HOBO REVIEWS - by CRAIG WARD of SUNSHINE Music agency

HOBO REVIEWS - by CRAIG WARD of SUNSHINE Music agency

Craig Ward as he is today

Published in Issue 4 of  Hobo Magazine 1974. Craig was co-director of the Sunshine music Agency, Gulson Road, Coventry in 1974. Sunshine was a Coventry Music Agency specialising in Management, agency, publicity, promotions in 1974, based at 123, Gulson Rd. Coventry, CV1 2JF. Directors were Craig Ward and Graham Wood (of Silk Disco). Bands they managed / promoted included Smack; Walrus Gumboot; A Band Called George and many more.

MOTT THE HOOPLE - Golden Age of Rock n Roll (CBS2177)
Mott really don't seem to be able to put a foot wrong these days and this Ian Hunter composition should see them back into the nifty fifty. (REMEMBER THAT AMAZING YES, MOTT, ATOMIC ROOSTER, FREE, night at the Lanch Polytechnic) Mott were bottom of the bill. They've worked hard and come along way since then. But it makes you wonder what'd happened if David Bowie hadn't interfered when he did!

HOT CHOCOLATE : EMMA (RAK.168)
This is probably about the best pop single to come out this year. Another masterful production from a band who've still to make a bad record. Like the Bob Jackson (Indian Summer) style scream at the end. If this record doesn't reach the top 5 - I'll nail my head to the floor. (Eds note - According to the NME it peaked at No 3 6th April 1974!).

LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND : I'M GONNA KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR (M6H 2006389)
- Heaven forbid. Rubbish!!

SIMON TURNER ; She Was Just a young Girl (No Way) (UK 60)
Jeeeezus! This guy sounds so much like Jonathon King that it could be the King of England himself singing. The song's got all the typical Jonathan King snatches in it, incredibly catchy chorus, and deserves to be a monster hit. (PS Simon Turner's version of Prettiest Star (Bowie) was pretty good too).

QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS F.C. - Give 'em the 'ol One-Two.
Believed to be the first release from this world acclaimed supergroup. Nice break from the centre forward from well inside his own half, a long through ball to his wingman who beat tow defenders to score easily from close range. This 11 piece band could really be a force to be reckoned with if they could just tighten up a bit. Watch out for Willie Flasher and the Raincoats new single - "Everybody wants to be a streaker...." (Ed notes - Streaking was hitting the headlines and the charts at this time!).

Hobo Review - MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – MESSIN

HOBO REVIEW 3 Published in Hobo No 2 August 1973

MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – MESSIN

Album review by Mike O'Hare of Coventry Virgin Records 1973

Having always been a fan of my Manfred Mann, the contents of this album came as a little surprise and although it doesn't quite match with the band’s last album Glorified Magnified, it is still a better album than most of your recognised rock n rollers are putting out.

Each and every track swinging with the possible exception of Sad Joy and that one’s a feeler with the title explaining what sort of feel it is.

There are three stand outs on this one; Messin; Ball and Chain; and Buddha.

Messin, the title track is a sort of jerky sort of rhythm which typifies most of the other tracks on the album.

A note must be made of the extremely effective synthesizer on this track and on Ball and Chain which is a 12 bar which jerks along in much the same way as Messin. Buddha is perhaps the fastest track on the album and certainly the rockiest although it does start off slowly The band on this track sound not unlike an early Led Zep. So there you are if you like rocky music that swings a bit and kicks like a donkey on heat, then this is the one you should no trouble getting off on.

Buy a copy at Amazon

.............................................................................

HOBO REVIEW 2 - HOME THOUGHTS – CLIFFORD T. WARD

HOBO REVIEW 2  Published in Hobo No 2 August 1973

HOME THOUGHTS – CLIFFORD T. WARD 
Album review by Mike O'Hare of Coventry Virgin Records 1973

Before I heard this album I knew nothing of Clifford T. Ward or his music. After hearing the first track I

knew I was listening to one of the most beautiful works ever put on plastic and that is just what it is right from the word “go”, this album weaves in and out of you filling you with music which should put you in complete ease with yourself and your surroundings no matter where you are.

