3CD
• An in-depth exploration of Joe Meek’s 1962 work, culminating in the global hit ‘Telstar’.
• Featuring John Leyton, The Tornados, Mike Berry, The Outlaws, Michael Cox, Geoff Goddard, Ray Dexter and more.
• Includes 52 previously unheard recordings – stereo versions, alternate takes and mixes, demos and previously unreleased songs. With a detailed chronology, sleevenotes and tea chest tape notes.
• All material taken from the original tapes and restored and mastered by Alan Wilson at Western Star.
In the pre-Beatle era, when British pop was a veritable smorgasbord of genres and musical ideas without a dominant narrative, Joe Meek sampled almost everything on offer. From novelty hits to sound effect laden masterpieces, straight forward pre-beat pop and light instrumentals to cinematic ballads, his work with excellent singers such as JOHN LEYTON and MIKE BERRY, alongside talented writers like GEOFF GODDARD and RAY DEXTER, always carried his signature studio techniques, still years ahead of many major commercial studios.
‘FROM TABOO TO TELSTAR’ is the first in a series of chronological sets charting work at Meek’s studio year-by-year. Featuring singles and B-sides (many heard in stereo for the first time), alongside alternate versions, demos and tracks recorded but unreleased, this is not only a document of a world about to be hit by a mop-topped tsunami but a window into the incredible creativity enabled by one man and his vision of independence and experimentation.
Hear the gestation of ‘TELSTAR’, marvel at the majesty of ‘LONE RIDER’ and wonder at the kitchen sink humour of ALAN KLEIN’S ‘THE CAT’. Meanwhile, a light is shone on the genius of GEOFF GODDARD through several unreleased tracks, while JENNY MOSS, BILLIE DAVIS, GERRY HARLOW et al stand up and shout for the girls. THE MOONTREKKERS, CLIFF BENNETT, ANDY CAVELL, TONY VICTOR, HOUSTON WELLS, PETER JAY, RICKY WAYNE, KENNY HOLLYWOOD… they’re all heard here as they’ve never been heard before, straight off the tapes.
A must for fans of Meek and his artists, as well as historians of British pop, students of the 1960s and anybody who harks back to that simpler, pre-Fab black and white world.
Tracklist:
