" where you can see Northern Soul dancers giving it some mental Boogaloo and not wanting it to stop. Pint-sized dynamite Lulu and her Luvers tell us that chocolate ice is very nice (she feels the same about peaches and cream if you know what I mean). But my heart goes to Barry Gray's neck-jerking "Joe 90" - a boyhood sappy moment for men of my age. Never was much of a one for the overbearing melodrama of The Walker Brothers telling us to 'brother beware' - the female of the species will smile but soon make you cry (say it's not true Scott). Time to chase bad guys with the strings and organ chug of "Department S" - Cyril Stapleton's instrumental making them know that next stop is Wormwood Scrubs (before a few swift ones in the Dog & Duck). Folk chanteuse and collector's darling Vashti Bunyan gives us a welcome fay vocal with "Winter Is Blue" - our cello-surrounded Ti-Ti sounding like a starving Melanie who needs to get out more. 

Sonny Rollins supplies the Jazz cool for Michael Caine's superlative 'Alfie' movie - the kind of brass-strut that has not dated - Rollins soloing half-way through where you can hear him pressing in the chromatic side keys. Time for a Stones cover - Chris Farlowe lending his strangulated vocals to a racing-strings version of "Paint It Black" - the first of many tracks featured across the three Cds from the iconic soundtrack to 'Tonite Let's All Make Love In London'. TV themes ahoy with the oh-so familiar high-hat pout of the BBC's art programme 'Vision On' and its Library Music theme. Not long before the ladies get sexy - even if David And Jonathan kind of ruin the "Modesty Blaise" theme - their sappy vocals about as racy as a basket of sweaty Judo outfits due for washing. Better is Tony Hatch's instantly catchy "Man Alive" theme - those news hounds chasing down stories for the BBC. Great bands start to score with Steve Winwood fronting The Spencer Davis Group for their excellent mover "When I Come Home" - but even that is pulverised into shimmering guitar submission by John Barry's "007" - Vic Flick providing the famous guitar line while Brass and Strings move the rest of your heart over to Bond's side. Arguably even cooler (sacrilegious talk I know) is Tony Hatch providing us with the wonderful Harpsichord neck-jerker for "Danger Man" (or 'Secret Agent Man' as it was known Stateside) – Patrick McGoohan dreaming no doubt of Mini Mokes and Number Hierarchy and Prisoner Globules that chase you on Welsh beaches. Other goodies include the amazing slink of "The Ipcress File" - John Barry giving Michael Caine's spook anti-hero Harry Palmer the theme tune of all pie 'n' mash theme tunes. Wynder K. Frog (Mick Weaver) goes convincingly Hammond-A-Go-Go while TV men about town on Juke Box Jury and Adam Adamant get their moments too (don't fancy being an Edwardian frozen in time). Great stuff and plenty more of it too...

CD2: after the blast of door number one, I have to admit to being underwhelmed by the next door down. It opens well enough with everyone's fave ding-da-da-ding theme song for Mish-tar Bond - fabulous audio greeting your lugs for John Barry's iconic "James Bond Theme" from the super-spy's 'Dr. No' debut in 1962. Rough and ready is the best description for "Blow Up" by The In Crowd - tracks that were recorded for the Sixties movie of the same name but replaced by Yardbirds. Choppy and cool. But even hipper is the party-time Hammond Organ of Wynder K. Frog's "Dancing Frog" from 'The Untouchables' movie - grooviness abounds as your dancefloor butt begs for mercy (think of the children). Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page get all Fender and Gibson feedback on the amazingly heavy "Stroll On" - a Rock chugger from The Yardbirds also from the 'Blow Up' film. Way more fun and brassy uplifting is Ron Grainer's infectious "Man In A Suitcase" - a brilliantly evocative slice of pulsating Boogaloo - Richard Bradford as the smoking US Private Eye McGill.  Could probably do without ever hearing the too-in-yer-face "Thunderball" again – Tom Jones and his breathy delivery drowned in brass loudness that threatens a nearby vicarage. Have not heard "The Power Game" since I was a wee nipper – Peter Wymark and his deadpan puss staring out at us from Page 19 of the booklet. 

Another one to lose for me is "Changing Of The Guard" by Marquis Of Kensington - a life-was-better-back-then the-money-is-all-spent aristocracy whinge. Tad too childish rather than cute is how I'd describe "Joe's Theme" by Laurie Steele - not so the foreboding in Paul Jones' "Free Me" - our hero worried about the bonds of retribution in this rare 'Privilege' film track. I understand that Joe Meek elicits hero worship, but not in me, the Tornados instrumental "The Ice Cream Man" track being a firm skip. Manchildren everywhere will smile at the drums of "Stingray" - Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's aquatic Supermarionation extravaganza - Gary Miller the vocalist on this manic slice of 60s TV. No time though for the insufferably twee Herman's Hermits "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" or indeed the  'Softly Softly' CID theme by The London Waits. Way better is the 'Juke Box Jury' brass of Ted Heath's "Hit And Miss" - yer proper TV theme instrumental. Cool discovery comes in the lounge lizard bachelor pad shape of Tony Hatch's instrumental "Birds" - a Horns and Piano groover that will be on a CD-R of mine PDQ. Love the simple jabbed organ notes and treated guitar of "The Saint" - The Eliminators chancing their cover version arm on this one. Another nice found (gorgeous audio too) is "Mio Amore Sta Lontano" - an Italian sung version of The Zombies song "I Remember When I Loved Her" by Angelique - a tune that apparently turned up on occasion in episodes of 'Danger Man'. Another CD2 highlight (amongst too many passes) is the fantastic instrumental groover "Beefeaters" - a John Dankworth and Orchestra floor filling winner that is also on my next CD-R list. And at 34-tracks, on it goes...

