VA - Scratch My Back! Pye Beat Girls 1963-1968 (2016)

Located in London s West End, Pye Records boasted a super stable of female talent. Released hot on the heels of Ace's recent Love Hit Me! Decca Beat Girls; collection, Scratch My Back! Pye Beat Girls; comprises two-dozen peachy selections from Pye and sister label Piccadilly's 1960s output. The compilation is titled after the opening track by Jan Panter, a Mark Wirtz-produced must-have for those who prefer their girl-pop records beefed up with a dose of fuzz guitar. Tony Hatch, the most successful of Pye's in-house producers, is represented by cherry-picked titles by the Breakaways, Petula Clark, cult favourite Sandra Barry, the Baker Twins and Julie Grant. 'Heart' has to be the rocking-est track Petula ever recorded, so much so that it was covered in the USA by garage band the Remains. Other highlights include the Satin Bells' English language cover of French yé-yé girl France Gall's 'Da-Di-Da-Da', Billie Davis' self-penned rocker 'Ev'ry Day' and 'Come On Baby' by Kim D, one of the most soulful of British girl singers of the era. Get the picture? Compiled and annotated by Mick Patrick.

Tracklist:

1. Jan Panter - Scratch My Back (2:36)
2. Billie Davis - Ev'ry Day (2:03)
3. Kim D - Come On Baby (2:20)
4. Val McKenna - Now That You've Made Up Your Mind (2:43)
5. The Breakaways - He Doesn't Love Me (1:57)
6. Petula Clark - Heart (2:35)
7. Glenda Collins - It's Hard To Believe In (2:59)
8. Sandie Shaw - Run (2:37)
9. Nita Rossi - Something To Give (2:16)
10. The Satin Bells - Da-Di-Da-Da (2:26)
11. Sandra Barry - We Were Lovers (When The Party Began) (2:17)
12. Tawny Reed - I Got A Feeling (2:50)
13. Antoinette - Why Don't I Run Away From You (2:41)
14. Tammy St. John - Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Kind But Me) (2:18)
15. Sheila Carter and Episode Six - Incense (2:44)
16. Dana Gillespie - Pay You Back With Interest (2:47)
17. Barbara Ruskin - Well How Does It Feel (2:39)
18. Sharon Tandy - I've Found Love (2:14)
19. Dee King - It's So Fine (2:20)
20. Glo Macari - He Knows I Love Him Too Much (2:39)
21. The Baker Twins - He's No Good (2:19)
22. Jeannie and The Big Guys - Don't Lie To Me (2:17)
23. Julie Grant - I Only Care About You (2:24)
24. Pat Harris and The Blackjacks - Hippy, Hippy Shake (2:22)