Label / Cat. No: Telstar STAR 2293
First Released: 1986

What The Album Blurb Says…

None, sadly. I’ve never thought about why or when the sales pitch on the back of record sleeves declined, but I doubt you’d find many from about 1983 onwards. Are we too knowing now to be swayed by hyperbole from paid critics? Is music so compartmentalised into tiny sub-divisions of genre that we can’t just buy a ‘jazz’ album or a ‘swing’ album, and have a fair chance of enjoying it?

Or was it simply that people got wise to the fact that the glowing praise plastered across the back of almost every album bore little or no relation to the contents of the disc?

Maybe my new year resolution should be to form a pressure group to advocate the reinstatement of album blurb.

Or maybe not.

What I Say

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I had really wanted to enjoy this album. After all, I do have a real affection for Chas & Dave. And Christmas. I quite like Christmas too. Put them together, and you should have a winner, and yet this combination is so much less than the sum of its parts.

As far as I can make out, there are three elements that should make up this record. The Cockney musical stylings of Messrs Charles and David, the traditional brass ensemble of the Cambridge Heath Salvation Army Band, and a number of good old fashioned carols. Put them together in any combination and you’re onto a sure fire, 24-carat gold winner. Surely there can be no doubt, and yet…

This is probably best explained through the medium of the Venn diagram. Allow me, if you will…

What saddens me is that this is a missed opportunity, a fudge if you will. Chas & Dave are (despite initial impressions) talented musicians. After all, Chas was taught to play piano by Jerry Lee Lewis. They’ve been sampled by Eminem, and covered by Tori Amos on more than one occasion. These boys have the potential to compete at a world-class standard. Their ‘Cockney Rock’ or ‘Rockney’ as I believe they call it, is a distinct style which deserves its place in the English Folk-Music pantheon.

But this isn’t a ‘Rockney’ album. It’s a Salvation Army album with a bit of Dave’s Bass Guitar over the top of traditional brass band arrangements, and a bit of pub-rock drumming for good measure. Nothing more.

I suppose that Chas & Dave fans would buy the album because it’s got Chas & Dave on it, and Salvation Army fanatics (of which I’m sure there must be a few, though I wouldn’t like to imagine Salvation Army Band groupies) won’t be too alarmed by what is a fairly traditional Carol with Chas Hodges gruff vocals replacing those of the more traditional angelic choirboy. If it came to punch up, my money would be on Chas & Dave over Aled Jones any day.

This is not to say that there isn’t some value in this album. Firstly, I’m intrigued by the cartoon character cover. This isn’t the only Chas & Dave album that’s been done in cartoon style. Was this part of a mid-80s ploy to try and create a Chas & Dave animated series? Can you imagine how redundant the Simpson’s would have been had we been graced with ‘The Adventures of Chas & Dave’? It’s not too late, people. Together we can make this happen.

And there are moments of sheer oddity – Chas & Dave, the beer-swilling terrors of the East End singing medieval yuletide songs? Listen to Coventry Carol, and you’ll see what I mean – we’re only short of a couple of ‘Hey Nonny Nonnies’ and we’d be laughing. And that gives me an idea. ‘The Time Travelling Adventures of Chas & Dave’. It would be like Dr. Who, but with a pair of lovable Cockneys, solving problems through time and space with a knees-up round the old joanna. Really. Write to the BBC and demand that your license fee is used to commission this programme.

And just once or twice you can tell the boys are just itching to bash the piano keys and stomp their feet. The bass gets a bit more twitchy, Chas’ vocals start to run away with him, but we never quite achieve the breakthrough. The first part of ‘Good Christian Men Rejoice’ is pure Chas & Dave, and it works precisely because the Salvation Army keep their horns shut. When they do come in, they’re so low in the mix, I can’t help but wonder if the sound engineer on this album shared my misgivings. I was waiting for ‘The Rocking Carol’ to really see the boys let their hair down, but sadly it’s just a Carol with the refrain ‘We will rock you, rock you, rock you’ referring to the baby Jesus, rather than in a Queen way.