CD3: while CD2 might have felt a tad off-kilter - no such case with CD3 which storms back brilliance with great sequencing. Lulu sings of being taken from crayons to perfumes in the decidedly pro-teacher "To Sir With Love" - the lyrics not possibly passing the PC test in 2026 (yikes). Continuing on the rare and interesting B-side tip, compiler Allan lines up more social commentary in "Residential Area" by Herbie's People - a 45 on CBS Records from February 1967 that is not exactly growing on trees (its a smart choice). Even better is the Les Reed instrumental "Girl On A Motorcycle" from the movie of the same name starring leatherette bad-girl Marianne Faithfull and French heartthrob Alain Delon that somehow manages to capture Sixties cool with Sixties lounge all inside 3:30 seconds. "Girl On..." was also apparently the first film to receive an 'X' certificate in the USA (go leather chicks). Moving on with the 'mind as you go' theme of danger to young lasses - the almost Association Bubblegum Pop of "Gentlemen Of The Park" by Episode Six hides lyrics about 'not all flowers are for picking' behind happy-wappy music. And you can feel the musical progression in Steve Mariott's Small Faces as they launch into the Mod Raver "Here Come The Nice" - undercurrents of drugs sinister shadow. And while Marriott and Lane and Co are good, you are thoroughly whomped by the instrumental/arrangement genius of John Barry with the Main Theme to the 1965 movie "The Knack...And How To Get It". My good is this good - everything about it just screams talent. Like Bacharach songs, Barry's music only gets better as the decades pass - so Sixties and yet so now - brilliant.

Rarity time with "Out Of My Life" by Katch 22 who provided two songs to the 1969 controversial movie "Baby Love" that starred Linda Haydn and Diana Dors. The audio is good here rather than great as it 'na-na-na's to a finish. A leap now into the fabulous audio and cool rhythms of England's Folk-Rock manglers Pentangle giving it some 'marking time' in their "Light Flight" single. The ba-da-do-dah pyrotechnic vocals of lead singer Jacqui McShee impressing like mad. "Light Flight" was used as the theme to the groundbreaking BBC comedy TV Series 'Take Three Girls' which starred Liza Goddard, Louise Jameson and Carolyn Seymour (they are pictured on the sleeve). The John Dankworth Orchestra and Rodney Bewes cuts are interesting but are trounced by the fabulous Psych-Pop of Blossom Toes going all backwards guitars and third-eye psychology on their "Look At Me, I'm You". Featuring cooler-than-cool types like Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity - UK 45 singles on the colourful Marmalade Records label send collectors into palpitations and you can 'so' hear why. 

"Feelin' Alright? Mod Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Deep Purple, Sharon Tandy, The Spencer Davis Group, The Love Affair, The Creation, Traffic, Love Sculpture, Spooky Tooth, The Lion Tamers, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Small Faces, Jethro Tull, The Alan Bown!, Jeff Beck (with Rod Stewart on Lead Vocals), Chicken Shack, The Attack, Wynder K. Frog, Free, Blodwyn Pig (with Mick Abrahams), George Fame, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, Savoy Brown, Mighty Baby, Mott The Hoople, Keef Hartley, Terry Reid, The Open Mind, Manfred Mann Chapter Three, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Affinity, Clouds, Killing Floor, Caravan, Juicy Lucy, Faces, The Kinks, Status Quo, East Of Eden, Walrus, Norman Haines Band, Mick Abrahams (ex-Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig), Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Satisfaction, Galliard, Fuzzy Duck, MacDonald And Giles (ex-King Crimson), Graham Bond With Magick, CCS and more (June 2025 UK Cherry Red/Strawberry 64-Track 3CD Clamshell Box Set with a 40-Page Booklet, Three Compilation Mini LP Card Sleeves and Simon Murphy Mastering) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sunshine Help Me..."

