Auction

I made my first purchase on ebay. It's a bit sad but in the mid sixties my parents took me to a sort of review/stage music show in Birmingham, probably at the Hippodrome. I might have been to two and remember seeing Freddie and the Dreamers, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Baron Nights, The Bachelors and (I think) the Searchers. They can't have all been on the same bill can they? I know in those sort of shows bands played three or four songs and then went off.

But I always remember a band called Sounds Incorporated. It may be because they were the opening act the first time I ever went to a gig (aged about 9 or 10). It may be because they were largely instrumental and it was the first time I had ever heard a live saxophone but although I could remember the experience I couldn't remember the music. I just remember a big sound.

Apparently they backed the Beatles at Shay Stadium. Anyone out there able to vouch for that?

The other day I browsed the internet and found a copy of an album of theirs from 1964 in glorious mono so I bid for it and got it for 1p over the reserve.

I just received it today and played it. Truth be told you should keep memories as memories because it ain’t top drawer. It's a bit like Booker T and the MGs meet the Blues Brothers but I can see why I liked it aged 10 and I'm glad I own it.

Here is a list of albums I'm glad I own with no great stand-out tracks which I'd take to a desert island.

Ace; Five a Side
Sunshine; Sunshine
Frank Zappa; Apostrophe
Black Grape; Black Grape
Hayes&Cahill; The Lonesome Touch
Airhead; Boing

Alpha starts tonight. 23 punters or so.