"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. 

"Rollin' And Tumblin' - American Electric Blues 1965-1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Slim Harpo, The Butterfield Blues Band (with Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop), Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Otis Redding, Magic Sam, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, Johnnie Taylor, Freddie King, Aretha Franklin, Canned Heat, The Lovin' Spoonful (with John Sebastian), Etta James, John Hammond, Kaleidoscope, The Shadows Of Knight, Captain Beefheart, The Electric Flag, Johnny Winter, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The J. Geils Band, Janis Joplin in the Big Brother Holding Co., J.J. Cale, Ry Cooder, Buddy Miles Express, Tony Joe White, Johnny Jenkins, Dr. John, ZZ Top and more (July 2025 UK Cherry Red/Strawberry 63-Track 3CD Clamshell Box Set with a 40-Page Booklet, Three Compilation Mini LP Card Sleeves and Alec Palao Mastering) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS:

Overall: ****

Presentation: *****

Audio: **** to *****

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"...500% More Man..."

June and July 2025 saw Strawberry Records of the UK (one of Cherry Red's label imprints) produce two Themed Clamshell Box Set humdingers. Each came with over 60-tracks, 40-page booklets and Mini LP sleeves. And man are they good...

The first was "Feelin' Alright? Mod Rock, Funky Prog & Heavy Jazz 1967-1972" (reviewed elsewhere) and the second is this little beauty given over to all things American and Bluesy that drove most of us white-boys doolally with internal combustion and even made some English chappies save up and buy cheap guitars (and that's when the motorvatin' trouble really started). So much great stuff here to love - time for a deep dive into Rollin' and Tumblin' - to the mannish details... 

UK released Friday, 18 July 2025 - "Rollin' And Tumblin' - American Electric Blues 1965-1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Cherry Red/Strawberry CR3JAMBX46 (Barcode 5013929434639) is a 63-Track 3-CD Clamshell Box Set Compiled and Annotated by JOHN HARRINGTON covering Black Blues, R&B, Soul, Rock and Psych being discovered by largely white audiences and bands of the period. It comes with a 40-Page Booklet, Three Mini LP Card Sleeves, ALEC PALAO Mastering and plays out as follows:

CD1 (78:27 minutes, 25 Tracks)

John Lee Hooker, Etta James and Paul Butterfield pictured on the cover

1. Killing Floor - HOWLIN' WOLF (March 1965 US 7" 45-single on Chess 1923, A-side - sessions included Hubert Sumlin and Buddy Guy on Guitars with LaFayette Leake on Piano)

2. 500% More Man - BO DIDDLEY (October 1965 US 7" 45-single on Checker 1123, A-side - an update on his "I'm A Man" classic from 1955 on Chess - real name Elias McDaniel)

3. Baby Scratch My Back - SLIM HARPO (December 1965 US 7" 45-single on Excello 45-2273, A-side - real name James Moore)

4. Born In Chicago - THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (from the 1965 US Various Artists Elektra Records label sampler LP "Folksong '65" on Elektra S-8 - this earlier version is exclusive to this album and includes Paul Butterfield on Harmonica, Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop on Guitars with Howlin' Wolf band members Jerome Arnold and Sam Lay on Bass and Drums with Organist Mark Naftalin)

5. Snatch It Back And Hold It - JUNIOR WELLS CHICAGO BLUES BAND (from the November 1965 US Debut LP "Hoodoo Man Blues" on Delmark DS-9612 in Stereo - features Buddy Guy on Guitar credited as 'Friendly Chap' - LP recorded live in the studio across two days in September 1965)

6. Rock Me Baby - OTIS REDDING (from the September 1965 US LP "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" on Volt 412 - a B.B. King cover version)

7. Leave My Girl Alone - BUDDY GUY (July 1965 US 7" 45-single on Chess 1936, A-side)

8. Night Owl Blues - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL (from the November 1965 US LP "Do You Believe In Magic" on Kama Sutra KLPS 8050 in Stereo - band featuring John Sebastian - the instrumental 'Night Owl Blues' is a tribute Blues about a cafe of the same name in Greenwich Village, New York)

9. Spoonful - DION (May 1965 US 7" 45-single on Columbia 4-43293, A-side - a Willie Dixon song done by Howlin' Wolf at Chess Records in 1960)

