This blog is an attempt to archive anything related to the UK glam rock band Merlin. Active from c. 1973-1975, the band released one self-titled album and five singles.
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Source: Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Date: 20th December 1975
Screenshot from an online newspaper archive
(Transcript Below)
LINING UP WITH LACE
I see that former New Seeker Peter Oliver (pictured left), has joined the re-lined Paper Lace.
Peter and ex-Merlin member Jamie Moses have joined Phil Wright and Cliff Fish in the new-look group.
The band's manager, Rod Harrod, told me: "Paper Lace have been gaining more respect musically, vocally and creatively over recent months. We all feel that Peter and Jamie will add a further dimension to the group's success."
"Not only are they excellent singers and guitarists, but they also possess a very individual and strong stage presence.
"In future, Paper Lace will have all their records produced by Ron Richards, the guy who recorded all the Holly's hits."
According to Rod, an announcement regarding a new recording deal for the group will be made shortly, and recently Paper Lace have spent thousands of pounds on developing a new stage presentation with their own lighting and sound system costing, I estimate, well over £25,000.
The first opportunity the public will have to see Peter and Jamie with the group will be on January 4, when they open for a week in cabaret in London.
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Source: Staffordshire Sentinel
Date: 23rd March 1974
Screenshot from an online newspaper archive
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Blog Updates!
Things have been a little quiet over here, but I have some new stuff to scan/photograph and post! Here's what will be coming up on the blog over the next few months:
Clippings
6 4 short newspaper clippings from an online archive
“Alan Love & Merlin” article from an unknown Swedish magazine
A centrefold poster from Record Mirror magazine
A 1pg poster from an unknown Swedish magazine
"Sophisticratic rock" article from Record Mirror (interview with Queen, discusses the Queen/Merlin comparison article from Melody Maker)
David Essex tour programme (short bio & photos)
Discography
Update all tracks with better quality audio files
Post each single b-side with audio
Update lyrics for all tracks
Update photos for all singles
Other
Merlin LP acetate test press w/ alternate track list
(Let Me) Put My Spell on You acetate test press
I'm still waiting on a few of these to arrive (and I have my eye on a couple other clippings that I may try to pick up), so these won't get posted all at once. But hopefully this post can help hold me accountable so as things arrive I can get them scanned through and shared here!
#chitchats#I am foaming at the mouth with excitement over those acetates so those will probably be posted first once they get here
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Merlin is now available on streaming!
Amazing news folks! I'm not sure when it happened, but Merlin's self-titled album is available to stream AND it looks like it includes the non-album b-side Just Another Fish On My Hook!
#discography#it's been an AMAZING Monday for Merlin updates#and now I can update the individual song posts with cleaner audio and more accurate lyrics!
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Source: Torbay Express and South Devon Echo
Date: Saturday 16 March 1974
Screenshot from an online newspaper archive
(Transcript Below)
Merlin back
With a new name, a new image, and a new record in the shops, one of the most consistently popular groups to appear in Paignton returns this weekend.
Merlin, better known to regulars at Penelope's nightspot on Paignton seafront as Madrigal, changed their name six months ago. Now they have landed a record production deal, an LP, and a concert tour of at least 45 dates this spring.
Lead vocalist Allan Love says they are working on a rock opera with music and story built around the name of the band - a sort of Merlin the Magician fantasy. The idea came from keyboard player Scully Wagon-Lits, and is an extension of Merlin's current 15-minute operetta, which has been getting a great reception from audiences.
Merlin's drummer is David Wightwick, with Paul Taylor on bass and Jamie Moses on lead guitar.
Merlin are returning to a favourite haunt where they always get a tremendous welcome, when they open at Penelope's tonight.
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Happy 50th anniversary to Merlin's first (and sadly only) album!
Let's all spend some time today listening to their music and remembering this short-lived but rather incredible band!
