Geordie: All Because Of You (1973)

Alright, you lot! Girls off the floor because this one is for the boys. Hope you have your stack heels and high waisters ready - this is Geordie! Saw them on the telly the other day and they are great! Fine single on the RAK label. Singer could go far.

Slade: Take Me Bak 'Ome (1972)

It really is time for a bit of Slade to hit the Club turntable. I fell in love with Slade when they released 'Coz I Luv You' in '71 and also bought the marginally less wonderful follow up, 'Look Wot You Dun' but they certainly hit their stride again with 'Take Me Bak 'Ome' (it really was written thus on the label). Have vivid memories of miming to this with my ultra cheapo acoustic guitar slung around my neck and giving a little performance for my folks; poor Mum and Dad must have wondered what they had raised. On Polydor, of course. Altogether now...

Hector: Bye Bye Bad Days (1974)

Time to don your Oxford Bags, star adorned tank-top over a wide sleeved t-shirt and your favourite platform shoes and rock out to the sound of Hector. 'Bye Bye Bad Days' was the band's second single and saw a change of image from Dennis the Menace style hooped t-shirts and dungarees to the much more mature velvet jumpsuit. How they failed to chart with this beauty boggles the mind. Foisted on the world by the DJM label. Love it.

The Motors: Dancing The Night Away (1977)

The Motors became popular for a brief period in the late 70s, riding the new wave that, given a few of their hits, they didn't really deserve to be on. Don't get me wrong, their tunes were generally solid enough pop-rock fare but hardly groundbreaking. However, their first hit, 'Dancing the Night Away' was altogether something else. John Peel made this one of his records of the year in '77 and when you tune in to its transcendent pop high, you can understand why. It's just bloody perfec;, especially the 12" version featured here. I proudly owned this one back then but seem to have mislaid it now. Released on the revamped Virgin label as it moved on from experimental prog to slightly more commercial affairs. 

Alice Cooper: Gutter Cat vs. The Jets (1972)

Alice Cooper channels the spirit of West Side Story in this b-side to the mighty 'School's Out'. How well I recall rushing out to purchase said single in the summer of '72 as we anticipated finishing primary school for good and looked forward to another long hot summer before the shadow of secondary school fell upon us. As an already dedicated fan of the original film of West Side Story, which remains the finest celluloid version of any stage musical, I was thrilled to find 'Gutter Cat' embracing Jets Vs. Sharks imagery and nodding to Leonard Bernstein's classic score. Yes, some of us were certainly crazy mixed up kids, Officer Krupke! Issued on the lovely olive green Warner Bros. label. 

Suzi Quatro: 48 Crash (1973)

OK! Suitably refreshed? Who fancies a song about late-onset hypogonadism? Not to your liking? Well, how about the 1848 US economic collapse? Whatever is to your taste, I hope you'll enjoy this one from Suzi Quatro as it's been rumoured to be about one of these topics (or maybe both). Ace glam rock songwriting team, Chinn and Chapman, are said to have claimed to be able to write a song about any subject and certainly  rose to the challenge here. On the other hand, perhaps it's just your regular pop-glam bollocks. Whichever way the wind blows, this follow-up to the awesome 'Can the Can' is simply wonderful and provided Suzi with a number 3 hit on the RAK label back in 1973. Loved it then and the feeling's never changed.

Colin Blunstone: Misty Roses (1971)

Time to bring the heat down a little as we head to the tuck shop for Smith's Crisps and a glass of squash. Whilst we are refreshing ourselves, why not enjoy this track from Colin Blunstone's album, One Year, which was released back in '71 on the Epic imprint. We'll probably spin the big hit from this one, 'Say You Don't Mind', one day soon but I am always knocked out by Mr. Blunstone's take of this lovely Tim Hardin song.