Customer Reviews

Let's Go: Joe Meek's Girls

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

 

 

...Joe Meek did not record nearly as many female artists as male artists. However, this might just as well be because of the greater difficulty female artists experienced securing radio exposure in the 1960s. Nonetheless, this superb collection demonstrates Meek's efforts with a respectable number of girl singers and, at the same time, provides a great sampler of archetypal British girl records from the early 1960s.

Because Meek was an independent who merely leased his masters to the record labels, and he has long been dead, his master tapes have been scattered to the winds and sometimes destroyed. For this reason, many of the tracks on this collection could not be mastered from a proper source and therefore suffer sonically. Forgive the fuzzy sound and enjoy the great music.

There are so many great moments on this disc, including the consistently superb work of Meek's only longtime female singer, Glenda Collins, who is represented here by her first Meek opus "I Left My Heart at the Fairground" complete with galloping "Telstar" rhythm and fairground noises, her classic rockaballad "Baby It Hurts," with its vibrato guitar and saxophone fills and truly campy lyrics, and then a great unreleased track "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'." There are the two sides to Pamela Blue's iconoclastic depresso single "My Friend Bobby" and "Hey There Stranger." There are Flip's two great mid-60s soul numbers "Mama Didn't Lie" and "My Johnny Doesn't Come Around" and then her amazing rockabilly "Listen to Me." There are the two sides to Jenny Moss' terrific single "Hobbies" b/w "Big Boys" and a relatively clean version of "Please Let It Happen to Me" which would end up in the soundtrack for the film "Live It Up" with extensive additional arrangements. Then there are the two gnomish bubblegum numbers from Swedish model Gunilla Thorne "Merry Go-Round" and "Go On, Then," the latter with Ritchie Blackmore on guitar. Those Swedish models never can sing, can they?

For girl rock collectors, this set is a must. For Joe Meek initiates, this set is also a must.

I'll only mention what other reviews haven't so far: the song "Dumbhead" is by far one of the all-time greatest unintentionally-insane songs ever recorded. Two nasal, self-deprecating ladies belting it out in a cave backed by a flatulent keyboard. Please, please buy this album if only for Dumbhead. Without a doubt my favorite Joe Meek moment.

I must add on to Hasbro's comments below - "Dumbhead" is incredible! I have yet to hear the original, but I doubt it can touch the production-madness of Meek's. However, the women singing 'Dumbhead' (the Sharades) also do a song on the CD titled 'Boy Trouble', on which they go into vocal hysteria! It's as if they're trying to outdo the Proclaimers. I really do wish these ladies had recorded more. This CD is enjoyable and definitely worth having. Of course, not EVERY track will knock your socks off ('Let's Go See Gran'ma' will knock the boots though...you'll see), but that's to be expected. HIGHLIGHTS (in my opinion): 'I Lost My Heart At the Fairground', 'Hobbies', 'My Johnny Doesn't Come Around', & 'Please Don't Say Goodbye' - to name a few. Do pick this one up, you'll be glad you did.

You just have to suggest that one of the best uses of this collection would be to supply LOTS OF offbeat novelty tunes to a drag show, hands down, IMO! From the growling delightfulness of Gunilla Thorn's "Go on Then" and "Merry-Go-Round" ("...you can't ex-cape it, no matter how hard you try...") to "Hobbies" sung by Jenny Moss. There's a funny lyric in a Connie Francis tune "(I Love to) Sing Along" about..."If I forget the words I'm singin', I keep a-singin' "Tra-la-la-la-la-la La!" that ought to apply to "Hobbies" (La-la-la-la-la-la-HOBBIES!)!

Also, I have heard the Ginny Arnell version of "Dumb Head" and just when you think that wasn't silly enough, Joe Meek takes it one level more surreal with "The Sharades"! Great other unique and uniquely strange tunes on this like Congo-beat "My Johnny doesn't Come Around"; "Ringling bros. meets a-go-go" - "Who's that Girl" (Diane & Javelins); One-name & unintentionally funny "Yolanda" doing "With this Kiss" (..I giff my kiss...I giff my heart..they're yours, my love..please say...we'll ne---ver part..!"); also "Big Boys" with lyrics like..."when I run downstairs at breakfast time...and start to crack my eggs....", etc.!!

Lastly I have to wonder if Meek's inspiration for wanting to do Joy & Dave's "Let's Go see Granma'" was from watching American TV shows like "Green Acres/Petticoat Junction/Hee Haw" to inspire such a funny tune! Nothing like a couple of Brits imitating American rural culture! All around fun set of unique tunes that aren't just the kind that are "cute the first two times you hear them, then ANNOYING any time after that!!

This compilation is spunky! I love it. Although i'm not familiar with ANY of the artists on this disc at all I still went ahead and purchased it after sampling just the first 4 songs. It's unbelievable how well this website knows it's consumers.

I'm a fan of Girl-Groups & Sola's of the 60's . The songs on this album are short, catchy & sweet. These are the kinds of songs you'll hear playing in vintage bookstores and or souvenir shops on hollywood boulevard, Vegas, Soho or anywhere that sales vintage stuff.

This collection is incredible, The songs are like nursery rhymes and christmas carols. They get glued to your brain. If you love more familiar artists like Lesley Gore, Patty Duke, Annette Funicello, The Essex (Anita Humes), The Ronnettes, Lulu, The Crystals, The Angels Or any of that happygolucky jolly bubblegum music by girl groups of the 60's then this compilation was tailor made just for you sweetheart.

The most interesting song of the bunch is "Dumb Head" by The Sharades (in my opinion). It's has really quirky and cartoonish. There's sound effects included in the rhythm with crazy lyrics to match. It's really animated and sticks out!.

Some other favorites of mine are "My Friend Bobby" by Pamela Blue, "Christmas Calling" by Valerie Masters, "Hobbies" by Jenny Moss, "This Girls Gone Rockin'" by Glenda Collins & "Little Star" by Lea & Chess.

Again and again I'm so pleased at how much Amazon knows me. If it wasn't for this website I doubt I wouldv'e ever come across this great compilation *Wink*. Also, just a side note... When hearing this collection the listener gets the impression they're hearing upbeat Christmas songs, Especially if they're played during the holiday season. Which i'm guessing is why they put "Christmas Calling" in the mix.

I just got this at a bargain price from Amazon.co.uk. Its great for completists and Meek collectors, and even for those who want to know about girl singers or production methods of the 1960s. But it's not very listenable. There are about four really good tracks on it, and no stars with the possible exception of Glenda Collins.