As a bona-fide old fart in body and addled mind, I only had to catch a glimpse of the title "Feelin' Alright? Mod Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972" and its scope of 64-tracks and I was there like a Gull to a Trawler Wake. There is much to unpack in this wee Boogie 'n' Environs Beasty from Cherry Red's label imprint Strawberry Records – so let's have at it…

UK released Friday, 20 June 2025 - "Feelin' Alright? Mod Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red/Strawberry CR3JAMBX44 (Barcode 5013929434431) is a 64-Track 3CD Compilation with a 40-Page Booklet and Themed Mini LP Sleeve CDs that plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:06 minutes) - 23-Tracks from January 1967 to October 1968 

Deep Purple feature on the cover
1. Hush (Mono Mix) - DEEP PURPLE (June 1969 UK 7" 45-Single on Parlophone R, 5708, A-side - Rod Evans on Lead Vocals)
2. Hold On - SHARON TANDY (August 1967 UK 7" 45-Single on Atlantic 584124, B-side to "Stay With Me" - Lead Electric Guitar by Bryn Haworth of Fleur De Lys)

3. I'm A Man (Mono Mix) - THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP (January 1967 UK 7" 45-single on Fontana TF 785, A-side - Lead Vocalist Steve Winwood)

4. So Sorry - THE LOVE AFFAIR (from the December 1968 UK LP "The Everlasting Love Affair" on CBS Records S 63416 in Stereo - with Steve Ellis on Lead Vocals)

5. Sunshine Help Me - SPOOKY TOOTH (January 1968 UK 7" 45-single on Island WIP 6022, A-side, and on the Debut LP "It's All About" on Island ILPS 9080 in Stereo - featured Lead Vocalists Mike Harrison and Gary Wright)

6. Tinker, Tailor - TERRY REID (from his December 1968 US Debut LP "Bang, Bang, You're Terry Reid" on Epic Records BN 26427 in Stereo - Produced by Mickie Most - for his 1969 UK Debut LP "Terry Reid" on Columbia Records see also Track 20 on CD2)

7. Midway Down (Mono Mix) - THE CREATION (April 1968 UK 7" 45-Single on Polydor 56246, A-side)

8. Think Of Love - LOVE SCULPTURE (November 1968 UK 7" 45-Single on Parlophone R 5744, B-side to "Sabre Dance" - featuring Dave Edmunds on Lead Guitar)

9. Speak Your Mind - THE LION TAMERS (September 1968 UK 7" 45-Single on Polydor 56283, A-side)

10. Suspicions (Part One) - JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS (October 1967 UK 7" 45-Single on Decca F 12684, A-side Non-LP Track - featuring Mick Taylor on Guitar, Paul Williams on Bass, Keef Hartley on Drums with Dick Heckstall-Smith and Chris Mercer on Saxophones)

11. Feelin' Alright? - TRAFFIC (September 1968 UK 7" 45-Single on Island WIP 6041, A-side, also on the LP "Traffic" from September 1968 on Island Records ILPS 9081 in Stereo - featuring Steve Winwood, Dave Mason (song written by him), Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood)

12. Shake Your Moneymaker - (Peter Green's) FLEETWOOD MAC (from their February 1968 UK Debut LP "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" on Blue Horizon Records S7-63200 in Stereo)

13.  San-Ho-Zay - CHICKEN SHACK (from the June 1968 UK Debut LP "Forty Blue Fingers Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve" on Blue Horizon Records S 7-63203 in Stereo - featuring Stan Webb on Guitar, Mike Vernon Production)

14. Song Of A Baker (Mono Mix) - SMALL FACES (from the May 1968 UK LP "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" on Immediate Records IMLP 012 in Mono - featuring Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones)

15. Feel Like Flying - THE ATTACK (recorded in March 1968 as a planned fifth Uk 45-single, finally released in 1990 on the LP "Magic In The Air" on Reflection MM08)

16. Baby I Need You - CURIOSITY SHOPPE (November 1968 UK 7" 45-Single on Deram DM 220, A-side)

17. Jumping Jack Flash (Mono Mix) - WYNDER K. FROG (August 1968 UK 7" 45-Single on island WIP 6044, A-side - a Cover of The Rolling Stones classic - Wynder K. Frog is Mick Weaver and the song features heavy Hammond organ grooves)

18. Trouble On Double Time - FREE (from their October 1969 UK 2nd studio LP "Free" on Island Records ILPS 9104 in Stereo - featuring Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser and Simon Kirke)

19. Let Me Love You - JEFF BECK (from the November 1968 UK LP "Truth" on Columbia Records SCX 6293 in Stereo - features Rod Stewart on Lead Vocals)

20. Friends In St. Louis - THE ALAN BOWN! (from the February 1970 UK LP "The Alan Bown!" on Deram SML 1049 in Stereo)

21. Walking In The Park - COLOSSEUM (from the May 1969 UK Debut Album "Those About To Die Salute You" on Fontana Records STL 5510 in Stereo)

22. Sing Me A Song That I Know - BLODWYN PIG (from the July 1969 UK Debut LP "Ahead Rings Out" on Island Records ILPS 9101 in Stereo - features Guitarist Mick Abrahams (ex-Jethro Tull) and Saxophonist Jack Lancaster)

23. Serenade To A Cuckoo - JETHRO TULL (from the October 1968 UK Debut LP "This Was" on Island Records ILPS 9085 in Stereo - features Ian Anderson on Vocals and Flute with original guitarist Mick Abrahams)