Discography
Merlin (1974)
Released October 25, 1974
(Photos of the album from my collection)
Sleeve Design: Roslav Szaybo Photography: Joe Gaffney
Produced by Roger Greenaway for Cookaway Production Ltd. Engineers: Geoff Emerick/Peter Henderson Studio: A.I.R. (London) Ltd. No. 1 Mastered: Arun Chakraverty, CBS Studio
Merlin Personnel: Alan Love - Vocals Jamie Moses - Lead Guitar/Vocals Bob (Scully) Webb - Keyboard/Guitar/Vocals Dave Whitwhick [sic] - Drums/Vocals Paul Taylor - Bass Guitar
Side One
Space Raider (Love/Hardwicke) 5:22
Takin' Part (R. Webb) 4:25
Gettin' Involved (Love/Hardwicke) 2:50
Gypsy (J. Moses) 3:36
He Thinks About You All The Time (J. Moses) 3:40
Side Two
Look At Life (R. Cook) 4:22
Marina (R. Webb) 3:47
Sweet Sweet Cheatin' Rita (Stephens/Greenaway) 4:07
Alright (R. Cook/H. Flowers) 3:38
(Let Me) Put My Spell On You (R. Greenaway/T. Macaulay) 3:24
Wild Cat (H. Barter/R. Barter) 2:36
Single Releases
"(Let Me) Put My Spell On You" b/w "Just Another Fish On My Hook" - Released March 1, 1974
"Alright” b/w “Pictures In My Mind” - Released June 28, 1974
“Wild Cat” b/w “Half A Man” - Released November 1, 1974
"What A Funny Way To Fall In Love" b/w "Rock and Roll Express" - Released February 14, 1975
"Too Too Much" b/w "Gettin' Involved" - Released July 18, 1975 (as 'Alan Love & Merlin')
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Source: Market Harborough Advertiser and Midland Mail
Date: Thursday 21 August 1975
Screenshot from an online newspaper archive
(Transcript Below)
Alan Love and Merlin
"Too, too much" (CBS): If you think there's room in the market for another Alvin Stardust then you'll reckon this is another smash... but I'd have said one "Coo ca choo" was enough.
#clippings#(the Alvin Stardust comparison is killing me because of what happened with Sweet Sweet Cheatin' Rita)
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My Collection & Want List
The following is a catalogue of Merlin items already in my collection for my own records, as well as a list of items I am still seeking.
If you have anything on my "Want" list that you're willing to sell, please send me a message!
WANT
Vinyl
(Let Me) Put My Spell On You - 7" single Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and CBS-Blitzinformation releases w/ original sleeves
Alright - 7" single Germany, Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and CBS-Blitzinformation releases w/ original sleeves
Wild Cat - 7" single Germany release w/ original sleeve
Too Too Much - 7" single Germany release w/ original sleeve
What A Funny Way To Fall In Love - 7" single, white label and push-out centre versions
Any other vinyls not listed here or already in my collection!
Acetate
Alright - 10" acetate
Any other acetates not listed here or already in my collection!
Articles / Adverts
"David Essex on Tour With Special Guests Merlin" advert - New Musical Express, November 1974
CBS promotional "Biografie" - Unknown, c. March 1974
"Merlin On Tour" advert - Any sources other than Melody Maker, early 1974
Any other article/advert not listed here or already in my collection!
Merchandise / Memorabilia
Any other merchandise/memorabilia not listed here or already in my collection!
OWNED
Vinyl
Merlin - 12" LP
(Let Me) Put My Spell On You - 7" single - UK white label 4-prong centre
Alright - 7" single - UK orange label solid centre
Wild Cat - 7" single - UK white label promo 4-prong centre; German CBS-Blitzinformation
Too Too Much - 7" single - UK white label promo 4-prong centre; German CBS-Blitzinformation
What A Funny Way To Fall In Love - 7" single - UK orange label
Acetate
Merlin - 12" LP test press w/ alternate track list
(Let Me) Put My Spell On You - 10" single test press
Articles / Adverts
"Merlin On Tour" advert - Melody Maker, early 1974
"The Merlin File" - Melody Maker, late 1974
"Pop In The Supermarket" - Melody Maker, 23 March 1974
"Sophisticratic rock" - Record Mirror, 30 March 1974 (interview with Queen, discusses the "Pop in the Supermarket" article)
"You'll Be Spellbound!" advert - Unknown source, November 1974
"Watch Out For Merlin..." - Disco 45 magazine No.50, December 1974
"Alan Love & Merlin" - Unknown Swedish magazine, December 1974
Merchandise / Memorabilia
David Essex UK tour programme, November 1974
Centrefold poster - Record Mirror magazine, January 1975
Poster - Unknown Swedish magazine, January 1975
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It was the first proper band, I guess, first proper touring band that I’d been in.
They got discovered by Roger Greenaway and turned into - what he wanted was his own version of The Sweet or Mud or the bands that were around at the time, sort of the glam rock things. So he stuck us all in leather cat-suits and feather boas and stuff…
–Jamie Moses on the band “Merlin”
Keep reading
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Merlin vs. Queen - TopPop, 1974
The Melody Maker had a two page spread on us, called “Hype in the Pop Market” and it had mirrored image of the two bands: CBS band Merlin and EMI band Queen. And it listed who was on guitar, who was doing vocals and so on, and who was championing this within the production companies and everything.
Turns out that one had more success than the other!
But I remember when I first started playing with the Brian May Band… When we’d been in rehearsals for a couple of weeks I thought it was safe to bring it up to Brian and I said, “I used to be in a band- I don’t suppose you’d remember a band called Merlin?”
And he went, “You were in Merlin? We were worried about you!”
I said, “You needn’t have been, honestly!”
