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London, United Kingdom
DENIM DISCO is a blog dedicated to the pop music and culture of the 1970's. ~ Glam Pop and Discotheque Rock ~ The Sound Of The 70's ~ Contact:denimdisco@hotmail.co.uk

Monday 17 December 2012

COME IN BUDGIE! - A DENIM DISCO MIX

A DENIM DISCO MIX inspired by the classic 70's TV programme BUDGIE

Tracklist:

01 - Cold Turkey - Nobody's Fool
02 - Percy Thrillington - Smile Away
03 - Fulham Football Team - Fulham Stomp
04 - The Peddlers - Back Alley Jane
05 - The Tremeloes - Long Road
06 - Kincade - Dreams Are Ten A Penny
07 - Alan Hawkshaw - It's All At The Co-Op Now 
o8 - Keith Mansfield - Step Forward
09 - Mungo Jerry - Alright Alright Alright
10 - Third World War - Shepherds Bush Cowboy
11 - Fresh - Hit & Run
12 - Redhead - We Ran And We Ran
13 - Hello - Keeps Us Off The Streets
14 - Brian Protheroe - Fly Now
15 - Asha Puthli - Lies 
16 - Alan Price - Sell Sell
17 - Paul McCartney & Wings - Zoo Gang
18 - Brian Bennett - Chase Side Shoot Up
19 - Paddy Kingsland - Tearaway 
20 - Willy Zango - Hot Rod
21 - Soul Stage Orchestra - Grandstand
22 - Ray Martin - News At Ten Theme
23 - Nick Harrison - The Theme From Budgie




Download An MP3 Of The Mix {With Artwork} Here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/7f627tft2zed6i7/Come_In_Budgie!.zip

Friday 14 December 2012

1970's TV GOLD - BUDGIE


                                   ''From the bright busy streets of the Charing Cross Road

                                    To the dark little alleys in old Soho
                                    From the smart noisy clubs where everybody goes
                                    To the dark little streets that nobody knows''

BUDGIE was one of the great BRITISH TV DRAMA series of the 1970's.It was first broadcast in the UK during 1971/72 and has become one of the most fondly remembered TV Shows of the era.The programme showed the gritty reality of everyday life in a way that was rarely touched upon in other TV shows of the day and the passing of time has not lessened the shows impact
 
                                    

The central role of small time crook RONALD 'BUDGIE' BIRD was played by the former teen pop idol ADAM FAITH.Faith had only really dabbled in acting before.He'd performed in a couple of movies in the wake of his chart success and after the pop career tailed off he appeared in some minor theatrical roles. The show was created by two experienced and successful writers:KEITH WATERHOUSE and WILLIS HALL and a few eyebrows were raised when they choose Faith for the lead role

                                     

Throughout the series Bird attempts to become a player in the SOHO CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD. He possesses of a fair degree of charm,but a lack of the requisite amount of cunning places him firmly at the bottom of the criminal 'food chain' 

Faith played the part with such conviction that the public began to question where RONALD BIRD finished and where ADAM FAITH began.During a 1974 TV interview RUSSEL HARTY said to Faith that he would be ''Frightened to come up against you in a dark alley''.Adam was forced to remind him ''Thats Budgie,thats not me.I can't help what Budgie is''.Another striking character in the programme was the gangster Charlie Endell {played by IAN CUTHBERTSON}.Cuthbertson stood at 6ft4 and also turned in a remarkably believable performance.I doubt if  HARTY would have even walked into a room if 'Charlie Endell' had been present!
 

   


The show proved to be incredibly popular and soon every 'JACK THE LAD' worth his salt would be attempting to emulate BUDGIE in the fashion stakes.In an early episode Faith wore a short zip up cotton jacket by STIRLING COOPER which had large lapels and patch pockets in contrasting colours. Similar jackets were also manufactured in suede and leather and these became known as 'BUDGIE' jackets.

 

 
The 'FEATHERED' haircut he sported in the show {created by KEITH WAINWRIGHT of SMILE} was also widely emulated.Before long the BUDGIE haircut and jacket teamed with FLARED trousers,wide collared shirt and broad STACK HEELED became THE LOOK for working class white males in the UK and made ADAM FAITH the much emulated 'FACE' of STREET FAHION.

BUDGIE was more than just a character in a TV drama show. BUDGIE was no less than THE WIDE BOY JAMES DEAN OF THE TELEVISION SCREEN!

