How evocative is music. Immediately the riff kicks in I'm instantly transported back 20-something years: a gaggle of girls, a nightclub get-together somewhere in Birmingham, a Christmas exchange of gifts. Sadly I've long lost touch with the pal who gave me the Decal re-issue of BB Blunder's 1970 album Workers' Playtime that night. Even with its cheap-looking Union Jack sleeve (reissues have come a long way), I was intrigued as I pored over what details were visible.
I'm guessing it was a random pick up from one of Brum's local vinyl emporia, despite being an unusually musically curious lot barely out of our teens, with a shared love of all things '60s and early '70s. But it landed in the right hands and was listened to obsessively - particularly the opener (above) and the track it segued into You're So Young (below). The former's thrilling intro built into an irresistibly funky jazz-rock cacophany, the wailing backing vocals of Julie Driscoll featuring heavily, alongside some punchy horns. The latter lapped in on its heals, swelling to a truly memorable fade.
As far as I'm aware, we all remained musically opened-minded in the ensuing years. For myself, anyway, receiving that album, as strange and exotic as it seemed at the time (and still does), was particularly formative.
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