CD2: (79:20 minutes) 22-Tracks from March 1967 to Oct 1970 

Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity feature on the cover

1. I'm Alive - DON FARDON (August 1969 UK 7" 45-Single on Youngblood YB 1003, A-side - Fardon was with The Sorrows, a Tommy James And The Shondells cover version, Mod song later featured in a '5-Alive' Juice Drink advert in the UK)

2. Somebody Stole My Thunder - GEORGIE FAME (May 1970 UK 7" 45-Single on CBS Records S 5035, A-side - Produced by his former Animals band mate Alan Price, was also on the December 1969 UK LP "Seventh Son")

3. The Eagle Flies On Friday - THE EXCEPTIONS (March 1967 UK 7" 45-Single on CBS Records 202632 - Written and Sung by Drummer Alan Eastwood, the Bassist was Dave Pegg later of Fairport Convention and Robert Plant (then pre Led Zeppelin) plays Tambourine)

4. One Way Glass - MANFRED MANN CHAPTER THREE (from the November 1969 UK LP "Manfred Mann Chapter Three" on Vertigo VO 3 / 847 902 VTY - Vocals by Mike Hugg, band featured Peter Thomas and of course keyboardist Manfred Mann)

5. Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In) - JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY (from the May 1969 UK LP "Streetnoise" on Marmalade 608005/6 in Stereo - Driscoll on Vocals, Auger on Hammond Organ - song originally featured in the musical "Hair")

6. Emmaretta - DEEP PURPLE (February 1969 UK 7" 45-Single on Parlophone R 5762, A-side, Non-LP Track - Rod Evans on Lead Vocals)

7. Skillet - GALLIARD (from the January 1970 UK Debut LP "Strange Pleasure" on Deram SDN 4 in Stereo)

8. Waiting In The Bamboo Grove - SAVOY BROWN (from the November 1969 UK LP "A Step Further" on Decca SKL 5013 in Stereo - band featured Guitarist Kim Simmonds, Keyboardist Bob Hall, Chris Youlder on Vocals with Lonesome Dave and Roger Earl on Bass and Drums who would later form Foghat)

9. You Really Got Me - MOTT THE HOOPLE (from the November 1969 UK Debut LP "Mott The Hoople" on Island ILPS 9108 in Stereo - band featured Ian Hunter)

10. Magic Potion - THE OPEN MIND (August 1969 UK 7" 45-single on Philips BF 1805, A-side)

11. Egyptian Tomb - MIGHTY BABY (from the November 1969 UK LP "Mighty Baby" on Head Records HDLS 6002 in Stereo - band featured former members of The Action)

12. Conversationally Making The Grade - BLONDE ON BLONDE (from the June 1969 UK Debut LP "Contrasts" on Pye Records NSPL 18288 in Stereo) 

13. Blue Mink - BLUE MINK (1969 UK 7" 45-Single on Morgan Blue Town BTS 3, A-side - Instrumental featuring Alan Parker on Guitars and Herbie Flowers on Bass)

14. Don't Be Afraid - KEEF HARTLEY BAND (from the January 1970 UK 2nd LP "The Battle Of North West Six" on Deram SML 1054 in Stereo - band featured Mick Weaver [aka Wynder K. Frog], Spit James on Lead Guitar with Miller Anderson on Vocals)

15. Mona Lose - BOBAK, JONS, MALONE (from the late 1969 UK LP "Motherlight" on Morgan Blue Town BT 5003 in Stereo - band was Mike Bobak (Guitar), Andy Johns (Engineer) and Wilson Malone (formerly Orange Bicycle) on Vocals, Keyboards and Drums)

16. My Babe - THE SHADOWS (from the October 1970 UK LP "Shades Of Rock" on Columbia SCX 6420 in Stereo - band featured Guitarist Hank Williams and Drummer Brian Bennett - song is a Willie Dixon-penned Chess Records classic made famous by Blues Harmonica legend Little Walter)

17. If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You - CARAVAN (October 1970 UK 7" 45-Single on Decca F 13063, B-side of "Hello Hello" - track also on the LP of the same name from September 1970 on Decca SKL 5052 in Stereo)

18. My Mind Can Ride Easy - KILLING FLOOR (from the June 1969 UK LP "Killing Floor" on Spark Records SRLP 102 in Stereo - band member and pianist Lou Martin would go on to have a long career and be a part of Rory Gallagher's studio and touring band in the early Seventies on Polydor Records)

19. Born In The City - ROCK WORKSHOP (June 1970 UK 7" 45-Single on CBS Records S 5046, Non-LP B-side to "You To Lose" - Band featured Scottish Rock legend Alex Harvey on Lead Vocals alongside Horn Players Harry Beckett, Bob Downes, Tony Roberts and Derek Wadsworth)

20. Marking Time - TERRY REID (from his October 1969 UK debut LP "Terry Reid" on Columbia Records SCX 6370 in Stereo - his US debut LP "Bang, Bang, You're Terry Reid" had been issued in 1968 by Epic Records - it was not given a UK issue and the "Terry Reid" album is different)

