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Post by ajsmith on Jun 4, 2008 15:52:03 GMT
OK, turned detective. The date of the Scala screening was 29th September 1984. It was featured in a programme which included 'Psych Out', 'Gimme Shelter', 'I Keep Thinking It's Tuesday', 'Wonderwall' and 'Blow Up'. The event was billed as the Second 'Alice in Wonderland' All-Night Psychedelic Film Festival. Alice in Wonderland was a club organised by Christian Paris and Clive Jackson, the latter perhaps better known as the Doctor of Dr and the Medics (remember their 'Spirit in the Sky' cover?). At the time the Scala was run by the film director and producer, Stephen Woolley. thanks a lot for that fascinating info on the 80s 60s revival Peter! Think it's worth asking the "Dr" on this? There's an email and mobile number on the official site: www.doctorandthemedics.com/
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Post by Peter Elliott on Jun 4, 2008 16:30:28 GMT
Films such as Ferry cross the Mersey,Catch us if you can and some of the more unusual 60's pop films were shown on BBC 1 sometime in the 70's on tuesday nights I think. Long time since I've seen some of those. Far too long since these were given a screening! Last time the DC5 movie was shown on British TV was in the mid to late 80s, I think on Channel 4. Satellite channel Bravo showed it a couple of times in the mid 90s which was when I was able to tape it. I watched it again recently and it remains charming and quaint. "Privilege" is another gem... think that was last screened on Channel 4 in about 1985. Director Peter Watkins has been trying to get that one released on DVD... he talks about it on some website somewhere where he discloses the depressing fact there seems to only be one working print left of that film. I know Jarvis Cocker chose it and had it screened in London a few years back. Little wonder copies are barely in circulation of many of the odder vintage pop films.
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Post by Peter Prentice on Jun 4, 2008 17:04:15 GMT
Already done it, AJ! No reply from the Doctor as yet, though.
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Post by Andy Howells on Jun 5, 2008 7:30:50 GMT
I think Catch Us If You Can got a few airings on Channel 4 back in the 80's, I did have it on tape myself at one point (unfortunately another one lost in a house move - reckon someone is sitting on my old tapes somewhere!) . BBCFour screened a few rarer ones earlier this year including Slade in Flame and Adam Faith in Beat Girl which I managed to get.
I've also seen Herman's Hermits "Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" makes the occasional airing on TCM.
Perhaps the strangest but quite enjoyable I've seen in recent times is "Everydays A Holiday" which was shown as a tribute to Freddie Garrity on BBC 2 one Sunday morning two years ago shortly after his death. I'd never seen it before and it was much in the mould of Cliff movies as it featured Richard o Sullivan and Grazina Frame. Think its John Leyton heading the cast.
I'd certainly like to see a series of these films on TV again, its years since I've seen "Tommy The Toreadour", "Just For Fun" and "It's Trad Dad!" and I'd certainly love to see Cliff's "Finders Keepers" again as I think that was quite an entertaining movie that gets largely forgotten now, also gave The Shadows a more prominent role as well as a great supporting cast from John Le Mesurier, Peggy Mount, Robert Morley and Graham Stark.
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Post by Peter Prentice on Jun 7, 2008 13:33:14 GMT
OK folks, finally located the cassette and played it through.
My early observations:
1. The running time of the print screened in 1984 was considerably shorter than the 54 minute release of 1968, itself edited down from the original 98 minutes. My recording comes in under 44 minutes (I made no edits).
2. The sound quality of the tape was better than I had remembered. Less muddy but still marred by the incessant chatter (and occasional laughter) of the audience that night.
3. Apart from a short spoken introduction and a one-sentence conclusion the film has no dialogue, just a continuous musical soundtrack - in a similar vein to 'La Bicyclettes de Belsize'. On initial hearing I don't believe there is any unreleased material from those artists involved, at least not in this cut. Will check this out. All of the performances appear to come from disc.
Working on a tracklisting now; I'll report back later.