10. My Babe - THE EVERLY BROTHERS (from the 1965 US LP "Beat & Soul" on Warner Brothers WS 1605 in Stereo - Don and Phil Everly covering a countryfied version of the Willie Dixon penned song made famous by Harmonica legend Little Walter on Chess Records in 1955)

11. Plum-Nellie - BOOKER T. & THE MG's (Originally a June 1963 US 7" 45-single on Stax S-137 in Mono, B-side of "Chinese Checkers" - here as the March 1965 US LP version on "Soul Dressing" in Stereo - band featured Booker T Jones on Organ, Steve Cropper on Guitar and Al Jackson on Drums)

12. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - JOHN LEE HOOKER (from the October 1966 US LP "The Real Folk Blues" on Chess LPS-1508 in Stereo - an Amos Milburn cover with Eddie Burns on Guitar)

13. Light Bulb Blues - THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT (from the May 1966 US LP "Gloria" on Dunwich S-666 in Stereo - also B-side of their May 1966 US 2nd 7" 45-single "Oh Yeah" on Dunwich 45-122)

14. Sno Cone (Part II) - ALBERT COLLINS (June 1965 US 7" 45-single on TCF/Fox Family/Hall TCF-104, B-side of "Sno Cone (Part I)" - also on his debut album "The Cool Sound Of Albert Collins" on TCF/Fox Family/Hall Records TCF-8002 in Mono)

15. I Had A Dream - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (February 1966 US 7" 45-single on Stax 45-186, A-side - written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter)

16. 32-20 - THE CHARLATANS (October 1966 US 7"45-single on Kapp K-779, A-side - a Robert Johnson cover - Mike Wilhelm plays Lead Slide Guitar on this cover)

17. I Wish You Would - JOHN HAMMOND (December 1965 US 7" 45-single on Red Bird RB 10047, A-side in Mono - First Stereo Release on the "I Can Tell" LP on Atlantic Records SD 8152 in 1967 - Session included Robbie Robertson pre The Band on Guitar with Rolling Stones Bassist Bill Wyman)

18. Shake Your Hips - SLIM HARPO (June 1966 US 7" 45-single on Excello 45-2278, A-side - Session included Lazy Lester on Percussion, Katie Webster on Organ, Willie 'Tomcat' Parker on Tenor Sax - The Rolling Stones famously covered this dancefloor shuffler song for their 1972 double-album "Exile On Main St.")

19. Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes, I Do - CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & HIS MAGIC BAND (from the August 1967 US Debut LP "Safe As Milk" on Buddah BDM 1001 - band featured Ry Cooder on Slide Guitar)

20. Rollin' And Tumblin' - CANNED HEAT (June 1967 US 7" 45-single on Liberty 55979, A-side - First Stereo release on the July 1967 US Debut LP "Canned Heat" on Liberty LST-7526 - a cover version of the Muddy Waters 1950 Blues classic) 

21. I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes - THE BLUES PROJECT (from the November 1966 US LP "Projections" on Verve Folkways FTS-3008 in Stereo - band featured Tommy Flanders on Vocals, Danny Kelb on Guitars, future Blood, Sweat & Tears singer/songwriter and solo artist Al Kooper with Guitarist Steve Katz - song is a reinterpretation of a 1920's Blind Willie Johnson song called "Lord I Just Can't Help From Crying")

22. Think It Over - B.B. KING (April 1967 US 7" 45-single on Bluesway 45-61004, A-side - First Stereo release on the 1968 US LP "His Best: The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS-6022) 

23. I'd Rather Go Blind - ETTA JAMES (October 1967 US 7" 45-single on Cadet 5578, B-side of "Tell Mama" - British Blues Rock legends Chicken Shack (on Blue Horizon Records) famously covered "I'd Rather Go Blind" with Christine Perfect on Lead Vocals. She later of course became Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac when she married the band's Bassist John McVie. Chicken Shack's cover of the "I'd Rather Go Blind" torch ballad hit No. 14 in 1968 in England and launched a long career for Stan Webb's Blues Boogie band) 

24. You Don't Love Me - KALEIDOSCOPE (from the November 1967 US LP "A Beacon From Mars" on Epic BN 2633 in Stereo - a sort of 60ts Psych version of Willie Cobb's song - Chester Crill (Max Buda) plays Harmonica)