21. G.E.A.B. - PUSSY (from the March 1969 UK Debut LP "Pussy Plays" on Morgan Blue Town BT 5002 in Stereo - instrumental)

22. For Your Love - ACE KEFFORD STAND (March 1969 UK 7" 45-Single on Atlantic 584 260, A-side - Kefford is ex-Move and the song is a cover of the Graham Gouldman-penned hit by The Yardbirds - the Ace Kefford Stand also featured drummer Cozy Powell with Dave Ball on Guitar)

CD3 (79:48 minutes) - 19 Tracks from May 1969 to February 1972

Faces on the cover

1. Fill Your Head With Laughter - BRIAN AUGER'S OBLIVION EXPRESS (from the 1971 UK LP "A Better Land" on Polydor 2383 062)

2. Call You Liar, Liar - SATISFACTION (from the January 1971 UK Debut LP "Satisfaction" on Decca SKL 5075)

3. I Am And So Are You - AFFINITY (from the June 1970 UK Debut LP "Affinity" on Vertigo 6360 004 - band featured Lead Vocalist Linda Hoyle)

4. Cold Sweat - CLOUDS (from the July 1971 UK LP "Watercolour Days" on Chrysalis Records ILPS 9151)

5. Extract From Tomorrow's People - The Children Of Today - MacDONALD AND GILES (first issued on the May 1971 UK 2LP label Sampler "El Pea" on Island IDLP 1 - original full version appeared on the November 1970 UK LP "MacDonald And Giles" on Island ILPS 9126 - both ex-King Crimson)

6. Pineapple & The Monkey - FACES (Instrumental from the March 1970 UK Debut LP "The First Step" on Warner Brothers WS 3000 - band featured Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Kenny Jones and Ian McLagan)

7. Tomorrow, Today - HARDIN-YORK (May 1969 UK 7" 45-Single on Bell Records BELL 1064, A-side - Eddie Hardin (Singer/Organist) and Pete York (Drummer) were ex Spencer Davis Group)

8. Nadine - JUICY LUCY (from the November 1969 UK Debut LP "Juicy Lucy" on Vertigo VO 2 / 847 901 VTY - band featured Glenn Ross Campbell on Lead Guitar (ex-Misunderstood), Chris Mercer on Saxophone, Guitarist Neil Hubbard (ex-Bluesology), Vocalist Ray Owen and Bassist Keith Ellis (ex-Koobas) - the song is a Chuck Berry cover version)

9. More Than I Am - FUZZY DUCK (from the September 1971 UK Debut (and only) LP on MAM Records MAM-AS 1005 - featured Mick Hawksworth of Five-Day Week Straw People and Andromeda)

10. Solar Level - JOHNNY ALMOND MUSIC MACHINE (from the July 1969 UK LP "Patent Pending" on Deram SML 1043 in Stereo - Produced by Mike Vernon of Blue Horizon Records fame - Multi-Instrumentalist, Session Player and Keyboardist Johnny Almond would go on to form the band Mark-Almond with Guitarist Jon Mark) 

11. Variations On Nainos - BLODWYN PIG (from their second and last studio album "Getting To This", April 1970 on Chrysalis ILPS 9122 - featuring Guitarist Mick Abrahams, originally with Jethro Tull for "This Was" Debut LP, and Saxophonist Jack Lancaster)

12. Lola (Instrumental) - THE KINKS (from the March 1971 UK LP "Percy - Original Soundtrack" on Pye Records NSPL 18365 - featuring Ray and Dave Davies)

13. (April) Spring Summer And Sundays - STATUS QUO (from the August 1970 UK LP "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" on Pye Records NSPL 18344 - featuring Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan)

14. Marcus Junior - EAST OF EDEN (May 1970 UK 7" 45-single on Deram DM 297, B-side of "Jig A Jig" - featuring Dave Arbus on Violin and Ron Caines on Alto Saxophone - "Marcus Junior" also appeared on East Of Eden's second studio LP "Snafu" albeit as the middle section of a longer song called "Leaping Beauties For Rudy")

15. Who Can I Trust? - WALRUS (August 1970 UK 7" 45-Single on Deram DM 308, A-side - written by Steve Hawthorn - also appeared on their debut (one and only) LP "Walrus" in January 1971 on Deram SML 1072)

16. I Really Need A Friend - THE NORMAN HAINES BAND (from the August 1971 UK Debut LP "Den Of Iniquity" on Parlophone PCS 7130 in Stereo - Haines was a Keyboardist in Birmingham band Locomotive)

17. Greyhound Bus - MICK ABRAHAMS (from his May 1971 UK Debut solo LP (ex-Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig) "Mick Abrahams" on Chrysalis ILPS 9147 - Abrahams' band featured ex- Blodwyn Pig Saxophonist Jack Lancaster alongside Keyboardist Bob Sargeant)

18. I Put My Magick On You - GRAHAM BOND WITH MAGICK (from the August 1971 Debut album "We Put Our Magick On You" on Vertigo 6360 042 - features Diane Stewart on Vocals)

