LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Those Plucking Strings was recorded 45 years ago, but has waited until now for a release. It's a unique album, produced by Joe Meek during the period when he beginning to assert his independence. In 1960 he had set up the Triumph label as a vehicle for his productions and compositions. Although no albums were released by the short-lived imprint, two lost long players were completed: Those Plucking Strings and the legendary I Hear A New World (RPM 502). Those Plucking Stings isn't as weird as I Hear A New World, but it was a striking collaboration between Joe and his 20-year-old arranger Charles Blackwell. Recorded at Olympic Studios, where Charles recorded Angela Jones by Michael Cox, for Joe Meek, the musicians were plucked from the TV show 'Oh Boy'. These included Eric Ford on guitar and Andy White on drums. Charles Blackwell was a major talent who would go on to write classic songs like Madeline Bell's You Don't Love Me No More and work with Mike Sarne, PJ Proby and Françoise Hardy. Those Plucking Strings marks the earliest flowering of his flair as an arranger. Indeed, the idea of orchestrating skiffle music ran counter to the do-it-yourself tea-chest and broom-handle aesthetic that the movement was all about. Those Plucking Strings is audacious as it is enjoyable. Thought lost forever, a test-pressing of Those Plucking Strings surfaced in April 1997 at a north London record shop. For 30 years it had been in the hands of the daughter of Joe's ill-fated landlady Violet Shenton. This major discovery has allowed Those Plucking Strings to finally be granted the release it deserves. Following hot on the heels of the Portrait of a Genius: Joe Meek Box Set release, this keenly anticipated Charles Blackwell Orchestra recording is a sure fire hit with Meeks fans and beyond. - Extremely rare and much talked about Joe Meek recording - Previously unreleased - Blackwell is a well known and collectable 60's arranger/writer/producer - Good time in the marketplace after the Joe Meek Box Set. - Appeal to 60's collectors as well as Meek fans.
TRACK LISTING 1/ LONESOME TRAVELLER 2/ PUTTIN' ON THE STYLE 3/ FREIGHT TRAIN 4/ DON'T YOU ROCK ME DADDY-O 5/ SKIP TO MY LOU 6/ WABASH CANNONBALL-GRAND COULEE DAM 7/ A LOVER & HIS LASS 8/ ROCK ISLAND LINE 9/ KISSES SWEATER THAN WINE 10/ LAST TRAIN TO SAN FERNANDO 11/ TOM DOOLEY 12/ PICK A BALE O'COTTON