"...Ordinary..."
Reading the blurb on the
rear inlay that accompanies this fourth themed compilation from Messer's Bob
Stanley and Pete Wiggs (the compilers) - I can dig the idea for sure - I just
wish I could dig the music because as far as I'm concerned much of this is
either schlock or just plain boring - or worse - unlistenable. Here goes...
UK released Friday, 29 March
2019 - "Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present THREE DAY WEEK: When The Lights
Went Out 1972-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace CDCHD 1542 (Barcode 029667093927)
is a 26-Track CD and 28-Track 2LP compilation that plays out as follows (CD,
77:06 minutes):
1. Part Of The Union [1972
Demo] - THE BROTHERS (Strawbs)
2. Ordinary Boy - SMALL
WONDER
3. The Hertfordshire Rock -
RICKY WILDE
4. When Work Is Over - THE
KINKS
5. Sailing - THE SUTHERLAND
BROTHERS
6. In Your Life - ADAM FAITH
7. Londonderry - PHIL
CORDELL
8. Cut Loose - STUD LEATHER
9. I'm On Fire - THE TROGGS
10. Kill - MICHAEL McGEAR
11. And The Fun Goes On -
LIEUTENANT PIGEON
12. Open Up - MUNGO JERRY
13. Rod - MATCHBOX
14. Urban Guerrilla -
HAWKWIND
15. Homes Fit For Heroes -
EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND
16. Breathless - BOMBADIL
17. Why Am I Waiting - ROBIN
GOODFELLOW
18. What Ruthy Said -
COCKNEY REBEL
19. Clocks - PAUL BRETT
21. Mole On the Dole -
CLIMAX CHICAGO
22. Northern Soul Dancer -
WIGAN'S OVATION
23. Don't Ride A Paula
Pillion - STAVELY MAKEPEACE
24. War Against War - PHEON
BEAR
25. Roly Pin - ROLY
26. Stardust - DAVID ESSEX
The 2LP set has two extra
tracks - "You Turn Me On" by THE TROLL BROTHERS and "I Feel So
Down" by BARRACUDA
The 24-page booklet is the
usual feast of period photos while the audio is care of long-time Ace Records
Audio associate NICK ROBBINS – the usual mixture of great vs. good.
It opens promisingly enough
- a 1972 demo of The Strawbs doing "Part Of The Union" (as The
Brothers) - a rarity that turned up on the 5CD Box Set "A Taste Of
Strawbs" in 2006. But that promise is quickly dashed by the dire
"Ordinary Boy" from some no marks called Small Wonder (a small wonder
it was released). Ricky Wilde is worse. And on it goes – song after song. But
there has to be a special place in Hell for The Troggs doing dreck like "I'm
On Fire" where we're informed she's 'a natural sex machine' – the lyrics
snarled man (and not in jest) behind some awful rocking guitar - horrid. Phil
Cordell's "Londonderry" is possibly the worst produced recording I've
ever heard and appears only to be included here because of its city title and
the times in which its set. Mike McGear's "Kill" is full of 'give us
war, give us pain' and mentions of the IRA - but while its intentions are
clearly in earnest, it's a woeful listen - no tune to deliver the message. The
fuzz-guitar of "And The Fun Goes On" by the mouldy old dough
merchants Lieutenant Pigeon is a pointless stomper instrumental like Slade
forgot to include words.
Mungo Jerry provide a slight
uplift with their boogie "Open Up" as does Hawkwind singing about
empires falling while Edgar Broughton tells of beating up prisoners and
dockyard workers fighting for their rights - but Wigan's Ovation is an
abomination I never want to hear again. And don’t get me started on Stavely
Makepeace and his turkey “Don’t Ride A Paula Pillion” – a song that has to be
some kind of sick joke. It thankfully ends with David Essex doing his pop-idol
David Bowie moment “Stardust” which at least feels like half a tune.
I normally love Ace
reissues, but I strongly urge the uninitiated to nab a listen before purchase
so you can hear what you're letting yourself in for rather than being suckered
by nostalgia (and what is that cover photo supposed to be about?) A rare drop
of the reissue ball by Ace no matter how worthy the initial idea seemed...