25. Work Song - THE BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND (from their 1966 US Second LP "East-West" on Elektra Records EKS-7315 in Stereo - A Nat Adderley cover)

CD2 (79:25 minutes, 20 Tracks):

Bob 'The Bear' Hite of Canned Heat, Taj Mahal and Janis Joplin pictured on cover

1. I Feel So Good (I Wanna Boogie) - MAGIC SAM BLUES BAND (from the September 1968 US Debut LP "West Side Soul" on Delmark DS-615 in Stereo - real name Samuel Maghett)

2. Going Up The Country - CANNED HEAT (November 1968 US 7" 45-single on Liberty 56077, A-side - band featured Bob 'The Bear' Hite with Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson)

3. Statesboro Blues - TAJ MAHAL (from the January 1968 US Debut LP "Taj Mahal" on Columbia CS 9579 in Stereo - is a cover version of a Blind Willie McTell Blues classic and Taj's band featured both Ry Cooder and Jesse Ed Davis on Guitars)

4. Twisted - JOHN KAY & THE SPARROWS (from the 1969 US LP "John Kay & The sparrow" on Columbia CS 9758 in Stereo - pre Steppenwolf band)

5. Piece Of My Heart - BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY (from their August 1968 second US album "Cheap Thrills" on Columbia KCS 9700 in Stereo - this 'LP Version' features JANIS JOPLIN on Lead Vocals and is an Erma Franklin cover)

6. Killing Floor - THE ELECTRIC FLAG (from the March 1968 US LP "A Long Time Comin'" on Columbia CS 9597 in Stereo - a cover of the Howlin' Wolf classic - band featured guitarist Mike Bloomfield ex-Paul Butterfield Blues Band with Nick Gravenites)

7. Tom Cat - MUDDY WATERS (from the October 1968 US LP "Electric Mud" on Cadet Concept LPS 314 in Stereo - features future Miles Davis band member Pete Cosey on Guitar)

8. Mean Town Blues - JOHNNY WINTER (from his March 1969 US Debut LP "The Progressive Blues Experiment" on Imperial LP 12431)

9. Gambler's Blues - OTIS RUSH (from the April 1969 US Debut LP "Mourning In The Morning" on Cotillion SD 9006 in Stereo - Produced by Mick Bloomfield and Nick Gravenites of The Electric Flag - Other Guests included Duane Allman and Jimmy Johnson on Guitars with Ronnie Hawkins on Drums - it is a B.B. King cover version)

10. Born To Be Wild - WILSON PICKETT (from the January 1969 US LP "Hey Jude" on Atlantic SD 8215 in Stereo - Duane Allman on Guitar with The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as the backing band - a cover version of the Steppenwolf hit from the 'Easy Rider' movie)

11. Funk 48 - THE JAMES GANG (from their September 1969 US Debut LP "Yer' Album" on Bluesway BLS 6034 in Stereo - band featured songwriter, singer and guitarist Joe Walsh, later went solo and then from 1976 for 50 years with Eagles)

12. Hoochie Coochie Man - STEPPENWOLF (from their January 1968 US Debut LP "Steppenwolf" on Dunhill DS-50029 in Stereo - a Willie Dixon song made famous by Muddy Waters)

13. Stop - MIKE BLOOMFIELD and AL KOOPER (from the August 1968 US LP "Super Session" on Columbia CS 9701 in Stereo - credited to Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Stills - three already legendary guitarists of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and The Electric Flag, Al Kooper of Bob Dylan sessions and Blood, Sweat & Tears with Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield - "Stop" is a Howard Tate Soul song cover and features only Bloomfield and Kooper of the three)

14. Roberta - LONNIE MACK (from the March 1969 US LP "Glad I'm In The Band" on Elektra EKS-74040 in Stereo - a cover of the Huey 'Piano' Smith New Orleans hit by Guitarist Lonnie McIntosh)

15. Pack Fair And Square - THE J. GEILS BAND (from the 1970 US Debut LP "The J. Geils Band" on Atlantic SD 8275 in Stereo - band featured John J. Geils on Guitar with Richard 'Magic Dick' Salwitz on Harmonica - a Big Walter Price cover version)