                                                          
                            ADAM FAITH.THE JESUS OF COOL WITH HIS ERBERT' DISCIPLES


                                                 
                                                           
                            The complete 1st and 2nd series is now available on DVD:

                               http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=314

                            You would be well advised to snap em’ up sharpish.

                             Now would I sell you wrong Squire?

Tuesday 23 October 2012

THE KIPPER SONGBOOK

                                         

                                                  The name is Kipper, Kipper
                                                  Mean as Jack The Ripper
                                                  Our name is Kipper, Kipper
                                                  Hang on to your heads
                                                 We'll knock you all dead tonight

 

This is the story of  imaginary pop group KIPPER as told in the movie  ''CONFESSIONS OF A POP PERFORMER''. The film was shot in 1975 as the second in a series of BRITISH SEX COMEDIES starring the actor ROBIN ASKWITH. KIPPER are depicted as a rough and ready working class band with a confrontational lead singer called Nutter Normington.Despite their fictional status Kipper were an interesting glimpse into the near future of rock.What set them apart from their GLAM and HEAVY contemporaries was the bands basic musicianship and Nutter’s cockney vocals which recounted casual violence and a life on the dole.like the movie itself the concept of the group was extremely edgy and they served as a precursor to the STREET PUNK bands which would arrive later in the decade.

Here’s a quick rundown of the songs that the group perform along with a brief summary of the story:

 
 
Window cleaners Sidney Noggett and Timmy Lea discover a struggling Pop Group called BLOATER.Sid decides to manage them and renames the group KIPPER.He organises a showcase concert,but before they go onstage the bands drummer injures his hand.Timmy sits in on drums to save the gig,but the band only get to perform one number before a riot ensues.

''THE CLAPHAM''




Journalist Jill Brown agrees to handle Timmy’s PR {Oh! Pardon!} and convinces her newspaper proprietor father to help arrange a record deal for the group.Sid tries to of hype the record into the charts by buying multiple copies in chart return shops.This idea fails and the band continue to rehearse while they consider handing over management duties to Jill.

''ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN''
 



Sid gets the group a spot on the TV Talent Show STAR KNOCKERS,but things don't go according to plan.Disaster strikes when Sid’s attempts to rig the applause-o-meter.The ruse fails and the studio catches fire as a result! The group are at a low ebb and contemplate throwing in the towel.

''OH SHA LA LA''




 
 
Jill’s father invites the band to play a charity fund raising concert in front of The Queen. On the night an onstage fight with support band THE CLIMAX SISTERS ensues and the safety curtain pulls back to reveal a number of partially clothed bodies.Sid and Timmy have been trying to get music promoter Mr Barnwell to take an interest in the band throughout the movie and this display of onstage decadence finally convinces him to sign the band .Unfortunately Sid and Timmy get sidelined from the deal and the film ends with the duo busking for change outside of a sell out KIPPER concert promoted by Barnwell in partnership with Jill!

''KIPPER''

 
Much like the other CONFESSIONS movies,POP PERFROMER did very good business in UK cinemas.The mixture of CARRY ON humour and abundant nudity proved to be just right for the time.The films may seem a little quaint now,but they were as near the mark as the BBFC censor would allow in the 1970's.The Daily Mail still considered them to be quite racy in the late 1990’s when an editorial in the newspaper strongly criticized Channel 4 television for including the films in their schedule!

                                         


Wednesday 19 September 2012

THE HACKNEY VANDAL PATROL

                            
                           WATCH OUT WATCH OUT THERE'S AN 'ERBET ABOUT!

                         
          A TV DOCUMENTRY shot mainly on HACKNEY'S KINGSMEAD ESTATE in 1976


                           ''DO YOU EVER THINK THAT YOUR DOING WRONG?''

                           ''I KNOW I'M DOING WRONG BUT I JUST DON'T CARE''


 

Alvin Stardust At The Wheeltappers - Working Man's Glam

Alvin putting in a dynamic performance at THE WHEELTAPPERS AND SHUNTERS SOCIAL CLUB in 1975.The wheeltappers was a TV VARIETY SHOW set a fictional WORKING MEN'S CLUB in the North of England. Given that the programme generally featured acts who worked the club circuit, the appearance of a high flying chart act like Mr Stardust is slightly incongruous but  highly pleasurable!




Tuesday 28 August 2012

SUFFRAGETTE CITY - A NEW 70's GLAM ROCK CLUB NIGHT IN LONDON!

