Customer Reviews

Kings of Oblivion

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a band. Everybody loved the Fairies. On their night - the best band in the world; on their off days - well, the least said the better. They played every free festival there was, always turning up for them, but sometimes forgetting to turn up to the ones that they were supposed to be paid for. Touring with the equally infamous Hawkwind, ending every concert with a set of "Pinkwind", where everybody got up on stage for a Jam that would either be marvelous or, depending on the state of the respective band members, a complete shambles.

The Pink Fairies were well known for their excessive Rock `n' Roll lifestyle, ultra cool looks (denim, leather, very long frizzy hair, cowboy boots and eternal shades), couldn't care less attitude, and excellent musicianship. Unfortunately the later was generally ignored by the press, but mind you, they didn't exactly help themselves with their barely concealed contempt for the press or the music business hierarchy in general.

This dog's favorite Fairies' story is that of turning up at Maidstone Civic hall to witness the Fairies in motion. After a very under-rehearsed Fairies had blown the roof off with a ramshackle 40 minutes set including encore ("City Kids", "Lucille", "Johnnie B. Goode", "Well, Well, Well", "The Snake" and a 10 minutes "Uncle Harry's Freak Out"), we were greeted by a very annoyed looking Larry Wallis announcing from stage that the management had told them they were booked for 90 minutes and if they didn't play 90 minutes they wouldn't be paid. The band then came back on stage played exactly the same set again, only with "Uncle Harry's Freak Out" including an extra 10 minutes drum solo. So the band got paid, management were happy, and the audience all got to see the Fairies twice.

This album under review, "The Kings Of Oblivion", was the Pink Fairies third official release (after "Never Never Land" in 1971 and "What A Bunch Of Sweeties" in 1972). But to say the lineup had been consistent was like saying that the English cricket batting lineup was reliable. Already come and gone through the revolving fairy door had been ex-Pretty Things drummer Twink (off to play in "The Stars" with fellow spacemen Jack Monk and Pink Floyd's Syd Barret), ex T.Rex man, Steve Peregrine Took, Trevor Burton of Move Fame, Mick Farren, and Larry Wallis (who both came back), Paul Rudolph (lured away by promises of fame and fortune by Hawkwind..... another fine mess) and Mick Wayne, who, although only in the band for 6 to 7 gigs, wrote their surprise hit single "Well, Well, Well".

But when Mick Wayne was kicked out, this left the way for the glorious return of Larry "Lazza" Wallis, who'd been showing off his wares with "Blodwyn Pig" and "U.F.O" (Wallis' parting shot to U.F.O after being fired for not turning up to rehearsals had been "You May Rehearse, I Create"). Joining the nucleus of Duncan Sandersand on bass and Wildman of Rock Russel Hunter on drums, the Fairies then enjoyed a period of stability (18 months) during which they recorded this remarkable guitar driven album.

There is no doubt that this is Wallis' album, having a hand in writing all the songs, singing, playing guitar, production and engineering credits.

The album opens with the classic "City Kids" (which Wallis was to take with him when he formed "Motorhead with Lemmy after he was kicked out of Hawkwind,. All gets very incestuous,doesn't it) here in its original version, all crunchy guitars, rock solid bass and drums with a catchy chorus, which you are singing along second time around. All the songs here are 24 carat solid gold easy action; it is one of rock music's great in justices that this is not regarded as one of its all time classics.

Out of all the Fairies albums this is possibly their best, certainly their most refined studio effort. But should be played at 11 for maximum effect.

Over the years there have been many Pink Fairies reformations and comebacks, at one time there were four different versions of the band on tour, plus up to eighteen albums released under the Fairies banner. But take my word for it, anything with Larry Wallis on it is sheer class.

As for "The Kings Of Oblivion", who can resist a cover with three flying pink pigs on it, all wearing shades?
Mott the Dog.

Oh my, Pink Fairies simply RULES! This is the third and last studio album by the band, and what a furiously adrenalined, powerfull farewell it is!! Drived by the amphetamine-fuelled crunching guitar assault of Larry Wallis, the storming, ferocious rhythm section of Duncan Sanderson and Russell Hunter and the ironic, blistering vocals of 'Sandy', the Fairies displays here an overwhelming proto-punk, glitter/mod drenched raging rock'n'roll, in an smashing, mind-expanding, irreprehensible sequence of thunderous songs. All the cuts included in that reissue are outstanding, but my particular favourites are "Chambermaid", "I Wish I Was a Girl", "Raceway" and "City Kids". ROCK ON, FAIRIES!!

'Kings...' was originally released in 1973,being the band's third effort.The line-up on here is strictly a trio with Russell Hunter on drums,Duncan Sanderson on bass/vocals and Larry Wallis on guitar/vocals.This disc kicks MORE ass than I was expecting.I was quite impressed with "I Wish I Was A Girl","Chromium Plating",the boot stomping instrumental "Raceway" and "Street Urchin".Wallis's guitar ripping is worth the admission price alone.Wasn't he the original guitarist for Motorhead?In fact,this CD's opener "City Kids" went onto be a Motorhead tune.Comes with four bonus cuts added on,so you can't go wrong by picking up a copy of this title.Should appeal to fans of MC5,Deviants,the Melvins,Stooges and Spirit Caravan.