19. Brother - CCS [aka C.C.S.] (February 1972 UK 7" 45-single on RAK Records RAK 126, A-side - CCS is Collective Consciousness Society and featured Alexis Korner, John Cameron and Peter Snape with Production by RAK Records owner Mickie Most)

Compiled by good men and true (well maybe good occasionally and true only as industry bribery demands) JOHN HARRINGTON and JOHN REED – Harrington brings a huge amount of info to each entry – band leading lights – pictures of the 45s from foreign territories – British demos – LP sleeves – trade adverts – promo photos (check out the Atlantic Records shot of Sharon Tandy on Page 5) – and at 40-pages it’s a feast and a typically brilliant job done. JOHN REED knows these kinds of compilations well – a vastly experienced Brit who has been giving punters the CD reissue goods for decades at Sanctuary and Universal. SIMON MURPHY of Another Planet (a very experienced dude) does the Mastering and it all Boogies along very nicely indeed. You will indeed (please forgive the pun) be feeling all right as you listen, each disc offering toppermost playing times too – the equivalent to three double-albums worth and more (Deep Purple, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity and Faces get the cover art for CDs one, two and three respectively). But it’s the discoveries and the dip-ins that thrill. To the tunes…

CD1: I hold no truck with Deep Purple's "Hush" as an opener - I can understand its grunge guitar inclusion - but I find it second fiddle to what should have opened the Box - the utterly fantastic 1967 freakbeat-groover "Hold On" - chanteuse Sharon Tate ably assisted by grinding wild geetar from Bryn Haworth of Fleur De Lys. The follow-up is just as 'groovy chick' - The Spencer Davis Group smashing it with one the great drivers of the lates Sixties - "I'm A Man" - a Steve Winwood-sung winner that's probably shown up in a 100 movies. Young Mod and About-The-Town Turk Steve Ellis takes lead vocals for The Love Affair's "So Sorry" - a sexy mover dancers love to bits even if the band has admitted that all musicians were professionals and not them (and that certainly applies to the ladies giving it aah-aah-aah). The cool goes on with a very smart choice - Spooky Tooth's "Sunshine Help Me" - the Island Rock Act bolstered up by Vocalists Mike Harrison and Gary Wright as the Harpsichord and Guitar do so-Sixties battle. 

Blighty's Terry Reid shows up and immediate displays why Zeppelin and everyone else wanted his fantastic geezer rasp on the microphone - the "Tinker Tailor" tune is good but his voice is fabulous. Bearded ladies turn up in the Bass-Ballsy "Midway Down" - a so-cool groove from Mod darlings The Creation first issued in April 1968 (few quid to acquire that one). Great pounding piano and guitar audio for Love Sculpture's "Think Of Love" - future Swan Song label Rock 'n' Roller Dave Edmunds twinning his singing with blistering guitar. By comparison The Lion Tamers sound like Popsters with their "Speak Your Mind" - a girl who give an answer to her pining sutor. October 1967 sees John Mayall's Bluesbreakers going crazy - dodgy things hanging around their doors in "Suspicions (Part One)" - a great brassy groover by this tight band of professional R&B rockers (clever choice by the compilers). At last we get a song that could be featured on here three times - Traffic's gem and Box Set title piece "Feelin' Alright" - a Dave Mason winner that Joe Cocker would only make better on A&M Records in 1969. If I had my way, I would have included Cocker's stunner as well - check out its use in the Denzel Washington drunk-pilot movie "Flight".  

Just in time to save us from too much thinking, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac comes roaring in with their tale of 'a gal who lives up on the hill' - a lady of amplitude they are urging to "Shake Your Moneymaker". This is cleverly followed by the second Blue Horizon Records chart act - Chicken Shack giving it some "San-Ho-Zay" - Stan Webb's big guitar amped up to the nines by Producer Mike Vernon for this Freddie King instrumental cover version (wow audio). Back to grunge and grind and Blighty types singing about non-Blighty things - the Small Faces going all Sufism with their fantastic "Song Of A Baker" packing a kick-in-the-spiritual nuts (Mono mix or not). Time to go deep and speaker-grungy with the greasy but brill "Feel Like Flying" - it's a March 1968 that was apparently scheduled to be their fifth 45-single but got shelved only to see light of day on a 1990 compilation. What a discovery! Not surprisingly, it's time to get Psych and Acid weird with Curiosity Shoppe trying their best to emulate the Small Faces circa Autumn Stone - turning down the night with heavy organ and driving drums. Mick Weaver in his Wynder K. Frog alter-ego gets seriously and brilliantly groovy with his Organ-Driven instrumental cover version of The Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" - killing it in stunning Hammond solos for four-minutes - the kind of Mono-Clean Aural Explosion that is bound to put a smile on the most jaundiced of expressions. 

