In the 70's Shirts came in Gift Boxes. If you got one for Christmas there was more than just the wrapping paper to contend with. Inside the box shirts were pinned to cardboard. Around the collar...stiff plastic and more cardboard, held in place by more pins. Here's a video reminder of the struggle we faced!
About Me
- Denim Disco
- London, United Kingdom
- DENIM DISCO is a blog dedicated to the pop music and culture of the 1970's. ~ Glam Pop and Discotheque Rock ~ The Sound Of The 70's ~ Contact:denimdisco@hotmail.co.uk
Wednesday, 9 December 2020
Thursday, 19 November 2020
OLD HOLBORN - WHEN THE SMOOTHIES ROLLED UP!
The TEENAGERS in the pics stand proudly outside their COUNCIL DWELLINGS sporting a riot of 'BUDGIE' STYLED HAIR, BUDGIE JACKETS, CROMBIE COATS, BEAGLE COLLAR SHIRTS, SCOOP NECK TANK TOPS, ' RUPERT' TROUSERS, CHECKED ' LUMBER ' and SHEARLING JACKETS. These are the SMOOTH youth fashions previously described on DENIM DISCO and strongly indicate the photos were taken circa '73
LINK TO ''SMOOTHIES - THE CULT THAT TIME FORGOT'' POST:
https://www.caferoyalbooks.com/shop/simon-pope-city-kids-london-19731975-2-book-series
POSTSCRIPT:
Inevitably the area pictured has changed in the intervening years but has thankfully managed to resist the full force of gentrification that many parts of inner London have undergone. GRAY'S INN BUILDINGS has been extensively remodeled, but remains { like all the other buildings pictured } within the social rented sector
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
WIRED UP! FANZINE - ISSUE 16
The glorious WIRED UP! GLAM ROCK FANZINE has continued to publish unabated throughout the difficult year of 2020 and issue 16 recently landed just as the UK shut for a 2nd lockdown. Lack of live gigs has shifted the focus of recent issues more heavily in the direction of VINTAGE over NEO GLAM and this one features in depth interviews with JOHN ROSSALL from THE GLITTER BAND, ANDY ELLISON / CHRIS TOWNSON from the cult 70's band JET, a look at GTO FILMS { responsible for a trio of low budget glam based movies } and the story behind the MICK ROCK publicity shot for MOTT THE HOOPLES '' ALL THE YOUNG DUDES ''
WIRED UP! can be purchased via the following links:
WIRED UP! EBAY PAGE:
WIRED UP! FACEBOOK PAGE:
WIRED UP! EMAIL CONTACT:
Friday, 26 June 2020
DENIM & DIAMANTE VOL.2 MIX
TRACKLIST:
01 - April Wine - You Could Have Been A Lady
02 - Rick Derringer - Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo
03 - The Doobie Brothers - Pursuit On 53rd Street
04 - Cherry Vangelder-Smith - Jokers
05 - Shocking Blue - Ball Of Confusion
06 - Baker Gurvitz Army - Dancing The Night Away
07 - Poker - Driving In The City
08 - Zenda Jacks - Earthquake
09 - Rococo - Ultrastar
10 - Dragon - This Time
11 - Washington Flyers - Another Saturday Morning
12 - Pilot - Magic
13 - Mike Batt { with The New Edition } - Summertime City
14 - Brotherly Love - Weekend Love Affair
15 - Mark Bolan & T.Rex - Dreamy Lady
16 - Kristine Sparkle - Devil Woman
17 - Lulu - The Man Who Sold The World
18 - Child - River Of Love
19 - The Knack - Always
20 - Rubettes - Dancing In The Rain
21 - Mud - Shake It Down
22 - Glitter Band - Makes You Blind
23 - Life - Cat's Eyes
Download An MP3 Of The Mix {With Artwork} Here:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/n45upln4o7r3e34/Denim_%26_Diamante_Vol.2.zip/file
Monday, 22 June 2020
ARTHUR BROWN - SUPERSONIC 75
Footage of Psychedelic shaman ARTHUR BROWN performing his reworking of THE ANIMALS classic ''WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE'' on the UK Pop Show SUPERSONIC. Wearing an incongruous ensemble of double denim and gold wellies he makes full use of the studio perspex stairway, pacing and gesticulating wildly as only the god of hell fire is able! Enjoy and if you are not already acquainted with the GULL LP ''DANCE'' { from which the song was taken } there is a handy link that enables you to listen to the whole thing on YouTube at the end of this post
Arthur Brown - Dance (1974) FULL ALBUM
CUE ANDY BOWN and CUE SUPERSONIC!
