PATTERNS ON THE WINDOW

• The latest instalment of Grapefruit’s popular year-by-year overview of the British rock/pop scenes of the 70s.

• Featuring big hits, intriguing misses and key album tracks from 1974 as well as a clutch of alternative versions and unissued-at-the-time gems.

Although 1974 was dominated by the country’s crippling economic woes, the British rock and pop scene continued to flourish. The more creative element of the glam rock spectrum inspired a
host of new bands, with Cockney Rebel, Be-Bop Deluxe and Sparks coming through to establish themselves alongside genre heavyweights Roxy Music, T. Rex and Slade.

London’s pub rock circuit saw stalwarts Brinsley Schwarz joined by early Ian Dury outfit Kilburn & The High Roads, Ace (who scored a hit single with the timeless ‘How Long’) and Dr. Feelgood, whose aggressive attitude and slashing, guitar-based brand of tough R&B influenced a whole new generation of musicians.

Ace and fellow classic one-hit wonders Brian Protheroe and Splinter took their place in the singles chart alongside Rod Stewart, Status Quo and Bryan Ferry, while there were inexplicable misses for Ronnie Lane and former Bowie sideman Mick Ronson.

Many rock bands eschewed the self-indulgences of early 70s prog-rock to adopt a more streamlined sound, exemplified by vital albums from Thin Lizzy, Man and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Established mavericks Peter Hammill and Kevin Coyne continued to attract a cult following, Lesley Duncan and Bridget St. John represented the distaff side of the singer/songwriter scene, while Richard And Linda Thompson released the classic folk-rock album ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’.

Housed in a clamshell box that includes a heavily annotated and illustrated 48-page booklet, ‘Patterns On The Window’ features all of the above as well as key tracks from such names as Medicine Head, Procol Harum, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Nazareth, Pretty Things and many others. The result is a fascinating overview of another hugely enjoyable, multi-faceted year in British rock and pop.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1 THE ‘IN’ CROWD – Bryan Ferry
2 HASTA MANANA MONSIEUR – Sparks
3 JUDY TEEN – Cockney Rebel
4 BILLY PORTER – Mick Ronson
5 THE MAN WHO COULDN’T AFFORD TO ORGY – John Cale 6 JET SILVER AND THE DOLLS
OF VENUS – Be-Bop Deluxe 7 SHE WAS JUST A YOUNG GIRL (NO WAY) – Simon Turner
8 PINBALL – Brian Protheroe
9 THE POACHER – Ronnie Lane
10 PHILOMENA – Thin Lizzy
11 BREAK THE RULES – Status Quo
12 CAJUN KICK – Medicine Head
13 ANOTHER DAY – The Spencer Davis Group
14 POOR DITCHING BOY – Iain Matthews
15 IF I WERE A CARPENTER – National Flag
16 DOCTOR, DOCTOR (single edit) – UFO
17 LOCK AND KEY – Snafu
18 PAPA DON’T GO – Jona Lewie
19 PUT A RECORD ON (single version) – Tramp
20 IN MY WORLD – Chalice
21 AS LONG AS YOU WANT ME TO – Rescue Co. No. 1
22 EVERYBODY – Starry Eyed And Laughing

DISC TWO

1 WHEN I GET TO THE BORDER – Richard & Linda Thompson
2 A REALLY GOOD TIME – Roxy Music
3 ONLY YOU – Fox
4 FAREWELL – Rod Stewart
5 I CAN FEEL THE FIRE – Ron Wood
6 EVERLOVIN’ WOMAN – Georgie Fame
7 NA NA NA – Cozy Powell
8 ONE MORE CHANCE – Man
9 AGAIN – Peter Hammill
10 RIVER OF SIN – Kevin Coyne
11 ROUGH KIDS – Kilburn & The High Roads
12 NO MORE WHISKEY – Compass
13 THE UGLY THINGS – Brinsley Schwarz
14 ROXETTE – Dr. Feelgood
15 CURIOUS AND WOOLLY – Bridget St. John
16 I’LL JUST TAKE MY TIME – Byzantium
17 BEYOND THE PALE – Procol Harum
18 THE ROAD TO VENEZUELA – Stackridge
19 GEMINI – Holy Mackerel
20 FLAMENCO FEVER – Carmen
21 GETTING THROUGH TO ME* (demo version) – Dana Gillespie 22 PRINCE OF HEAVEN – Fruupp

DISC THREE

1 VENUS LOON – Marc Bolan & T. Rex
2 TELL HIM – Hello
3 TOUCH ME – Fancy
4 OOH MOTHER – Unicorn
5 IS IT ONLY LOVE – Pretty Things
6 HOW LONG – Ace
7 BE NOT TOO HARD – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
8 MAKE MY BED – Billy Kinsley
9 COSTAFINE TOWN – Splinter
10 AVALON – Deep Feeling
11 BOBBY DAZZLER – The First Class
12 HAVE LOVE, WILL TRAVEL – Prophet
13 NEED A SHOT OF RHYTHM & BLUES (alternative version) – Dave Edmunds
14 SHANGHAI’D IN SHANGHAI – Nazareth
15 TOMAHAWK KID – The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
16 FAR FAR AWAY – Slade
17 MIDNIGHT FORTUNE – Tranquility
18 THERE’S A WALL BETWEEN US – Stavely Makepeace
19 SOHO JACK – Paul Brett
20 LEMON PIE (home demo) – Dave Cousins
21 EVERYTHING CHANGES – Lesley Duncan
22 GYPSY MOUNTAIN WOMAN – Farm
23 RADIO – The Medium Wave Band