Thursday, August 18, 2016

Stupid Rare Single Of The Day



I've been listening to the ridiculously rare Skip Bifferty LP, a 1967, almost-never-released, freak beat gem on RCA.  Some snooping on the internet will treat you to the full album, as well as some rare singles, including "Man In Black," the tune above, which has Steve Marriott credited as arranger and Ronnie Lane as producer. And though Don Arden managed Skip Bifferty, there is some speculation over whether the two Small Faces actually took part in this recording, as the relationship between Arden and Skip Bifferty had already gone sour at the time of release. I don't care. I love the record and it sounds like something Marriott and Lane might have had a hand in.

For those keeping score, both Mickey Gallagher and John Turnbull of Skip Bifferty ended up in, among other bands, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, while Turnbull has been Karl Wallinger's right hand man in World Party for years. If you don't know the Skip Bifferty record, it's time to give it a spin. You don't need the $400 original MONO release on vinyl. YouTube will do, or even a cheap CD.

5 comments:

Bill said...

Great song! Can definitely hear the Marriott/Lane influence.

buzzbabyjesus said...

I know this song, somehow. It's a good one.

Anonymous said...

Definite Ogden's Nut Gone Flake territory. Maybe a precursor to Supertramp?

Apetalk1971 said...

You originally introduced me to Skip Bifferty a while ago with a song called "This We Shall Explore". I love that song.

dogbreath said...

Ace! Thanks. And then came (and went) Heavy Jelly.