But my favourite part of the whole album is the very last song, ‘We Three Kings’. During the introduction, I’m pretty sure the drummer is so distracted, that he’s actually playing ‘Delilah’ by Tom Jones. Listen to it – you’ll see exactly what I mean. But it’s a shame I had to listen through 21 poor songs to find that gem.

So, a missed opportunity all round. Sad, but probably predictable. Which pretty much sums me up too!

And as an extra treat (and by way of an education to my overseas readers who probably don’t have the first clue what I’m blithering about), please find below a master-class in the Cockney style of music. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Tracks

Side 1

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2. Unto Us A Child Is Born
3. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
4. Long Long Ago
5. Good King Wenceslas Looked Out
6. Coventry Carol
7. Wassail Song
8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
10. Good Christian Men Rejoice

11. Silent Night

Side 2

1. O Come All Ye Faithful
2. See Amid The Winter Snow
3. Yes Jesus Loves Me
4. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. The Rocking Carol
6. In The Bleak Midwinter
7. The First Noel
8. Once In Royal David City
9. Away In A Manger
10. We Three Kings

Final score:

4 out of 10

Label / Cat. No: Contour 2870 317
First Released: 1973

What The Album Blurb Says…

As well as his popular programmes in the Sun Lounge on the North Pier at Blackpool Raymond Wallbank has also appeared as a concert organist in many parts of the country, including performances on the fine organ at the Gaumont, Manchester.

During the winter months Raymond plays for dances almost every evening. His recent engagements include appearances at the Floral hall, Southport on the same bill as Victor Sylvester and his Orchestra and as successor to Reginald Dixon as organist at the official switch-on of Blackpool Illuminations carried out by Danny La Rue.

Like many top-class artistes Raymond makes time to do special charity performances, including regular broadcasts for local hospitals. He also took part in a special B.B.C. television programme about Blackpool, and has been heard on B.B.C. Radio programmes.

He is, of course, well known to many thousands of Blackpool holiday-makers and his twice daily organ recitals in the Sun Lounge have become a permanent feature of the North Pier summer-time entertainment – in fact an important contribution to Blackpool’s wide range and variety of top class artistes appearing each year for the enjoyment of countless holiday-makers.

His special request programmes offering on-the-spot birthday, anniversary, or purely sentimental tunes, from (sic – I’m sure it should be ‘form’) the high-light of a programme content which caters for all ages and all tastes, recalling nostalgic moments for many patrons. His sense of humour and pleasant personality set the scene for a delightful two-hour concert of relaxed musical entertainment with, of course, the possibility of a sun-tan at the end of it! Why not try it for yourself when next in Blackpool.

What I Say
I know you must all think that it’s a life of glamour, searching England’s premier charity shops to find albums for your delectation and delight, but believe it or not, there is a down side. Every so often you’re reminded that you’re looking through the once-treasured record collection of somebody recently departed. I had such a moment when I chose Relax & Listen. One day, about 30 albums of organ music appeared, all together, in one particular shop – obviously somebody found this sort of thing appealing.

There were a number of albums there by Reggie Dixon who as I’m sure you know is the Daddy of the Blackpool organ scene. In face I’d go so far as to say that the former owner of the records had been a serious Reggie fan. But of course, I try not to go by names, I go by the covers. And oh my, what a cover.

I’m sure Raymond is a lovely chap. It says so on the back of the album after all – ”his pleasant personality” – but he would also appear to be easily led. I’m fairly confident he didn’t choose the scenario for the album cover, not least because he looks so uncomfortable having a semi-clad ‘lovely’ snuggling up to him in his acrylic suit and kipper tie. His smile is forced, and his eyes are wishing he was somewhere, anywhere but there. Those aren’t laughter lines he’s got – that’s 100% tension.

And I know this may well be a case of pots and kettles, but does anyone think that a man like Raymond would be the recipient of attention from as young a nubile lovely as we have on this cover? I know that certain women go for musician types, but really….. are there organ groupies (fnarr….)

In a past life, I used to run a betting shop in Blackpool. I know, how do I live with the shame, etc… but I can tell you that having worked for two summers in Blackpool there is not one single day when you would want to be wearing a bikini. It’s cold, it’s wet and it’s windswept. I wouldn’t be surprised if our lolly waving lady wasn’t painted to hide the lovely shade of blue her skin must surely have turned. You don’t wear bikinis in Blackpool. You wear scarves and gloves. And a hat. And one of those coats that looks like a duvet. I actually laughed out loud at the comment that you could enjoy a two-hour Raymond gig, and have a sun-tan at the end of it. Now frostbite I could believe.

