Category Archives: Ariola

Lord Alan and Sir Richard “Little Things”

Lord Alan & Sir Richard Cannon 45 Little ThingsLord Alan and Sir Richard were Richard Tyson and Alan Abrahams, who co-wrote both songs on this 45. I’m not sure who the band is on this record.

“Run in the Dark” is a pretty sharp copy of the peppy English sounds of the time, something like the Dave Clark Five. “Little Things” has more substance, beginning with the arresting bend on the opening guitar chord that starts the melancholy first verse.

The ‘Slay Cannon’ production credit refers to Frank Slay and Freddy Cannon. Frank Slay had Claridge publishing going since 1963 or earlier. In 1965 he started the Claridge record label. Previously he wrote songs with Bob Crewe, and the two of them helped Freddie Cannon get his song “Tallahassie Lassie” to Swan Records. Slay became Cannon’s producer for the duration of Freddy’s Swan years.

Cannon brought his sometime backing band, the Rockin’ Ramrods to Claridge for its first 45, “Don’t Fool with Fu Manchu”, and also co-produced this 45 on the one-off Cannon label, also probably in late 1965 or early ’66.

Slay managed to get a German release for the single on Ariola, which is why “Little Things” showed up on volume 15 of Prae-Kraut Pandemonium.

Claridge lasted through 1966, releasing approximately 20 singles, including Scotty McKay’s “Here Comes Batman” and another by the Ramrods, “Play It” / “Got My Mojo Working”. Frank Slay revived the label after moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s.

Sources include: Both Sides Now for background on the Claridge label.

Lord Alan & Sir Richard Cannon 45 Run in the Dark

The Rogues “Wanted: Dead or Alive” early Michael Lloyd and Shaun Harris

The Rogues Ariola PS One Day / Wanted Dead or Alive
German issue on Ariola

The Rogues Living Legend 45 One DayMichael Lloyd formed the Rogues while he was at Hollywood Professional School. It was his third band after the surf instrumental group the New Dimensions and the vocal version of the Dimensions, the Alley Kats.

Shaun Harris met Lloyd while playing bass in another band at Hollywood Professional, the Snowmen, who had recorded “Ski Storm” with Kim Fowley producing. Shaun joined the Rogues in time to help produce their only 45, “Wanted: Dead or Alive”/”One Day.”

The Rogues Living Legend 45 Wanted: Dead or Alive
Original US issue on Living Legend
“Wanted: Dead or Alive” is basically Hey Joe with altered lyrics, despite the songwriting credit to Harris and Lloyd. It’s an unusual version though, with ethereal harmonies and a guitar solo accompanied by a change in rhythm that just manages to stay on track. On the flip is Michael Lloyd’s excellent “One Day”, which demonstrates the direction his songwriting was heading in.

Lloyd and Harris produced the 45, which was released on Kim Fowley’s Living Legend label. This record marks the start of Shaun Harris’ work with Lloyd; they would soon start the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band with Shaun’s brother Danny. It may also mark the beginning of Lloyd’s frequent collaborations with Kim Fowley.

On the Living Legend label are also a couple solo 45s by Kim Fowley “Mr. Responsibility”/”My Foolish Heart” and “Underground Lady”/”Pop Art ’66”; a Fowley duet with Gail Zappa as Bunny and Bear titled “America’s Sweethearts”; and one by Vito and the Hands, “Where It’s At,” featuring the Mothers of Invention.

The sleeve above shows the German release, probably a result of Fowley’s connections in Europe.

For another example of Michael Lloyd’s early work, see the entry on Boystown.