Tag Archives: 70s rock

Oct200929

2

Halloween treat #1: Wilfrid Du Pont de la Carpe

wilfrid

In an effort to be original, I decided to offer a few Halloween treats to the world, every day until this Saturday! Cue applause!

I love every freak singer that Halloween has ever produced! From John Zacherley to everyone’s hero Screaming Lord Sutch, it seems that putting on a cape and causing hilarious mayhem has become a lost art.

Our first weirdo du jour hails from France. I bet you didn’t know France had it’s very own caped freak, huh? Fear not, neither did anyone else!

My many efforts to find out who this Wilfrid Du Pont de la Carpe is have been fruitless. The only hint the record gives us is that both songs have been written and adapted by Frank Gérald, who famously wrote songs with Pierre Delanoë, including a lot of stuff from Les Parisiennes, Françoise Hardy (Le premier bonheur du jour) and countless French classics. Could it be that Wilfrid is Frank, and vice-versa? Is life really that simple?

Another enigma that I hope someone will be able to help with concerns the song I am featuring today: “L’arrière petit-fils de Frankenstein” (Frankenstein’s great grandson). The record suggests that this is a French adaptation. Does anyone know what the original is and who sang it? The single is from 1975.

As someone who grew up watching French TV and cartoons, Wilfrid’s voice sounds very familiar, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he was a voice actor, like Monique Thubert.

Wilfrid’s ultimate tactics to scare the beejeezus out of you, besides the fact that he’s Frankenstein’s great grandson, are exagerated, outlandish uses of “Moooaaa-aaa-aaa-aaa” and “Eee-eee-haaa-aaaaaa”.

Sleep tight!

Wilfrid Du Pont de la Carpe – L’arrière petit-fils de Frankenstein

Dec200827

2

Kiddie a Go-Go post #3: UK’s Ricky Wilde


I am on X-Mas holiday and so here I am with a few more posts than usual!

Continuing on our Rock n’ roll children’s theme, I figured it would be nearly impossible to not post about Ricky Wilde. Ricky Wilde is the tops! In fact, this is so good, every other “kiddie a Go-Go” posting I will do after this will pale in comparison. But it’s just so great, I couldn’t wait until the end!

Born November 6, 1961 in the UK, Ricky was/is the brother of singer Kim Wilde, and the son of Marty Wilde.

This was his first single released in 1972 (at the age of 11), called “I Am An Astronaut” with the freakin’ fantastic B-Side “The Hertfordshire Rock”. Both these songs are so great that I’m amazed they didn’t do well. Was it because they were sung by a child? What the hell is wrong with you, world?!

“I am an Astronaut” has that innocent quality mixed with superb Bowie-esque arrangements and is just a great tune on its own. “The Hertfordshire Rock” is its evil rock and roll B-Side with intense guitars and lyrics no one can really make out (or is that just me?). If only René Simard would have gotten quality tunes like these!


Anyhoo, other later titles by Ricky included the quality glam tunes “I Wanna Go to a Disco” and “Teen Wave” (both my favorite of his). Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for Ricky saleswise and stardom did not come a-knockin’ at the door in the UK, but he did find a fan base in Sweden (where this single originates from – thanks Sasha!).

Ricky Wilde produced his sister’s mega hit song “Kids in America” and continued to work in the music industry as a songwriter and producer. I sincerely hope you enjoy these!

Photo of young Ricky taken from Pop45

Ricky Wilde – I am an Astronaut
Ricky Wilde – The Hertfordshire Rock