Mark Radice and the Ten Year Old Blues

Jeezo! Sorry (yet again) for abstaining from posting on this dear blog/graveyard/wasteland......but!....I have returned (for now) and with something I hope you will all enjoy. Continuing with child singing sensations comes the complete pre-puberty releases of the very talented Mark Radice. The son of record producer Gene Radice, Mark shone from a very early age in the studio - writing over 50 of his own compositions by the age of 11. His first release came at the age of 10 with Wooden Girl/Save Your Money in 1967, then Natural Morning/You Took the Words Right Out of My Life in 1968, followed by 10,000 Year Old Blues/Three Cheers (For the Sad Man) in the same year. Finally came Richest Man In the World/Girl By The Meter in '69, which was the last single before his self-titled debut album in 1971. In addition to both singing and writing the releases - he also played a part in producing and arranging the records too - nice! After allowing these recordings flow down your ear canals, I'm sure you'll agree with me on what a superb talent Mark was and indeed still is! Mr Radice grew up to become a successful songwriter (including a variety of numbers for Sesame Street - wahey!) and his official site is here for much more information and a full discog. I've also split it into two parts as my connection aint what it used to be!

Mark One!

Mark Two!

The Swiss Yé-Yé of Josiane Rey!

Time for another French (or French speaking to be exact) maiden to grace these humble pages - and the honour this week goes to a Swiss belle by the name of Josiane Rey! Mlle. Rey is an elusive character to track down, however what is known is that she released 3 EP's and one single on the Swiss Arpege label circa 1967. Her recordings range from the swinging homage to aeronautics (En Jet) to the Cossack inspired Casatchok de la Volga to dulcet ballad of Reste Dans Mo Coeur. Other highlights include the fab Notre Amour A Dormi Tout Un Hiver and the ace Elapostrofaemo-uere. In the download you'll find all 3 EP's for your delight! The rundown looks like this.....

Josiane Rey (Aperge 4501)

Sous Les Lampions

Notre Amour A Dormi Tout Un Hiver

En Jet

C'est Bon

Josiane Rey (Aperge 4502)

Tambours Battant

Non Monsieur

Le Petit Porte-bonheur

Reste Dans Mon Coeur

Josiane Rey (Aperge 4503)

Un Medaillon

Par La Tendresse

Elapostrofaemo-uere

Casatchok de la Volga

Accompany Josiane on her recordings is the talented Alain Morisod, except or her last one where Andre Borli takes the helm! Josiane nowadays maybe be a doctor or botique owner - who knows! I hope you very much enjoy what musical career she did undertake! Included also in the download are some high-quality scans of the sleeves - as they quite groovy!

Sample the delightful Miss Rey here!

The Same - Just Not The Same

Another female band that the sixties, in particular the late sixties, gave birth to were a high school quintet that went by the name of The Same. Hailing from the Arlington Heights area in Illinois, they managed to record at least one single at the Valentine Studios in California, the release Sunshine, Flowers and Rain/If You Love Me, Really Love Me. Members included Judy Selman (lead gt.), Debbie Reiss (rhythm gtr.), Vicki Selman (bass gtr.) , Donna Smelak (drums) and Vicki Hubly (lead singer). The group toured several towns in their homestate, and various venues in Chicago, including The New Place, The Crimson Cougar, and the Dark Spot while sharing the bill with bands such as The Cryin' Shames and Michael and the Messengers. Judging by the paisley glory of the girls threads they tried to encapsulate that flower power vibe flowing at the time - plus if you download the songs you'll hear how they pull the same thing off with their sound! Other outfits included pink 'poor' sweaters and maroon skirts. A newspaper article from the time explains that the girls were not allowed to pratice during the week, but their parents do not object alltogether as they see it as an overall postive experience for them. While not performing the girls enjoyed ordinary teenage activities including listening to records, going to dances and talking on the phone in-between doing homework.

While not anything spectacular, they're still another fascinating entry in the annals of 60's female bands! As one student at the time comments "I think 'The Same' is groovy, and they show what really good music a group consisting entirely of girls can produce"!

Dig The Same Here!

