'Stackridge - Do The 'Stanley' (December 1976) Remaster (2010)' Review!
By request, of sorts. What goes around comes around. Back in the day, upon hearing some of the gems on this unique release, I would have scoffed and said, "'Stackridge'? I pity the man who fancies such shite!" However, time goes on, and catches up even with the best of us! Having learned one better since those halycon "Heavy Metal" days that all that glitters is not turned up to 10, I have come to appreciate the finessé and wisdom of a song like "Percy, The Penguin". I guess maturity has its charm, and in hindsight even manure smells like roses without the thorny reminders of pretense, but slip on this disc and let your mind absorb the sound the lads so easily put down to vinyl. Enjoy the perkiness of "Dora", sway to the sirene calmness of "Everyman", let "Slark" bring out the beastly passion of your dire soul, and even get up to do the 'Stanley' with ol' Granchy like even Ringo Starr would approve. Yes, reminisce indeed, but while YOU are enjoying the passionate playing on "The Road To Venezuela", embarking on some fried pork-rinds, and galloping away with that mad "Gaucho" (Produced by none other than George Martin, no less), don't forget to start thrashing some rhubarb and banging those lids to "The Special" a la "Stackridge"! Let 'Mr. Mick's favourite "Beatles" tune sport that African herb, be sure to crow at the moon while letting go of man's best farm friend (Cock, for those uninitiated!), and sing a bit of praise to Mother Earth or those ever slimy "Earthworms" (Very Pink Floydian!), as YOU like! Whilst doing all of that fine fond remembering then prepare yourselves for the real treats, because this Remaster boasts 2 superb recordings from "Something For The Weekend" and another from their latest release, "A Victory For Common Sense", which aside from the salad-tossing and such will leave YOU with a feeling that time is on the side of those Bath boys yet, because just like a fine wine they appear to be getting better with age! Keep on Rockin'! - Rick Wilson, former Rock Radio Journalist with Radio Canale Grandé.
A quick one, while their away -
01) Dora, The Female Explora (Stackridge) 1971 **** Unique, auspicious beginnings!
02) Everyman (Dora, The Female Explora: single, Friendliness: remaster) 1971 **** Smooth, w/ nice bongos!
03) Percy, The Penguin (Stackridge) 1971 **** A bird that can't fly, what to do?
04) Slark (re-recording) (single, Stackridge: remaster) 1972 ***** Slark, the Jazz-sounding Monster!
05) Anyone For Tennis? (Friendliness) 1972 **** Typical English musing a la "Supertramp"!
06) Amazingly Agnes (Friendliness) 1972 **** The ode to the cow named, "Agnes"!
07) Purple Spaceships Over Yatton (Slark: single, Friendliness: remaster) 1972 **** Lengthy instrumental!
08) Do The 'Stanley' (single, Friendliness: remaster) 1973 ***** Fine dancing along the lines of Ringo Starr!
09) The Road To Venezuela (The Man In The Bowler-Hat) 1974 ***** Nice Spanish Guitar feel!
10) Dangerous Bacon (The Man In The Bowler-Hat) 1974 **** Rockin' tune a la John Lennon!
11) Lummy Days (Friendliness) 1972 *** Miniscule instrumental!
12) The Galloping Gaucho (The Man In The Bowler-Hat) 1974 **** Quickly sung extravaganza before the fact!
13) C'est La Vie (Do The 'Stanley': single, Friendliness: remaster) 1973 **** And, so it goes!
14) Let There Be Lids (originally only on Do The 'Stanley') ***** 1976 Nice live take on the old "Orange Blossom Special"!
15) Hold Me Tight (single version) (single, Mr. Mick) 1976 ***** Excellent Reggae-styled reworking of the Macca "Beatles" classic!
16)* Fundamentally Yours (The Man In The Bowler-Hat) 1974 **** Nice intro to their best album!
17) The Volunteer (BBC version) (originally on Extravaganza, BBC Radio 1 In Concert) 1996 **** Topical lyrical effort recorded live in '75!
18) No-One's More Important Than The Earthworm (Extravaganza) 1975 ***** Nice guitar, and saxophone solo!
19) Something About The 'Beatles' (Something For The Weekend) 1999 ***** Excellent tribute to the Fab Four!
20) Someday, They'll Know Why (Something For The Weekend) 1999 ***** Nifty lyrics for Gourmet Chefs! lol
21) Long, Dark River (A Victory For Common Sense) 2009 ***** Lengthy but amazing journey through guitarphilia and lyrical bliss!
Demonoid Bonus Track from UK Edition
16)* Spin 'Round The Room (Extravaganza) 1975 **** Perky oldtime rag slightly dripping still!