The 60's POP STARS WHO WENT GLAM

The flamboyant GLAM ROCK explosion of the early 70's was largely instigated by performers who'd previously been involved in the 60's BRITISH POP BOOM. MARC BOLAN and DAVID BOWIE both achieved a degree of recognition with PSYCHEDELICIZED FOLK-POP numbers towards the end of the decade and SLADE, SWEET, MUD and GARY GLITTER had collectively produced a catalogue of under achieving 45's during the same period. As the trend grew, a number of previously successful artists were looking to join the party in order to reignite their flagging careers

The latest post from the excellent YESTERDAY'S PAPERS YouTube channel examines ' THE 60's STARS WHO JUMPED ON THE 70's GLAM ROCK BANDWAGON ' It's a great 25 min round-up that highlights a number of JUNKSHOP GREATS and reveals a clear winner in the form of a ROY WOOD, who achieved more success as part of THE GLAM SCENE than he had done as a member of THE MOVE during the late 60's

 

PUNCH ON THE ROAD - A BBC DOCUMENTARY FROM 1976

'' In May they took a big gamble, they gave up their jobs, got themselves an agent and became full time  professional musicians. That summer was the most exciting time of their lives. There was the possibility of a recording contract and the chance to audition for Opportunity Knocks. they'd all tried to make it before and failed every time, but somehow they thought this time would be different '' 

Bradford's PUNCH were a hard working HARMONY POP band who plied their trade around WORKING MEN'S CLUBS in the NORTH OF ENGLAND. A film crew from THE BBC followed them during the hot summer of '76 as they attempted a step up into the big time

The band are captured playing sets that mainly consist of the popular tunes of the day. At a gig in SUNDERLAND they're rewarded with £43 for playing three 40 minute spots 

'' You brainwash yourself into thinking you're going to make it, otherwise I don't think you would carry on''

The film shows them passing an audition for OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS and their continuous slog the clubs while they search for a record contract. It ends with them playing a cover of the KINCADE hit '' DREAMS ARE TEN A PENNY '' to a receptive audience

'' We all just want to make a better living than we are now. If we didn't get into the top ten and get international recognition, I'm sure if our money went up, we would be happy '' 

WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTUBE:

The promised OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS appearance didn't transpire, but the band secured a RECORD DEAL with the RED BUS label and recorded a song penned by MITCH MURRAY and PETER CALLANDER. The pair had recently scored some big hits for PAPER LACE and '' BALLAD OF THE GOOD LUCK CHARM '' was in a similar vein to those . The single was released in NOVEMBER of that year, but their luck wasn't in and the single failed to chart