'World's first backward playing record' screams the sleeve of this 7" single, and with that, the subliminal message 'novelty item'. An irresistible thing for me, as I have more than 5000 7" singles, but all of them play from the outside in - and this one promised plays from the inside outwards. At least, the A-side does: the record company was wise enough to also include the same track on the B-side with a 'normal' groove. Most record players won't let you play from the centre, as they pick up the needle automatically when the centre is reached.So is this the only interesting thing about this single? Indeed it is: Freda Gothenburg is not a good singer and the song isn't very much cop at all. I guess the record company thought that this would be the only thing to sell this particular track: a record that plays from the centre outwards.
See it in action in this video:
My collection: 7" single no. 5208
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Like a dream' / 'Like a dream'
Hello
ReplyDeleteI am/was Freda. It was a blast making this record and I reserved my 'good' singing for the session work I did. Anyway, I'm glad it's collectible, even if it doesn't have listen appeal!
Yours
Freda
Hi Freda. If you get this message I'd be grateful if you would contact me. I'd like to ask you some questions about Like a Dream for my own blog. Please drop me a line at dwbullock@sky.com. Thanks!
Delete'Freda Gothenburg is not a good singer' - please qualify: what gives you that impression? Nothing that I notice.
ReplyDeleteWell if even Freda herself says she reserved her good singing for session work, who am I to disagree? Perhaps the sentence was a bit crude but I think the overpronounced singing was a bit of a caricature. If it was a deliberate thing it was probably well done, but the music on this single did not appeal to me. At all.
ReplyDelete