Bazooka – not the bubblegum kind!

Remember the time when singles were released and the B-side was an instrumental version of the A-side? If you don’t then I’m probably getting old.

It was usually meant as a karaoke thing, for you to sing along to (at least that’s what I always figured it was all about). Most of the time, the A-side is what would get the most plays, because seriously…what is a musak instrumental B-side good for, besides irony?

Well this single was quite the opposite: French band Bazooka’s “Dada Dodo”. The A-side is the vocal version, with a beefy voiced male singer. When I first heard it I thought it was so bad I half-heartedly turned it over to listen to the instrumental version. I’m very glad I did! The instrumental version has some insane Moog as a vocal replacement. In fact, I would say this entire version stands on its own as a demented, crazy Moog freak orgy. Not that I would even know what that means.

This record is found nearly everywhere in Montreal (even though the band was French), yet there is little info about them out there. If anyone can enlighten us, please do.

I didn’t have a cover for this record, so the image seen here is taken from L’Encyclopédie du disque.

Bazooka – Dada Dodo (instrumental version)

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

Zaine Bowi…Griff

Who is Zaine Griff?

The single didn’t do too well, but that didn’t stop Griff from releasing a few more, before retiring from the music biz and focusing on his career as an artist. At least, that’s what Mr. Internet tells me.

Previous to all this, Griff was vocalist for the group Screamer, who recorded one of my favorite singles from the late ’70′s, “Interplanetary Twist”.

Zaine Griff – This Could Mean Everything