16. Speak My Mind - J.B. HUTTO & HIS HAWKS with SUNNYLAND SLIM (from the 1969 US Debut LP "Hawk Squat" on Delmark DS-617 in Stereo - guitarist Lee Jackson also features)

17. Who Do You Love Part 1 - QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE (Excerpt from the March 1969 US 2nd LP "Happy Trails" on Capitol ST-120 in Stereo - Part 1 is an excerpt from a Side-long 'suite' of over 23 minutes that covers Bo Diddley's famous Chess Records anthem 'Who Do You Love' - band featured John Cipollina and Gary Duncan on Guitars with Dave Freisberg on Bass)

18. I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know - BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS (from the February 1968 US Debut LP "Child Is Father To The Man" on Columbia CS 9619 in Stereo - band featuring Guitarist Steve Katz (ex-Blues Project), Songwriter, Guitarist and Vocalist Al Kooper with Saxophonist Fred Lipsius and Drummer Bobby Colomby - the song is an Al Kooper tribute to Otis Redding who had only recently died)

19. Parchment Blues - BLUE CHEER (from the February 1968 US LP "Vincebus Eruptum" on Philips PHS 600-264 in Stereo - a Moses Allison cover version - band featured Leigh Stephens on Guitar who would later have a solo career)

20. Motor City Is Burning - MC5 (from their February 1969 US debut live album "Kick Out The Jams" on Elektra EKS-74042 in Stereo - band featured Wayne Kramer on Guitar - is a John Lee Hooker cover version)

CD3 (78:09 minutes, 18 Tracks):

B.B. King, Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers and Aretha Franklin are pictured

1. The Hunter - IKE & TINA TURNER (from the October 1969 US LP "The Hunter" on Blue Thumb Records BTS 11 in Stereo - is a cover version of an Albert King song)

2. Whipping Post - THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (from the November 1969 US Debut LP "The Allman Brothers Band" on Atco/Capricorn SD 33-308 in Stereo - band featured Gregg and Duane Allman and Dickey Betts on Guitars)

3. Why I Sing The Blues - ARETHA FRANKLIN (from the August 1970 US LP "Spirit In The Dark" on Atlantic SD 8265 in Stereo - a B.B. King cover version)

4. Yonder Wall - FREDDIE KING (from the January 1970 US LP "My Feeling For The Blues" on Cotillion SD 9016 in Stereo - LP produced by King Curtis - song is an Elmore James cover version)

5. Evil - HOWLIN' WOLF (from the February 1969 US LP "The Howlin' Wolf Album" on Cadet Concept LPS-319 in Stereo - Guitarists included Hubert Sumlin, Phil Upchurch and Pete Cosey - album featured Psychedelic re-workings of his Chess Records Blues catalogue from the Fifties for a new audience and famously came with a disclaimer on the front cover that the Wolf hated the record - which appears to have been true)

6. The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. KING (from his December 1969 US LP "Completely Well" on Bluesway BLS 6037 in Stereo - a Roy Hawkins cover version originally issued 1950 - King's LP was Produced by Bill Szymczyk who would later have huge success with Joe Walsh's Barnstorm and the Eagles. "The Thrill Is Gone" gave B.B. his highest Billboard 45-charting in 1969 and became his signature tune ever after)

7. Call Me The Breeze - J.J. CALE (from his December 1971 US Debut LP "Naturally" on Shelter Records SW-8908 in Stereo - this famous Bluesy shuffle song used an early version of a Drum Machine and was memorably covered by Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd fro their "Second Helping" album in 1974 - Eric Clapton also covered it and cited the man as a huge 'style' influence on EC and would later couple up with John J. Cale for Studio albums and live dates)

8. Blues And Trouble - MUDDY WATERS (from the May 1969 US LP "After The Rain" on Cadet Concept LPS-320 in Stereo - Guests included Guitarists Phil Upchurch and Pete Cosey with Pianist Otis Spann and Harmonica from Paul Oscher. "After The Rain" was Muddy's 'preferred' follow-up LP to the divisive "Electric Mud" Psych-Blues album on the year before)

9. Elephant Man - BO DIDDLEY (from the June 1970 US LP "The Black Gladiator" on Checker LPS 3013 in Stereo)

10. Boom Boom - TONY JOE WHITE (from his July 1970 third studio LP "Tony Joe" on Monument SLP-18142 in Stereo - a Swamp Rock re-working of the famous John Lee Hooker Blues tune)

