Various Artists - Fading Yellow Vol.10 (60-70's worldwide, the better side pop-sike and other delights)

After a lengthy absence FY is back with a lush chorus of “Huzzah’s” and a blizzard of scented rose petals (faded, naturally). “No Elvis, no Beatles, no Rolling Stones.” OK, that’s from a Clash song, but the principle applies here too – albeit from the opposite direction – because here we have a parallel pop dimension in which it appears that every musician aspired to be… Justin Hayward! Just listen to Candle’s ‘Matthew, Little Man’ or Gerry Morris’ ‘When It Comes To Love’ for proof. That catch-in-the-throat, yearning yet soothing vocal style; always calm and assured even when apparently in the depths of despair.

Standards are tip-top from the second that the electric sitar/sweet ’n’ sour strings combo of Ted Mulry’s ‘Remember Me’ oozes from the speakers, but extra Michelin stars should be awarded to Ronnie Bird’s Mick Jones/Tommy Brown-produced ballad ‘De L’Autre Cote Du Miroir’, Gallic folk giant Antoine’s post-Apocalyptic ‘Where Did Everyone Go To?’ and Aussie group The Strangers (featuring John Farrar of Marvin, Welch &…), who turn in a gorgeous ‘Take The Time’. 

Oh, and Paul King of Mungo Jerry infamy (now re-named P Rufus King) finally atones for blowing that damned jug on ‘In The Summertime’ with the slightly skewed but completely wonderful ‘Nobody Knows’. Mustn’t forget the splendid Robin Gibb-isms of ‘Welcome To My House’ by Volendam’s very own Leftside either.

So, if turning it up to 11 strikes you as being tantamount to treason then here are 24 more slices of heaven just for you. Anyone suspecting that FY could be running out of steam can rest assured, there’s no drop in standards here. Better grab it fast.

by Mick Capewell

Just been playing the latest FY volume and I must say even though they are all good, I think it is the best volume since Vol.1. The first four tracks make a really strong start; Ted Mulry’s ‘Remember Me’ a geat electric sitar number, Explicit Souls ‘Rebecca’s Shop’ (from a Swedish sampler album) is all harmony, Wilfred’s ‘Candle In The Wind’ (no, not that one), is a really good UK surprise. and Dutch band OPMC’s ‘Love Song For Diana’ are really strong attention grabbers. Gerry Morris’s ‘When It Comes To Love’ is from his scarce LP and I would really love to hear that now after this - anyone got it??.

Two Swedish songs that are really catchy, just because they are so repetitive and melodic are Darling’s ‘Smiling’ and Bengt & Pontus’s ‘Don’t You Hear Me’ and There’s plenty of other great stuff here and only a one or two I’ve heard before. Already on my MP3 player I’m grooving in my head like a Summer’s day despite the Arctic conditions in Britain at the moment. This is great! 

by Paul Martin

Artists - Tracks
1. Ted Mulry - Remember Me - 4:01
2. Explicit Souls - Rebecca's Shop - 3:17
3. Wilfred - Candle In The Wind - 3:28
4. O.P.M.C. - Love Song For Diane - 3:06
5. Twilights, The - It's Dark - 1:55
6. Freedom - The Better Side - 4:35
7. Ola And The Janglers - Oh What A Lovely Day - 3:17
8. Gerry Morris - When It Comes To Love - 3:00
9. P. Rufus King - Nobody Knows - 3:33
10.Candle - Matthew, Little Man - 3:02
11.Antoine - Where Did Everyone Go To? - 3:01
12.Greenfield And Cook - A Day Begins - 2:18
13.Dave Berry - I'm Gonna Take You There - 2:30
14.Los Angeles - Please Believe Me - 2:34
15.Scott Harris - Morning Sun - 2:20
16.Darling - Smiling - 2:39
17.Ronnie Bird - De L'Autre Cote Du Miroir - 3:03
18.Leftside - Welcome To My House - 2:53
19.Bengt And Pontus - Didn't You Hear Me - 2:38
20.Lee Kings - Coming From The Ground - 2:36
21.Countdown - Georgia - 3:00
22.Strangers - Take The Time - 3:02
23.John O'Hara And His Playboys - Sister Rae - 3:56
24.Saft - Albertine Hall - 3:46

Fading Yellow series..
1965-69 Vol.1 - Timeless Pop-Sike And Other Delights
1965-69 Fading Yellow Vol. 2 US Pop Sikes
1965-69 Fading Yellow - Vol. 3
1965-69 Fading Yellow - Vol. 4
1970-73 Fading Yellow - Vol. 5
1966-70 Fading Yellow - Vol. 6 
1968-72 Fading Yellow - Vol. 7
1968-75 Fading Yellow - Vol. 8
1966-72 Fading Yellow - Vol. 9

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Babe Ruth - Babe Ruth (1975 uk, impressive hard progressive rock, Original Vinyl edition)

Progressive rock unit Babe Ruth was formed in Hertfordshire, England in 1971 by singer Janita "Jenny" Haan, guitarist Alan Shacklock (whose surname lent the group their original moniker), and bassist Dave Hewitt. Pianist Dave Punshon and drummer Dick Powell joined the lineup prior to the 1971 release of Babe Ruth's debut single, "Elusive"; the 1972 LP, First Base -- which credited the explosive Haan with "vocal power" -- generated the group's best-known song, the Shacklock-penned "Wells Fargo," and despite limited interest at home, the album earned a following on North American shores, going gold in Canada. 

Drummer Ed Spevock replaced Powell for the follow-up, 1973's Amar Caballero, while ex-Wild Turkey keyboardist Steve Gurl assumed Punshon's duties for Babe Ruth's self-titled third effort; the most pivotal blow, however, was the subsequent exit of Shacklock, with another Wild Turkey alum, guitarist Bernie Marsden, signing on for 1975's Stealin' Home. Though the album seemed poised to finally push the group into the British mainstream, Haan and Hewitt both resigned; singer Ellie Hope and bassist Ray Knott were tapped for 1976's Kid's Stuff, but without a single founding member remaining in the lineup, Babe Ruth disbanded months later.

Their self-titled release came out on 1975 and shows them branching out of the progressive rock style of earlier discs and adding touches of soul, folk, and movie theme music to their muses. With covers from  Curtis Mayfield's "We People Darker Than Blue" and Morricone's "A Fistful of Dollars," Babe Ruth  show their willingness to diversify from earlier days.

by Jason Ankeny and James Chrispell

Tracks
1. Dancer (Alan Shacklock) - 6:33
2. Somebody's Nobody (Alan Shacklock) - 3:22
3. A Fistful of Dollars (Ennio Morricone) - 2:52
4. We People Darker Than Blue (Curtis Mayfield) - 5:09
5. Jack-O-Lantern (Alan Shacklock) - 3:36
6. Private Number (William Bell, Booker T. Jones) - 3:58
7. Turquoise (Erroll Garner, David Hewitt) - 3:24
8. Sad But Rich (Ed Spevock) - 4:07
9. The Duchess of Orleans (Alan Shacklock) - 5:22

Babe Ruth
*Janita "Jenny" Haan - Vocals, Bells
*Alan Shacklock - Guitars, Vocals, Mellotron, Moogs, Percussion, Vibes
*Ed Spevock - Drums, Percussion
*Dave Hewitt - Bass, Fuzz Bass
*Steve Gurl - Grand Piano, Keyboards, Moogs

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