Fabulous Poodles
Encyclopedia
The Fabulous Poodles were a British
pre-New Wave
band formed in 1975. Known for quirky stage antics, such as exploding ukuleles, as well as songs with funny lyrics. The Fabulous Poodles toured with Meat Loaf
, Sha Na Na
, Tom Petty
, Bill Bruford
and Chuck Berry
(as backing band). They appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test and for a long time were John Peel’s favourite group. The band released three albums between 1977 and 1979 on Pye Records
.
on lead vocals and guitar, Richie Robertson on bass and vocals, Bobby Valentino (UK)
on violin, mandolin and vocals and Bryn Burrows on drums.
Many of the band's lyrics were written by John Parsons (The Invisible Man), an artist/poet, who wrote “Chicago Boxcar”, about a hair cut, for deMeur to put music to. Suffolk recognised a possible hit and asked deMeur to join the band. The song was taken to Private Stock Records
who released it as a single in connection with Dave Woods
.
The Poodles began touring England and the continent. Eventually Suffolk left the band and went on to design recording studios (Suffolk Studio Design). while the final line up settled down to life on the road with Parsons as van driver, road manager and warm-up act as the Blue Poodle on a unicycle, often with his Jack Russell dog, Nipper, who howled to the harmonica. Parsons designed all the promotional material and merchandise. In 1979 the Fabulous Poodles embarked on an American tour supporting such notable acts as the Ramones
and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
.
The Fabulous Poodles were very heavily influenced by such British 1960s acts as the Who
and the Kinks
. Their first album was produced by John Entwistle
, who also played eight- string bass on a few songs. Their second LP, Unsuitable, featured their two best known songs, Mirror Star and Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back) and was produced by Muff Windwood. In 1978 they undertook a UK tour with special guest Tom Sorahan. Their manager was Brian Lane manager of Yes
.
In 1979 the final album Think Pink was recorded and released, the title being the only lyrics to one of the songs, Pink City Twist. In 1980 the Fabulous Poodles released their final single, Stompin' on the Cat b/w Anna Rexia and Don't You Lie To Me. Bryn Burrows later joined Freur
and was in the original lineup of Underworld
.
This album was an American compilation of first two British records.
This is a compact disc personal best-of compilation
The two American albums were paired on a single CD released on the American Beat Records label (an imprint of Collectors' Choice Music
).
A bootleg
live album recorded in Hempstead, New York
in 1979 entitled Radio Stars has also been circulating around collector's circles for a few years.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pre-New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band formed in 1975. Known for quirky stage antics, such as exploding ukuleles, as well as songs with funny lyrics. The Fabulous Poodles toured with Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
, Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
(as backing band). They appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test and for a long time were John Peel’s favourite group. The band released three albums between 1977 and 1979 on Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
.
History
The Fabulous Poodles started out just as The Poodles. The original Fabulous Poodles consisted of founder Bob Suffolk on piano, Tony De MeurRonnie Golden
Ronnie Golden, born Tony De Meur, is a British singer, guitarist and comedian. He was the founder of the band The Fabulous Poodles. After the group broke up he worked as a stand up comedian as a member of The Comic Strip. From the early 1980s he made many appearances at The Comedy Store and on the...
on lead vocals and guitar, Richie Robertson on bass and vocals, Bobby Valentino (UK)
Bobby Valentino (UK)
Bobby Valentino is an English violinist, singer, songwriter and actor.-Career:Born in Chatham, Kent, he adopted the stage name Bobby Valentino in 1975...
on violin, mandolin and vocals and Bryn Burrows on drums.
Many of the band's lyrics were written by John Parsons (The Invisible Man), an artist/poet, who wrote “Chicago Boxcar”, about a hair cut, for deMeur to put music to. Suffolk recognised a possible hit and asked deMeur to join the band. The song was taken to Private Stock Records
Private Stock Records
Private Stock Records was a record label which was started in 1974 by Larry Uttal after he was ousted from Bell Records. The label had hit records with singles by David Soul of Starsky and Hutch fame , Starbuck , Austin Roberts , Samantha Sang , Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band , and Frankie...
who released it as a single in connection with Dave Woods
Dave Woods
Dave Woods is a British sports commentator. He covers rugby league and football for the BBC as well as occasional freelance work for Five. Woods is the main man on the Super League Show and occasionally covers Premier League games for Match of the Day outside the rugby league season. He has...
.
The Poodles began touring England and the continent. Eventually Suffolk left the band and went on to design recording studios (Suffolk Studio Design). while the final line up settled down to life on the road with Parsons as van driver, road manager and warm-up act as the Blue Poodle on a unicycle, often with his Jack Russell dog, Nipper, who howled to the harmonica. Parsons designed all the promotional material and merchandise. In 1979 the Fabulous Poodles embarked on an American tour supporting such notable acts as the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
.
