Backtrack

3-3-08 Backtrack

I have been fascinated with Track records of England for about as long as I can remember. Their roster included The Who, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and The Jimi Hendrix Experience – three of my favorite artists of all time. I think the Backtrack series were all issued in 1970 (or ’71, as the titles progressed).

Backtrack 1 (Track Record 2407 001) is the compilation of singles – but not every Track single. Marsha Hunt “Walk On Guilded Splinters”, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown “Devil’s Grip” (making it’s LP debut), John’s Children “Desdemona” (with Marc Bolan), Eire Apparent “Follow Me”, Andy Ellison “It’s Been A Long Time” (later of Jet & The Radio Stars) etc. Also cool cuts from Jimi Hendrix and The Who.

Backtrack 2 (Track Record 2407 002) is more of the same; The Who “Under My Thumb” & “The Last Time” (Stones songs!), Marsha Hunt doing “Desdemona”, John’s Children “Come & Play With Me In The Garden”, Fairport Convention “If I Had A Ribbon Bow”, Thunderclap Newman “Something In The Air”, Cherry Smash “Sing Songs Of Love” (a song Manfred Mann also did) – and more favorites by Arthur Brown & Jimi Hendrix.

Backtrack 3 (Track Record 2407 003) is one side of The Who and one side of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. 6 songs each. I don’t remember if there are any weird stereo or mono versions. I believe one can get the original un-processed “Stone Free” by Jimi Hendrix here.

Backtrack 4 (Track Record 2407 004) is one side of The Who and one side of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. 6 songs each. I don’t remember if there are any weird stereo or mono versions…or edits, single versions.

Backtrack 5 (Track Record 2407 005) is one side of The Who and one side of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. 6 songs each. I don’t remember if there are any weird stereo or mono versions.

Backtrack 6 (Track Record 2407 006) is a different kettle of fish. It’s entirely soul single licensed from the U.S. for the British market – The Sandpebbles, The Parliaments, The Precisions, The Debonnaires, and Al Kent. 12 tracks, some are pretty good 60’s soul.

Backtrack 7 (Track Record 2407 007) is subtitled “Mixed Bag” – with some rare cuts – Jimi Hendrix & Curtis Knight “How Would You Feel” (which sounds a lot like a Bob Dylan song), Marsha Hunt “Hippy Gumbo & “Keep The Customer Satisfied”, Bent Frame “It’s Only Me” (Roger Daltrey’s brother, apparently), and two single versions by Thunderclap Newman “Accidents” and “I See It All” – and more from The Who and Arthur Brown.

The Backtrack series went on to re-issue the famous albums that Track had been involved with:

WHO, THE QUICK ONE, A (Backtrack 8)

2407 008

WHO, THE WHO SELL OUT, THE (Backtrack 9)

2407 009

HENDRIX, JIMI ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? (Backtrack 10)

2407 010

HENDRIX, JIMI AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE (Backtrack 11)

2407 011

BROWN, ARTHUR CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN (Backtrack 12)

2407 012

ROMAN, MURRAY YOU CAN'T BEAT PEOPLE UP… (Backtrack 13)

2407 013 A comedian that Keith Moon liked; Track did both of his Tetragrammaton albums in the UK (and they did this one twice, hence it being a Backtrack)

WHO, THE OX, THE (Backtrack 14)

2407 014

But for my money, the prize is Track Records first sampler of the era – “The House That Track Built” (Track Record 613 016, 1969 – perhaps preceding the “Backtrack” series?) – with rarities like The Who “Young Man Blues” – a real studio version! And a Thunderclap Newman B-side “Wilhelmina”! And loads of other great material by the usual gang of suspects. I found this LP in New Zealand – but it was a real British pressing, in great shape.

I suppose part of the reason that this label fascinated me so much was that as I uncovered some of their rarities, it was mostly all really good stuff! Even the U.S. soul singles found on “Backtrack 6” are great – notably The Precisions – who sound a lot like The Temptations.

I’ve written LP and single discographies for Track Record – and there are only a few things that remain mysterious to me. I need B-side information on these UK singles:

Track Record U.K.

604 009 Jimi Hendrix / Curtis Knight – How Would You Feel?

604 012 Tony Simon – Gimme Little Sign

604 017 Cherry Smash – Sing Songs Of Love

604 018 Andy Ellison – It’s Been A Long Time

604 019 Eire Apparent – Follow Me

Who is Tony Simon singing a Brenton Wood cover version? A British guy or was it another single they licensed from the U.S.?