We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

about

Track 0204: MENTAL CASE (Hylton) 2:56 (BLITZKRIEG BOP) (10th September 1977)
Musicians: John Hodgson – lead vocals, synthesizer, Ann Hodgson – guitars, Mick Hylton – bass guitar, Alan Cornforth – drums
Recorded: Berry Street Studios, London (16 track) Produced by Alan Davidson & Bill Farley for Lightning Records.
Following the rave review of the Mortonsound “Let's Go” single in the NME, I received a telegram from Lightning Records in London asking if we had any copies left to sell. When I rang and told them that we had sold out, they suggested that we might like to release it again on Lightning. At the time, we were not a fan of the Mortonsound version (history has shown that, by some distance, it is the superior version) due to the fact that Dimmer was on it and he was now out of the band, we felt it didn't represent the band as we sounded now.
It was decided (to our delight) that we would re-record “Let's Go” and also a new b-side for release by Lightning Records.
So, this was it! Our big break! A recording contract, not a self- financed single, which in a way was cheating, but an actual recording contract.
We came up with two new songs for the b-side, the poppy “Life Is Just A So-So” and Mick's “Mental Case”, a diatribe against Dimmer. Feelings were raw at the time but not long after we all made up with Dimmer and had many musical adventures together.
This was the very first time we were in a “proper” recording studio, so it was all a bit daunting. As soon as we stepped out of the Transit van after an all night drive we were herded into a back alley for a photo shoot. A picture of us climbing all over a crane was featured in a magazine article later in the year, but the one used for the cover of the single was a moody shot of the band leaning against a wall, unintentionally similar to The Ramones first album cover. The photo session was taken by Roger St.Pierre, a prolific writer of album sleeve notes in the 1970's, and at the time, head of Tamla Motown in the UK.
The session was produced by Lightning's in-house producer Bill Farley, overseen by Alan Davidson, and we did in fact begin recording two more songs which had been forgotten about until a few years ago, when a reel of tape unearthed from Larry Ottoway's archive (the bands manager), that contained rough first takes of “Dole Walla” and “Get Out Of My Way”, featured here alongside the tracks from the single.
Compared to some of our live recordings, the Lightning tracks lacked balls, and our nervousness is evident throughout.

credits

from Legend & Lunacy: 50th Anniversary Box Set Vol​.​12, released May 1, 2016

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

fast cakes image

fast cakes Stockton On Tees, UK

Fast Cakes aka John Hodgson presents his Fast Cakes releases, plus his older releases with other bands, and also the massive "Legend & Lunacy" a 50th Anniversary box set of 1261 tracks celebrating 50 years of songwriting and music making with a variety of bands including Blitzkrieg Bop, Basczax & Makaton Chat amongst others. From pop tunes to indie anthems, all human life is here. ... more

contact / help

Contact fast cakes

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this track or account

If you like fast cakes, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now