Lolly wielding wench aside, I’m a bit concerned that all we learn about Raymond is by association. He once played on the same bill as Victor Sylvester. Well whoop-de-do. I once played on the same bill as Bobby Nolan. What do you mean who? Bobby Nolan is the brother of the “fantastically talented” Nolan Sisters. But I don’t boast about it. Equally, just because he played the organ when Danny La Rue was switching on the Illuminations doesn’t actually raise his standing as an organ player. He just happened to be doing his job at the same time. I once performed as part of a double act while Benny Hill just happened to be in the audience. Doesn’t mean I put it on my journal info page. Actually, that gives me an idea….

Well, at least you’re getting to find out more about me.

So I have to say I’m very suspicious of a man who seems only to be famous by association. Even that cover has to have the Blackpool Tower lurking in the background just so we know that’s he’s from the tradition of Blackpool organists.

All in all very poor.

What do you mean I haven’t spoken about the music? Well, it was crap. Really, truly, awfully dreadful. Painfully so. But if you actually like this kind of thing, then it might be passable. But to me, this is the worst thing I’ve put myself through in years. Save yourselves. Avoid the sound clips. Especially ‘Delilah’. You poor people, flee while you still can.

Tracks

Side 1

1. A Wonderful Day Like Today (From the musical ‘The Roar of the Greasepaint’)
2. The Onedin Line Theme Music (Love Theme for Spartacus)
3. Delilah
4. More
5. This Is My Lovely Day
6. If I Were A Rich Man

Side 2

1. One Of Those Songs
2. Somewhere My Love (Lara’s theme from ‘Dr. Zhivago’)
3. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head (from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid)
4. Sleepy Shores (theme from BBC TV series Owen M.D.)
5. Ave Maria
6. Climb Ev’ry Mountain (from ‘The Sound of Music’)

Final score:

1.5 out of 10 for the violently coloured lollipop

On Tuesday 4th December 2007, ventured into new territory. In an exciting development, the chance acquisition of an album to review for this journal has led me to meet the man who recorded it, and have a fantastic night out.

Ladies and Gentlemen, together for one night only, and Tony Best.

(I’m the one on the left, by the way….)

Allow me to explain. As you will no doubt recall, I was delighted to find that Tony Best was a local artist, based in a neighbouring county. When reviewing albums, I like to do a bit of online research to try and place the artists in context. I knew nothing of Tony when I bought the album, but very quickly discovered that he runs Tony Best Leisure, an organisation dedicated to bringing people and country music together.

I also discovered on his site that he runs and hosts the ‘Lazyacre Country Music Club’, which meets every Monday in the Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury. I know the place well, having had more than one work meeting there. The calendar of events told me that there were two Christmas events coming up on the 3rd and 4th December. And that Tony would be compere.

This was all I needed, and I resolved to go. I phoned the number on the site to order tickets, and left a message. I was called back within the hour, by Tony himself. The man on the front of that album was on the phone. To me! I managed to order 3 tickets (as I was taking two friends along on this quest), and was about to complete the transaction when Tony asked me how I had come across the Lazyacre Club.

Well. I had to tell the truth didn’t I? So I explained about this journal, and the rationale behind it, and that I would like to come and meet him, get a photo of him, me and the album, and post my thoughts here.

The speed with which he then finished the conversation and put the phone down made me realise just how much of a stalker I must have sounded. So it was with some trepidation that last night I made the trip up to Shrewsbury to meet the man in question.

Walking in to the venue, everyone was greeted by Tony on the door. Obviously he’s aged a bit since the album that I’d got – after all, that was 28 years ago, but this was definitely our man.

I wasn’t going to launch straight into my schtick straight away – after all, this was a man with a show to do, and I didn’t want to scare the living bejaysus out of him before having to entertain. But on collecting our tickets, he had clearly remembered my name, and asked me to explain the backstory again. He was clearly interested, amused, self-deprecating and very, very charming. We met his wife, Jean who is also very involved in the club, and when we tried to pay for the tickets, Tony insisted that it would be his treat. A very kind gesture, and one that was much appreciated.