11. I Walk On Gilded Splinters - JOHNNY JENKINS (from the July 1970 US LP "Ton-Ton Macoute!" on Atco/Capricorn SD 33-331 in Stereo - a Dr. John cover version - Band featuring three members of The Allman Brothers Band - Duane Allman, Butch Truck and Jaimoe)

12. Alimony - RY COODER (from the October 1970 US Debut LP "Ry Cooder" on Reprise RS 6402 in Stereo - a Tommy Tucker cover version)

13. Train - BUDDY MILES EXPRESS (from the November 1968 US Debut LP "Expressway To Your Skull" on Mercury SR 61196 in Stereo - band featured ex The Electric Flag Drummer an Vocalist Buddy Miles, Guitars by Jim McCarty of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels with Production by Jimi Hendrix - Miles would later play with Hendrix's backing group Band Of Gypsys before his passing in late 1970)

14. Whole Lotta Love - KING CURTIS & THE KINGPINS (September 1970 US 7" 45-single on Atco 45-6779, A-side - a Funky Saxophone and Brass cover of Led Zeppelin's signature tune from October 1969's "Led Zeppelin II" - itself a hybrid of a Muddy Waters Blues tune called "You Need Love")

15. Chairman Of The Board - CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD (January 1971 US 7" 45-single on Invictus IS-9086, A-side - Blues-Funk Song Written by Motown's Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier with Lead Vocals by Harrison Kennedy)

16. Where Ya At Mule - DR. JOHN, THE NIGHT TRIPPER (from the September 1971 US LP "The Sun, The Moon & Herbs" on Atco SD 33-362 in Stereo - real name Mac Rebennack - Band featured Singers Bobby Whitlock and Doris Troy, Horns from Bobby Keys (long-time associated with The Rolling Stones), British Saxophonist Chris Mercer with Brass Section provided by The Memphis Horns)

17. (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree - ZZ TOP (October 1970 US 7" 45-single on London 45-138, A-side - also the opening track on Side 1 of their January 1971 US Debut LP "ZZ Top's First Album" on London PS 584 in Stereo - this famous Texan three-piece band featured Billy Gibbons on Guitar, Dusty Hill on Bass and Frank Beard on Drums and would achieve huge global status during the 1980s and the MTV era - also featured in the third 'Back To The Future' film)

18. Going Down - FREDDIE KING (from the April 1971 US LP "Getting Ready" on Shelter Records SHE 8905 in Stereo - Produced by Leon Russell (of Shelter Records) with Don Nix - the band included Leon Russell on Piano and members of Booker T. & The MG's - song written by Don Nix)

The 40-page booklet can only be described as a 'feast' - knowledgeable and fact-jammed liner notes by compiler and annotator JOHN HARRINGTON that feature a blow-by-blow account of each song/artist and heaps of archive, trade advert, promo photos and concert artwork in-between the text - it's superbly done and must have taken months to sequence. Archivist, Soul & Mod aficionado and true believer ALEC PALAO has done the Mastering and these official licenses sound like 90s and 00s Remasters - all of it sparkling. By the time you get to Disc 2 and 3 - you may have to turn your combo down to simmer - as tune after tune feels audibly chunky (and for all the right clarity reasons). The first CD being older Blues has a few rough spots as you can imagine and some of the material is over familiar - but you get it - in keeping with the theme - these huge influences are here for a reason. But what makes "Rollin' And Tumblin'..." and Strawberry Clamshells like this such a pleasure is the Coolsville discoveries on every CD (re-acquaintances too) - songs maybe you saw on lists or heard in movies. I like the three Mini LP card sleeves too - cleverly picturing three shakers and makers on each front (see lists above for details) - while the Box Set cover and booklet show another important trio - Howlin' Wolf, Mike Bloomfield and Tina Turner. Nice. To the music...