–Jamie Moses (guitarist with Merlin and the Brian May Band)
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Song Info: Wild Cat
Written By: H. Barter/R. Barter
Length: 2:36
Notes: Released as a single on November 1, 1974 (b/w "Half A Man)
Above: German single covers Below: UK 7" single discs (vinyl/vinyl promo/acetate)
Translation of CBS-Blitzinformation cover text:
The magician Merlin (from the legendary times of King Arthur's Round Table) not only gave the group his name, his sinister face also looks down as a logo from their posters. Merlin's sound, on the other hand, is anything but sinister. This can be heard on their third single, which has the beautiful name "Wild Cat". A powerful rock number that the five "magicians" put on the floor.
Lyrics:
(Official lyrics were never provided. My best-guess is below, with unknown or uncertain parts in brackets like [this].)
My [?] baby’s dressed in black Well come on wild cat scratch my back Move over here and let me love you Just can’t spend another night without you
‘cause it ain’t right letting you go When you know I’m needing you so No it ain’t right breaking my heart When you know you’re tearing me apart
You’re a wild cat Come on wild cat
A jingle jangle from her charms With silver bangles on her arms She looking good, she looks real fine So come on wild cat don’t take your time
‘cause it ain’t right letting you go When you know I’m needing you so No it ain’t right breaking my heart When you know you’re tearing me apart
You’re a wild cat Come on wild cat
I said it ain’t right letting you go When you know I’m needing you so No it ain’t right breaking my heart When you know you’re tearing me apart
I said it ain’t right letting you go When you know I’m needing you so No it ain’t right breaking my heart When you know you’re tearing me apart
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Song Info: (Let Me) Put My Spell On You
Written By: R. Greenaway/T. Macaulay
Length: 3:24
Notes: Released as a single on March 1, 1974 (b/w "Just Another Fish On My Hook)
Above: UK single releases (1st row) & German single releases (2nd row) Below: Portugal release (left) & Sweden release (center & right)
Translation of CBS-Blitzinformation cover text:
Merlin, a new group on the CBS label, had some success in England some time ago, but at that time still under the name Madrigal. The first disc she releases as Merlin is the single "(Let Me) Put My Spell On You", a production by the successful English team Roger Greenaway and T. Macaulay.
Lyrics:
(Official lyrics were never provided. My best-guess is below, with unknown or uncertain parts in brackets like [this].)
Love me now I got the power to make it good for me and you If you look into my eyes you know I do [Don’t play now] baby One little touch leads to another Let me be your [loving] man Come on, come on
Come on and take me You know you could make me For heaven’s sake please Let me put my spell on you (You know you want me to, let me put my spell on you)
Come one, come on yeah Come on and hold me (sha-la-la-la…) Baby you [sold me] I’m all hot and cold please Let me put my spell on you (Let me put my spell on you)
Can’t you feel the magic vibes electrify? [Burning you] from where you stand up to my side One little spark leads to a fire Tonight you are my one desire Come on, yeah, come on
Come on and take me (sha-la-la-la…) You know you could make me (sha-la-la-la…) For heaven’s sake please Let me put my spell on you (Let me put my spell on you)
Come on baby You know you like it (Let me put my spell on you) Oh don’t fight it baby (Let me put my spell on you) I think I’m gonna put my spell on you Oh come on (Let me put my spell on you) Come on, come on (Let me put my spell on you) Come on!
Come on and take me (sha-la-la-la…) You know you could make me (sha-la-la-la…) Come on and take me (sha-la-la-la…) You know you could make me (sha-la-la-la…) I said come on and take me (sha-la-la-la…) You know, you know you could make me (sha-la-la-la…) Come on baby and take me (sha-la-la-la…) You know you could make me now (sha-la-la-la…)
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Song Info: Alright
Written By: R. Cook/H. Flowers
Length: 3:38
Notes: Released as a single on June 28, 1974* (b/w “Pictures In My Mind”)
*Yugoslavia release dated from 1975
Above: UK single releases (1st row) & German single releases (2nd row) Below: Netherlands release (left) & Yugoslavia release (center & right)
Translation of CBS-Blitzinformation cover text:
After their last big hit "(Let Me) Put My Spell On You", the rock bards from England are stepping into the limelight with a new big rocker: "Alright", so short and sweet the title of this rock boogie, is exactly what the name suggests: Alright. No wonder that Radio-Luxembourg has long had power play for this number.
Videography:
A performance of "Alright" was recorded for TopPop, a Dutch pop music TV show. The clip was originally broadcasted on November 1, 1974.
This is the only known surviving video of Merlin performing.
youtube
Lyrics:
(Official lyrics were never provided. My best-guess is below, with unknown or uncertain parts in brackets like [this].)
Alright! Your daddy don’t dig, alright! Your mama don’t dig, alright! Your sister don’t dig, alright! You’re letting your people down
Your teacher don’t dig, alright! Your preacher don’t dig, alright! They call me a pig, alright! But you’re gonna stay with me Are you ready for me and my big bird?
