Borriquito, bluff package

[Fritz The Cat]

Air Mail was an alias for several German Rock and Pop Bands on low budget label Europa. They had to produce so-called "vocal productions" for the benefit of Mr. Miller for some bucks. These tracks were spread onto various LP editions with popular topics. The rock music aficionado didn't buy these poor non-originals.
Ordinary European holidaymakers liked this silly summer-hit "Borriquito" from Spain. They also loved that dumb chart hit "Mamy Blue". As they had no more money left after summer holiday in Teneriffa or Rimini, they grabbed this cheap one. Later they noticed: oh no, this is not the same recording as we used to dance to in Mallorca. It's a bluff package. As consequence, these neglected LPs soon vent into secondhand shops, where they stayed for many decades.Nobody liked them.
Most of the songs on these "cheapo" LPs were early exercises done by German "beat" bands or "Krautrock" groups. The funny thing: these early recordings show their versatility.
Air mail is a mixture of tracks by "Petards", "Asterix", Carsten Bohn alias Bert Brac, "Lucifer's Friend", "German Bonds" et al.
So let's skip 3 needless tracks and listen to a pretty "Lucifer's Friend" ballad "All night long" A6, sung by John Lawton. John Lawton also contributes vocals to "Carry me Back" B3. Listen to "Twelve months and a day" B6 by "Asterix" (pre-"Lucifer's Friend"). "Lady Ann" B5 is typical early "Lucifer's Friend"-style as presented on their first 1970 album. Remember the tragedy: John Lawton had to earn his bread for many years as a member of those silly "Les Humphries singers", who produced the preferred popular music for the common German listener. Horror!

[Fritz The Cat]

Tell about bluff packages in rock, jazz and pop!

[Fritz The Cat]

Another Mr. Miller bluff package from Hamburg, full of surprises. None of these songs is a soundtrack original. In fact, it's Hammond driven early "Krautrock"!
5 tracks by "Electric Food" alias "Asterix" alias "German Bonds" (= pre-"Lucifer's Friend" minus John Lawton)
4 tracks by "The Tonics" alias "Ten o'Clock Bubblegum Train" alias "The Automatic Blues Inc".
1 track by "The Petards"
1 track "John Deen And The Trakk"
1 track by "The Black Kids"

[Fritz The Cat]

On this one we discover many John Lawton vocal-gymnastic exercises. He remembers well having backed countless Lucifer's Friend studio sessions in Hamburg after he had immigrated from England in 1969. But he can't remember the songs and recordings in detail nor the projects or a rock band called "Air Mail". The musicians had to abandon their copyrights for some bucks. The composer of the Lucifer's Friend songs probably was Peter Hesslein alias A. Gilbert. Nobody knows as David L. Miller died in 1985. Listen to "Somehow, somewhere".
Also David Byron contributed hundreds of lost songs to vocal productions. Look here: http://abominogjnr.blogspot.com/

[Fritz The Cat]

3 or 4 low budget lullabies. And the rest? No lullabies at all, but cult "Krautrock" from Hamburg. Most of the tracks played by Asterix (pre-Lucifer's Friend) and Corporal Gander's Fire Dog Brigade. No vocals by John Lawton. Lullabies? Good night, Europa!

[Fritz The Cat]

Don't miss this one if you like early "Krautrock". Don't mind the silly cover art and the usual 2 or 3 disco hit cover versions. Listen to the typical female vocals on 4 tracks. Hey, isn't that the voice of Frumpy's and City Preacher's front woman Inga Rumpf from Hamburg? Listen to the wonderful Hammond driven ballad "Love me" A3 , "He said good-bye" A5 and "Driving down this road" B2. There's no doubt about it: this must be Inga Rumpf!
John Lawton and Lucifer's Friend contribute 5 respectable tracks to this bluff package LP, whereas George Mavros is the singer on Peter Hesslein's composition "Working on the railroad" B5.
Listen to Lucifer's Friend's "Take me" A6. Composer credits A. Gilbert means an alias of Peter Hesslein or Carsten Bohn? Nobody knows.