CD1 sets the scene with five original influences on young white tomboys (Howlin' Wolf through to Otis Redding) before we get to The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Shadows Of Knight, John Hammond et al - American lads redigesting the Blues. Least not of all amongst these were those naughty boys from England who took all this raw American Blues and R&B and morphed it into Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Soul Rock, Garage and Freakbeat. You can feel the eager-beavers all over this Box Set even if they're not actually here (probably due to licensing) - bands like The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, The Animals and of course then into heavier incarnations like Cream, Zeppelin, Savoy Brown, Ten Years After, Status Quo and everybody else who followed. 

"Killing Floor" opens proceedings in 1965 - the same year The Stones had The Wolf on the American TV show 'Shindig' - a pivotal crossover moment in the mid-Sixties when such things were still dangerous. Buddy Guy's Chicago Electric Blues Guitar sound is given pride of place on his own "Leave My Girl Alone" but also in subtle session plays for Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells and as part of the Muddy Waters ensemble over at Chess Records. Most British R&B and Soul fans know the Booker T & The MG's tune "Plum-Nellie" from mod darlings Small Faces - the tune turning on Decca's naughty June 1965 compilation album "From The Beginning" which the band didn't want issued. Here we get Booker's Stereo version from the 1965 LP (and not the 1963 Mono B-side) with Steve Cropper lending blistering guitar while Mr. Jones pushes that Organ sound (very clever choice linking the US influence with a British outcome). 

The genre-moving-forward subtleties continue with the inclusion of B.B. King's "Think It Over" on Bluesway in 1967. Smart enough to catch the zeitgeist - Blues Boy King played alongside coolsters like Moby Grape and The Steve Miller Band at the famous San Francisco Fillmore venue in February of that 'Sgt. Peppers' year - 1967 - thus winning a whole new legion of dude white men fans and converts (B.B. King left the Chitlin' Circuit for good just after). White boys like The Everly Brothers, Captain Beefheart and especially Canned Heat nod towards R&B with cool covers of Chess Classics while The Charlatans and John Hammond show why they are such cult-faves with their great choices too. CD1 jaunts home with brilliance from Etta James, Psych-Blues nutters Kaleidoscope on Epic Records and the monstrously influential Paul Butterfield Blues Band having a go at Bluesing-up a Nat Adderley jazz tune called "Work Song" - Eastern Mysticism meeting Western Blues - such a smart move forward from the strictly interpretative 1965 debut album that honoured Chicago Blues. 

CD2 - while I never could in all honesty stand the weedy "Going Up The Country" of Canned Heat (when they did so much better) - the Taj Mahal and Magic Sam choices are genius - great fusions of Blues and Rock that accept the old but push onwards towards the future. Speaking of unsuspecting brilliance - Steppenwolf's front man and principal songwriter John Kay has always been a go-to for me. His solo LPs "Forgotten Songs And Unsung Heroes" (1972) and "My Sportin' Life" (1973) on Dunhill (USA) and Probe (UK) are reviewed elsewhere on a fab Beat Goes On (BG) CD compilation from 2008. Here we get his first outings Pre-Wolf as the band Sparrow and what a winner his own "Twisted" is - great discovery that Columbia issued after the success of the first two Steppenwolf albums. Ballsy and possessed of a set of pipes many would have killed for - Texan firebrand Janis Joplin fronted the San Francisco Rock-Psych band Big Brother & The Holding Company for two studio LPs before going solo with "Pearl" in 1970. "Her cover of the Erma Franklin soul ballad "Piece Of My Heart" was almost a trauma song by the time Janis was done with. And then sadly 'the greatest white Blues singer' left altogether shortly afterwards. The advert on Page 17 of the booklet shows the amazing Columbia LP cover artwork to "Cheap Thrills" with the words "They're Going To Wipe You Out..." beside it - which she and the band had promptly done at The Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967. 