To describe the tracks individually with more words would be an injustice to them so I won’t. What I will say though is that Clifford T. Ward has produced an album of sheer beauty which surpasses all the works of the majority of so called singer songwriters.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give to Mr Ward is that in my opinion he has surpassed the work of

artists in much the same vein as his own. This is an album that will very rarely leave the turn table on my record player anyway.

It’s music to fall in love with and I hope if you take the time to listen to it that you will fall in love with the music on this beautiful album.

Buy from Amazon Home Thoughts

.......................................................

HOBO REVIEW 1 - TODD RUNDGREN - Wizard a True Star

This review was  published in Hobo No 2 August 1973

TODD RUNDGREN  

Wizard a True Star

Album review by Mike O'Hare of Coventry Virgin Records 1973

Available from Amazon 

Not knowing a great deal about Todd Rundgren, I didn’t really know what to expect from the man. But after listening to this album several times I can tell you that if he ever tours England he’s going to knock that man Bowie off his perch as the No1 star because ‘Wizard a True Star’ is just what he is. Here is an LP produced by the man himself which will give you (for £2 (in 1973!) if you know the right places) nearly 60 minutes of pure mind blowing hootin’ – tootin’, zappy music, which will make you say that you can’t wait for the next time to play it. If you like good titles you’ve got ‘em: - “Tic tic tic it Wears Off.”; “When the Shit Hits the Fans”; “Le Feel Internationale” and, wait for it, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Pussy!”. It’s just too much. If you turn up the volume when you put it on, don’t be surprised if you think your speakers can’t control the different sounds coming through them. Every track is linked and spaced with phased guitars (played by none other than Rick Deminger). Thousands of sexy, synthy sounds, animal noises, 17 mad Ginger Bakers and just about everything you could and couldn’t imagine. This album is a gas and if you’re one of these nutcases who thinks of nothing else but sex and depravity and sits through Clockwork Orange, laughing your head off, then go out and buy the bloody thing! Oh by the way, as a warning, if you think too much while you’re listening to it you’ll go blind!! Track list -  0:00 International Feel; 2:59 Never Never Land; 4:25 Tic, Tic, Tic, It Wears Off; 5:39 You Need Your Head; 6:41 Rock N Roll Pussy; 7:50 Dogfight Giggle; 8:55 You Don’t Have To Camp Around; 9:58 Flamingo; 12:33 Zen Archer; 18:08 Just Another Onion Head/Da Da Dali; 20:32 Sunset Blvd; 24:38 Le Feele Internacionale; 26:27 Sometimes I Don’t Know What To Feel; 30:43 Does Anybody Love You;32:14 I’m So Proud; 35:03 Ooh Baby Baby; 37:57 La La La Means I Love You; 40:15 Cool Jerk; 42:49 Hungry For Love; 45:08 I Don’t Want To Tie You Down; 47:03 Is It My Name;51:05 Just One Victory ....................................................... Comment carried over from the old Hobo Vox site by Ex Whistler sax and flute player Mick Gawthorpe

Hi Trev, Was Mike Irish with curly red hair? If so, he stayed with us when I worked for Viirgin. In fact, I remember him being a really sound and bright guy. I think I moved up there about 74 and within a couple of years the company was making that transition from being a record-shop that (in addition to stocking items that no-one else would) sold skins, chillums, pipes etc only to find that our next premises was the former Woolworths shop and we would also be stocking Abba, Streisand, Neil Diamond etc. Nice guy, but I suspect he might also have tired of the Virgin reconstruction that has subsequently homogenised our city-centres into identical corporate homogeneity.

Posted by: mick | 04/10/2007