 

A brand new 70's GLAM ROCK CLUB NIGHT launches in London on SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1st 2012.The club runs from 8pm untill 1am and admission is only £2 or just ONE POUND if you come dressed in your finest vintage glam rock gear.Be sure to head down to CAKEY MUTO at 25 Chatsworth Road, E5 for a night of TUBTHUMPING,GLAM ROCK ABANDON!

Expect to hear music from the likes of: Bowie, Sparks, T. Rex, Roxy Music, Jobriath, Pantherman, Slade, The Runaways, Queen, Milk 'N' Cookies, Suzi Quatro, Iggy Pop, The Sweet, Iron Virgin, The Glitter Band, New York Dolls, Steve Harley, Lou Reed, Mick Ronson, Mott The Hoople, Lynsey De Paul, etc etc etc...

DJ's on the night are SONIC MEDUSA,HEIDI HEELZ,TIM PURR and myself DENIM DISCO!

Facebook page for the event here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/173038342820905/?notif_t=plan_user_joined

Details of and directions to the venue here:

http://www.cakeymuto.com/

Friday 24 August 2012

LYNSEY DE PAUL - ALL NIGHT - FRENCH TV '73


''DONT'CHA THINK I'M LIKE A SPIDER
SPINNING LIES
WONT'CHA STEP INSIDE MY PARLOUR
LITTLE FLY''

A great clip of LYNSEY DE PAUL performing her song ALL NIGHT on a french TV show with a
bevy of GO GO BOYS.Lynsey made her mark as the UK's first commercially successful FEMALE SINGER-SONGWRITER.Her run on the charts began in '72 with the songs SUGAR ME and GETTING A DRAG.The number she performs here from the following year was a little less successful.It only scraped to the position of #56 in the UK SINGLES CHART,but to my mind stands as one of her very best numbers.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

MALICE POOPER - A BILLION DOLLARS MAYBE!

Another strip from ''It's Only Rock & Roll'' an underground comic from 1975

 
 
 

EDDY GRANT - IT'S OUR TIME


IT'S OUR TIME is one of many great tracks from the LP MESSAGE MAN released in 1977 by the multi-talented EDDY GRANT.Mr Grant wrote,arranged and produced the record and also played the majority of the instruments on it.For the disc he created a unique mix of REGGAE,SOUL,ROCK
CALYPSO and HIGHLIFE,a blend that would form the basis of an extremely successful solo career for the singer who had previously hit big with his band THE EQUALS in the late 1960's.

He would have to wait a couple of years before the first of his many solo hits: LIVING ON THE FRONTLINE from the WALKING ON SUNSHINE LP.The MESSAGE MAN LP was subsequently
overlooked which I find a great shame as it contains some of Eddy's best work.




DON'T HAVE TO TAKE SECOND BEST NO MORE
DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A HOLIE VEST NO MORE

CAUSE IT'S OUR TIME
CAUSE IT'S OUR TIME
MY TIME,AND YOUR TIME

Friday 17 August 2012

JIMMY CHERRY – SLOW BURNING IN THE SUMMER OF ‘76


A sublime sizzler from the summer of ’76.SLOW BURNING is a TWO STEP SOUL number from a little known BLACK BRITISH singer who also released the REGGAE 45 ‘’HE’LL HAVE TO GO’’ in the same year.If you put some REGGAE musicians in a room with only their instruments and a copy of ROCK YOUR BABY by GEORGE MCCRAE for company, they would probably come up with a song like this and given Mr Cherry’s involvement with the REGGAE scene I suspect that the record just might have been conceived this way!



The record seems to have made little impact at the time,which is surprising as the songs laid back groove seems to chime perfectly with the unusually hot weather conditions the UK was enjoying that summer.In this country THE SUMMER OF 1976 will always be remembered for the totally out of character HEATWAVE that scorched our playing fields and dehydrated the nylon wearing population of our fair isle.Feast your eyes on this selection of photos which document the event as you hit the play button on the DENIM DISCO YouTube upload of SLOW BURNING.

PHEW WHAT A SCORCHER!














Monday 25 June 2012

GLAMRACKET - THE LAST HURRAH!



''OHHH,WHAM BAM THANK YOU MAAM!''

