Here at John Bensalhia Writing Services, we write anything, anytime. Including a track-by-track review of The New Goodies LP, which was released on this day in 1975!
The Goodies Theme
The fourth out of five Goodies themes, and the one that stuck around the most. The original “Take a little good advice” was used for the first two series. The slower wah-chicka-wah-wah funk groove version opened the next two. Onto the familiar “G – you need a helping hand” etc version, and the original was only used for the fifth series. The one on the album – or Giant Dougal as I nickname it – launched the opening titles of series six, seven and eight.
I remember running out of the room and screaming at the sight of Giant Dougal (from the excellent Goodies Rule OK special) when I was a kid, but then I scared easily. So this version of the theme always takes me back to those days. Oddly, it’s not quite as engaging as the previous version. It’s a bit more clinical, lacking that brassy oomph that Series Five’s theme had.
Mind you, it’s leagues ahead of yet another reworked version for when the trio moved to ITV in 1981. It’s as typically 80s sounding as you can imagine and sounds more like the intro to a tacky gameshow.
Please Let Us Play
A fair chunk of The New Goodies LP was used in the 1976 episode, Almost Live. Whereas every other Goodies episode told a story, Almost Live was a straightforward performance of some of their most popular songs. Incidentally, the subtitle on the LP is also “Almost Live” at the “Cricklewood Rainbow”, although the tracks were actually laid down at Olympic Studios in Summer 1975.
Please Let Us Play is one of the tracks featured in Almost Live, and features grimacing audience participation as they either bellow “No! No! No!” or “Yes! Yes! Yes!” in response. While it’s a relatively leisurely romp, the amusing lyrics do acknowledge how others regarded what were seen as novelty acts in the charts. “We’ve still got terrible voices/And we still can’t play, we admit/But everyone who hears us/Stands up and cheers ‘It’s a hit!’” While the trio may not have received critical acclaim from the musos and highbrow journalists, they still managed to chalk up five Top 40 hits in the space of a year, two of which went Top 10.
Custard Pie
One aspect that does lend The New Goodies LP a bit more kudos is the array of session musician talent. The album was produced by Miki Antony, who wrote for the likes of The 5th Dimension and Mary Mason (Angel Of The Morning), and had had a brief spell as a singer, performing tracks such as a cover of Blue Mink’s Another Without You Day.
The list of session musicians displays an impressive pedigree too. These include drummer Clem Cattini (formerly of The Tornados, subsequently an in-demand session drummer), guitarist Gordon Huntley (Matthews Southern Comfort) and jazz rock keyboardist Dave MacRae – who, incidentally, became musical director of The Goodies TV show from 1975. MacRae’s wife Joy Yates sang back-up on the album along with Jackie Sullivan and Sue Lynch – all three provided vocals for practically every 1970s band and singer under the sun, including Roxy Music, Cat Stevens and the Quo, to name but three.
Which adds an extra touch of class to what could have been a throwaway bit of pop fluff. This mid-groove stomper is very well played, catchy, and also features an impressive high note from Bill Oddie. The strange fairground-style fade out is the cherry on the pie.
Cricklewood
It’s easy to scoff at acts like The Goodies, who to the average punter, is a novelty comedy act cashing in on the success of a hit TV programme. However, for the most part, The New Goodies LP is surprisingly credible, with a good grasp of pop hooks and immaculate arrangements.
Best of the lot is Cricklewood, which not only evokes the late ’60s psychedelia, but also points the way forward. I suppose the best way I can describe it is The Kinks Meets The Move Meets Madness, which is doing it a disservice. Tim Brooke-Taylor takes the lead and does a very good job, complete with Graeme providing the voice of the bus route in the middle instrumental break.
I can’t praise this enough. Taking the mundane (“People looking for the sun/Nothing is happening”), and translating it into a pop classic stuffed with lovely harmonies, a catchy-as-hell tune and superb musicianship is no mean feat. If they’d released this as a single, I wouldn’t be surprised if it resulted in another Top 10 smash. Brilliant.
Good Ole Country Music
Out of The Goodies, Graeme Garden looked the least comfortable with his newfound pop status. Bill embraced it with open arms, Tim went for it with great gusto, while Graybags looked visibly awkward when appearing on Top Of The Pops.
Nevertheless, Graeme is on the mic for this country pastiche. This was another track included in the Almost Live episode, in which he perched on a stool in cowboy garb, looking – well, awkward.
Baby Samba
The weak link on the album, Baby Samba was one of a handful of tracks that had originally been written by Oddie for I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again. After an extended narration intro from Tim, Baby Samba is subsequently hampered by the relentless “Poochy Poochy Poochy Poo” refrain, which makes the track drag for far longer than it should. While its bedfellows contain pleasing amounts of humour, Baby Samba misses the mark. A full nappy stinker.
