Fabulous Poodles
The Fabulous Poodles were a British pre-New Wave band formed in 1975. Known for quirky stage antics, such as exploding ukuleles, as well as songs with funny lyrics.
History
The Fabulous Poodles started out just as the Poodles before adding the "Fabulous" prefix, a term reportedly coined by Frank Zappa. The band consisted of Tony De Meur on lead vocals and guitar, Richie Robertson on bass and vocals, Bobby Valentino on violin, mandolin and vocals, and Bryn Burrows on drums. Many of the lyrics for the bands songs were written by John Parsons.
The Fabulous Poodles were very heavily influenced by such British 60's acts as the Who and the Kinks. The band released three official records between 1977 and 1979 on Pye Records, their first being self named. It was produced by the Who's legendary bass player John Entwistle, who also played eight string bass on a few songs.[1] Their second LP, Unsuitable, featured their two best known songs, Mirror Star and Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back). In 1979 the Fabulous Poodles' final album, Think Pink was recorded and released, the title being the only lyrics to one of the songs, Pink City Twist. The Fabulous Poodles sold more records in the United States in 1979 than the Clash. In 1980 the Fabulous Poodles released their final single, Stompin' on the Cat b/w Anna Rexia and Don't You Lie To Me. The band broke up in 1980.
In the late 1970's the Fabulous Poodles embarked on an American tour supporting such notable acts as The Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Lead singer Tony De Meur now performs solo under the name Ronnie Golden.
Bryn Burrows later joined Freur and was in the original lineup of Underworld (band)
Discography
Fabulous Poodles (1977)
- The Ending (de Meur/Parsons/Valentino/Robertson/Burrows)
- Doctor (Bentley/Suffolk)
- Workshy (de Meur/Parsons)
- Bike Blood (de Meur/Parsons)
- Rum Baba Boogie (de Meur/Parsons)
- When the Summer's Thru (de Meur)
- Rosie Pink (de Meur/Parsons)
- Roll Your Own (Mel McDaniel)
- Pinball Pin Up (de Meur/Parsons)
- Mr. Mike (de Meur/Parsons/Robertson)
- Cherchez la Femme (de Meur/Parsons)
Unsuitable (1978)
- Mirror Star (de Meur/Parsons)
- Topless GoGo (de Meur/Parsons)
- Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back) (de Meur/Parsons)
- Oh Cheryl (de Meur/Parsons)
- Toy Town People (de Meur/Parsons)
- Convent Girls (de Meur/Parsons)
- "B" Movies (de Meur/Parsons/Valentino/Burrows/Robertson)
- Tit Photographer's Blues (de Meur/Parsons)
- Third Rate Romance (Smith)
- Mugs Game (de Meur/Parsons/Robertson)
- Suicide Bridge (de Meur/Parsons)
Mirror Star (1978)
This album was an American compilation of first two British records.
Think Pink! (1979)
- Man With Money (P. & D. Everly)
- Bionic Man (de Meur/Parsons)
- Any Port in a Storm (de Meur/Burrows)
- (Hollywood) Dragnet (de Meur)
- Bike Blood (de Meur/Parsons)
- Cossack Cowboy (de Meur/Parsons)
- Anna Rexia (de Meur)
- You Wouldn't Listen (de Meur)
- Suicide Bridge (de Meur/Parsons)
- Pink City Twist (de Meur/Valentino)
- Vampire Rock (de Meur/Parsons)
His Master's Choice 1995
This is a compact disc personal best-of compilation
- Mirror Star
- Workshy
- Bionic Man
- "B" Movies
- Toy Town People
- Pinball Pin Up
- You Wouldn't Listen
- Stompin`On the Cat
- Mr. Mike
- Cherchez La Femme
- Talkin` Trash
- Rum Baba Boogie
- When the Summer's Thru
- Rosie Pink
- Man With Money
- Bike Blood
- Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)
- Anna Rexia
- Suicide Bridge
- Pink City Twist
- Vampire Rock
A bootleg live album recorded in Hempstead, New York in 1979 entitled Radio Stars has also been circulating around collector's circles for a few years.
Personnel
- Tony De Meur - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
- Richie Robertson - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
- Bobby Valentino - Violin, Mandolin, Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Bryn Burrows - Drum, Percussion