[Fritz The Cat]

This is the first John Lawton album. With the exception of the silly title track, sung by unknown German "Schlagersänger", Lawton sings on every track here. All these Lucifer's Friend songs were composed by A. Gilbert (probably an alias of Peter Hesslein or John Lawton). Funny: the vocal version of Chinn/Chapman's "Funny funny" A2. Listen to the impressive version of "Brown Sugar" B1. Respectable guitar work by Hesslein. The song material and interpretation is similar to Deep Purple Mark 1 or early Uriah Heep.

[Fritz The Cat]

It's not underground. It's not psychedelic. It's not supreme. But it is fun: Lucifer's Friend (alias German Bonds, alias Asterix without John Lawton, plus George Mavros (?)) play Deep Purple Mark 1. Some tracks are trash and snippets of rowdy studio sessions. Some tracks are random improvisations and exercises. Some tracks are a rip off. Is Deep Purple's "Wring that neck" psychedelic underground? Peter Hesslein and Peter Hecht try to imitate Blackmore and Lord. As i said before: it's fun, but not more.

[Fritz The Cat]

It's not the Tramps. In fact its a vocal production from Pye Studios, London. On 5 tracks Elton John contributes the lead vocals. "Jingle Jangle" encloses the typical vocal sound of Lulu. David Bowie (as David Robert Jones) and David Byron (as David Garrick) produced many respectable vocal productions too. Elton John has supplemented his income between 1969 and 1970 as one of these session musicians, and his voice appears (anonymously) on several of these recordings. However his involvement could only be detected by listening concentrated to many cheapo recordings for his voice. In all, fans have uncovered over 50 songs that feature Elton's voice. http://www.eltonography.com/albums/sessions/index.html
Listen to his version of Canned Heat's "Let's work together" B3.
By the way, look at the front cover photo: do you recognize the person on the right?

[Fritz The Cat]

Ten O'Clock Bubble Gum Train is "The Tonics" from Hamburg. This is the group with the most alias! Most of these songs were composed by Manfred Oberdörffer: "Mademoiselle Ninette" was his great hit in Europe in 1969, recorded by "The Soulful Dynamics". Fortunately there are only 2 or 3 bubble gum-hits on this record. In fact, it's typical happy beat music from Germany. By the way, what is a "High bubble gum"? On back cover you may learn how to prepare a typical (70ies!) German "Rumtopf". Na denn, Prosit!

[Fritz The Cat]

One more bluff package from clever David L. Miller. All song writing credits to him ("Damil"), but none for the musicians. There is no Alex Boggs (voc, g) existing. There is no Bob Gray (b) and no Raff Witkin (dr) too. Suspect recordings. Admittedly the singer did a respectable job. In 1971 the guitar job was a striking imitation. Listen to "Git some" B2. All told not bad for a cheapo exploitation LP.

[Fritz The Cat]

Same USA (?) musicians as on "Purple Fox" LP, but more non-Hendrix compositions, here credited to "Betty George". Only 2 Hendrix originals. Another Miller-cheat. Admittedly, after 50 years a funny mysterious cult album and pleasing cover art. Listen to "Requiem for Jimi" B2.

[Fritz The Cat]

This is not an appropriate tribute to Hendrix. This is impertinence. In fact it's a wild orgiastic exercising session. It's mishandling of guitar, fuzz-box, wah-wah pedal, feedback and amplifiers without any boundaries. Too much of everything but no song structures. No respect for the inspired work and songs of Jimi Hendrix. No wonder that this guitar berserk didn't want to reveal his real name until today. His alias is ICEM or MECI. Probably it's Rainer Baumann from Hamburg Krautrock-band "Sphinx Tush". But nobody really wants to know who was exercising on this one...

[Fritz The Cat]

Next David L. Miller crime. Liner notes don't tell the truth: "...in the original sounds of..., ...the big ones, ... the stone smashes...". It's not the big hits. That's also a lie. And it has no soul at all. Moneymaker...

[Fritz The Cat]

Ken James is German guitar player and composer Holger Petersen. It's definitively not rock history because most of the tracks are self-composed (12). These are interesting. Nobody needs another version of "Rock around the clock". Listen to "Afro Rock" B7.

