Wednesday 5 May 2010

BACKWARDS MESSAGES, HORNY HOUSEWIVES AND BIRO


I have a fetish for buying the kinds of records that were made to be sold only at gigs, probably cruise ships or working mens clubs. Often, when my magpie eyes spy them, they will be signed by the original artist (and there are few more poignant sights than a signed record by an unknown artist.)

The attraction of these recordings, is that they are not made for any artistic/creative purpose, generally they are intended to simply act as a straight recreation/ memento of the live show. And yet, human beings seldom do what they are expected to, especially when they get in the studio for the first time.

The disc that I turn my attention to today ticks all of these boxes.

Dave Arnold. There's Dave on the front with his trusty Gibson guitar and floppy bow tie.

And in blue biro, carefully written on the bottom right corner of the sleeve:

"To Rose, Love Dave Arnold." We'll never know the story behind the simple message, did he fancy her, was she grim, was her husband glaring at Dave from the other end of the bar as he scribbled the message. So many questions....

But I imagine Rose getting a little misty eyed when she puts on the EP and coyly relives the night she caught his show. Maybe, after a few too many sherries, she frantically forces the record backwards, desperately searching for hidden messages in the fade- outs... I know I have...

Try A Little Kindness Beautifully inappropriate synthesizer, gurgling and popping throughout an otherwise fine arrangement of this brisk country number, a hit for Glen Campbell. Dave plays and sings nicely. Something bad happens to the drumming just before the second chorus, but he catches up with himself again quickly enough.

For The Good Times Dave does a decent job on this Kris Kristofferson standard, once again Kelvin Futers commits dozens of sins on his keyboard rig. There seem to be a couple of rhythm issues every now and then here also, closer inspection reveals that the drummer is the brother of the synth player, the Futers brothers, Kelvin and Malcolm. According to the sleeve, Dave refers to his instrumental accompaniment as, simply, and poetically "Inspiration." Inspiring.

Top Of The World Nothing wrong with Dave's vocals, warm and happy, and always bang on tune. Even Kelvin the keyboard king reigns in his maverick tastes here, and intrudes rather less on these strictly MOR proceedings. The drumming is shocking.

Side 2:

Spanish Harlem/Spanish Eyes The cheeky medley. Keyboards again seem better behaved, maybe the producer had a word during the cigarette break in the parking lot, and begged Kelvin to give Dave's vocals more space. One can imagine the conversation

"Kelvin, for Christ's sake, this isn't Prog. We're simply making a nice demo disk for Dave to sell on the ships, why do you put all that weird shit over everything.." Whether or not this exchange or a similar one ever took place, there is a marked change in Kelvin's technique a few tracks in..

Bridge Over Troubled Water Sounds like the sustain pedal wasn't working properly during the keyboard/piano intro. But no fear, there is a string (synth) arrangement for Kelvin to get his teeth into. It sounds like a one- taker to me though. There are definitely a few keyboard licks that would have benefitted from a few re-takes. Not Dave's best vocal performance either, he just sounds too English on these lyrics; too chirpy, like he's doggedly grinning at all the old dears on the front row of the hall despite singing this ode to despair, fellowship and and deliverance. I bet Dave and "Inspiration" discussed whether or not to put the equally bombastic My Way on this EP, it would have had the same overwhelming result=underwhelming.

With a flourish on the cymbals, Dave and "Inspiration" leave the studio and head down the pub for a game of darts, some pickled onions and a flirt with the bar maid. Good on you Dave.

P.S on looking at the record label itself, I notice that none other than Kelvin Futers is credited as producer, which makes my imagined conversation between producer and Kelvin impossible. Or does it?

Details:

Artist: Dave Arnold
Album: Dave Arnold (EP)
Label: Stag Music MAG 0002
Year: 1975



4 comments:

  1. Brilliant Jon, just brilliant. "The Futers brothers, Kelvin and Malcolm". I have never heard of these guys before but I'm almost certain they have become my new musical heroes. My "Inspiration". One can only hope they have a rich back catalogue of work to stumble upon in a charity shop near you soon. Amazing.

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  2. I worked alongside the Futers brothers back in 1972 in the Dixieland Showbar theatre at the end of the pier in Colwyn Bay. They were called Inspiration then and had a really classy girl called Dena on vocals. I've an idea that Kelvin may be working at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, as a musical director.

    Karly B

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  3. I also have a copy of this fine record, mine is signed "To Janet & Jane" and this also creates vivid images of what he might've got up to with that lovely pair of hot 70s chicks. I was wondering what it sounded like and was fearing that i may have to play it. Thankfully, you have done the job for me. Ta.

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  4. I am a big fan of Dave Arnold. Do you love Dave Arnold’s music and style, specially his bow tie? I know from where you can buy Bow Tie (Köpa fluga) like him. I have collected it. If you want the collection, I am willingly ready to know you the source.

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