We’re doing that windy highway We’re shooting it up Do you know where we’ll go? And my [fly is a tryer], she ain’t slow
We’re burning up gas and rubber We’re taking our boots and [speeding leather stuff] Well our company’s rough and I’m a dude in the race And I’m a face that ain’t no disgrace
Alright! You gotta home, alright! You better sit down, alright! You gotta hold on, alright! You wanna hold me so tight
‘cause you’re ready to blow, alright! You’re itching to go, alright! Your body said no, alright! You wanna go [skid] the track? Just so’s you can call yourself one of the pack
We’re doing that windy highway We’re shooting it up Do you know where we’ll go? And my [fly is a tryer], she ain’t slow
We’re burning up gas and rubber We’re taking our boots and [speeding leather stuff] Well our company’s rough and I’m a dude in the race And I’m a face that ain’t no disgrace
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Song Info: Sweet Sweet Cheatin' Rita
Written By: Stephens/Greenaway
Length: 4:07
Notes: Roger Greenaway first gave the song to Merlin, who released it on their LP in 1974. After Merlin disbanded Greenaway had Alvin Stardust record the track, which was released in 1975. The lyrics are more-or-less unchanged between the two versions.
Lyrics:
(Official lyrics were never provided. Lyrics below are taken from the Alvin Stardust release.)
She ain't a lady, but she's my baby, she gotta lotta soul I take her out to the local hop, 'cos she sure digs rock and roll She keeps me guessing She's always messing with guys who're twice my size To tell you the truth she's always telling me lies
She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita, you oughta meet her And I know, yes I know how much I need her, my cheatin' Rita She's my sweeeet, neat! Cheatin' Rita
I never take her and I don't blame her, she really turns me on But I don't care 'cos I'm well aware that she don't know right from wrong Who could be sweeter than cheatin' Rita, she makes me feel so good And I wouldn't change one hair on her head if I could
She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita, you oughta meet her And I know, yes I know how much I need her, my cheatin' Rita She's my sweeeet, neat! Cheatin' Rita
I never take her and I don't blame her, she really turns me on But I don't care 'cos I'm well aware that she don't know right from wrong Who could be sweeter than cheatin' Rita, she makes me feel so good And I wouldn't change one hair on her head if I could
She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita, you oughta meet her And I know, yes I know how much I need her, my cheatin' Rita She's my sweeeet, neat! Cheatin' Rita
A-cheat, cheat, a-cheatin' Rita A-cheat, cheat, a-cheatin' Rita A-cheat, cheat, a-cheatin' Rita A-cheat, cheat, a-cheatin'
She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita She's my sweet, sweet cheatin' Rita...
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Song Info: Marina
Written By: R. Webb
Length: 3:47
Lyrics:
(Official lyrics were never provided. My best-guess is below, with unknown or uncertain parts in brackets like [this].)
Hold my hand and we’ll reach the sky Don’t let go while you’re feeling high While you’re feeling high While you’re feeling high
Foreign lady, dressed in gold You wanna be a raver Well c’mon now And do whatever you’re told
Two men lover, [Bombay lover] I’m a rock’n’roll star Come and take me And look at the sky above
Hold my hand and we’ll reach the sky Don’t let go while you’re feeling high While you’re feeling high While you’re feeling high
Live in Chelsea, drive every car Big blue hairdo Come and take me And show me whoever you are
Foreign lady, dressed in gold You wanna be a raver Well c’mon now And do whatever you’re told
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Song Info: Look At Life
Written By: R. Cook
Length: 4:22
Lyrics:
(Official lyrics were never provided. My best-guess is below, with unknown or uncertain parts in brackets like [this].)
I stepped outside in the white light [?] All night long in the studio gone I was feeling tired
Red eyes burning and the night’s still turning Around inside my head When all of the [?], I got this crush She was standing right there On the sidewalk Looking at me
What a funny way to fall in love What a funny way lead my life What a funny day to see a dream Really it’s amazing when you look at life
Now suppose it is another day Maybe even in a different time Love may not have happened quite this way Really it’s amazing when you look at life Look at life
Isn’t it strange how nothing much more than a smile could change the world? You and I could’ve passed right by not a look between us All night long I was singing this song about loving that was going bad But who would’ve thought that the [cynical pomp] when the night was dying And me and my band Was homeward flying
What a funny way to fall in love What a funny way lead my life What a funny day to see a dream Really it’s amazing when you look at life
Now suppose it is another day Maybe even in a different time Love may not have happened quite this way Really it’s amazing when you look at life
What a funny way to fall in love What a funny way lead my life What a funny day to see a dream Really it’s amazing when you look at life
Now suppose it is another day Maybe even in a different time Love may not have happened quite this way Really it’s amazing when you look at life
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