If you are curious as to what inspired Motorhead's unique sound, and have already explored MC5, The Stooges, Hawkwind and The Groundhogs, then go no further than this album. Larry Wallis and Duncan Sanderson appeared on early 'head recordings, and City Kids is on On Parole and the self-titled Motorhead album, among others.

City Kids here is more stark than Lemmy's amphetemine-enriched version, but no less powerful. I wish I was a Girl is a track worthy of the Groundhogs "Split" album in its inventiveness - but the raw power is undimished. Sure it lacks a little something due to recording techniques in those days - a clear sense of perspective is needed, as this is music of its time and yet way ahead of it.

When's the Fun Begin is not one to listen to if you're verging on a depression, but provides a nice contrast to the driving Chromium Plating and Raceway. Something about these tracks actually seems to contain the acrid smell and excitement of motor racing in a far less clinical way than say, Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain".

Chambermaid is quirky and may require several listens to pick up on the humour, and Street Urchin is the track that leaves you wanting more. It's great that this CD includes the single Well, well, well and the other mixes to provide this need. In the old days, we just played the record from the start again!

One of the best-kept secrets of hard rock - and an important part of its history. If you like your rock and roll "real", it don't get much realler than this. Just don't go expecting Judas Priest, AC/DC or Black Sabbath. This is high-energy rock that truly belongs on the streets, and a landmark album in its genre. Truly a classic, like a '57 Bel-Air.

Enjoy LOUD and with BEER.

Well, what can I say.With the wife and kids (dog,cat, hamster - anyone you care for really) well out of the way, turn it up FULL volume until the drums kick you in the head, the basslines make the walls move,Larry Wallis's guitar cuts through you like a knife and enter an alternate state of consciousness.A full scale assault on the central nervous system.Bloody fantastic. The album is worth buying just to listen to Russell Hunter's drumming on 'City Kids'alone(probably the best 3 1/2 minutes Wallis (or anyone else) has ever penned.) If you haven't heard of the Fairies check them out on the web to see why they are a legend and buy all their remastered albums.The Wallis-driven 'Kings' is their best effort. My wife hates it - the ultimate accolade.This is without doubt rock and roll at its very finest.

Okay--"Never Never Land" and "What A Bunch of Sweeties" are two of the most ignored albums ever to be released--however this one is perhaps even more ignored and ironically it's the best of the three. On this record the Fairies have become a trio and added guitarist/songwriter Larry Wallis and the results are amazing. The band is much tighter and focused and gone are the psych trip outs of the 1st two records(not that that was a bad thing)replaced instead by heavy tight tunes wrapped around one free type progressive jam "I Wish I Was A Girl" which is actually the records best track. This is a must--if you've passed on the first two don't pass on this one----this is their masterpiece--if the Fairies were actually capable of such a thing....

Oh, the Faries could play. ON this ONE, they do, OUTto prove, on a mission to prove they could not only keep up but,ECLIPSE em DEEP purple HIGHWAY star,BEAT EM AT THEIR OWN game, BY DROPPIN ALL PSYCEDELIC,tints and JUST plain, SPEEDY SPEEDIER , race track LIKE no NONSENCE,dog chassing its own TAIL, tunes are like SPIRALS into IGNITION.

With a tidal wave of 70s remasters now hitting the "streets", what better time to rediscover some of the true greats? The Pink Fairies were English early 70s underground. They were true rock n roll idealists, which basically means they had a high street-cred factor, gave a lot of free concerts, smoked a lot of dope, didn't give a damn about industry success AND they had things to say about (gulp!) society. Needless to say, bands like that tend to take second prize to, say, Guns n Roses or Jon Bon Jovi. A shame because the Pinks had the songs, the talent and - importantly- the feck-you attitude to make a real impact. They were, for example, much better than Hawkwind, who ended up as the standard-bearers of the underground rock movement. Kings Of Oblivion, their third and last labum, is a PUNK rock beauty. Listen to City Kids: if that doesn't pre-empt the Sex Pistols I don't know what does. I Wish I Was a Girl is a soaring rocker in the mould of the Who, Chromium Plating is all Alice Cooper sneer and Keith Moon drums and Larry Wallis on guitar who positively shines. Raceway is a proto-speed-metal instrumental and Street Urchin sounds like T-Rex after way too much whiskey. Fans of studio slickness should stay away; the Pinks fire all on all six but are more Garageland than Hitsville. Sound? Stooges, 13th Floor Elevators and the Who jamming at the all night sinsemilla party.
Extra points for the interesting sleeve notes, one of the best covers in rock history and tasty bonus tracks (including single Well, Well, Well). The Pink Fairies may not have been the most successful band in the world, but they were definitely one of the hippest.

This is without a doubt one of the greatest hard rock records ever.Any fan of Nirvana,Husker Du,Cheap Trick,Motorhead,or Ziggy Stardust era Bowie will love this.It has elements of all these.For 1973 this is really fast and hard,but also very melodic.Excellent lead guitar by Larry Wallis especially on
intro to "I Wish I Was A Girl"and"Street Urchin".Drumming reminds
me of a slightly more frantic Keith Moon with a bit of a surf
type flavor on some of the faster tunes.If you can picture that!
Great album cover(flying pigs with sunglasses)sums up the bands
sense of humor.Very high energy.Very fun record!

I don't know a lot about the Pink Fairies other than they were connected to a band called the Deviants

But this is fantastic, rollicking straight rock and roll that can take paint from walls forty years on. Recommended highly