VA - A Snapshot In Time - Society, Scandal, & The First Stirrings Of Modernism 1960-1963 (2022)

Back in September 1962, the only Beatles records in the shops saw them backing Tony Sheridan on a goosed-up version of My Bonnie, Their debut single Love Me Do would be released in October 1962 and the seismic change they brought to music worldwide would occur once the band achieved light speed in 1963. There was, however, before Beatlemania a thriving music culture that dropped anchor in a number of ports. Proto pop charts might be dominated by the likes of Cliff and his Shadows, crooners and sweet looking pop idols who brushed their teeth but R&B was gently finding its way into record racks either through imports or a growing number of home grown cover versions. The Motown sound was taking root in Detroit, America and already filtering into the UK on poor selling 7” singles on London and Fontana.

The twist might be considered an old dance but in political circles no one twisted in the wind harder than John Profumo undone in 1961 for a triangular relationship where the other two parties were Christine Keeler and a Russian spy. Politicians and the establishment lived by the dictum of do what I say rather than what I do. Until they got caught with their pants down. This was a situation Patrick McGoohan in Danger Man always avoided although after 1963 part of James Bond appeal on the big screen was his ability to drop his pants and bed Russian spies.

To say that before the Beatles, before the Stones, before the Who, before the blues explosion there was no good music being recorded in the UK is untrue. There was plenty of great records put out in 1960, 1961 and 1962. You simply had to find the gems.

The problem with the Beatles, and the coverage of their music, was that it built a musical dam that formed a reservoir that covered previous audio hills that were submerged by time and history. Why care about Otillie Patterson singing the blues when you had Please Please Me? Why care about Chris Farlowe’s Air Travel when you had I Want To Hold Your Hand? Whereas 50 years later Beatles music is endlessly recycled, much of the music recorded between 1960 and 1963 remains ignored and submerged under water. But, as you will discover on A Snapshot in Time there were some cracking gems like the Blue Flames R&B swagger of Orange Street, Lynne Cornell’s Moanin’ and Sounds Inc Sounds Like Locomotion. Better still, they sound fresh and invigorating showing that the 60s swung earlier than everybody would have you believe.

The roots of British mod, served up here in a fantastic package that's overflowing with soulful, jazzy, and groovy gems that we might never have heard otherwise! The big British Invasion love of American sounds is no secret to anyone – but the cuts here are all from a moment before on the London scene, and represent some really wonderful experiments in ways of mixing together elements of jazz, soul, and blues – and coming up with something really fresh and unique! Tracks are a great mix of instrumental and vocal modes – and as usual with Ace, they're supported by detailed notes that really open up our understanding of both the music, and this point in time. Titles include "Danger Man" by Red Price Combo, "A New Kind Of Lovin" by Eden Kane, "Christine" by Miss X, "Sugar Baby (parts 1 & 2)" by Jimmy Powell, "When You Walked Out" by Alex Murray, "Chicago Calling" by Cyril Davies & His Rhythm & Blues All Stars, "King Of Kings" by Jimmy Cliff, "It Ain't Necessarily So" by Duffy Power, "Gurney Slade" by Max Harris, "Moanin" by Lynn Cornell, "I'm Just A Baby" by Louis Cordet, "Orange Street" by The Blue Flames, "Strawberry Fair" by Anthony Newley, "Sounds Like Locomotion" by Sounds Inc, and "Air Travel" by Chris Farlowe. © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.

Tracklist
1 Jimmy Powell (2)– Sugar Baby Part 1 2:21
2 Jimmy Powell (2)– Sugar Baby Part 2 2:24
3 Alex Murray– When You Walked Out 2:29
4 Ottilie Patterson– Baby Please Don't Go 1:48
5 Manfred Mann (2)– Why Should We Not 2:22
6 Cyril Davies & His Rhythm & Blues All Stars*– Chicago Calling 2:28
7 Jimmy Cliff– King Of Kings 3:26
8 Chris Farlowe– Air Travel 2:12
9 Duffy Power– It Ain't Necessarily So 2:45
10 Sounds Incorporated– Sounds Like Locomotion 2:45
11 Jimmy Powell (2)– Dance Her By Me 2:47
12 Max Harris– Gurney Slade 2:12
13 Lynn Cornell– Moanin' 2:37
14 Jimmy Powell (2)– Tom Hark 2:03
15 Miss X– Christine 2:46
16 Eden Kane– A New Kind Of Lovin' 2:17
17 Louise Cordet– I'm Just A Baby 2:04
18 The Blue Flames– Orange Street 2:14
19 Blues Incorporated– I'm Built For Comfort 2:22
20 Davy Graham– Angi 2:26
21 Anthony Newley– Strawberry Fair 2:19
22 Cyril Davies And His Rhythm And Blues All Stars– Country Line Special 2:21
23 Don Lang And His Boulder Rollers– Wicked Woman 2:36
24 Red Price Combo– Theme From "Danger Man"" 2:07