We start to hit the home stretch for a stunning CD1 - a great piece of programming placement giving us Free's forgotten groover "Trouble On Double Time" from their second Island Records LP from 1969 - "Free". It is hard to believe the sound they made - mind-blowingly accomplished - Rodgers slaying it as one of the truly great Rock voices of the century - and of course - Koss - Paul Kossoff only a lad and already gifted in his delivery (the Remaster is astounding). Determined to impress you, we now get that other god-given set of pipes - Rod Stewart fronting a heavy-heavy Jeff Beck Band line-up. "Let Me Love you" is a wild Rawk adaptation of a 1961 Buddy Guy Blues called 'Let Me Love you Baby' and my God is it grooving heavy. Time to calm a little into the almost Pop feel of "Friends in St. Louis" - The Alan Bown! blessed with the pipes of Jess Roden for the excellent Brass and Funk goer (this will be a genuine surprise to those who don't know its fab 2:30 minutes). Keeping up the frantic horny horns, Colosseum come on all Blood, Sweat & Tears on an R&B Boogie tip with their driving "Walking In The Park" - Vocalist and Guitarist James Litherland smashing it alongside Keyboardist Dave Greenslade and Bassist Tony Reeves (both later with Greenslade). Cannot get enough of Blodwyn Pig's "Ahead Rings Out" 1969 debut album (that Pig's head and Headphones shot slays me every time) - so Abrahams' "Sing Me A Song That I Know" is a very smart inclusion - Funky Prog with some Bluesy vibes. And Disc One jaunts home with the big daddies Jethro Tull - Ian Anderson sauntering to a chilled finish with "Serenade To A Cuckoo" - the only cover on their 1968 Debut LP "This Was" (a Roland Kirk song). Cool...

CD2: Fuzz Guitar, Drum Whacks and Big Brass open the Don Fardon August 1969 single "I'm Alive" - an interpretation of a Tommy James & The Shondells tune that kicks booty. The Minister of Suave weighs in with his Mod-Popular anthem "Somebody Stole My Thunder" - Georgie Fame produced by his fellow Animals cohort Alan Price (what a cool groover). Vibes open the lesser-heard Exceptions groove of "The Eagle Flies On Friday" - a can't take no more groove that sets collectors alight. In August 2017 RPM Records named an entire 3CD compilation box set after the next Manfred Mann Chapter Three track - "One Way Glass: Dancefloor Prog, Brit Jazz & Funky Folk 1968-1975"  - suitably groovy. Far better is the short-of-breath "Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)" - an organ groover from the "Hair" musical done by the sexy Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity (you can so hear why their albums go for money - Marmalade and Jam). Rockers Deep Purple get entry number two - "Emmaretta" not much better in my books than "Hush" - Rod Evans still on lead vocals. Next up is a Deram Records whig-out in the shape of "Skillet" by Galliard - guitars and brass gettin' funky by the ovens. On to a more untypical Blues-Funk groove from boogie merchants Savoy Brown in the shape of "Waiting In The Bamboo Grove". Guitarist Kim Simmonds has a soloing field day, but I can't say I like the track. 

It's decidedly weird to hear Mott The Hoople get heavy on The Kinks punkish "You Really Got Me" (never worked for me) - better is the driving guitars of The Open Mind on the more convincing "Magic Potion". Speaking of better, up pops the darlings of underground Mighty Baby with their "Egyptian Tomb" - a shockingly melodic outing about a silly subject. Blonde On Blonde are one of those second-tier bands that didn't make much of an impression and their anti-USA "Conversationally Making The Grade" shows why - it's good rather than great - and even feels derivative of something if you could only remember what it is. Unlikely addition but a clever choice is Popsters Blue Mink and their Funky-Weird instrumental A-side of the same name "Blue Mink" - Guitarist Alan Parker letting rip as an Organ anchors the backbeat. Ever so slightly Allman Brothers is how you might describe "Don't Be Afraid" by Keef Hartley's Band - a funky be-there-with-you groove that chugs along very nicely indeed. The obscure seemingly handmade "Motherlight" LP by Bobak, Jons, Malone on the collectable Morgan Blue Town label was the kind of LP we initially couldn't sell at Reckless Rarities back in the Nineties - then it exploded on the Psych scene and is now a hugely expensive ticket-item. Those old farts The Shadows put in a stellar and clever cover of Little Walter's Chess Records classic "My Babe" by pairing up guitar in the left speaker with organ in the right while the soloing goes onto the center soundstage. 

Three goodies follow after that slightly lacklustre run - Killing Floor and Terry Reid put two infectious move-baby-move winners up in the shape of "My Mind Can Rise Easy" (rocking guitar and brass boogie) while "Morning Time" has Reed's fantastic rasp accompanied by Organs and Guitars going at it in the background. Rock Workshop benefitted from Scottish legend Alex Harvey at the vocal helm for the B-side "Born In The City". A slightly less-convincing CD2 (than CD1) comes to an end with two obscures - the provocatively monikered Pussy giving us the bucket-recorded "G.E.A.B." - an impressive instrumental that pushes along with guitars and organs. Finally - a Yardbirds cover - "For Your Love" given a restructured whack by Ace Kefford Stand - but the poor production kind of does for what is a damn good stab at the Graham Gouldman song.  

