Kursaal Flyers were an integral element of the 'Thames Delta' music scene emerging from the late 60s clubs into the bright lights of the 1970s pop world. Alongside contemporaries, and in some cases old schoolmates, in bands such as Dr Feelgood and Eddie & The Hot Rods, the Kursaal Flyers (named after a Southend amusement park carnival float) were a regular fixture on the Pub Rock and College circuit of 70s Britain. Their sound was more diverse than their R&B contemporaries. Being influenced by American Country Rock, the band included banjo and pedal steel guitar as fixtures in their musical oeuvre. They toured Europe with The Flying Burrito Brothers. The Kursaals were also notable for a wry observational sense of humour which the band's songwriters, Will Birch and Graeme Douglas, regularly injected into the material. Complemented by the chameleon-like vocal styles employed by front man Paul Shuttleworth. Disc One contains the two complete albums made for Jonathan King's UK Records label in 1975, "Chocs Away" and "The Great Artiste". Presented in a gatefold wallet to show the original artwork for both of the original LPs, these are the greatly enhanced remixed versions from 1991. Disc Two has their first CBS album from 1976,"Golden Mile", produced by Mike Batt, including both versions of their hit single Little Does She Know, the single edit, and the 'kitchen sink' LP version which come on like the 1812 Overture involving as they do the London Symphony Orchestra. Plus the non LP A+B-sides, and an unreleased track The Questionnaire. Disc 3 has their live album recorded at The Marquee, "Five Live Kursaals" released by CBS in 1977. As live albums tend to do, these recordings highlight how the band truly were on stage, a highly energetic rock band with a raw sound belying their country roots. A particular image in the booklet gives further rise to their mood depicting the moment Paul would smash up TV sets on stage with an axe (in an homage to The Move). Plus three tracks which were unreleased at the time, from recording sessions with Muff Winwood aimed at a second CBS studio LP which was never finalised. Disc 4 is their third studio LP, "A Former Tour de Force Is Forced To Tour" recorded in 1988 and exhibits a very strong country rock groove, which would not be out of place if released to today's Americana market. The bonus tracks include a four song 1975 countryfied radio session, and a 1975 live recording in Southend of Route 66 which is interestingly somewhere between Bobby Troup's nightclub jazz original and Chuck Berry's RnB version. This is the first time the complete recordings have been compiled together, all digitally remastered. Packaged in individual wallets, with a 24 page booklet that includes an essay on the band's history written by music writer and band member Will Birch. Photos and memorabilia are from the archives of Will Birch and fellow band member Richie Bull.
1. Pocket Money 2. Hit Records 3. Kung Fu 4. Tennessee 5. Chocs Away 6. Speedway 7. Brakeman 8. Now I'm Back 9. Yellow Sox 10. Silver Wings 11. Cross Country 12. Ugly Guys 13. The Great Artiste 14. Fall Like the Rain 15. Cruisin' for Love 16. Back to the Book 17. Palais de Danse 18. Pain and Misery 19. Hypochondriac 20. Television 21. Drinking Alone 22. Little Does She Know 23. One Arm Bandit 24. Drinking Socially 25. Two Left Feet 26. Modern Lovers 27. Street of the Music 28. Radio Romance 29. When the Band's on the Stand 30. Detroit Tin 31. Third Finger Left Hand 32. Ready to Go 33. Little Does She Know (Edit) 34. Girl Talk 35. The Questionnaire 36. The Sky's Falling in on Our Love 37. Revolver 38. Original Model 39. Yellow Sox 40. Pocket Money 41. Cruisin' for Love 42. The Sky's Falling in on Our Love 43. Little Does She Know 44. Street of the Music 45. TV Dinners 46. Speedway 47. Revolver 48. On My Mind 49. Anna (Go to Him) 50. Friday on My Mind 51. Television Generation 52. Girlfriend Kinda Girl 53. Everything But a Heartbeat 54. Girls That Don't Exist 55. If You Would Only Talk to Me (Like You Talk to the Dog) 56. Pre-Madonna 57. Tonight Before Tonight 58. Man in Mohair 59. A Former Tour de Force Is Forced to Tour 60. Luxury Lane 61. My Sugar Turns to Alcohol 62. Paranoid Weekend 63. Old Men Need Some Lovin' Too 64. Monster-In-Law 65. Cruisin' for Love (Remake) 66. Slimmin' (For the Women) 67. Walking to School 68. Route 66 (Live) 69. Tennessee (Radio Session) 70. Foggy Mountain Breakdown 71. (Radio Session) 72. Yellow Sox (Radio Session) 73. Route 66 (Radio Session)