[Fritz The Cat]

Not absolutely true: Perfekte Stereo-Demonstration. "Pop's". Hollywood. Motion in percussion. Supposedly recent stereo recordings.
True: There are only a few stereo-effects added later. Robert Lowden leader of huge Orchestra. 4 fine Lowden and Kuhn compositions. Too many strings dominate the percussion effects. Recorded in 1960 already (possibly in Mono). It was an easy deal by D.L. Miller again.
Also true: Today this one is regarded as a "Spaceage-pop-jazz" cult album and NOT as a Stereo-Demonstration LP.

[Fritz The Cat]

The content is not according to the promise. Also England had it's bluff package budget LP products. Especially in Pye Records Studios London many vocal productions were recorded between 1967 and 1972. Many (later) famous musicians made their bread in their early career. Often, for eye-popping cover art, the pictures of the original musicians were also shameless rip off. No Chuck Berry stuff here as supposed. Admittedly, the musicians did a good job and the Pye Studios technique was on top then. Listen to this well-made version of "What'd i say" B6. So at least we enjoy the perfect dynamics and wonder: who contributed these respectable vocals?

[Fritz The Cat]

What a swizz! Sloppy vocal production. John Hamilton doesn't exist. It's not a band, it's an orchestra. Beatle or Beatles-Hits? It won't be suitable for teens. It's a German low budget production by Les Humphries Singers and James Last. The front cover painting makes me wonder, who is the musician on the right? Looks like Phil Spector, Stan Webb or Les Humphries? Only 3 original members of The Beatles? Mr. Miller didn't care, because he had to catch the money and run...

[Fritz The Cat]

Mr Pickwick is the cheeky brother of Mr. Miller. A beautiful rock-opera mishandled by synthesizers. Tony Rivers is Tommy. He was a very busy vocalist for budget vocal productions.

[Kay Pirinha]

Re Beatle-Hits for Teens: The man on the left is also suspect. Who can doubtlessly identify him? The man on the right looks like Ronnie Wood, me thinks ;).

@ FrtztheCat: You appear to own a considerable collection of low-budget records, don't you? Where are they from?

Best regards!

[Kay Pirinha]

By the way, look at the front cover photo: do you recognize the person on the right?

Of course. And the man on the left is? Noddy Holder? Angus Young?

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

Re Beatle-Hits for Teens: The man on the left is also suspect. Who can doubtlessly identify him? The man on the right looks like Ronnie Wood, me thinks ;).

@ FrtztheCat: You appear to own a considerable collection of low-budget records, don't you? Where are they from?

Best regards!

Look only for those cheap vocal productions before 1971! On flea markets and in second hand vinyl shops you sometimes may also find them today. I collect these cheapo records since 20 years, also from flea markets around of the region of the Bodensee, in Konstanz, Freiburg, Austria and so on. It seems, that nobody wants to grab them but me. Especially Marble Arch and Somerset records from Pye studios in the end of the 60s are very interesting. The studio conditions there were legendary and nearly perfect for all those rookies then. Who are the singers, this is the question. As example, I have found more than 100 vocal productions of David Byron of Uriah Heep. As example for his abilities: he was the only one who was able to cope with the voices of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. His voice was very multifaceted and characteristic. Look here:http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?2724-What-s-Playing-Now&p=386030&viewfull=1#post386030
I have shown here about 10 of those LPs in January 2016.
Perhaps you may know this one: http://www.travellersintime.com/Byron/Avenue.html

[Kay Pirinha]

I fully second your opinion that DB was a very gifted singer, almost in the range of Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury. Anyway, that high-pitched vocal part in July Morning wasn't sung by him, but by Ken Hensley, then the keyboardist with Uriah Heep.

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

I fully second your opinion that DB was a very gifted singer, almost in the range of Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury. Anyway, that high-pitched vocal part in July Morning wasn't sung by him, but by Ken Hensley, then the keyboardist with Uriah Heep.