We return to the Wolf's influence with The Electric Flag's Vietnam War version of his "Killing Floor" preceded by a Radio Voice quoting ominous loss statistics. Ex Paul Butterfield Blues Band guitar wizard Mike Bloomfield headed up the band with Guitarist and Vocalist Nick Gravenites who would provide Janis with "Buried Alive In The Blues" on her second solo LP "Pearl" (1971) - a voiceless instrumental that never got vocals because of her passing. Speaking of stunners and tie-ins - both Bloomfield and Gravenites of The Electric Flag produced the late-coming debut album for Otis Rush - "Mourning In The Morning" - which is represented here with a fab cover of B.B. King's "Gambler's Blues". Both Duane Allman and Tommy Johnson are said to feature as guitarists on this ballsy drivin' rendition. The Wicked Pickett was looking for songs to suit his rasp and manic delivery and few delivered better than Steppenwolf's monster counter-culture motorbikin' hit "Born To Be Wild" - the sessions recorded at Rick Hall's Fame Studios in Alabama with guitar legend Duane Allman jobbing alongside The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as Pickett's storming backing band. Ideally, I would have wanted both "Sookie Sookie" (by Don Covay) and Muddy's "Hoochie Coochie Man" from the stunning "Steppenwolf" 1968 debut LP - but here we get only Hoochie. Still - it's a barnstormer and a clever way of showing the fusion taking place in Rock Music in the late Sixties. These American bands didn't just dig the Blues; they were taking it to a new place. I wonder how many of the old stars saw their faded careers revived by long-haired galoots with Gibsons and Fenders and an adoring look in their eye. 

Brilliant and a great compilation inclusion is the trio of guitarists (Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Stills) doing their cool cover version of Howard Tate's Soul song "Stop". The "Super Session" LP of 1968 on Columbia's '360 Sound' label is the stuff of Audiophile wet dreams - great music and fabulous production values combine with effortless cool and genre forward momentum - nice. And so it is here - an album that reached No. 12 on the US Billboard charts and is remembered with a heap of affection. CD2 races to the finish line with fantastic rip-roaring inclusions - The J. Geils Band doing an obscure Big Walter Price Blues while the brassy boys of Blood, Sweat & Tears lay on a heart-rendered tribute to the fallen Otis Redding with Al Kooper's "I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" (what a tune). And it ends with two heavy sets of Yanks - Blue Cheer and MC5 kicking everything out of the pram never mind cities on fire. 

CD3 moves into 1969 when the Heavy Rock sound changes were everywhere - so a smart starter in Ike & Tina Turner's "The Hunter" - a song that literally feels like a musical prowler. Duane and Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts and Butch Truck stop sessioning for everyone else for a 'minute' to make their own debut album and give us "Whipping Post" - a tune they would turn into a monster on the 1971 Capricorn Records live-double "...At Fillmore East". Two mavericks now show up in the form of Lady Soul herself Aretha Franklin offering a song from her brilliant "Spirit In The Dark" LP of 1970, and Freddie King  gettin' all sliding Elmore James on "Yonder Wall" (King Curtis producing). The remake of "Evil" by Howlin' Wolf is something I skip to be truthful, but not so B.B. King's renaissance song "The Thrill Is Gone" - sounding just fab and amazingly fresh since its appearance in 1969 on Bluesway. 

The new groovers start to beckon - perhaps none more important than Tony Joe White and the wonderful J. J. Cale. The classic shuffler "Call Me The Breeze" features an early version of a Drum machine - while it could be argued that J.J. Cale, Clapton, Dire Straits, John Mayer - all knicked some of Tony Joe White's languid cool Southern swampboy style. Lynyrd Skynyrd would cover the Al Kooper produced "Call Me The Breeze" Cale song (as a finisher) on their 1974 second studio platter "Second Helpings" with Brass and fantastic pizzazz. Tony Joe White had the cool and suave of a hundred Rock Stars as he covered John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" by making it into an 8-minute Rock Funk-a-thon. And just as the new kids on the block are about to swamp all that went before, along comes Forties and Fifties originators Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley re-polishing and re-inventing - Muddy getting back to basic Blues (the "After The Rain" LP) while Eugene Daniels tries his luck with the Shaft gold-chains audience for his underrated "The Black Gladiator" album in 1970. 

By the time we reach the second half of CD3 - King Curtis is covering Led Zeppelin who were covering Muddy Waters ("Whole Lotta Love") and even Soul songwriters Holland and Dozier (after exiting Motown) are angling for a catchy Rock-Soul hook with Chairmen Of The Board on their own Invictus Records. And on it goes to The Night Tripper (Dr. John), the bearded boys of ZZ Top shaking other people's trees and back like a returning sixpence to the updated Blues of Freddie King. 

"Rollin' And Tumblin'..." is a very cool release and retailing at about £22 to £25 quid on a helpful site near you - a purchase you should treat yourself too. Top marks to all involved...