The Clive Allan Orchestra and Singers - Untitled EP - Cover Versions - David Byron - (Avenue - 1968)

Untitled 7-inch EP - usually listed as Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp - by The Clive Allan Orchestra and Singers for Avenue Records. The EP consists of six cover versions of chart hits from 1968, with vocals performed by uncredited session singers. This record demonstrates the use of alternate vocal takes in the cover version industry. Following the vinyl transfer of the six tracks from the EP, I have included the same song titles, also recorded by Avenue Records, which have been restored from original master tapes. Three of the EP tracks appear to be identical to the restored versions, while three appear to be alternate takes. All of the restored tracks are said to have vocals by David Byron - see below for further discussion!

Side A
00:00 The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp
03:53 Yesterday Has Gone
06:35 Yummy Yummy Yummy

Side B
08:58 One More Dance
11:43 Mony Mony
14:47 Last Night In Soho

Restored versions, all with vocals attributed to David Byron:
18:14 The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp
22:08 Yesterday Has Gone
25:05 Yummy Yummy Yummy

27:27 One More Dance [Attributed to David Byron and Jane Marlow]
30:13 Mony Mony
33:22 Last Night In Soho [Attributed to Peter Lee Stirling and David Byron]

Many of David Byron's Avenue cover versions can be heard here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOTpOawEqJ563ah8MMOYFRcEvt0mZ2Xbh&si=s29X4y4oUogcMktL
and here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m16vwMGPJWSMRRBT3-J5ajvt4ziKXyQ1Y&si=savk3ASKGki6IVIZ

The three tracks on the EP that appear to be identical (albeit mono) to the restored versions (stereo) are: Yummy Yummy Yummy, Mony Mony and Last Night In Soho. The first two feature vocals by David Byron - soon-to-be lead vocalist of rock band Uriah Heep - who was a session singer for Avenue Records from 1968-1970 and performed on well over one hundred tracks; the third is Peter Lee Stirling and David Byron. This EP could feature the only UK appearance of the superb Last Night In Soho, which does not seem to appear on any other UK cover version record release. (The same song title appears on the Rediffusion/Fontana series Sounds Like Hits, but Rediffusion made their own recordings using different vocalists.)

The alternate vocal takes on this EP are The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp, Yesterday Has Gone and One More Dance. I believe Peter Lee Stirling performs the vocals for the first two tracks, as he featured on many male lead vocals for Avenue until David Byron took over performing the majority of the vocals. The restored versions here all have vocals attributed to David Byron, although I do not agree that One More Dance features Byron. Apparently, it was standard practice to record more than one version of each song using different vocalists.

Although this EP is in mono sound, Avenue had been recording in stereo since 1967. The restored versions retain their original stereo sound. Avenue issued cover version EPs - or ‘mini-LPs’, playing at 33⅓ rpm - from 1967, and in 1968 started an untitled album series (in stereo) on their Studio 33 imprint. Avenue also supplied tracks for the budget cover version album series Chartbusters on the Marble Arch record label. Albums were mono until September 1968, when with volume four, Autumn Chartbusters, both mono and stereo editions were issued. From the beginning of 1970, Chartbusters releases were issued in stereo only. This EP features fives song titles from that album, but only Yummy Yummy Yummy and Mony Mony match the versions which were used on Autumn Chartbusters, whilst all of the restored versions here appeared on that album.

Avenue launched their own album series - England's 12 Top Hits - in 1969, which ran to thirty-one volumes, ending in 1974. EPs continued to be issued alongside the albums, consisting of an entire LP - be it a chart hits or themed compilation album - split over two six-song EPs. Picture sleeves were sometimes sacrificed in favour of plain company sleeves thanks to supermarket retailer Tesco wanting to keep costs and retail prices down!

The sleeve notes of the EP here provide not only an interesting insight into the Avenue ethos but also give a list of credits. Alan Caddy was a guitarist with the Tornados before taking on musical direction, arranging and production for Avenue. Caddy's name appears on Avenue record releases until 1973; he left the UK for Canada in 1974. Producer Mel Gordon is said to be Avenue founder Gordon Melville. The City of London Recording Studios were co-owned by Avenue session singer Peter Lee Stirling, who became Daniel Boone and had a hit with Beautiful Sunday in 1972. The Clive Allan Orchestra and Singers remains a mystery, as the name appears only in association with Avenue releases, and is said to be an invention (not uncommon in the world of cover versions!). Avenue tracks did indeed find their way to all corners of the globe, whether it be on Avenue's own label record releases or licensed out to other budget record labels.

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