CD3: Clever choice to open the lead into the early Seventies with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - the purveyor of so many Rock-Funk-Fusion albums on RCA Records. "Fill Your Head With Laughter" is a cool groover while Decca Records act Satisfaction makes a good follow-on with their Brass-Funker "Call You Liar, Liar" even if the lyrics are a little too cliched for comfort. Fuzzy Guitar ahoy as Linda hoyle of Affinity tells us she's a singer of songs and a bringer of joy in the Brass-Prog holy-roller of "I Am And So Are You". Island Records' Clouds tell us about shivering up a "Cold Sweat" as a manic organ works the background rhythms. Ian MacDonald And Michael Giles [ex-King Crimson] echo the vocals of "Extracts From Tomorrow's People..." - an edit that was exclusive to the Island's fourth sampler outing - the 2LP set "El Pea" in May 1971. I will admit it's not quite my cuppa Darjeeling but I know there are those who love its trippy Flute and Bongos 3:57 minutes. Better for me by a Country Mile is a band I adore - Rodders and The Two Ronnies and Co - the Small Faces just become Faces. Very clever compilation choice in "Pineapple & The Monkey" - a throwaway Keyboard-driven instrumental from their debut as Faces in 1970 (on Warner Brothers) that in place bears slight resemblances to the Small Faces "Collibosher" from The Autumn Stone period.

Up next is Singer and Organist Eddie Hardin and Drummer Pete York advising us that yesterday may have been sour but today is sugary sweet - "Tomorrow, Today" benefitting from the ladies going all 'Hair' choir as the piano-and-organ churches its way onwards. Clever switch to the fabulous Slide Gee-tar of Glenn Ross Campbell in Juicy Lucy for their snotty cover of Chuck Berry's "Nadine" - campaign shouting like a Southern Diplomat. Ross Campbell would amaze again with his blistering slide axe-work on "Who Do You Love" in February 1970 (also on Vertigo) - a cover of the Bo Diddley R&B classic. MAM Records was the home of teen-aimed Popsters Gilbert O'Sullivan and Lindsey De Paul - so finding the decidedly Fuzzed-Up Fuzzy Duck on that label with their grungy groover "More Than I Am" was a surprise - a chugger about doing all I can. Back to CCS-type Brass jabbing accompanied by Piano punctures for "Solar Level" - a very cool neck-swaying instrumental from Keyboard sessionman Johnny Almond (he buffed up Fleetwood Mac and Chicken Shack albums on Blue Horizon Records too).  Love that fab Blodwyn Pig groove Mick Abrahams and Co. got for the second LP highlight "Variations On Nainos" - the band sounding like the love child of Jethro Tull and some hippie minstrel just in from Europe. Many might laugh at the decidedly less cool 'instrumental' version of "Lola" by The Kinks coming like a Top Of the Pops copy - but with its organ-led sound and good guitar-groove - I can see why someone thought it a good idea to include it here (it's not the brilliance of the original with those lyrics, but as an Organ-led groover it works).  

Quo were starting their 12-Bar Boogie assault on their August 1970 Pye Records album "Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon" – the riffage and organ of "(April) Spring Summer And Wednesdays" making for a smart feel-change but still in keeping with the sets themes. Absolute gem comes in the shape of the East Of Eden "Jig A Jig" 45 B-side - "Marcus Junior" – an instrumental where both Dave Arbus and Ron Caines play blinders (Violinist Arbus of course later making such an impact on The Who Side 1 opener "Baba O'Reilly" on their 1971 masterpiece "Who's Next"). Time to get heavy with Walrus and their "Who Can You Trust?" - a bit of a plodder with the requisite chugging guitars and brass jabs to include it on CD3. Very big bucks indeed to acquire the Norman Haines LP "Den Of Iniquity" on original vinyl - the organ, bongos and high voices of "I Really Need A Friend" vey much of 1970. "Greyhound Bus" is probably the best song and groove on Mick Abrahams' debut solo LP in May 1971 (Track 1 on Side 1) - while both Graham Bond and the mighty Blues Brother Alexis Korner and his big-brassy vehicle C.C.S. bring proceedings to a fabulous bopping "Brother" ending (don't give me no jive talk brother, stay loose). 

For sure CD2 and some of CD3 dip a bit - hence the four stars - but there is no doubt that what this wee besty offers is a fantastic array of goodies that would cost you an arm-and-a-leg to acquire on individual digital sets let alone original vinyl. 

A Possible Volume 2 Box Set called "Bootie Cooler" might include other deep dive LP and 45 genre slayers like "Collibosher" by The Small Faces, "Rumplestiltskin" by Rumplestiltskin, "Bootie Cooler" by Shuggie Otis, "Fire Eater" by Three Dog Night, "Space Child" by Spirit, "Slunky" by Eric Clapton, "Coronarias Redig" by Deep Purple, "Midnight Moodies" by Joe Walsh - I have a list as you can imagine for a double-album's worth. We'll see...

"Feelin' Alright? Mod Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972" is a 3CD 64-Track toe-tapping discovery winner and well done to Harrington and Reed and all at Strawberry Records for delivering once again...