Hot hits

[Dr Rubberfunk]

So, it's probably been covered on the VV site before, but who was behind these albums? Just picked up #2 today - mainly because it had a girl sitting on a Mark I Capri, and had a version of 'Paranoid' on it ...

Pleased to find some open drums, and generally lush production - reverb swamped hand claps are all around us...

I think this is the only Hot Hits I have, always get them and the '16 Chart Hits' series mixed up ....


Also scored a Run DMC seven, a guitar tuition seven, 'L.O.V.E' by Paul Mauriat and a spare of the Elektrik Cokernut 'Go Moog!' LP - so if anyone wants it, gimme a shout ...

Rubs.

[wooly]

i've managed to get a few of those "hot hits" things. a few open breaks to be had, for sure. i would also like to know what the score is with BWD!

wouldn't mind that elektrik cokernut moog album, if it's going, rubs!

[Dr Rubberfunk]

Quote[/b] (wooly @ Sep. 17 2003,13:27)]i've managed to get a few of those "hot hits" things. a few open breaks to be had, for sure. i would also like to know what the score is with BWD!

wouldn't mind that elektrik cokernut moog album, if it's going, rubs!

Thing is, I've just realised that I did buy it thinking that the one I'd found previously with open drums was a Hot Hits, when in fact it was 16 Chart Hits ...

Turned out nice though

Mail me your address and I'll post the moog-ness off to you this week ...

[bongolia]

mmmm, Mk 1 Capri...

i think i have a spare Go Moog if anyone else needs it

[Lord Thames]

Ah, you've picked up on one of my specialist areas! I'm planning to expand on this in an article, but here's a condensed version.

BWD productions were founded by Australian ex-pat (and former catalogue model) Bill Wellings. Wellings had pioneered the anonymous pop cover versions concept with the 'Top Six' EPs in the mid-60s (a series which gave a big break to a young arranger by the name of Johnny Harris&#33

Bill Wellings formed BWD in the late sixties and did an exclusive deal with MFP - the first 'Hits' LP, 'Hits 67' came out some time later. It's widely rumoured this LP features David Bowie singing on the track 'Penny Lane', but it's not him (it's actually session man Tony Steven). 'Hits 70' does feature Elton John, though.

The first 'Hot Hits' LP came in 1970, and features great versions of 'Vehicle' and 'Groovin' With Mr Bloe' (the latter played by the very famous indeed Larry Adler&#33

Hot Hits vol 2 features Blue Mink's Barry Morgan on drums, as does vol 4.

Among the MDs regularly used by BWD Productions were Alan Moorhouse, Johnny Harris, Johnny Howard and Len Hunter.

They were based in Guildford, and still listed in the Yellow Pages until about ten years ago. Bill Wellings is sadly deceased, with the BWD catalogue now in the hands of his wife Dee.

BWD also recorded for Contour, using the name 'Cherry Orchard Productions' - 'Swing Gently With Strauss' is one of theirs.

Right, hope that all makes sense (I had to write it very quickly), but hopefully my article will explain things in greater detail.

[wooly]

blimey, that is some good info. cheers lord thames.

[sermad]

how many 'hot hits' where there? Maybe 20?

[Dr Rubberfunk]

Nice work Lord of Thames! That explains the nice drums I've just been listening to

And here's the Capri for bongolia, with the added bonus of a leggy blonde lady leaning against it.

[bongolia]

thanks, but she's obscuring the car - get out of the way, woman!

that's only the basic model - crappy wheels and no black vinyl roof. all models had those bizarre fake air vents in front of the rear wheels though. saw a beautiful minty red and black 3 litre GT in Finsbury Park on the way to the last HF&S. a good omen, since the night was great!

old Fords are lovely. the Essex boy in me speaking...

[Matt Hero]

Quote[/b] (bongolia @ Sep. 17 2003,15:34)]saw a beautiful minty red and black 3 litre GT in Finsbury Park on the way to the last HF&S.

Nah, it's got to be Daytona Yellow for me.... used to pass one everyday on the way to work, complete with the Webasto wheels and black vinyl roof

Actually, they are not *that* expensive to pick up these days in the grand scale of classic cars....

[bongolia]

not many Mk 1s left though. but you're right they are fairly cheap. Mk 1 Cortinas are nice too (and cheap). and Volvo 1800s are nice and not cheap.

[son of stan]

Quote[/b] (Lord Thames @ Sep. 17 2003,13:53)]the anonymous pop cover versions concept with the 'Top Six' EPs in the mid-60s (a series which gave a big break to a young arranger by the name of Johnny Harris&#33

Does anyone know whether JH worked on a Spanish RCA series of disco albums, credited to a group called Blackbuster (groan) around about 1976 / 77? I found one last week (volume 6) which credits a "J.Harris" as producer.

(...its nothing special by the way. A mixture of covers and originals. There's one percussion track which might work in a mix or something).

[bongolia]

i've been trying to make a Johnny Harris discog:

http://bongolia.org/music/johnny_harris.php

so any additions are welcome!

[Matt Hero]

Quote[/b] (bongolia @ Sep. 17 2003,17:40)]not many Mk 1s left though. but you're right they are fairly cheap. Mk 1 Cortinas are nice too (and cheap).

There is a very nice Mk I Lotus Cortina (a la Jim Clark) 'round the corner from my parents.... god knows how much one of those will cost.

[bongolia]

yeah the Lotus ones are a lot and many are fakes i think, or that maybe Lotus Mk 2s