Rock With A Policeman
Another ISIRTA cut, but this ’50s throwback is a lot better. The Goodies seem to have a thing about the police, portraying them as snarling bully boys (Give Police A Chance), shysters on the make (The Goodies And The Beanstalk) or gibbering, weed-puffing groupies (Goodies Rule OK).
This is a great party track that effectively melds ’50s rock ‘n’ roll with ’70s disco influences. The lyrics (which tell the tale of a policeman seeking the ideal dance party) are also laugh-out-loud funny, and in some cases, tread a fine line between single and double entendre. When singing about lady drivers, the policeman brags: “You can hear them shout when I get my truncheon out.”
The Cricklewood Shakedown
While Tim’s Cricklewood depicted an empty ghost town, at least this funky Side Two opener attempts to redress the balance. It may not be the most dynamic of places, according to the trio, but it is the home to lots of groovy movers. They would make the Strictly muppets look like Quasimodo.
Shaking their cares away, Cricklewooders have a “natural sense of rhythm”, plus the ability to wobble down to their shoes and to “shimmer just like a jelly”. Lots of unpretentious fun for all the family.
Nappy Love
Side Two contains three hits for The Goodies, two of which were released as a double A-side in September 1975. Actually, while the LP was released on 10th October 1975, it was being promoted as far back as September with adverts and competitions in the contemporary music magazines.
Both of the double whammy of Nappy Love and Wild Thing have merit. While the premise doesn’t sound too promising on first glance (it’s a mickey take of Paul Anka’s Puppy Love, then made famous by Donny Osmond), it’s actually a lot of fun, and again, manages to settle in the brainbox with rapid ease. The “Boom-sha-la-la” hook is a strong one, the baby days lyrics are funny, and Bill reaches those high notes with alarming ease.
I’m A Teapot
Why would anyone want to be a teapot, I hear you cry? To the uninitiated, “I’m a teapot” comes from two bottle episodes, both of which are highly recommended. The End and Earthanasia see The Goodies faced with two separate catastrophes: Being stuck in the flat and the end of the world, to which poor old Timbo shrieks in horror and pretends to be a teapot.
That’s the only quibble I have about I’m A Teapot. Why doesn’t Tim sing lead? Instead, he chips in with some pithy contributions, but like the bulk of The New Goodies LP, vocal duties are handled by Bill.
Like I said though, that’s the only quibble as the LP serves up another winner. The lyrics still hold up well today and remain relevant in these gloomy old times: “When life is driving you crazy/Are you unable to cope?/Can you be a hero?/But do you always give up hope?” The Goodies are not only masters of Ecky Thump, giant cat breeding and cream/scone/strawberry jam mining, they’re also wise sages – worthy of High Priest Eeh Bah Goom.
Working The Line
If you’ve seen the classic Bunfight At The OK Tea Rooms, you’ll recognise this one straight away. This is the background music for when our intrepid trio travel down to Cornwall to mine for gold and valuables, but end up striking cream, jam and scones.
Another country-esque jam, Working The Line does raise the point of which other songs from the TV show could have been included on the LP. Most of the episodes feature a musical interlude, which is used during a dialogue-free comedy sequence. The Goodies had previously released a selection of featured songs in 1973, which included Taking You Back (from Camelot), Mummy I Don’t Like My Meat (Superstar) and Winter Sportsman (Winter Olympics).
The most recent series, which was then being repeated when The New Goodies LP was released, had plenty of potential tracks for inclusion. Bone Crusher from Kung Fu Kapers. Crazy Man from Cunning Stunts. Play The Game from Wacky Wales. I guess the flip side of that argument is that it’s far better value to increase brand new songs that haven’t been heard before.
Funky Gibbon
The Goodies’ signature hit, Funky Gibbon put them well and truly on the pop map of 1975. More often than not, novelty hits tend to annoy rather than impress (I’m looking at you Orville, Roland Rat and Peter Bloody Kay), but Funky Gibbon cannily pairs up daffy lyrics with a danceable disco beat that taps deep into the burgeoning music trend of the mid-’70s.
Mysteriously, some of their other hits are missing, including The Inbetweenies and Black Pudding Bertha. But having a New Goodies LP without Funky Gibbon would be like having a sandwich without the bread.
Wild Thing
While the majority of compositions are by Bill Oddie, Wild Thing is a cover version of The Troggs’ 1966 smash. It’s a decent stab at the ’60s classic, turning it into a proggy bit of heavy metal. Oddie tears his voice box in two, while Timbo and Graeme make their own memorable contributions (“Oh you move me… I’m moved! Completely moved!” and “Grrrrrrr”).
The appeal of Wild Thing was such that it made it into two Goodies episodes. As well as the Almost Live episode (in which Tim manages to embarrass a squirming female member of the audience), it’s also included in the Goodies Rule OK special of 1975 in a scene that reduces policemen to gibbering wrecks.
Normally, I’d dismiss albums recorded by comedy acts, but not only is The New Goodies LP a lot of fun and frequently funny, it’s also a great pop album in its own right. A definite Goody Goody Yum Yum experience.
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