The Fabulous Poodles were very heavily influenced by such British 1960s acts as the Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and the Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. Their first album was produced by John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
, who also played eight- string bass on a few songs. Their second LP, Unsuitable, featured their two best known songs, Mirror Star and Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back) and was produced by Muff Windwood. In 1978 they undertook a UK tour with special guest Tom Sorahan. Their manager was Brian Lane manager of Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
.
In 1979 the final album Think Pink was recorded and released, the title being the only lyrics to one of the songs, Pink City Twist. In 1980 the Fabulous Poodles released their final single, Stompin' on the Cat b/w Anna Rexia and Don't You Lie To Me. Bryn Burrows later joined Freur
Freur
Freur was a band featuring Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, who went on to found the successful electronic act Underworld. It was their second band, following their art school collaboration, The Screen Gemz.-History:...
and was in the original lineup of Underworld
Underworld (band)
Underworld are a British electronic group, and principal name under which duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith have recorded together since 1980.- Early years: 1979–1986 :...
.
Discography
- 1977: Fabulous Poodles
- "The Ending" (de Meur, Parsons, Valentino, Robertson, Burrows)
- "Doctor" (Bentley, Suffolk)
- "Work Shy" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Bike Blood" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Rum Baba Boogie" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "When the Summer's Thru" (de Meur)
- "Rosie Pink" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Roll Your Own" (Mel McDaniel)
- "Pinball Pin Up" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Mr. Mike" (de Meur, Parsons, Robertson)
- "Cherchez la Femme" (de Meur, Parsons)
- 1978: Unsuitable
- "Mirror Star" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Topless GoGo" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Chicago Boxcar" (Boston Back) (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Oh Cheryl" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Toy Town People" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Convent Girls" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "B Movies" (de Meur, Parsons, Valentino, Burrows, Robertson)
- "Tit Photographer Blues" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Third Rate Romance" (Smith)
- "Mugs Game" (de Meur, Parsons, Robertson)
- "Suicide Bridge" (de Meur, Parsons)
- 1978: Mirror Stars
This album was an American compilation of first two British records.
- "Mirror Star" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Work Shy" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Chicago Boxcar" (Boston Back) (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Oh Cheryl" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Toy Town People" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Mr. Mike" (de Meur, Parsons, Robertson)
- "Roll Your Own" (Mel McDaniel)
- "B Movies" (de Meur, Parsons, Valentino, Burrows, Robertson)
- "Tit Photographer Blues" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Cherchez la Femme" (de Meur, Parsons)
- 1979: Think Pink
- "Man With Money" (Phil Everly, Don Everly)
- "Bionic Man" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Any Port in a Storm" (de Meur, Burrows)
- "(Hollywood) Dragnet" (de Meur)
- "Bike Blood" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Cossack Cowboy" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Anna Rexia" (de Meur)
- "You Wouldn't Listen" (de Meur)
- "Suicide Bridge" (de Meur, Parsons)
- "Pink City Twist" (de Meur, Valentino)
- "Vampire Rock" (de Meur, Parsons)
- 1995: His Masters Choice
This is a compact disc personal best-of compilation
- "Mirror Star"
- "Work Shy"
- "Bionic Man"
- "B Movies"
- "Toy Town People"
- "Pinball Pin Up"
- "You Wouldn't Listen"
- "Stompin' on the Cat"
- "Mr. Mike"
- "Cherchez La Femme"
- "Talkin` Trash"
- "Rum Baba Boogie"
- "When the Summer's Thru"
- "Rosie Pink"
- "Man With Money"
- "Bike Blood"
- "Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)"
- "Anna Rexia"
- "Suicide Bridge"
- "Pink City Twist"
- "Vampire Rock"
- 2009: Mirror Stars / Think Pink
The two American albums were paired on a single CD released on the American Beat Records label (an imprint of Collectors' Choice Music
Collectors' Choice Music
Collectors' Choice Music is a company primarily in two businesses. They are best known for re-issuing albums originally recorded in LP record form as compact discs...
).
A bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
live album recorded in Hempstead, New York
Hempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
in 1979 entitled Radio Stars has also been circulating around collector's circles for a few years.
Personnel
- Ronnie Golden aka Tony De MeurRonnie GoldenRonnie Golden, born Tony De Meur, is a British singer, guitarist and comedian. He was the founder of the band The Fabulous Poodles. After the group broke up he worked as a stand up comedian as a member of The Comic Strip. From the early 1980s he made many appearances at The Comedy Store and on the...
- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica - Richie Robertson - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
- Bobby Valentino (UK)Bobby Valentino (UK)Bobby Valentino is an English violinist, singer, songwriter and actor.-Career:Born in Chatham, Kent, he adopted the stage name Bobby Valentino in 1975...
- Violin, Mandolin, Guitar, Backing Vocals - Bryn Burrows - Drum, Percussion