The news that GLAMRACKET {London's only strictly 1970's glam rock club night} is to close was the saddest thing we've heard since BOWIE announced ZIGGY'S retirement at Hammersmith in '73.Be sure not to miss their last party on Saturday 7th July 2012 .It features live performances from THE ORPHANS,FAZ WALTZ and a DJ set from DENIM DISCO!

http://www.buffalobar.co.uk/

SWEET - ALL THAT GLITTERS

for your delight and delectation:The BBC TV documentary "All That Glitters The Sweet" originally transmitted on 28th February 1974.It's a wonderful document of the 70's Glam Giants at the height of their powers

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Thursday 26 April 2012

Denim Disco Isn't... Denim Disco Is...

Denim Disco Isn't:
A DVD BOX SET
Denim Disco Is:
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

Denim Disco Isn't:
CRANBERRY JUICE
Denim Disco Is:
STRAWBERRY CRESTA

Denim Disco Isn't:
THE NME
Denim Disco Is:
LOOK-IN

Denim Disco Isn't:
CHE GUEVARA
Denim Disco Is:
CITIZEN SMITH

Monday 23 April 2012

RUBY JAMES - SUMMERTIME TIME


SUMMERTIME TIME was released on the mighty RAK label in 1976 as the B-Side of a DISCO/NORTHERN SOUL tune called YOU BURN A HOLE IN MY SOUL.It was co-written and produced by BIDDU who is best known for his work with KARL DOUGLAS,JIMMY JAMES and TINA CHARLES. The song is a solid rock number that falls somewhere between the ROCK/SOUL of NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS by IKE AND TINA TURNER and the GLAM STOMP of CAN THE CAN by SUZI QUATRO.Pure DANCE FLOOR GOLD...Pure DENIM DISCO!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

CATS EYES - A LEFT FIELD FLOOR FILLER



CATS EYES was a DANCE NOVELTY 45 released on the PHILLIPS label in 1973.The tune was written and produced by PETER SHELLEY the man who co-founded MAGNET RECORDS,masterminded the career of ALVIN STARDUST and had solo hit's with ''GEE BABY'' and ''LOVE ME LOVE MY DOG'' in 1975.

The track is a wonderful UP-TEMPO GROOVER that features a FUNKY CLAVINET lead and uses SHRIEKING VIOLINS,CHANTED VOCALS and HAND DRUMS to keep the tune  bouncing and moving along.The record failed to catch on when it was first released,but later became a huge FLOOR FILLER on the NORTHERN SOUL SCENE in 1976/77




In the early 70's the new sound of FUNKY SOUL was gaining wide acceptance amongst fans in the south of England,but many in the north were far less impressed.DAVE GODIN started using the term NORTHERN SOUL in his BULES AND SOUL magazine column to describe records that had an upbeat TAMLA MOTOWN sound.This was done in recognition of the type of dance music still popular with soul fans in the north of the country.

The popularity of 'northern' began to grow and club nights that exclusively played this sound continued to spring up.DJ's were in fierce competition to find records that would satisfy dancers on the scene,but as the 70's wore on tunes with the correct feel began to dry up and DJ's suplimented their sets with recordings by artists who's music would normally fall outside the defined genre of soul music.

Trendsetting DJ's had already started 'covering up' the labels of their rarest finds and would rename them in order to keep the tunes exclusive and avoid detection from bootleggers and other DJ's.This was a ploy that also helped 'LEFT FIELD' tunes like CATS EYES to gain acceptence.When it was covered up and renamed LET'S GO GROOVIN' by THE SOUL AGENTS the record got a wild reaction on the dancefloor of the legendary WIGAN CASINO club and would soon gain significant popularity when it was played in other clubs throughout the north.

Footage of THE WIGAN CASINO in the 1970's

Thursday 29 March 2012

GLAMRACKET - A PROPER 70's GLAM NIGHT IN LONDON


GLAMRACKET is London's only strictly 1970's glam rock club night.A monthly event where BIBA BUNNIES in Sequins and Satin MOVE LIKE TIGERS ON VASELINE to the ART GLAM of BOWIE and SMOOTH SUEDES in Beagle Collared Shirts and Tanktops stomp their TIGER FEET to the GLAM POP of MUD.Everyone parties like it's 1973 and dances THE BUMP and THE JUKEBOX JIVE like they did in that dive down in DEVIL GATE DRIVE.

GLAMRACKET is held at THE BUFFALO BAR next to Highbury and Islington tube Station on the first Saturday of each month.Make it along and worship at the alter of all that is GLAM!

http://www.buffalobar.co.uk/

STOP PRESS!