Best regards!
But live! Here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6SQniO7SnU

[Kay Pirinha]

July Morning. What a great tune!!! Definitely my favourite song of this band. Listen to Gary Thain's bass lines. But did you notice that this was cobbled together from very different footages and underlayed with the song version from the Live 1973 double LP? So, sorry, not a proof at all. I enjoyed it anyway :D:D:D.

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

July Morning. What a great tune!!! Definitely my favourite song of this band. Listen to Gary Thain's bass lines. But did you notice that this was cobbled together from very different footages and underlayed with the song version from the Live 1973 double LP? So, sorry, not a proof at all. I enjoyed it anyway :D:D:D.

Best regards!
You are on the proper thread. As i said: even that is a bluff package, isn't?

[Kay Pirinha]

Not that unusual. There's the Led Zeppelin DVD from 2003 with a version of Immigrant Song on it that has been done a very similar way.

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

This is not the genius of Elton John that i knew before in 1979. This is the dumbest and worst disco junk ever from Pete Bellotte.He once was Donna Summer's producer. Elton, i have forgiven you since many many years. Nobody is perfect. But... sorry, ähem, can i have my money back?

https://img.discogs.com/nZ-a4vfKF3FVHmav9jBgKCz7pRo=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-1360218-1212745379.jpeg.jpg

[Fritz The Cat]

Bluff: this guitar "hero" is not Frank Gibson. In fact this is Helmut Franke. At the end of the 60ies he was founding member of Hamburg based beat group "Wonderland" (Achim Reichel, Frank Dostal, Dicky Tarrach, Helmut Franke, Les Humphries). Ex-Rattles, Ex-Tonics.
All these Beatles song covers on this LP are unnecessary muzak. Two versions to chuckle about: "I feel fine" A1 and "Can't buy me love" A2 are played in southern rock style. Embarrassing and boring. Oh, why did Helmut? Endorser contract with Gibson guitars?

[Fritz The Cat]

Deceit: this is not what you expect, but it's not a serious damage. It's not the famous Krautrock band "Karthago", which was one of the best rock bands in Germany in the 70ies. In fact these very capable Hungarian musicians ripped off their band name without any consequences. But it's not a big sacrifice, because it's an amazing find. A rare one. It's not Krautrock indeed, but it's a perfect Szegedin Goulash: originally cooked also with Sauerkraut. For the genuine Kraut recipe look here:http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?2724-What-s-Playing-Now&p=430189&viewfull=1#post430189

[Fritz The Cat]

NRBQ live at Yankee Stadium? Noo, it's a bluff. In fact this album was recorded at Bearsville Studios, Nov. 1977. In keeping with the band's sense of humor, the album's title is a joke. But, it's not a lie: look at the front cover photo...Listen to "Riding in my car" B7 from 1975 LP "All hopped up".

[Fritz The Cat]

Super Ventures LP. Super psychedelic cover art. Super psychedelic songs. No psychedelic sounds at all.

[Fritz The Cat]

Every time we try to dance to this "LP for dancers", my wife says she would rather wash the dishes in the kitchen. (???!) She is right. It's definitively not the kind of music you may dance to. Especially the drum solo by Pete York in "Alec in Transitland" A3 and the rhythm changes in "Sanity Inspector" A4 or the psychedelic "Time Seller" B4 are a creative challenge for body and mind.
In fact it's a fascinating piece of great pop music from a period of transition after the quitting of Stevie Winwood in 1967.
It's a very positive bluff package! I love such kind of bluff! Alright, my wife says has finished her work in the kitchen. So, let's try another LP to dance to. What about Pink Floyds "Atom Heart Mother"? Tomorrow i will wash the dish.
Spencer Davis died on October 19th 2020. RIP

[Fritz The Cat]

Too much (silly) talking. Don't listen to "Walk on the wild side" D1 because it's a cheat. Lou Reed just talked and talked and talked. It's a walk on the sluggish side. German Kunstkopfstereo technology "Binaural Sound Recording" would have been a chance to create something unique. Missed opportunity. That's why it is definitively a bluff package and an annoying hype.

