Torfrock: ....Dat Matscht So Schön and Rata-Ta-Zong

Two albums from German band Torfrock. Pretty weird stuff going on. 

Album 1

A1

Torfmoorholmer Regionalhymne

A2

Spruch: Arbeitstag In Torfmoorholm

A3

Rut Mit'n Torf (...Dat Matscht So Schön)

A4

Spruch: Torfmoorholmer Arbeitswelt

A5

Sommertied-Blues (Summertime Blues)

A6

Spruch: Jochen Kurzschluß

A7

He, Jo

A8

Spruch: Torfmoorholmer Frühgeschichte

A9

Rollo, Der Wikinger

B1

Rollos Taufe

B2

Spruch: Fingerfertigkeit

B3

Karola Petersen (Oh, Carol)

B4

Spruch: Joe Verfällt Der Mystik

B5

De' Wind Secht Maria (The Wind Cries Mary)

B6

Spruch: Friedhelm Fusel

B7

Spuk Am Brautsee

B8

Spruch: Torfmoorholmer Gastfreundschaft

B9

Let's Wörk Togesser (Let's Work Together)

Album 2

A1

Die Sonntagsjäger

A2

Volle Granate, Renate

A3

Tarzan Von' Teer

A4

Die Butterfahrt

A5

Tanz Der Wikinger

B1

Presslufthammer B-B-Bernhard

B2

Ufos Über Torfmoorholm

B3

Watt?

B4

Wikingerbeerdigung

Rentnerband: ...alles klar

Yahoo! Those crazy Germans didn't half know how to take a well-known tune and do a little craziness to it. This album is an odd mix of cover versions of songs: "Lily The Pink" and "Liverpool Lou" and songs/tunes that, I think, were their own. There's a mad version of "The Entertainer" and their take on, the previously stated, "Lily The Pink" is almost as good as the original, as it adds, toward the end,  a mini-homage to "Rockbound The Clock" and "Ja, mir san mit'm Radl da" which is a song I love from the Die Moosacher band album. If you get off on strange, mid 70s Germania then this is your album. 

John Keating: Space Experience

Crazy sound fun from fellow scot, John Keating. He taught himself to compose and arrange during his teens and while working in the Ted Heath band he was asked to be the primary arranger. This album is a funky-monkey of early 70s mild psychedelia. Keating writes a few of the songs and also arranges songs like 'Rocket man' and 'The Sound Of Silence'. This is a great album of all round grooviness. I do recommend. 

Roland Shaw And His Orchestra: The Phase 4 World Of Spy Thrillers

Beautifully arranged and played spy thrillers. All the tracks are stand-out although I do have a soft spot for 'My Man Flint'. So glad I found this. 

Klaus Wunderlich: Hammond Pop 5

Holy ORGAN Geoff! This is a fabulous concoction of Hammond arrangements made by Germany's premier concoctor of organ-stuff, Klaus Wunderlich.  Each track is a medley of two or three songs/tunes that were obviously created  to send young (and old) Germans mad with delight. It's not surprising why! It's a brilliant album of mad organ music. SIMPLES. 

Tony Mottola: Tony Mottola Joins The Guitar Underground

Mr Mottola plays in several styles and does them all rather well. I really like this album because it evokes those lazy, sunny afternoons when, as a kid, the days seemed to go on forever. He does a nice version of 'Those Were The Days' made famous over here by Mary Hopkin. The cover's pretty ridiculous to, so that's a bonus. 

Geoff Love & His Orchestra: Your favourite TV Themes

Basic TV theme fare here, although the arrangements are really nice. 

Tony Bagwell: Romantic Moog

Moog for lovers. That's all folks.

28 Stars: Top Programm 2

German pop from around the late 60s-70s. Brilliantly odd stuff particularly "Das int main Weg" by Peter Bell. 55" of him sounding like he's singing about his wig. Phenomenal find.

Percy Thrower: Percy Thrower's Guide To Good Gardening

Ah! Percy Thrower. The thinking man's Alan Titchmarsh. Percy was a staple on British TV for many-a-year. Gardener's World was in its prime when Percy hosted it. His gentle, lilting voice and laid-back manner coupled with his handy tips on gardening (not that I ever did any) created a show that oozed calmness and made for the perfect antidote to the stressfulness of 70s life. 

This double album has twelve tracks that correspond to each month and, Percy gives advice to the listener on what, when and how to get the best from your garden during each of the months.

The Twintones: Eleven Plus Two

Yes! Yes! Yes! This is more like it. The Twintones were a brother and sister duo (twins strangely enough) from Nanpeen in Cornwall. This is f'ing brilliant stuff. Organ and percussion from the 70s that reeks amateurism from every pore but does it with such style. A scratchy as fuck record but who cares? Not me! There's a brilliant piece of buff on the back: 

"If Kay and Gary had a chance to appear on NEW FACES or OPPORTUNITY  KNOCKS, it is quite possible they would greatly impress a national audience." There's also a huge chance they wouldn't. There's also an endorsement from Dick Emery, who obviously saw them whilst on holiday and was roped in to give a little testimony that is writ large over the back of the album. 

PURE CLASS.