This album was put together by Leon and several co-conspirators in 1964, and Leon described it thus: “an assortment of musicians and writers lampooned all the parties in the coming elections". Leon's presence looms largest, with the LP title taken from one of his tracks, and five of the six orthodox songs being penned by him. His presence is also apparent on several of the other titles, including some of the spoken sketches, at least one of which he wrote.
Besides Leon, performers on the record include Stephen Sedley, the respected songwriter Sydney Carter, fellow Three City Four member, Ralph Trainer, plus Alan Twelftree, Liane Aukin, Sam Hutt, Chris Hilton and James E. Butchart. The LP itself is credited as being by Herbert Floog, "a pseudonym which conceals 7 of Britain's top comedians, 6 of whom are not Peter Sellers (The seventh is not Peter Sellers either)".
It was produced by Nathan Joseph, and Bill Leader and Keith Grant were also involved somewhere along the way. The album's contents were recorded live "at a safe distance from a captive audience" at Olympic Studios in London. Despite the direct approach, some after-the-event editing, including the addition of a few sound effects here and there, prevents it from sounding like a stage show. Rather, it has something of a Goon Show quality, particularly during the spoken parts. (The LP concludes with the sound of a flushing toilet!) This, together with the references to Peter Sellers in the sleevnotes, implies that the LP might have been written with the contemporary comedy album, How to Win an Election (or Not Lose by Much), in mind - which featured the Goons, with Sellers prominent.
The LP is extremely rare, and given that almost all of the contents were relevant to the pending 1964 election, it was probably swiftly deleted. Nevertheless it was also issued in New Zealand (on EMI's Columbia label) - despite the fact that its subject matter and political targets were very much centred on Britain. One or two of the song titles differ from the usual (for example, "Flagging" is in fact "Battle Hymn of the New Socialist Party").
Thanks to Alistair Banfield for information on the LP.
Besides Leon, performers on the record include Stephen Sedley, the respected songwriter Sydney Carter, fellow Three City Four member, Ralph Trainer, plus Alan Twelftree, Liane Aukin, Sam Hutt, Chris Hilton and James E. Butchart. The LP itself is credited as being by Herbert Floog, "a pseudonym which conceals 7 of Britain's top comedians, 6 of whom are not Peter Sellers (The seventh is not Peter Sellers either)".
It was produced by Nathan Joseph, and Bill Leader and Keith Grant were also involved somewhere along the way. The album's contents were recorded live "at a safe distance from a captive audience" at Olympic Studios in London. Despite the direct approach, some after-the-event editing, including the addition of a few sound effects here and there, prevents it from sounding like a stage show. Rather, it has something of a Goon Show quality, particularly during the spoken parts. (The LP concludes with the sound of a flushing toilet!) This, together with the references to Peter Sellers in the sleevnotes, implies that the LP might have been written with the contemporary comedy album, How to Win an Election (or Not Lose by Much), in mind - which featured the Goons, with Sellers prominent.
The LP is extremely rare, and given that almost all of the contents were relevant to the pending 1964 election, it was probably swiftly deleted. Nevertheless it was also issued in New Zealand (on EMI's Columbia label) - despite the fact that its subject matter and political targets were very much centred on Britain. One or two of the song titles differ from the usual (for example, "Flagging" is in fact "Battle Hymn of the New Socialist Party").
Thanks to Alistair Banfield for information on the LP.
"This record is about British Politics particularly in the period before an election. Like British Politics it is at times cheap, nasty and sordid, scurrilous, lunatic, unbelievable and wildly funny" - Sleevenotes.
Thumbnails (click to enlarge)
Song list
1. Tories All Out (Stephen Sedley)
2. Flagging Second version
3. Battle Hymn of the Liberal Revival
4. Listen With Granny (Stephen Sedley/Liane Aukin/Sydney Carter/Nathan Joseph) [Spoken piece]
5. Foot in Mouth Disease (Maudling/Macleod, etc) [Spoken piece]
6. Ballad of the Crutty Men
7. It's All Relative (MacMillan et al) [Spoken piece]
8. Ever Been Ad! (Leon Rosselson/Nathan Joseph/Alan Twelftree)
9. To Deter or Not to Deter [Spoken piece]
10. Stand Firm
11. Party Pops (Nathan Joseph) [Spoken piece with song snippets]
12. A Few Home Truths (Stephen Sedley/Nathan Joseph/Leon Rosselson) [Spoken piece]
2. Flagging Second version
3. Battle Hymn of the Liberal Revival
4. Listen With Granny (Stephen Sedley/Liane Aukin/Sydney Carter/Nathan Joseph) [Spoken piece]
5. Foot in Mouth Disease (Maudling/Macleod, etc) [Spoken piece]
6. Ballad of the Crutty Men
7. It's All Relative (MacMillan et al) [Spoken piece]
8. Ever Been Ad! (Leon Rosselson/Nathan Joseph/Alan Twelftree)
9. To Deter or Not to Deter [Spoken piece]
10. Stand Firm
11. Party Pops (Nathan Joseph) [Spoken piece with song snippets]
12. A Few Home Truths (Stephen Sedley/Nathan Joseph/Leon Rosselson) [Spoken piece]