[Fritz The Cat]

"Made in Germany" means: the photos for artwork were made by German WDR-TV. In fact this album was recorded at live concerts in London, Miami and Tampa.
Impudent, cheat!
But admitted, it's not a bad one at all considering that fine live guitar work by Randy California and superb recording dynamics.

[Kay Pirinha]

The Spirit Rockpalast gig from March 1978, where the cover photos supposedly were shot, is available at YT (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_jYkwWjgh8). Note Dickey Betts jamming with them at the very last piece.

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

The Spirit Rockpalast gig from March 1978, where the cover photos supposedly were shot, is available at YT (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_jYkwWjgh8). Note Dickey Betts jamming with them at the very last piece.

Best regards!

Danke für den Tip. Was für ein grossartiges Konzert. Warum ist dieses nicht auf der LP "Made in Germany"? Rechtliche Gründe? Gruss aus CH, Fritz

[Kay Pirinha]

This was the 2nd one in a row of Rockpalast nights at Grugahalle, Essen, Germany. The other artists at that show were Mothers Finest, a then unknown act in Germany, and Dickey Betts & Great Southern. The Rockpalast nights were produced by TV/radio channel WDR and broadcast via TV all over Europe and stereophonic sound via several German radio stations.

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

This was the 2nd one in a row of Rockpalast nights at Grugahalle, Essen, Germany. The other artists at that show were Mothers Finest, a then unknown act in Germany, and Dickey Betts & Great Southern. The Rockpalast nights were produced by TV/radio channel WDR and broadcast via TV all over Europe and stereophonic sound via several German radio stations.

Best regards!

I remember well: i was very impressed that night in march 1978 by the pure energy of Joyce Kennedy. But oddly i don't remember the shows of Spirit and Dickey Betts. I was a big fan of Rockpalast! It was VHS-video time then, when Albrecht Metzger proudly presented "Tschörmen Tiwiee"...

[Kay Pirinha]

I was even more impressed by Jerry »Wyzard« Seay's bass playing and sound. He played an unknown (well, to me at least...) bass guitar over two MusicMan HD-130 heads. For sure he is one of the most funkies bass players on our planet :-).

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

I was even more impressed by Jerry »Wyzard« Seay's bass playing and sound. He played an unknown (well, to me at least...) bass guitar over two MusicMan HD-130 heads. For sure he is one of the most funkies bass players on our planet :-).

Best regards!
In Rockpalast 1978 it might be self creation with a curious neck/body combination. Look at the inexpert lacquer surface of the body (visible in the furious bass solo part): https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/rockpalast/video-mothers-finest--100.html
But here it's a Fender Precision bass: https://www.bassprofessor.info/index.php/bass-professor/bp-2015/bp-3-2015/1372-story-wyzard-mothers-finest

A great funk bass player, indeed. Gruss und Dank für den Tip. Fritz

[Kay Pirinha]

Sorry, I have to stand corrected: Although Seay was known to use MM HD-130 amplifiers (hybrid designs with SS anywhere but in the power section, which featured four 6CA7's), in the Rockpalast show he used two all-tube Ampeg SVT's with 8 x 12" cabinets. Thunderous 600 watts. I had to have a very close inspection to get aware of this.

And yes, probably you're right about the homebrew bass guitar. I've never seen anything like this one, and I'm a bass player also.

Best regards!

[Fritz The Cat]

The download codes added to the vinyl LPs: Is it really the sound of vinyl?

They can't fool me.

[Fritz The Cat]

The Wrecking Crew goes Easy-listening-dixie-pop
Cover art says: this is the midnight train to Boston.
In fact its sloppy elevator music of mishandled generic pop songs.
Am i wrong?

[Fritz The Cat]

Eroc is Joachim H. Ehrig, Ex-German psychedelic progressive rock group "Grobschnitt".
Liner notes on back cover: "Musik ist eine ehrliche Sprache. Es ist nicht einfach, Worte zu finden zu einem Werk! Es ist überhaupt nicht leicht, über etwas zu sprechen, das selbst eine Sprache ist."

In fact, this album is the language of hybris.
Anyhow it's a bluff package.
Am I wrong?