Dyer’s Disc Round-Up #1

Welcome to the first of a new series that aims to highlight new releases of vintage material. This edition features a tribute to a Eurovision legend, a Burnette and a previously unreleased album by a New Faces act!

A Tribute to Martin Lee

By Jamie Dyer

I was saddened by the news that singer Martin Lee had passed away at the age of 81. He was best known as a member of Brotherhood of Man, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976.

Although the name was already established in the early 70s as an umbrella for rotating session singers, it was the winning song “Save Your Kisses for Me” that catapulted the fixed lineup of Martin Lee, Nicky Stevens, Sandra Stevens, and Lee Sheriden into superstardom. I was always taken with their winning song, as I appreciated the clever innocence of the lyrics, the catchy harmonies in the chorus, and the accompanying dance routine. The song, featuring Lee’s lead vocal, was never off my turntable when I started collecting vinyl.

The band, who stayed together for decades, had a number of hits in the latter period of the 1970s. They included “My Sweet Rosalie“, “Figaro” and “Angelo“. Popularity would wain as they entered the 80s, but they’d remain a fixture on the live circuit until 2020 when they announced their retirement.

Some of their biggest hits may sound sickly sweet to a modern audience, but there is no denying the immense talent involved. Growing up in the 90s, I would often see them performing on 1970s revival shows, they always felt like the only pop act still together from that era; Still sounding as if they’d stepped off the stage at The Hague.

RIP Martin Lee. “I’ll be thinking of you”

The Complete Reprise and Motown Recordings Plus (1962-1965)
Dorsey Burnette
Bear Family Records
2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This two-disc set certainly offers value, with 45 tracks over two discs. Disc one contains perhaps the better-known of Burnette’s output. While disc two contains tracks which have not previously been issued on CD.

WIth track 6 of disc one, the pace suddenly changes for I’m Waitin’ For Ya Baby. It has much more bounce and punch than the previous tracks. There is a rawness about the mix which makes it feel immediate and engaging. We get a touch of country with some tracks, such as in one of the duets with Dorsey’s brother Johnny, Hey Sue. A highlight of disc one is House With a Tin Roof Top, while disc two’s stand-out is Lipstick, Tickle Toes, Huggy Bear, Kissy Face Baby.

The proliferation of Burnette’s output in evidence here certainly deserves praise by way of such a release. The Complete Reprise and Motown Recordings Plus (1962-1965) is available to order from Bear Family Records.

Tracklisting:

CD1

1. Back To Nature
2. Rolling Restless Stones
3. The Boys Kept Hangin’ Around
4. Castle In The Sky
5. Darling Jane
6. I’m A Waitin’ For Ya Baby
7. It Don’t Take Much (With Johnny Burnette)
8. Hey Sue (With Johnny Burnette)
9. Invisible Chains
10. Pebbles
11. Sixteen Violins
12. Green Side Of The Mountain
13. One Mornin’
14. Circle Rock
15. House With A Tin Roof Top
16. One Of The Lonely
17. Where’s The Girl
18. Four For Texas
19. Foolish Pride
20. Little Acorn
21. Cold, As Usual
22. Jimmy Brown
23. Everybody’s Angel
24. Long Long Time Ago
25. Ever Since The World Began

CD2

1. Magic Of Love
2. It Could’ve Been Different
3. My Refugee
4. Little By Little
5. Go Between
6. Light The Fuse
7. Gotta Travel On
8. Alligator Davey
9. Don’t Believe
10. Bluer Than Blue
11. Buckeye Road
12. Lonely Room 21
13. Why Break My Heart (Just To Run Around)
14. Lipstick, Tickle Toes, Huggy Bear, Kissy Face Baby
15. Conscience, I’m Guilty
16. They’re Only Words
17. Love Me Forever
18. There Comes A Time (Baby I Didn’t)
19. I Know, I Know
20. Honey Come Back

Review written by Jane Grandle

The Chris White Experience Presents:
Sparrow
Sunfish Music
2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Originally recorded in 1975, this album finally presents 15 tracks by Sparrow, produced by Chris White. Although Celebration and Oh, Doctor received a little attention as singles, the album was shelved by the record label, Bronze Records, and never released in full.

That is until it received a full remaster from the original tapes. Now all 15 tracks are presented here, courtesy of The Chris White Experience. The Chris White Experience is a name under which many projects in which Chris White has been involved from the mid-1970s onwards, after his work with The Zombies, can be released.

Sparrow’s success on TV talent show New Faces and their signing with Gerry Bron led to the recording sessions which produced these tracks. Sparrow consisted of five members who had already worked–and would continue to do so afterwards–in the music industry: John Milton, Tom Marshall, Tony Harding, Stuart Calver and Brian Hudson.

All 15 numbers feel incredibly contemporary and it seems incredible that more was not made of them in their own time. Especially when it is considered that Sparrow were a close-harmony group who played their own instruments: a real powerhouse.

Each track has much to offer, but some highlights include Amateur Days in the Band, which features guitar work by guest artist Hank Marvin. Other stand-outs are the well-placed opener Celebration and closer So Far So Good. They have the right energy to bookend this strong collection of material. The Chris White Experience presents Sparrow is available to order from The Chris White Experience.

Tracklisting:

1. Celebration
2. It’s Alright Now
3. All My Love
4. Take It Easy
5. Oh Doctor
6. Burning Bridges
7. Amateur Days In The Band
8. Venus
9. Catch Sorrow
10. I’m Afraid
11. Eli’s Coming
12. Fifty Fifty
13. She Didn’t Forget Her Shoes
14. Love
15. So Far So Good

Review by Jane Grandle

Thank you for reading this edition of Dyer’s Disc Round-Up! We’re passionate about discovering and reviewing new releases of vintage music. Have you got something for us? Email Jamie at Jamie@oldtimereview.co.uk with all the details. We can’t wait to hear from you!