Author: Kim Simpson

A candidate for the quintessential Motörhead song, “Ace of Spades” reached #15 in the UK in 1980 (a limited edition 12-inch single presented a cover image of the band dressed in Santa suits), then climbed to #9 after singer/bassist Lemmy’s death in December 2015. In 1984, the group mimed the bruising classic on “Bambi,” the funniest episode of the British Young Ones show (linked below). Lemmy, in mirrored pilot shades, sang upward as always. During the instrumental break, a frustrating cameraman zeroed in on whichever guitarist was not soloing.

“Dear Prudence” (1974) – Katfish * Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney * 45: “Dear Prudence” / “Street Walkin'” * Produced by Bob Herne * Label: Gonad/Big Tree (US); Phillips (Germany)

High grade teen angel dust version of John Lennon’s White Album evergreen. For Katfish, a Rhode Island rock band, “Dear Prudence” was their only charting hit (#53 on Billboard), and it signals the Beatles’ continuing influence on the next generation of rock ‘n’ roll hopefuls. A German picture sleeve presents a ’70s conflict: a masculine bar band wrestling with the glam impulse.

“Ace of Spades” (1965) – Link Wray * Written by Link Wray and Mark Cooper * 45: “Ace of Spades” / “Hidden Charms” * Produced by Ray Vernon * Label: Swan

Menacing nighttime music from the man who had composed the only instrumental record to be banned. But if “Rumble” sounded like leather-jacket gang warfare, “Ace of Spades” sounded like a lone delinquent stalking a deserted boulevard at 3 AM. Dangerous too, but in a different way. Music like this gives the “Don’t Drop Out” message that appeared on mid-sixties Swan releases an embossed effect. Co-writer “Mark Cooper” was an alias for Milt Grant, who hosted a TV show called The Record Hop that boasted Wray and the Raymen as its house band. His song credits are likely of an honorary wheel-greaser nature; none of the Norton label’s Link Wray reissues include him.

“Shot By Both Sides” (1978) – Magazine * Written by Howard DeVoto and Pete Shelley * Produced by Mick Glossop and Magazine * UK 45: “Shot By Both Sides” / “My Mind Ain’t So Open”

Debut single by Howard Devoto’s post-Buzzcocks quintet built on a snarling ascending guitar riff that would work well as a US crime show TV theme. The single version strikes harder than the version on their Real Life LP.  In his Heart of Rock and Soul, Dave Marsh points to Bruce Springsteen’s opening riff for “Roulette” (recorded in 1979 and released as a 1988 B-side) as a “Shot By Both Sides” mimic, but it’s really just vaguely similar. DeVoto’s former Buzzcocks bandmate Pete Shelley, who also used the main riff for that group’s “Lipstick,” gets co-writing credit.

“All of My Heart” (1983) – ABC * Written by ABC * 45: “All of My Heart” / “Overture” * LP: The Lexicon of Love * Produced by Trevor Horn * Label: Neutron/Mercury

On the lavish Lexicon of Love album’s climactic track, quipmaster Martin Fry confronts genuine heartache. Orchestra strings swell, bells and piano keys sparkle, and memories of pink silk, colliding stars, hearts and flowers spill forth with a sigh. This was—and still is—British New Pop music of the highest order. Trevor Horn produced, with the true “poison arrow” being Anne Dudley’s orchestration.

“(I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real” (1970) – Jackie Wilson * Written by Johnny Moore and Jack Daniels * 45: “(I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real” / “Love Uprising” * LP: This Love Is Real * Produced by Willie Henderson * Label: Brunswick

This was a top ten soul chart hit for the legendary “Mr. Excitement,” featuring his famous octave leaps in the choruses. (This was the third to last of his Billboard Hot 100 appearances, peaking at #59.) In the intro and at the 1:42 mark, it pays specific tribute to “Danny Boy,” which Wilson had taken to the charts in 1965. Songwriting credits go to Johnny Moore and his frequent collaborator Jack Daniels. (Moore is not the same one who sang vocals with the Drifters; neither is he the former leader of the Three Blazers. He’s an unheralded Chicagoan whose catalog as a singer and songwriter is most familiar to Northern Soul fans.)

“Abigail Beecher” (1964) – Freddy Cannon * Written by Bob Boulanger and Richard Heard * 45: “Abigail Beecher” / “All American Girl” * LP: Freddie Cannon * Produced by Frank Slay * Label: Warner Bros.

In the style of Johnny Otis’s “Willie and the Hand Jive,” slinky voodoo guitar underscores Cannon’s raves about the high school history teacher, who knows all the dances, drives a Jaguar XK-E, and has the goods to be a rock ‘n roll singer. Such high school stomp-friendly vignettes from teenage life distinguished the man nicknamed “Boom Boom” from the other ducktailed singers all over the early sixties charts. Reached #16 on Billboard.