Sounds Of The Unexpected Various Artists (Fun Time)

£14.11

Genre:
Instrumentals
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDTOP 1505

A part of the Ace Records family for more than 30 years, Vicki Fox’s final compilation celebrates the wild and wacky instrumental. Casting the net wide, “Sounds Of The Unexpected” revels in the unusual, the groovy and the downright bonkers.

Vicki Fox was my partner for 20 years. She was compiling this CD, her third for Ace, when she lost her six-year battle with cancer. Roger Armstrong suggested we jointly complete the project in her memory. Inevitably, some tracks were not cleared at the time of her passing, so Roger and I put our heads together to finish the project. I recall taking the cover artwork drafts into hospital for her approval days before she fell into a coma.

Vicki was raised in the Thames Delta and taken under the wing of Dr Feelgood in her early teens. Her fledgling vinyl collection of Bowie and Bolan was soon augmented by Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and before long she’d built up an impressive knowledge of the blues. After moving to London she became involved in Ted Carroll’s Golborne Roadmarket stall, sorting records and getting Ted’s bacon butties. Thereafter Vicki remained a part of Rock On/Ace Records, apart from a short sojourn at Island Records and as assistant to photographer Adrian Boot. As a result of working at Rock On for 30 years she had a fabulous vinyl collection. Although mainly blues, R&B, soul and reggae, she also collected exotica, comedy records and even bird songs. Before my involvement in Ace I worked at a West End art shop and often had celebrity customers in. When I mentioned that John Inman had been in she immediately went to her comedy section and pulled out his “Hello Sailor” LP. “If he comes in again can you get him to sign this?” Sadly this milestone recording remains unsigned. 

Despite the side effects of chemotherapy, Vicki remained cheerful and positive, indeed working right up to the last few weeks. Her livewire personality is sorely missed at Ace Towers. I’m honoured to have helped complete this small slice of Vicki’s record collection. If you enjoy theremins, bongos, jungle squawks, echoey guitars and ethereal strings, pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple, pull up a comfy chair and enjoy some sounds of the unexpected.

TONY BERRINGTON 

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Watusi Zombie - Jan Davis

  • 02 Preview Savage Girl - Felix & His Fabulous Cats

  • 03 Preview Mad Train - Andre Brasseur & His Multi-Sound Organ

  • 04 Preview War Of The Worlds - The Atlantics

  • 05 Preview Funky Me - Timmy Thomas

  • 06 Preview Caravan - Gabor Szabo

  • 07 Preview Hot Pot - The Tornados

  • 08 Preview Aztec - Bo Diddley

  • 09 Preview R.F.D. Rangoon - The Forbidden Five

  • 10 Preview Watusie Freeze Pt 1 - Big Walter & the Thunderbirds

  • 11 Preview Flameout - The 101 Strings

  • 12 Preview Music To Watch Space Girls By - Leonard Nimoy

  • 13 Preview Uh-Oh - The Imps

  • 14 Preview Waltz In Orbit - Ray Cathode

  • 15 Preview Moog Indigo - Jean Jacques Perrey

  • 16 Preview Space Walk - The Astros

  • 17 Preview Hung Over - The Martinis

  • 18 Preview The Sheik - Ray Ellis & His Orchestra

  • 19 Preview B'wana Bongos - Preston Epps

  • 20 Preview Long Sentence - The Upsetters

  • 21 Preview It's Karate Time - Travis Wammack

  • 22 Preview Zocko - The Ventures

  • 23 Preview Misirlou - Martin Denny

  • 24 Preview Russian Roulette - The Zanies

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

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"“This was never going to be a collection of standard rock instrumentals and the subtitle Weird & Wacky Instrumentals From Pop’s Final Frontiers sums it up very neatly.  More recognisable names are here such as The Tornados with their rhythmic Hot Pot and The Ventures on the similarly percussion-driven Zocko from their Batman LP.  There are plenty of other gems too, including one of the best Stax-style numbers not released by that label: Hung Over by The Martinis.  Sounds Of The Unexpected – you never know what’s coming next."

Pipeline

"This compendium of delights stands as a tribute to the late Vicki Fox.  It would have been her third Ace compilation but illness overtook and her friends completed it in her memory.  Vicki liked her records bonkers.  Throughout madness and joy contend and the latter wins out.  Every tune is a highlight.  Cracking stuff and a worthy tribute."

RnR

Instro heaven, beautifully compiled and annotated ★★★★★

Mojo

"A really fun eclectic mix of strange or unusual instros.  Definitely something different."

New Gandy Dancer

Customer reviews

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