MANDRAKE PADDLE STEAMER - SONG FOR FREEDOM Acetate `69

	£		255
	$		338

MANDRAKE  -  SONG FOR FREEDOM

Acetate

 in excellent condition

and plays superbly from start to finish ,   for an incredible   6mins  34secs

Between 1967 and 1969 the now legendary band MANDRAKE PADDLE STEAMER were on a path to stardom supporting major bands such as  Yes , Pink Floyd , The Nice ,The Who , Free , Spirit , Ecclection ,  Deep Purple , Vanilla Fudge , and many more .

The line up of Brian Engel (singer) , Martin Briley (lead guitar/singer) , Martin Hooker (keyboard) , Paul Riordon (base guitar) , Barry Nightingale (drums) ......  And me !     I was their roadie .

Dates are a bit vague I`m afraid but sometime during `68/`69 and through mutual agreement Brian left the band and Martin Briley took over lead vocal . At the same time Barry was asked to leave the band and was replaced by David Potts , a Liverpudlian drummer and great mate of Ian Paice of Deep Purple . David was a much more capable drummer ,   and mad !!    All the best drummers are !!!!

This new line up also changed their name to a shortened version of Mandrake Paddle Steamer and became :

 MANDRAKE

So the new line up of MANDRAKE was : MARTIN BRILEY (lead singer /lead guitar/songwriter) , PAUL RIORDON (base guitar/singer) , MARTIN HOOKER (keyboard/hammond organ) , DAVID POTTS (drummer)  ......... and me !!

Whilst a lot is said and written about Mandrake Paddle Steamer , and their recorded tracks from the John Peel tapes at the BBC , and demos that have surfaced , some of which can be called documented , there is also a lot of bollony about other tracks which have been put onto compilation CDs under the name of Prowler for example . Whilst Prowler tracks may well be connected to Briley / Engel , I couldn`t say for sure , I can definitely say they have nowt to do with Mandrake Paddle Steamer .

Mandrake Paddle Steamer became MANDRAKE and nothing has ever surfaced by MANDRAKE .

Until now that is !!!

The acetate that I am selling now , SONG FOR FREEDOM , is a song written by Martin Briley and recorded by the boys as MANDRAKE . Recorded during a studio session arranged in order to produce some tracks which were to be part of the soundtrack for a movie , which I had a part in , and as the movie needed a live band scene taking place in a nightclub , I managed to get the job for Mandrake .  I can`t remember the name of the movie , but it was about the fallout after a nuclear attack in mainland britain . I know the movie was finished because we all attended its premiere in London`s West End somewhere . The screening was attended by Rudolph Nureyev , famous ballet dancer/star and he was present a couple of times during filming . So there is a film out there somewhere with Mandrake performing .

So this acetate is as rare as they come and even Mandrake boys themselves do not have a copy of this track at all . I have checked with base player Paul Riordan , who now runs the Official Mandrake Paddle Steamer web site and he has confirmed that they do not have this one . I have done extensive searching and there is nothing anywhere about Mandrake , other than on Mandrake Paddle Steamer official web site  where Paul mentions their transition to Mandrake .

This acetate came into my possession in the following manner :    As Mandrake Paddle Steamer they recorded the very well known single STRANGE WALKING MAN . Upon its release I bought a copy of that single in a record store . At a later date the boys asked to borrow it from me to play it to Shapiro Burnstein in order to try to get signed up . They never returned it to me . When the time had come for me to leave the band I asked for my single back and they didn`t have it to give to me so they gave me this acetate instead along with another , OCTOBER COUNTRY , which I sold last year . 

THIS ACETATE is in excellent condition and plays exceptionally well . The duration of this song is a wopping   6mins. 34secs.

There is a bit of background crackle but the music plays louder than it and therefore does not detract from the greatness of the sound .  I do not play it often . I have a recording of it on tape which I play for my listening pleasure . But I did play it just last week in order to be sure of its condition prior to listing it on ebay . It`s excellent and I can promise bidders of its value also as a song . It is one of the best songs I have ever heard . Having heard the boys perform it hundreds of times during the live performing days up and down the country and throughout Europe I fell in love with the song and to this day it is , to me , the one song above all others that puts them on a level with all the top bands of the 60`s and 70`s .  Beatles included .!!!!!!!!!!

Martin`s voice is as powerfull as any and on this track reaches an absolutely beautifull tone . The lyrics are absolutely fantastic and as with all GREAT songs they still hold up today. I will be happy to provide a lyric sheet wth this acetate . Musically this track is superb with fantastic driving power . The track ends with a chorus of wonderment .  The chorus was added along with the main vocals in a single take and is performed by Paul , David Potts` girlfriend at the time Margaret ,   and me !!!!

THIS ACETATE  and THE SONG CONTAINED ON IT are SUPERB !!!!!!

This has to be bought by a complete Mandrake Paddle Steamer fan or Acetate collector and as such I am listing it with a high value asking price . This reflects its true rarity and quality .

As a footnote can I point out that Martin Briley eventually left these shores and went to America playing base guitar and vocals in the IAN HUNTER BAND along side one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time MICK RONSON .     The album :  IAN HUNTER BAND  -  WELCOME TO THE CLUB  ,  `79/`80   is without doubt one of the greatest live albums ever produced .  Martin then went on to record solo and had a massive hit single charting into the top 40 in the U.S. with a self penned song called   SALT OF MY TEARS . 2 or 3 albums followed and Martin now has his very own huge following in the USA .

This acetate is the first recording of Martin as lead singer . His vocal prowess clearly went on to astronomical status in the U.S.

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