Album review: THE FLEUR DE LYS – Circles: The Ultimate

Countdown Records / Acid Jazz [Release date 26.3.21]

Formed in Southampton in 1964, The Fleur De Lys had an ever-changing line up during their short lifetime, the mainstay being drummer Keith Guster who has assisted with this new 25 track set. It includes all of the collectible singles released for Immediate, Polydor and Atlantic, along with plenty more besides, ranging in style from R&B through freakbeat, psych, and back into club soul.

Their early set list consisted of R&B and soul standards. Signed by Immediate Records, Gordon Haskell had joined on bass in time for their second single in 1966. This was a superb version of The Who’s ‘Circles’, a freakbeat anthem which featured a wild distorted solo courtesy of Phil Sawyer. The gutsy ‘So Come On’ comfortably sits alongside the best output by better known groups of the era such as The Action and The Creation.

Sawyer departed for the Shotgun Express (and later the Spencer Davis Group) and was replaced by Bryn Haworth. His influence was immediately felt on the organ-drenched B-side ‘Hold On’, released under the Rupert’s People moniker. The opening bars of ‘Gong With The Luminous Nose’, which features Haskell on vocals, were clearly purloined by Paul Weller for ‘Sunflower’!

After Haskell’s departure, the band became the first British band to sign Atlantic (Led Zeppelin being the second!) and released the infectious blue-eyed soul number ‘Stop Crossing The Bridge’.

Of the rarer tracks here, the demo of ‘Love Them All’ (co-written by John Bromley and Graham Dee) suggests this could have been a hit single had it been fully realised. There are also a couple of choice covers alongside the original material – Buddy Holly’s ‘Moondreams’ and ‘I’ve Been Trying’ by The Impressions – as well as tracks recorded with songstress Sharon Tandy. The powerful ‘Liar’ was one of the final releases associated with the band, who fizzled out later in 1969.

Compiled by Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland, the story of the Fleur De Lys is thoroughly annotated by Paul ‘Smiler’ Anderson in a booklet which also includes several photographs and images of the original 7” singles. ****

Review by Jim Henderson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)