Another double-rare one since the A-side is a different version from the album (see below) and the B-side a non-album track. Now I can provide the second in a good digitalized version ref. to the CD box set. Unfortunately, the Shakin All Over version on the boxset is only the album one. Catch this splendid offer here.
Yesterday, an anonymous visitor wrote that this was not the A-side version of this single that I posted, but the album version. First I was upset since I didn't like the way he wrote it, without any kindness for the gracious work I do here. Then I was dubious since I thought the versions were the sames except edited on the single. But tonight, I realized he was right and that the single version is rather different, and much better than the LP one. Much rougher and hard-edged. So, I ripped my vinyl and, although the sound is poorer than the CD one of the album version, it's at least appropriate to the post since it's the actual version that we could find on this single.
Below what I wrote in the then post
"This is the first single (with a not so good picture on the sleeve I must say) Alex Harvey released after having disbanded his Sensational Band. He named the new one The New Band, maybe not the best idea he got but it was his own choice. This anticipated by some weeks The Mafia Stole My Guitar but did not provide a good insight in the future LP since here Alex seemed to go back to his roots, music from the 50's and the first years of the 60's. The new band would have more space to show his musical skill in the long player but here one can see that it was a hell of a band, compact, powerfull, a good vehicle for Alex's voice. The choice of the Johnny Kidd standard might seem not too relevant to the punk years but actually the Pirates (without Johnny Kidd of course, dead 20 years earlier) had reformed and I've seen them at the Hope & Anchor in the summer of 1977 with full punks (I was one I must say) pogoing at them. The version here is quite extreme and unusual. Difficult for me to describe it in English but let's say it sounds more new wave-ish than nostalgic. And Alex's voice is rather hard to recognize. The single was well received by the musical press in England, but unfortunately, it seemed that Alex would not benefit, contrary to his pal Ian Dury, to the jump wagon opportunity (I try this expression but I'm not sure it means what I mean, no matter). The B-side ("Wake up Davis") was much more interesting and remains one of my fave Alex song. Beginning like an old Mississipi rural blues, it turns in a Louis Prima-esque song that would make dance any cul-de-jatte (this for the not so funny joke of the sleeve drawing). I never saw this song on any compilation, neither on any blog, so I think it is a nice gift to rip it from my vinyl single and post it here for who wants it. More to come in the further day from Alex.
"This is the first single (with a not so good picture on the sleeve I must say) Alex Harvey released after having disbanded his Sensational Band. He named the new one The New Band, maybe not the best idea he got but it was his own choice. This anticipated by some weeks The Mafia Stole My Guitar but did not provide a good insight in the future LP since here Alex seemed to go back to his roots, music from the 50's and the first years of the 60's. The new band would have more space to show his musical skill in the long player but here one can see that it was a hell of a band, compact, powerfull, a good vehicle for Alex's voice. The choice of the Johnny Kidd standard might seem not too relevant to the punk years but actually the Pirates (without Johnny Kidd of course, dead 20 years earlier) had reformed and I've seen them at the Hope & Anchor in the summer of 1977 with full punks (I was one I must say) pogoing at them. The version here is quite extreme and unusual. Difficult for me to describe it in English but let's say it sounds more new wave-ish than nostalgic. And Alex's voice is rather hard to recognize. The single was well received by the musical press in England, but unfortunately, it seemed that Alex would not benefit, contrary to his pal Ian Dury, to the jump wagon opportunity (I try this expression but I'm not sure it means what I mean, no matter). The B-side ("Wake up Davis") was much more interesting and remains one of my fave Alex song. Beginning like an old Mississipi rural blues, it turns in a Louis Prima-esque song that would make dance any cul-de-jatte (this for the not so funny joke of the sleeve drawing). I never saw this song on any compilation, neither on any blog, so I think it is a nice gift to rip it from my vinyl single and post it here for who wants it. More to come in the further day from Alex.
Here a picture of Alex during his post SAHB years.
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