I have to admit that we were amongst the youngest people there, and I’m no spring chicken myself. But Lazyacre Country Music Club has been going for 30 years. These people have grown up with the club, and there was clearly a real community there. They have notable members, in-jokes, and a distinct sense of humour. People have been coming back year after year after year because they are being entertained. And what more could you ask for.

The evening was clearly a club night – in addition to the musical acts, there was a raffle, the club sweepstake, and notices and announcements, all done seamlessly by Tony who seemed to know everybody there. I don’t know how many members there are in the club (at least 259, because member 259 won the sweepstake), but he certainly seemed to know them all.

To kick the night off, we had Country Company, a husband and wife vocal harmony pairing, described on their leaflets as ‘Wales’ Premier Country Music Duo’. They certainly knew their audience, played to their strengths, and were thoroughly enjoyed.

But after their set came the main attraction as far as we were concerned. Tony himself came out and did about an hour’s set. This is an increasingly rare occurrence as he is now retired and infrequently performs. Had we gone at almost any other time in the year, we wouldn’t have heard him sing. How lucky are we?! So we had a set of just Tony and his accordion doing a number of standards, mixing it with a fair few jokes, banter, and a bit of audience participation.

Clearly these are Tony’s people. He knows who they are, he knows what they want, and he delivers it by the bucketful. The audience were onside from the word go, and lapped up every morsel he fed them.

The biggest surprise of the evening for me is that unlike on ‘Tony Best – By Request’ where his voice sounds at times hesitant, almost nervous, last night there were no such signs. His voice was loud, clear, confident but still in that unexpectedly high register with the clarity of tone (if you’ll pardon the pun…)

After Tony’s set, Country Company came back for a second round, and did a number of standards and more Christmassy type tunes, and then they were joined by Tony, and the three of them finished off the evening. Full audience participation was required for a raucous version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ which nearly fell apart a number of times.

And then it was over. On the way out I found Tony to ask if he would mind if we took the photograph. We got the snap, had a chat and just as we were about to leave, he presented me with a copy of one of his CDs – A Golden Hour of Tony Best. I had arrived there because of his debut album, and left with his most recent. It seemed a fitting way to end the evening.

And, do you know what? I had a fantastic evening. Despite being a relative Country novice, despite being in a room with strangers much older than me. Despite not knowing most of the songs or any of the in-jokes, I, we, all had a really enjoyable time. Last Sunday I went to see a band I’ve been following for 24 years, had clear, high expectations and was disappointed at the end of the evening. Last night I went to a Country Music evening on a whim, based on some foolish idea to follow up one of the albums on this site. I had no expectations, and was thoroughly entertained.

And Tony himself, who could so easily have been dismissive of some bloke off of the internet who wanted to meet him because he’d picked up an album second hand was instead warm, funny, interested, and above all generous. And if you ever find yourself in Shrewsbury on a Monday night with nothing to do, you could do a lot worse for yourselves than head down to the Lazyacre Country Music club.

Normal programming will resume next week!

Label / Cat. No: Karma Records KZ1002LS
First Released: 1979

What The Album Blurb Says…

Here, at last, is the long awaited first album by Shropshire’s ‘Mr Entertainment’ Tony Best – and if you are reading this wondering whether or not to buy one, read no more. Buy it now! You won’t be disappointed.

Including as it does 14 of the songs for which he gets the most requests, all the songs are favourites ranging from old country music standards to recent chart hits for Larry Gatlin and Kenny Rogers. Add a few of Don Williams’ most popular songs, a couple of the best loved country gospel numbers and a fine version of the Bee Gees’ hit ‘Words’, and you have the recipe for a great album that will be eagerly snapped up by Tony Best’s many fans.

And you can count me as one of his biggest fans. Like many professional acts who travel all over Britain singing country music, I first met Tony when we appeared together a few years ago at a show in the small Shropshire village of Minsterley. I took an immediate liking to the warm, friendly personality of the man described as “22 stones of entertainment” – and what better description!

