Any Major Glam Vol. 2
Two years ago I ran the first Glam Rock mix, the playlist of which was subject to strict criteria to ensure a certain glam purity. I think it was on Facebook that somebody said that the genre could be interpreted more loosely, that even the Bay City Rollers could have a home on such a mix.
So the second volume is stretching the concept of glam to such limits that the purists” mascara might run from angry exasperation. I mean, Kenny??? What was I thinking? A manufactured teeny group whose musicianship duties might or might not have been assumed by session musicians! And still, The Bump has a definite glam vibe. So in it goes, along with ABBA’s very glam So Long.
Of course, in my generous application of the glam concept, the Bay City Rollers had to feature as well. They do so with their most glam song, Saturday Night. But this is not the hit version from 1976 with Leslie McKeown on vocals, but the slightly rougher 1973 original with Nobby Clark on lead vocals and John Devine on guitar, which failed to bother the charts. Shortly after Clark and Devine left the group and were replaced by teen dream boys McKeown and Stuart “Woody” Wood.
But take courage, the staples of glam rock are still represented: Slade, Sweet, Suzi Quatro, T. Rex (with the song used as the theme of the hit-and-miss Lip Synch Battle), Wizzard and so on — and Gary Glitter. I had exiled the sex criminal from the first mix, but that was a controversial decision. So here he is; if you can’t stand to listen to him, skip him.
British readers who lived through the 1970s will recognise the template that inspired the covers I made for this set, which is timed to fit on a standard CD-R. Password in comments.
1. T. Rex – 20th Century Boy (1973)
2. Slade – Mama Weer All Crazee Now (1972)
3. David Bowie – Sufragette City (1972)
4. Suzi Quatro – Too Big (1974)
5. Sweet – Fox On The Run (1975)
6. Bay City Rollers – Saturday Night (1973)
7. Wizzard – Ball Park Incident (1972)
8. Gary Glitter – I Love You Love Me Love (1973)
9. Abba – So Long (1974)
10. Rubettes – Juke Box Jive (1974)
11. Hello – New York Groove (1975)
12. Kenny – The Bump (1974)
13. The Glitter Band – The Tears I Cried (1975)
14. Alvin Stardust – Red Dress (1974)
15. Chicory Tip – Son Of My Father (1972)
16. Alice Cooper – No More Mr Nice Guy (1973)
17. The Arrows – Touch Too Much (1974)
18. Hound Dog – Rock ‘n’ Roll Show (1973)
19. Mott The Hoople – Roll Away The Stone (1973)
20. Roxy Music – Virginia Plain (1972)
21. Mud – Hypnosis (1973)
22. Iron Virgin – Rebels Rule (1974)
23. The Troggs – Strange Movies (1973)
24. Cozy Powell – Dance With The Devil (1973)
And while we’re here, please take a look at my new sister blog of posters from Germany’s Bravo magazine from 1975-82, with new posters added every day. Find it at www.bravoposters.wordpess.com
PW = amdwhah
Loving the glam! Thanks.
Thanks!!
Nice one & well worth getting the gold lamé bodysuit out this weekend! Many thanks
Glamtastic! Many thanks!!
I think of all your wonderful comps, this is my favorite!
I loved this era as a kid. Without responsibilities as an adult, this was the food that brought on my interest in music. Many thanks for the time-warp AMD.
Unfortunately you won’t find Gary Glitter popping up on ANY glam compilations in the UK, despite a run of top ten hits, and he’s been pretty much airbrushed out of music history too.
The reasons are because of his convictions for sex with under age girls, which has totally trashed his reputation, which I can understand, but which has meant the total absence of his music from radio and TV. When they do things such as “top ten glam tracks” it’s amazing how they manage to gloss over Glitter completely, occasionally mentioning tracks by The Glitter Band that haven’t been effectively banned.
I don’t know of any other multi-million-selling artist that’s been effectively removed from public consciousness in this way, no matter what they’ve done. Anyone?
Bill Wyman (shagging a 14 year old) isn’t shunned in this way, nor Leadbelly (murder) for example.
Ironically Glitter’s co-written first hit, Rock And Roll Part 2 still gives him a sizable income in the US where it’s used at sports events.
I object to the way he’s been airbrushed out of history, whatever his crimes, especially as his was the first single I ever bought.
I do think there’s a valid debate about separating the crimes/trespasses from the artists. The line will be drawn differently by different people. I find it difficult to listen to a certain country-rock band of the 1970s because it is widely known that one of their members was a serial rapist (obviously I can’t name him), and I certainly can’t stand to hear his solo hit from 1985, even though I do like it. And I’ll never want to enjoy anything by Bill Cosby ever again. And yet, there are many other headlines who have done pretty dodgy shit (allegedly) whom I am not striking off my playlists.
actually gary glitter’s music can also be heard in the music of joan jett and the blackhearts, she covered 2 of his songs (do ya wanna touch me and i love you love). i couldnt believe how many songs i know and love as also covers of glam hits. joan jett’s “i love rock n roll” is a cover, blondie’s “hangin on the telephone” was orig done by a group called the nerves, which were the plimsouls before they become the plimsouls. even ace frehley’s “new york groove” is a cover of a glam single. anyway, loved the 2 glam compilations, hope there is a 3rd in the works which wont be easy for you after these 2
also on joan jett, i feel she totally!!! ripped suzi quatro’s persona
Another great mix – some I know and a lot that I am not that familiar with. Definitely brings me back to the 70s!