THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
This ’65 self-written A-side by “Denmark’s – some would say the world’s – first teenage boy band” (Jan Eriksen (courtesy of Google Translate), https://www.bt.dk/underholdning/en-poppioner-er-doed)) was a hit there and is pure pop perfection. An obscure group from London then gave it a brilliant brassy mod makeover in ’67. And then decades later the song was given new life by punk legend Stiv Bators and Freddy Lynxx and the Corner Gang. WTF?
1,528) The Lollipops — “I’ll Stay By Your Side”
The Lollipops (see #25), Danish boys (starting out at 9, 10, and 12!) were “the subject of a true fan hysteria, especially in Sweden” (Jan Eriksen (courtesy of Google Translate), https://www.bt.dk/underholdning/en-poppioner-er-doed))
Jukka Saarinen writes (courtesy of Google Translate):
The Danish trio Torben, Jörgen and Poul, aka The Lollipops, delighted and amazed both young and old music lovers. The average age of the trio was just over 15, but the . . . band, which had risen to the top in an instant, had already achieved quite a bit of success. Torben Lundgreen, despite being only fifteen years old, had already become one of the most popular singers in the Nordic region. He had also established himself as a serious composer, along with his brother Jörgen Lundgreen, who played guitar and was a year younger. The brothers wrote the music for the 14-track LP Do You Know The Lollipops. The band’s drummer, Poul Petersen, is the brothers’ cousin. The Lollipops’ first hit single, “Do you know”, had been released three years earlier. In addition to the LP, the band also released the single “I’ll Stay by Your Side”, which was also predicted to be an international success immediately upon release.
Dk-rock adds (courtesy of Google Translate):
Debuted at a talent competition held by the Pingklubben in 1960 at the age of only 10, 9 and 12. Attracted attention due to their age, which gave them engagements, including at the Københavnerkroen for a month (where the Swedish impresario Calle Persson heard them, and got them a month-long engagement in Iceland) and in the Swedish folk parks in 1961-62, where teenage girls in particular fell for the group’s boyish innocence. They then got month-long engagements at the American military bases in West Germany and France. Got a record contract with Karusell in 1963, and broadcast the same year [“Lollipops Lips”]. Was launched in Sweden by the Swedish pirate radio station Radio Syd, which in record time started a fan hysteria and idol worship without equal. Record breakthrough in Sweden with [“Do You Know How Much I Love You”], which was the start of a long series of self-composed songs by the Lundgreen brothers, who particularly drew inspiration from The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas and American garage rock groups such as The Knickerbockers. LP debut in mid-1965 . . . which was the first Danish rock LP with exclusively their own compositions. In 1965-67 the group had an active fan club with the magazine Lolli-Posten. In September 1966 Petersen . . . was replaced by Henrik Lund . . . . The group actually had a Danish breakthrough with [“Sussy Moore”], which was followed by a series of successes in 1967-68 ([“SussY”], however, resembled the Tim Hardin song “The Lady Came from Baltimore” more than was good. The copyright case ended in a voluntary settlement in complete silence). . . . Lollipops disbanded in 1971 due to declining success and education (Torben at business school, Jørgen at the Academy of Fine Arts and Henrik studying as a decorator). . . . Lollipops was re-formed in March 1973 in connection with a performance in Cirkus Revyen. In the 70s, they enjoyed renewed success with a long series of Danish-language hits, including “Ung Kærlighed” and “Lorna”.
1,529) The Shiralee — “I’ll Stay By Your Side”
The Shiralee’s version — their only A-side — is “[w]onderfully moody intense mod with great ringing guitar, brass stabs and hints of the psych future”. (happening45, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCB3LX6GuyY) It is “[a]bsolutely brilliant, gives me goosebumps! How on earth was this overlooked?” (marshallscott7955, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCB3LX6GuyY) So true.
Apparently, the song “[f]ell through the cracks when Pirate Radio closed. It was played as a climber on Radio London the last week of transmission”. (trevdenman9319, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCB3LX6GuyY)
Twerptwo tells us of the Shiralee:
Originally known as the Albert Square Group, the band later changed their name to The Shiralee and went professional in 1967 upon signing a record deal with Fontana. Group members included Graham Barnes (lead guitar), Kevin Cummings, Peter Rikart, Bernie Clarke, Ken Golding and a member only known as Tim. . . . The single sold relatively few copies for The Shiralee, resulting in its not charting. . . . The Shiralee played the Whisky A’ Go Go on November 7th 1967 and again on March 14th 1968. The group toured throughout the UK during the late 1960’s with bands such as The Nashville Teens, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds and supported The Rolling Stones at a New Musical Express Concert in London.
Chris Clarke wrote in ’17 that “[t]his band were from Acton in West London. Bernie Clarke is my father who we lost earlier this year.” (https://www.45cat.com/record/tf855)
Here are Finland’s Hurriganes with their ’75 A-side cover “I Will Stay”:
Here is Stiv Bators with his ’87 cover demo “I’m No More”:
Here is Freddy Lynxx and the Corner Gang ’04 (“Punk rock’n’roll project by the french guitarist and singer Freddy Lynxx featuring members of Rick Blaze and The Ballbusters, Sour Jazz, Road Vultures, Kevin K Band, The Remains/The Golden Arms, etc.” (https://www.discogs.com/artist/2152069-Freddy-Lynxx-And-The-Corner-Gang)):
Here is Stamping Bricks (Denmark) with their ’66 A-side cover:
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