Tag Archives: punk

Dec200831

1

Rockin’ Sounds…THREE TIMES THEIR SIZE!

Bonjour to you on this NYE!

I went through some of my old posts and realised that I had a pattern of writing a lot more when I’m on holiday and that 2008 was a very slow year for this blog! OOPSY!
So thank you for coming back to this blog, even though I rarely post!

Because my blog probably had less than 10 posts in 2008 and because I am loving posting about children singing rock n’roll tunes I thought I would end the year with a bang (and a TAM)!

A double post: the freakin’ BANTAMS and kids singing Plastic Bertrand! Rock n’ Roll fun !

I found The Bantam’s record about 15 years ago in Montreal for a buck. I was very interested in anything 60s or garage music related back then and looooooooved these freckled little punks. Their version of Susie Q is surprisingly fierce (“awooooooow!”). I don’t know why, but kids punkin’ and rockin’ out always puts a smile on my face.

They also do a fine version of “Ticket to Ride”, even though I must admit hearing little boys singing Johnny Citron‘s bitter breakup song is a little unsettling…(although not as uncomfortable as when the Mini Pops sang ABBA’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man after Midnight)” yeeesh)

Of course, the bio on the record’s back cover wants us to believe The Bantams play all their instruments. Sure Warner Brothers, sure.

The Bantams appeared with their kid sister in the 1967 movie “The Cool Ones” (soundtrack by Lee Hazlewood!), with Roddie McDowall. I have a very worn out copy of this movie so I’m hoping one day it will be released on DVD.

And finally, here are two tracks from a Belgian series of records called “Le Hit-Parade des enfants” that mostly contained your usual traditional children’s songs. I remember renting these at our village library when I was a child! Two Plastic Bertrand songs found their way in there, the incomparable classic “Ça plane pour moi” and “Le Petit Tortillard”.
Happy New Year! Next post: Kiki!

The Bantams – Susie Q
The Bantams – Ticket to Ride
The Bantams – Over You
Hit-Parade des enfants – Ça plane pour moi
Hit-Parade des enfants – Le petit tortillard

May200719

3

Zaine Bowi…Griff

Who is Zaine Griff?

Zaine Griff was a session musician who worked with The Kinks, Ultravox, and many others. He appeared to have a great affection for Bowie as well, since his first single, produced by Tony Visconti no less, could leave those who are not in the “know” confused and thinking they are listening to a Bowie song, especially when listening to “This Could Mean Everything”. Reminds me of when Edwyn Collins released “A Girl Like You”. I remember a few people giving me the “you’re a weirdo” look when I told them it wasn’t a Bowie song.

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.

The story goes that Bowie was so impressed with Zaine’s first single that he hired him as a session guitarist.

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