Album review: THE FIRST CLASS – Beach Baby – The Complete Recordings (3 CD set)

Cherry Red [release date: 27.01.23]

1974, and the first pop single to be written by Shakespeare, ‘Beach Baby’, breaks into the US and UK charts.

John Carter (not that one) was born John Shakespeare. A singer, songwriter and producer who wrote and produced a multiplicity of hit singles in a variety of guises, in the sixties and seventies.

This was the era where many bands, often of the one hit wonder type, were assembled from the ranks of session and backing singers, generally as an outlet for prolific songwriters like Carter. The First Class was one such band.

The First Class’s breakthrough hit was ‘Beach Baby’, going to no.13 in the UK Top Forty charts and no.4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It was a study in sophisticated pop immediacy. A mini concerto, constructed from brass, strings and harmony vocals, modeled on US surfing music, fronted by session singer Tony Burrows.

It made you want to tap your feet, nod your head, singalong. It was the definition of feelgood popular music, capturing a sense of nostalgia for a time that was only a decade old. For 5 minutes and 10 seconds, Carter challenged the creative dominance of his peers, he was up there with artists like Brian Wilson and Jeff Lynne.

CD1 is the self titled debut album in its entirety, plus 10 bonus tracks including both the full length single version, and the radio edit version of ‘Beach Baby’.

CD2 is the 1976 follow up album, SST, again with many, many bonus tracks. This album didn’t sell so well. The problem with having a blinding light of a hit single is that almost always, everything thereafter seems dull in comparison. Even if there is a bunch of quality material on show.

Meanwhile, beavering away in the background, Carter had made significant contact in the prosperous world of advertising. His ear for a catchy tune, and a hook that works fast, had got him noticed.

CD3 includes some 16 jingles written and recorded by Carter and his team for such well known brands as British Caledonia, Singer Sewing Machine, Kit E Kat Munchies, Birdseye, Silvikrin Shampoo, Right Guard Deodorant, Vauxhall cars and many more.

You might think “Why would I want to buy a CD of TV adverts?” Truth is, that third CD truly is the sound of an era. This is where the real life nostalgia is. People of a certain age will find themselves singing along. And when you do, remember this was the guy who gave us ‘Beach Baby’, a classic pop single, one of the best of the seventies, and for that matter, of any decade.

Cherry Red recognise Carter’s contribution to Pop Culture by including a brand new, 5000 word essay, which chronicles his life and times as a genre brand leader. *****

Review by Brian McGowan

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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)