Cover collecting, I don't know it that is the official term but it should serve the purpose here, is becoming quite popular these days and there are a few sites dedicated to it. Whats great about it is that unlike most vinyl sought by collectors they are very cheap.
All the records that I use are owned by me and have, for the most part, been acquired from charity shops. As someone who helps out at my local Save the Children shop I do have access to quite a lot of interesting stuff. Records are displayed in a stylish frame given to me as a present by thoughtfull and rather lovely friends.
So on with the show.
Album of the Week - Songs for Gay Dogs by Paddy Roberts (1963 Decca Records)
This is the first silly cover record I bought and perhaps my favorite. After all it does say gay dogs and that's funny right.
Paddy Roberts was born in South Africa and served in the RAF as a pilot during the war. Despite ones first thoughts about the above album it turns out that he was also a very successful and respected song writer. Two times winner of the Ivor Novello Award no less, although Lilly Allen got one of those last year so perhaps that's not saying to much.
Paddy wrote some of the big hits of the 1950's for the likes of Max Bygraves and Frankie Vaughan. His own work seems to be focused more on risque comedy songs, "Merry Christmas you suckers" was one of his two singles.
He has a similar singing style to that of Noel Coward and other such wits and these seem to have been a big infulence on him. The record includes songs such as Three Old Ladies (of locked in a lavortory fame) and Sweet Fanny Adams. Paddy does seem to of been a rather charming and witty fellow and I suspect he was a hit at parties and thanks to this album cover that still proves to be the case.
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