Haysi Fantayzee - Shiny Shiny

Before I heard this during an episode of 'Ashes To Ashes', I had almost completely forgotten about this lot. However, somewhat inexplicably, this got to the heady heights of No. 16 back in 1983. Why? Who in the heck bought it? OK, I admit that Kate Garner is pretty easy on the eye but the assault on the ears is another thing all together. Of course, I have not stopped humming it all weekend... Fun 'where are they now' facts: Jeremy Healy became an in-demand DJ and joined Boy George for his his E-Zee Possee project. Kate Garner lauched a successful photographic career and took the cover photo for Sinéad O'Connor's debut album.

Bonus Clip: Here's their debut, the just as ridiculous 'John Wayne Is Big Leggy'.

The Wallace Collection - Daydream

You know this song, even if you have never heard of this band or indeed this version (although it is the original). Admittedly, I came to this track via a different route - all shall be revealed below (see Bonus Clips).

The Wallace Collection was a Belgian band working out of London in the late '60s. Daydream, a single from their debut album, was released in 1969 and was a big hit in mainland Europe but, strangely enough, not any English speaking countries. However, that's not the end of the story...

Bonus Clips:... because the track was first picked up by the French chanson singer Claude François (he wrote the original 'My Way'), who recorded it as 'Rêveries'

which seems to be based on this library recording by Bernard Wystraete (also used as a sample by the likes of The Beatnuts, RZA, Dr. Octagon etc.)

Next up, the Australian easy-listening group The Gunter Kallman Choir (think of an Aussie version of The Swingle Singers) in 1970. Now this is the version you are probably most familiar with as, as well as appearing in countless commercials and as background music, it was also the basis for both...

...'Daydream in Blue' by I Monster in 2001...

...and 'Squares' by The Beta Band, which was originally going to be released at the same time as the I Monster single but was held back so to not cause confusion between the two tracks.

GP Updates

I noticed that the links to some of the archived videos were now dead so I've been through all the posts and have updated accordingly. Let me know if I've missed any...