THE IDLE RACE "THE SKELETON & THE ROUNDABOUT"/'KNOCKING NAILS INTO MY HOUSE' VG+

£ 20

$ 27

£ 20 Sold For

Mar 7, 2016 Sold Date

Mar 5, 2016 Start Date

1 Number Of Bids

Great Britain Country Of Seller

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Description

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A GENUINE 1968 RECORD NOT A MODERN REPRODUCTION !
THE IDLE RACE "THE SKELETON & THE ROUNDABOUT" b/w 'KNOCKING NAILS INTO MY HOUSE'

LIBERTY LBF 15054

For the first U.K. Idle Race single, two Jeff Lynne compositions titled 'Impostors Of Life's Magazine' backed with 'Sitting In My Tree', were selected for release in October of 1967. Despite airplay, the single did not chart but attracted much interest in the music press and won many admirers. The second single A and B-sides 'The Skeleton And The Roundabout/Knocking Nails Into My House', also both written by Lynne, was issued early in 1968 to promote the forthcoming Idle Race album. Although this single is probably their best known, it also missed out on a chart placing. Note: the Wolverhampton band Ambrose Slade recordedKnocking Nails Into My House as a track on their first album.

Despite lack of success in the charts, the Idle Race gained a considerable 'underground' following including the support of many prominent musicians and radio personalities. This is reflected on the inside cover artwork of their first albumThe Birthday Party where invited 'guests' are displayed in a photo collage and include such figures as The Beatles, The Move, Brian Jones, Hughie Green and many of the Radio One DJs. Eleven of the thirteen songs on the album were composed by Jeff Lynne with most of the lyrics having a simple, almost child-like preoccupation with weird characters along with a production reminiscent of The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' or 'Fool On The Hill'.

The Idle Race's live performances saw the band in a much heavier vein and included many covers such as 'Purple Haze' (Jimi Hendrix), 'Born To Be Wild' (Steppenwolf) and 'People Are Strange' (The Doors). The band also did a heavy version of Tyrannosaurus Rex's'Deborah' amongst various originals and 1950s rock 'n' roll standards.

In early 1969 the Idle Race began recording a second album which would be released at the end of the year. At about this time Roy Wood made an offer to Jeff Lynne to join The Move as Trevor Burton had just left. Lynne declined so Rick Price was selected as Burton's replacement. It should be noted that Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood were mutual admirers of each others work. Significantly, the demo recording of the Move's Number 1 hit 'Blackberry Way' had been produced in Jeff's home studio.

Further excellent Idle Race singles were released but despite extensive touring of the U.K. to promote them, the group could still not manage a chart placing.

VINYL HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR GRADED AS VG+
ORIGINAL LIBERTY BLUE SLEEVE GRADED AS EX
THIS RECORD WAS MINE SINCE NEW
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