ANDY BOWN was a former member of 60's teen sensations THE HERD { a band that was fronted by a young PETER FRAMPTON } Following their demise he recorded a couple of solo LPs before making his first contribution to the GLAM ROCK ERA with the bowiesque single ''NEW YORK SATYRICON ZANY'' in 1974. The following year saw the first broadcast of the UK Pop TV Show SUPERSONIC! and Bown was asked to supply a theme to play over the opening credits
The show was presented by film and music producer MIKE MANSFIELD and lasted for a couple years, capturing many of the classic UK GLAM ROCK acts towards the end of their respective time in the limelight. The high energy GLAM BOOGIE number that Bown composed for the show was a perfect fit. Sounding like ROY WOODS WIZZARD and STATUS QUO having a frantic jam on ''THE TIME WARP'' from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, it had every kid sitting on the edge of their seat in eager anticipation of each weeks show!
VIVE LE ROCK! MAGAZINE - GLAM SPECIAL
The latest issue of VIVE LE ROCK! magazine celebrates 50 YEARS OF GLAM ROCK with articles on SLADE, HELLO, THE GLITTER BAND, CHINNICHAP and SWEET [ including a final interview with the sadly missed STEVE PRIEST }. Nice to see the introductory feature namecheck DENIM DISCO along with the wonderful WIRED UP! fanzine and other keepers of the flame { see links at the end of this post }. The magazine is available from Newsagents in the UK and can also be ordered here: VIVA LE ROCK!
LINKS FOR ADDITIONAL GLAM ROCK RESOURCES:
WIRED UP! FANZINE
SUITS AND THE PLATFORM BOOTS
PUREPOP
PROUDFOOT SOUND
Wednesday, 17 June 2020
LOCO GLAM FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
Leicester band LOCO released an excellent 45 on the BUK label in 1975 after they appeared on the NEW FACES TV TALENT SHOW. Both sides of the record were composed and produced by STEVE FERN who had previously led the 60's soul group FERNS BRASS FOUNDRY and worked with the former SPENCER DAVIS GROUP drummer PETER YORK. Side A ''AT THE LOCAL DANCE'' is a late period GLAM POP number that sounds reminiscent of MUD and early SHOWADDYWADDY, while the B Side ''THE MAN'' is a DISCOTHEQUE ROCK number that owes more than a little to the aforementioned SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
WALLY TAX - THIS GIRL IS MINE
Dutch singer/songwriter WALLY TAX was born in Amsterdam in 1948 and found fame as the vocalist in the 60's NEDERBEAT group THE OUTSIDERS. The band were highly regarded in Holland and were considered by many to be the Dutch ROLLING STONES. The live side of their DEBUT LP from 1967 captures the wildness of their act and the hysteria they generated in their audience
The group recorded a string of amazing songs as good as any in the era, but made little impact in the rest of the world. They split at the end of the decade and Tax put together another band TAX FREE, briefly moving to the US where an LP was recorded and released
Unfortunately the anticipated US breakthrough failed to materialize and Tax returned to Holland to embark on a solo career and write songs for others. His 70's material moved closer to the MOR field, string dominated and often reminiscent of BUDDY HOLLY'S later pop discs { ''MISS WONDERFUL'' from 1973 is a good example of this }
His biggest hit would come in 1977 with ''LET'S DANCE'' and the songs he wrote for CHAMPAGNE { one of which: ''ROCK n' ROLL STAR'' charted in the US }. ''THIS GIRL IS MINE'' from 1975 didn't fare as well but was an artistic high, driven by a DISCO HI HAT, SWEEPING STRINGS and WAH WAH GUITAR it stands as a perfect example of MID SEVENTIES PHILLY INSPIRED DANCE POP
Thursday, 11 June 2020
LINDA LEWIS - ROCK A- DOODLE DOO - TOTP 1973
Amazing 'thought to be lost' footage of LINDA LEWIS performing her first UK CHART hit ROCK A- DOODLE DOO on TOP OF THE POPS. Tapes of the original show were wiped, but thankfully this Black and White recording has been unearthed. The record peaked at 15 in July 1973
Thursday, 6 February 2020
PRETTIES FOR YOU - LONDON FRIDAY 21st FEB 2020
PRETTIES FOR YOU is back for it's first event of 2020. Get down and support London's only 70's GLAM ROCK DISCO event at HELGI'S { An independent bar dedicated to the music of the 60's and 70's with an amazing period decor to match }
PRETTIES FOR YOU - 70's Glam Rock Disco
VINYL ONLY DJ SETS from ☆ ALPHA MICHELLE ☆ and DENIM DISCO - Glam Rock, Junkshop Glam, Hard Rock, Discotheque Rock and 70's Sleaze ☆ FREE ENTRY! ☆ FREE DENIM DISCO BADGES!
ON: FRIDAY 21st FEB 2020
FROM: 21:00-02:00
AT: HELGI'S 177 MARE STREET, HACKNEY, LONDON, E8 3HR, UNITED KINGDOM
FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/events/503215870576053/
FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE VENUE:
https://www.facebook.com/helgisbar/
INSTAGRAM PAGE FOR THE VENUE:
https://www.instagram.com/helgis_bar/
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