THE MAJESTICS - VAMPIRA

                                                       ''Black You Know Is Beautiful,
                                                         Do You Go Along With That?
                                                         Coz When I Start To Do My Thing,
                                                         I Turn Into A Bat''


THE MAJESTICS were a UK based SOUL VOCAL GROUP, formed by the US stage actor CLARKE PETERS. They released a number of 45's for a variety of labels during the mid 70's, but failed to make any commercial impact. VAMPIRA was the title music for a 1974 UK COMEDY HORROR MOVIE that starred DAVID NIVEN and TERESA GRAVES. It came out on the B-Side of ''LITTLE BLACK PEARL'' a number which more closely reflected the rest of the groups recorded output

The US made BLACULA had been a box office success a couple of years earlier, so presumably a black American female vampire seemed like a winning idea at the time. The title theme was a funky tune in the 'BLAXPLOITATION' style of the day with humorous lyrics to match the camp action of the movie. The composer ANTHONY NEWLEY isn't a name associated with this musical style, but he did compose the lyrics to GOLDFINGER {with partner LESLIE BRICUSSE} and many of his numbers contain an element of humor. That sense of playfulness finds it's way into the songs lyrics {particularly in the RAP sections of the number}


                                                     ''Back In Transylvania,
                                                      They Found A Drink That's New,
                                                      If Someone Wants To Drink Your Health,
                                                      They Drink It Out Of You!''



Clarke Peters went onto have a long and varied career on stage and screen, appearing as David Essex companion in the movie SILVER DREAM RACER and in numerous WEST END THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. He wrote the hugely successful stage musical Five Guys Named Moe, but is probably best known for playing the role of Detective Lester Freamon in TV crime drama The Wire