He was born in South Wales, entered the Forces straight from school, and served in the R.A.F. for twelve years, during which time he entertained in such places as Germany, Cyprus, Aden and the Persian Gulf. On leaving the service, Tony spent some time playing in groups, appearing in many different parts of the country. But it is since he came to live in the thriving Shropshire town of Shrewsbury that he has established himself as one of the most talented all-round entertainers in the business.

As a comedian, he will soon have you rocking with laughter – he was recently voted the winner of an award as ‘Comedian of the Year’ by Staffordshire and Cheshire Clubland; an excellent compere for any kind of show with the ability to get an audience with him from the first minute he walks on stage; a talented musician, usually playing accordion to back his own fine singing voice, and the versatility to entertain any type of audience, from a chidren’s party to a rugby club stag night.

This then is a brief look at the big man with the big talent, who is destined to be one of the big names in all-round entertainment, Tony Best. I am proud to have been asked by Tony to write these few words, and proud to know him as a friend.

Good Luck in everything you do, Tony, and here’s to continued success.

Tony Goodacre

What I Say

Oh what a fantastic find this is for so many reasons. I’ve mentioned before that I have a strict rule when choosing albums for review, and that is that I go by cover alone. I don’t allow anything to get in the way of that snap decision, not even reading the sleeve notes. So imagine my excitement when I found I’d got an album by a local artist, Shropshire being only 7 miles from my front door.

I can’t think of any other famous people from Shropshire except Percy Thrower, so history wasn’t really on Tony’s side in terms of heritage. After all, I’ve been to Minsterley village hall, and it’s really not the most auspicious of venues in which to be discovered.

The cover shows our Tony in a leather bomber jacket, looking for all the world like Arthur Scargill’s cheeky younger brother, his warm, avuncular face oozing reassurance. This is a man you can trust to deliver the goods. On the back of the album we get a full body shot of Tony standing next to an ornamental chair – relaxed pose, one hand on the back of the chair, the other tucked into his trouser pocket. His blue suit is buttoned up, but the lack of tie shows his devil-may-care attitude. The album is also autographed to ‘June & Jim’, who have clearly treasured this album since 1979, as it’s in mint condition.

My favourite aspect of this album is that the title and artist rhyme – Tony Best – By Request. I think that albums would be a lot more interesting in general if artists took more effort to rhyme their name with the album title. Who wouldn’t want to buy ‘On The Cover of Vogue’ by Kylie Minogue? Or ‘Playing With Dave In The Park’ by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. At the very least, you now have a game to while away long hours with the family over Christmas. Consider that my gift to you. You’re welcome.

I have doubts as to whether anyone would bill themselves these days as ’22 Stones of Entertainment’. It probably contravenes some kind of hate crime law, but this album hails from less enlightened times, and Tony’s size defines the man. Which makes it all the more surprising to find that he has quite a high register, coping admirably with the Bee Gees classic ‘Words’, and hitting a worryingly high final note on ‘I Don’t Want To Cry’.

Tony’s strengths are without doubt the country tunes. This whole work is dripping in country, whereby even the more rockin’ numbers have the benefit of steel guitars draped all over them (played, I might add, by the gloriously named ‘Slim Pickens’). This is a man who takes his Country Music seriously – and boy does he take it seriously (but of that more later….) His voice isn’t as bombastic as you might expect, though clearly a history of working the clubs comes through in some of the dramatics that his vocal melodies display. There’s a fragility in most of the songs here, but give him a standard like ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, and he turns in a polished and professional performance.

What we have here is a product of its times. It’s country music in the traditional mould. It’s not going to break down any barriers. But if you like your Country Music sung by a Welshman in Shropshire with a mid-Atlantic twang, then Tony really is your Best option.

Sorry.

Tracks

Side 1

1. San Antonio Rose
2. You’re My Best Friend
3. Words
4. One Day At A Time
5. I Don’t Want To Cry
6. Turn Out The Light (Love Me Tonight)
7. The Old Rugged Cross

Side 2

1. Love – Or Something Like It
2. A Legend In My Time
3. Today I Started Loving You Again
4. Crazy
5. Some Broken Hearts Never Mend
6. Nobody’s Child
7. China Doll

Final score:

8.75 out of 10