Saturday 7th April 2012 {Easter Weekend} will be an XTRA SPECIAL night as DENIM DISCO will be joining the crew to man the decks for a short stint.

GET DOWN AND GET WITH IT and tell em' I sent ya!

Wednesday 29 February 2012

GLAM ROCK PICK 'N' MIX


A SELECTION OF 70's GLAM RARITIES
MIXED WITH LOVING CARE TO SUIT ALL TASTES

SUPER GLAM POUNDERS from GANG,JOOK and ANGEL
PROTO PUNK STOMP from GUMBO,HELLO and BUBBLES
NOVELTY ROCK from ZAPPO and FLOATING OPERA
Plus SO MUCH MORE

DON'T DELAY,LISTEN HERE AND DOWNLOAD TODAY!

Tracklist:

01 - Jook - Bish Bash Bosh
02 - Hello - Games Up
03 - Gumbo - We Don't Care
04 - Hector - Bye Bye Bad Days
05 - Gang - Lightning Lady
06 - Bilbo Baggins - You Wanna Be Your Lover
07 - Angel - Little Boy Blue
08 - Bubbles - Zap 'N' Cat
09 - The Trems - Witchcraft
10 - Casuals - The Witch
11 - Hamlett - Vampire Man
12 - Merlin - Wild Cat
13 - Kenny - Baby I Love You, OK!
14 - Soho Jets - Demin Goddess
15 - Downhill Racers - Lovin' Pots
16 - Giorgio Moroder - Underdog
17 - Floating Opera - Keep On Streakin'
18 - Zappo - Right On!
19 - Brian Bennett - Rocking Horse
20 - Air Bubble - Marble Breaks
21 - Saft - People In Motion
22 - Dancer - Hate Generator
23 - Mick Robertson - The Tango's Over

Glam Rock Pick 'N' Mix by Denim Disco on Mixcloud


Download An MP3 Of The Mix {With Artwork} Here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?jk2gyi9nio1beyb

Tuesday 28 February 2012

BUBBLES - ZAP 'N' KAT


''Don't Look Twice Run For Your Life
You Ain't Zap You Ain't Got Nine Lives''

ZAP 'N' KAT is a super obscure GLAM PUNK number driven by a PROPULSIVE BACKBEAT and choppy FREAKBEAT guitar riffs.It came out on DECCA RECORDS in 1975 as the B-SIDE of a song called {takes a deep breath}:''THIS IS WHERE THE HURDIE GURDIE HEEBIE GEEBIE GREENIE MAN CAME IN''.The A-SIDE could be mistaken for CHICORY TIP and features a catchy MOOG SYNTH RIFF reminiscent of the one played on ''SON OF MY FATHER''.It's not without charm,but you really need to flip the disc over to PUT THE KAT AMONGST THE TEENYBOPPERS.

Does Anyone have any info on BUBBLES? I would LOVE to hear ANYHING about the people who created this amazing 45!

Wednesday 22 February 2012

GIRLIE - HELLO,HELLO



''Hey You Don't Come Back,Here's Your Yellow Taxi Cab''

In 1979 Dutch all girl rock band GIRLIE released ''HELLO HELLO''as the follow up single
to ''ANDY {FOR LOVE IT TAKES TWO} '' which had been a hit in their homeland earlier
in the year.The single {which was co-written by Wally Tax of 60's NEDERBEAT icons THE
OUTSIDERS} contains a cutting edge feminist lyric and benefits from a tight group performance and a great ROCK GUITAR RIFF lifted from THE DOORS ''HELLO I LOVE YOU''.

Musically the record was one part ROCK and another part POP,mixing the POWER POP
of THE KNACK,the PURE POP of ABBA and some late GLAM ROCK era trimmings.
The single was released on the ARIOLA label and was backed by another strong song in the
form of the POP/ROCK/BOOGIE number ''SILLY MILLY''

Saturday 11 February 2012

THE ARZENBOYS - BUMP ON MY HEAD


I know nothing of this band,but suspect they were a studio creation.The record was released on the DJM label in 1975 and represents GLAM STOMP in it's most PRIMITIVE form.
Imagine a bunch of TERRACE DWELLING 'ERBERTS bashing out a TROGLODYTE TIGHT rock number that sounds like a collision between ''THE BUMP'' by KENNY and ''NEANDERTHAL MAN'' by HOTLEGS .Yes,it really is that good!