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Post by Peter Prentice on Jun 7, 2008 17:18:09 GMT
Part One of my best attempt at a tracklisting (approximate duration in brackets):
(a) Spoken Intro (0.10) (b) Classical piece (1.05) (c) The Idle Race 'On With The Show' (1.50) [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] (d) brief segment of unknown psychedelic pop song (Idle Race??)with one line ending "...walking miles just to stand beside you, little girl" (0.30) (e) Intro of Brian Auger & The Trinity's 'Black Cat' (0.20) (f) Hammond organ instrumental (NOT Brian Auger) (1.55) (g) Light easy listening instrumental with female vocals (1.15) (h) Unknown uptempo pop song ('Break my Heart'??) (possibly the credited 'Kevin & Gary') (1.05) (i) Unusual one this. A gem of a British soul song with the opening line: "Things ain't what they used to be anymore...". Sounds for all the world like a song by Tony Colton, who's credited on the most detailed production notes available from the EOFFTV website. Possibly Colton himself on vocals (or even Zoot Money). Just wish it was complete! (1.30) (j) An intro of "6-5-4-3-2-1-Zero Blast Off!" leading into an infuriatingly catchy number sung by what sounds like a 'groovy' children's choir (!!!). Very way-out. (Complete 2.50) (k) Cocktail jazz passage (1.50) (l) Lengthy instrumental (2.40) [START ACCOMPANIED BY MUCH AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]
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Post by Peter Prentice on Jun 7, 2008 17:46:05 GMT
Part Two:
(m) Loud brassy instrumental (1.35) (n) Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity 'Why (Am I Treated So Bad)' (0.50) (o) Blossom Toes 'The Remarkable Saga Of The Frozen Dog' (0.60) (p) Brenton Wood 'Catch You On The Rebound' (2.00 complete) (q) Unknown (probably) Brenton Wood song (containing the word 'elevate') (1.25) (r) Brief unknown male vocalist song (0.30) (s) Unknown uptempo female pop song (all-girl group??) (1.55 complete) (t) Funky jazz instrumental (2.10 complete) (u) Uptempo sitar-led instrumental, not unlike Big Jim Sullivan's 'Lord Sitar' excursions (1.30) (v) Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity 'Break It Up' (2.40 complete) (w) Dantalian's Chariot 'The Madman Running Through The Fields' (3.45 complete). Possibly a different mix or edit as the song only contains one "Isn't that the Madman..." section. (x) Light Martin Denny-like instrumental (1.05) (y) Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity 'Kind Of Love-in' (1.00) (z) Uptempo female vocal ballad ('Baby Be Mine??) (2.20 complete) (aa) Blossom Toes 'Love Is' (1.50) (bb) Instrumental and closing narration (1.30)
I couldn't hear any audio evidence of Don Partridge, Brazilian singers Luiz Bonza & Maria Toledo, or John's Children's Andy Ellison.
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Post by Peter Elliott on Jun 7, 2008 18:00:22 GMT
Brilliant info Peter! Thanks for taking the time to decipher the contents of the tape.
Great to know Dantalians' contribution is the immortal "Madman" and that there's a fair bit of Julie Driscoll in there as well!
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Post by ajsmith on Jun 8, 2008 17:16:54 GMT
That list is Gold Dust! Thanks a lot for posting, Peter Prentice! It's a crime the film is so obscure and possibily lost forever when there are so many rare psyche acts represented in it: there are a not insignificant amount of people in the world who would be overjoyed to know that there is footage of The Idle Race doing "On with the Show" or the Blossom Toes playing "Frozen Dog" out there! Seems possible that the edit you taped had any narrative chopped out of it: no big loss as the music is what makes the film so fascinating.
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Post by Peter Prentice on Jun 8, 2008 19:15:26 GMT
That list is Gold Dust! Thanks a lot for posting, Peter Prentice! It's a crime the film is so obscure and possibily lost forever when there are so many rare psyche acts represented in it: there are a not insignificant amount of people in the world who would be overjoyed to know that there is footage of The Idle Race doing "On with the Show" or the Blossom Toes playing "Frozen Dog" out there! Seems possible that the edit you taped had any narrative chopped out of it: no big loss as the music is what makes the film so fascinating. No need to thank me - just doing my public duty! On reflection I think it probable that (i) is Zoot Money singing a Tony Colton song. Money recorded a number of Colton compositions during 1966/67, including three as Dantalian's Chariot. It certainly bears the Colton mid-sixties hallmark. Quality song!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2008 20:27:38 GMT
Fascinating! So...the hunt for a print continues...
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Post by Peter Prentice on Jun 9, 2008 11:58:41 GMT
Fascinating! So...the hunt for a print continues... Working on it, Laurence. Will keep you updated as to my progress.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2008 12:20:17 GMT
Wonderful. Thanks.
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Post by ajsmith on Sept 23, 2008 20:53:29 GMT
Did anything ever come of your email to the Doctor Peter? I know the lack of replies since June means probably no, but I can't help wondering about this one.
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Post by Peter Prentice on Sept 24, 2008 10:08:03 GMT
You guessed correct, AJ. I twice attempted to contact him but received no reponse. The Scala source remains the main focus of the search at present (I have my doubts about the veracity of the Mods & Rockers story, by the way), though I'm also working on a Far East connection.
I've been very busy over the past few months trying to contact anybody I could find who had the slightest involvement in the production. Though very supportive of the search their memories are understandably very hazy. Some of the musicians involved are even unsure if they actually appeared in the film.
Slowly, however, I am beginning to put together the story of Fred Marshall and his extraordinary vanity project, Popdown (albeit, like the production itself, in a rather piecemeal fashion).
There are letters going out next week to several key offscreen personnel. It is always a bit hit or miss, because I'm totally reliant on their goodwill, but I'm hoping any replies will add a few more missing pieces to the jigsaw and provide some fresh impetus to the search.
I keep meaning to update Missing Episodes with a revised tracklisting but it is usually in such a state of flux that it is changes from day to day. I promise to have a go later.
Stay tuned - you won't be disappointed!
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