Pop Party

3-19-08 Pop Party

Pop Party (1968)

Polydor UK Special 236 517/8/9 3LP boxed set

Record No. 1

Side One

BEE GEES – Massachusetts

AMBOY DUKES – Simon Says

CREAM – Cat’s Squirrel (“Trad. arr. Splurge”)

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Purple Haze

FAIRPORT CONVENTION – If I Had A Ribbon Bow

THE WHO – Substitute

Side Two

THE WHO – Circles (B-Side)

BEE GEES – New York Mining Disaster 1941

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – 51^st Anniversary (B-Side)

JOHNNIE YOUNG – Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Man Will Show You (written by the Bee Gees)

NORMIE ROWE – But I Know (written by Paul Korda)

JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY – A Kind Of Love In (B-Side)

Record No. 2

Side One

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Hey Joe

CREAM – N.S.U. (Hey, Mr. Brown, what does “N.S.U.” stand for?)

BEE GEES – To Love Somebody

CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN – Give Him A Flower (B-Side)

NORMIE ROWE – Ooh La La (written by “Shaw / Keen”? Could this be John “Speedy” Keen?)

FAIRPORT CONVENTION – If (Stomp) (B-Side of “Ribbon Bow”)

Side Two

THE WHO – I’m A Boy

CREAM – I Feel Free

AMBOY DUKES – Judy In Disguise

THE SHEVELLS – Big City Lights (And Country Boy Bill)

BLOSSOM TOES – I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (written by Bob Dylan)

THE BEATLES – Ain’t She Sweet (sung by John Lennon)

Record No. 3

Side One

JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY – This Wheel’s On Fire (written by Bob Dylan, from the famous “Basement Tapes”)

TONY RIVERS & THE CASTAWAYS – I Can Guarantee You Love

SOUNDS INCORPORATED – How Do You Feel

THE WHO – In The City (B-Side)

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – Stone Free

BEE GEES – I Can’t See Nobody

Side Two

CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN – Devil’s Grip (pre-“Fire!” A-Side)

CREAM – Wrapping Paper (B-Side or A-Side?)

JOHNNIE YOUNG – Craise Finton Kirk (written by the Bee Gees)

WILLIAM E. – Lazy Life

THE MONOPOLY – House Of Lords (on the label of the record, this is listed as being performed by “Raymond Froggatt”) (written by the Bee Gees)

THE BEATLES – Cry For A Shadow (fabulous instrumental!)

Certainly a curious period piece! Many fine B-sides and ‘rarities’ by well-known (and loved) artists – as well as some artists that many of us have not heard of! The Amboy Dukes is, of course, Ted Nugent (and the ‘odd man out’ on this set, being American). I believe both Johnnie Young and Normie Rowe are Australian performers (hence the Bee Gees songs?). Who are The Shevelles? Blossom Toes featured guitarist Brian Godding (who was later in Magma). Who are Tony Rivers & The Castaways? I believe Sounds Incorporated worked with Joe Meek (before – or after – this performance?). Who is William E.? Is The Monopoly and Raymond Froggatt one in the same? Probably the coolest songs here that aren’t by the obvious artists are the tunes by Sounds Incorporated and The Monopoly / Raymond Froggatt. Interesting choice of Bee Gees’ cover versions, eh? “House of Lords” is just great!

And the well-known stuff is amazing – Fairport Convention “If I Had A Ribbon Bow”, all the cuts by The Who, Arthur Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Bee Gees, Cream etc.

It’s sets like this that make writing about various artist collections a joy. I am good with nearly 100% of this stuff, and this is a triple album! I definitely remember seeing this boxed set, way back in the late 60’s / early 70’s. No idea how much it was selling for at that time, perhaps $9-$10? (in an era of $3 U.S. LP’s, and $5 import LP’s). And, oddly, I cannot now remember where my copy of it came from – but the box is a tad battered, but the LP’s are in great condition.

So, if you have an affinity for British 60’s LP’s – this 3LP boxed set really packs a wallop.