The Crown Prince of YéYé Land

One of the smallest but certainly brighter stars of YéYé explosion in France in the early sixties was a young chap by the name of Pascal Krug, or to give his stage name Le Petit Prince. Born in Switzerland on the 3rd February 1952 he had a natural flair for strumming the guitar at an early age and quickly rose attention at an appearance at a national music festival in his home country. At just 11, he was offered a contract with the French record company Barclay by producer Ken Lean. After securing the deal he was approached and went on to be managed the singer Claude François who he went on to later to tour with in 1963 alongside the group Les Gams. 11 singles and two albums later the inevtiable happend, and the small prince had to grow up - still he managed one EP in 1968 after his voice had taken the low road!

The few recordings I have heard of the prince have all been ace, combining good production with Pascal's talented singing voice. And on offer to download is his EP from 1964, Chante Avec Moi with fellow performer Franck Alamo. Francky comments on why he got together with the prince with the wise words "He is nice, spontaneous, sings and adores playing guitar like me!" Chante Avec Moi turns out to be a pretty catchy ditty - however the highlight is definitely the cover of Rag Doll, retitled Triste Noel - very worthy cover! Plus Pascal lends a hand to writing too with S'il Faut Grandir. The EP rounds of with the track Ces Gens-La.

Listen To His Highness Here!

Power to Romina!

Hey! Apologies for a lack of updates - in a bit of a transitory situation - but expect more soon! In the mean time I had to post this vid of a 15 yeard old Romina Power performing her second single from 1965, Apri Quell'ombrello - What a great a song! Dig those shapes she throws as well - too cool - and quite refreshing from what the standard of Italia's female singers!

The Linda Gayle Collection

One of the most intruiging and stand out of all the artists featured on the Girls in the Garage series, certainly one of the most racaus was a certain Linda Gayle....so naturally I had to dig deeper! Information, certainly in-depth information, on Ms Gayle is sadly none too forth coming - however I have mananged to collate a number of singles from her career during the 60's and now two fab videos of Linda herself have surfaced on YouTube - woop!

The two songs featured on GITG, Maggie's Farm and I've Got My Mojo Working, are the strongest faire, Stop, however another two singles, Stop, Look, Listen/Goodnight Irene, and Where Have You Been/Twist and Shout feat. the Duke of Coventry are certainly top pickings too. Her other records took a more mellow, slightly country pace - suiting the tone of her voice perhaps, and are well worth a listen too. Here's what's included in the bunch -

Baby Don't Go/Would It Make Any Difference To You (Columbia 44140)
Goodnight Irene/Stop, Look, Listen (CBS 43359)
Wishing It Was You/ (Columbia 43659)
Maggie's Farm/I've Got My Mojo Working (Columbia 43462)
Where Have You Been/Twist and Shout (feat. The Duke of Coventry) (Columbia 43854)
True Love Like Daddy's Love/The One That Stands By Me (Pompeii 66699)

Get Your Mojo Workin' Here!

Update at Girl Garage Mayhem!

Here whats on offer at Girl Garage Mayhem this time!!

The Reynettes - Bei Mir Mist Du Schon

The fabulous sisters and brother act make a welcome return to these pages - with one ace cover of Bei Mir Mist Du Schon. From their begingings in 1963, Luzviminda, Baby, Rosa, Jeanette and John entertained audiences on TV, stage, radio and nightclubs both in Hong Kong and all over the far East. They were mangaged by their from musician father, Mistra Reyes, and released this, their second EP in 1966.

Gilded Cage - Long Long Road

She Trinty too return in the form of their latter outfit, Gilded Cage! Both sides of this disc are bliss, so expect to hear the flip fairly soon! Of course more info on the group can always be found here Here's a nice cover from the Swedish release

Lada Edmund - Foxy

Lada Edmund, or Lada Edmund Jr to be precise was THE go-go dancer on Hullaballoo - caged and fringe flying! However before she hit the spotlight as a dancer she released this stomper at the tender age of 13. She subsequently released a few more on Decca, including Northern soul fave, The Larue! Check out this groovy vid of her and the rest of the Hullaballoo crew throwing some shapes to the Batman theme!

The Boys N Ivy - Soul Kitchen

The Boys N Ivy hailed from Youngstown, Ohio and were active between 67-68, recording this sole record in the process. Soul Kitchen is the cover of The Doors track, and quite nice it is too!

The Crazy Women - Hey Joe

Another stop by those Nordic rockers, The Crazy Women - as before all you need to know is here!