Guide to British Music of the 1960s
September 2008
DVD Review
Beat Beat Beat Volume 2
Beat Beat Beat was one of two regular German television music programmes that have preserved some of the best British music. Unlike NDR's Beat Club, much of Beat Beat Beat from Hessischer Rundfunk was recorded live. Many of these performances have survived and are now released, often for the first time on video or DVD.
The Mindbenders introduced a young Eric Stewart, later of 10CC fame. The three-piece band is shown in true rocking mode but easing off the power for their massive hit A Groovy Kind of Love.
US star PP Arnold made her name in the UK as the First Lady of Immediate and thus is included within Making Time. Speak to Me shows the power of her soulful voice while her cover of Cat Stevens' First Cut is the Deepest shows that, despite all the versions of this song, it will be forever be associated her.
The Creation were very popular in Germany and made two Beat Beat Beat appearances. For some strange reason, one song is included from each performance. These feature the original and the second Creation line-up after Kenny Pickett had left the group. Ironically, both performances included Muddy Waters' I'm a Man, the version included here is by the original line-up. Why the recording of the fantastic Making Time was not included is a real mystery. Painter Man features original bass player Bob Garner on vocals with ex-bird Kim Gardner taking over the bass guitar. The band's second single is a real stormer. Both Creation tracks show guitar wizard Eddie Phillips playing with a violin bow, long before it became associated with Jimmy Page.
Track listing:
-
The Mindbenders - Land of 1,000 Dances
-
The Mindbenders - In the Midnight Hour
-
The Mindbenders - CC Rider
-
The Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind of Love
-
The Mindbenders - Don't Cry No More
-
PJ Proby - What's Wrong With My World
-
PP Arnold - Speak To Me
-
PP Arnold - First Cut is the Deepest
-
The Creation - I'm a Man
-
The Creation - Painter Man