CD1
1 The Charles Blackwell Orchestra - Taboo
2 The Charles Blackwell Orchestra - Midnight In Luxembourg (Alternate)*
3 Michael Cox - Young Only Once
4 Michael Cox - Stand Up (Alternate Version)*
5 Don Charles - Walk With Me My Angel (Stereo)*
6 Don Charles - Crazy Man Crazy
7 Don Charles - Moonlight Rendezvous (Alternate Version)
8 Don Charles - It's My Way Of Loving You (Stereo)*
9 Mike Berry - It's Just A Matter Of Time
10 Mike Berry - Every Little Kiss
11 Mike Berry - Don't You Think It's Time
12 Mike Berry - Loneliness
13 John Leyton - Lone Rider (Stereo) *
14 John Leyton - Lonely City (Vocal Take 9)*
15 John Leyton - It Would Be Easy
16 John Leyton - Down The River Nile (Alternate Version)*
17 The Outlaws - Last Stage West
18 The Outlaws - Ku-Pow!
19 The Outlaws - Sioux Serenade
20 The Stonehenge Men - Big Feet
21 The Stonehenge Men - Pinto (Stereo)*
22 The Tornados - Love And Fury (Guitar Take 4)
23 The Tornados - Telstar (Alternate Edit)
24 The Tornados - Globetrotter (Original Speed/Extended)
25 The Tornados - Popeye Twist (Original Speed)
26 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers with The Peppermints - Poor Joe (Alternate Vocal)*
27 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers with The Peppermints - Hurtin' 28 Inside (Alternate Version)*
29 Danny Rivers & The River Men - We're Gonna Dance (Longer Mix)*
30 Danny Rivers & The River Men - Movin' In
31 The Moontrekkers - There's Something At The Bottom Of The Well (Extended)*
32 The Moontrekkers - Hatashai (Japanese Sword Fight)
CD2
1 Iain Gregory - Mr Lovebug (Stereo)*
2 Iain Gregory - Pocket Full Of Dreams (And Eyes Full Of Tears) (Stereo)*
3 Tony Victor - Dear One (Alternate Version)*
4 Tony Victor - There Was A Time
5 Alan Klein - Striped Purple Shirt
6 Alan Klein - Three Coins In The Sewer (Alternate Version)*
7 Alan Klein - Danger Ahead
8 Andy Cavell - Hey There Cruel Heart
9 Andy Cavell - Lonely Soldier Boy
10 Andy Cavell - Always On Saturday (Stereo)*
11 Andy Cavell - Hey There Senorita (Stereo)*
12 The Dowlands And The Soundtracks - Little Sue (Alternate Vocal Stereo Mix)*
13 The Dowlands - Big Big Fella
14 The Dowlands - Don't Ever Change
15 Pat Reader - Cha Cha On The Moon
16 Pat Reader - May Your Heart Stay Young Forever
17 Geoff Goddard - My Little Girl's Come Home (Stereo)*
18 Geoff Goddard - Try Once More
19 Houston Wells And The Marksmen - This Song Is Just For You
20 Houston Wells And The Marksmen - Shutters And Boards
21 Houston Wells And The Marksmen - North Wind
22 Mark Douglas - It Matters Not (Extended Version)*
23 Mark Douglas - Upside Down (Stereo)*
24 Neil Christian - The Big Beat Drum
25 Neil Christian - The Road To Love (Early Version)*
26 Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers - Redskins (304 Version)*
27 Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers - Can Can '62 (Early Edit)*
28 The Packabeats - Evening In Paris
29 The Packabeats - Theme From "The Traitors"
30 Ray Dexter & The Layabouts - The Coalman's Lament (Censored Version)*
31 Ray Dexter & The Layabouts - Lonely Weekend
CD3
1 Joe Meek - Telstar (Demo)
2 Dave Adams & Joe Meek - Last Stage West (Demo)*
3 Geoff Goddard - Lover, Lover*
4 Geoff Goddard - Thunder Mountain (Demo)*
5 Geoff Goddard - Guess That's The Way It Goes (Demo)*
6 Alan Klein - Striped Purple Shirt (Demo)*
7 Alan Klein - The Cat*
8 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - I Get Up In The Morning*
9 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - Avenue Of Loneliness*
10 Geoff Goddard & Kenny Hollywood - Magic Star (Demo)*
11 Geoff Goddard & Kenny Hollywood - The Wonderful Story Of Love (Demo)*
12 Kenny Hollywood - I'll Cry Tomorrow*
13 Kenny Hollywood - I Wanna Dance With No One Else But You*
14 Kenny Hollywood - You Could Have Fooled Me*
15 The Stonehenge Men – Outcast*
16 Neil Christian - I Feel In A Mood (Demo)*
17 Neil Christian - Just A Dream (Demo)*
18 Gerry Harlow - Mr Right
19 Billie Davis - Merry Go Round
20 The Flee-Rekkers - Oh What A Charlie (Stereo)*
21 Ray Dexter - Lonely Weekend (Demo)*
22 Ray Dexter & The Layabouts - The Coalman's Lament (Early Version)*
23 Iain Gregory - Too Shy (Alternate Version)*
24 Mark Douglas - Riding The Rails (Stereo)*
25 Ricky Wayne - I'm Waiting For Tomorrow*
26 Ricky Wayne - Pretend*
27 The Ferridays - Two Brothers*
28 The Foresters - It's Almost Tomorrow*
29 Unknown - Say Baby
30 Jackie - Time To Go*
31 Jenny Moss - When My Boy Comes
Marching Home Again (Alternate Mix)*
* = PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED