Comments on: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/ Lollards in the high church of low culture Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:38:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Glenn http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-440816 Glenn Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:53 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-440816 In response to Alan Pennington on January 16th, 2008: there exists a photo of Lally Stott in the studio with Middle of the Road when they were recording "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep". It's on Middle of the Road's web site. So he clearly had input into their version of his song. Thanks for your personal account of Stott's life. I much prefer the Mac and Katy Kissoon version, but then I am American and they had the hit here. But just objectively it's a marvelous, driving, percussion-filled production that is a little masterpiece all unto itself - a very well-made and well-performed record that creates a lot of excitement in the listener, tinged with the haunting sadness - and scariness - of the lyric. In response to Alan Pennington on January 16th, 2008:
there exists a photo of Lally Stott in the studio with Middle of the Road when they were recording “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep”. It’s on Middle of the Road’s web site. So he clearly had input into their version of his song.

Thanks for your personal account of Stott’s life.

I much prefer the Mac and Katy Kissoon version, but then I am American and they had the hit here. But just objectively it’s a marvelous, driving, percussion-filled production that is a little masterpiece all unto itself - a very well-made and well-performed record that creates a lot of excitement in the listener, tinged with the haunting sadness - and scariness - of the lyric.

]]> By: wichita lineman http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-422572 wichita lineman Sat, 17 May 2008 12:14:11 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-422572 I remember J Saville always comparing this lot to Abba - cos they had a run of number Euro number ones and a blonde haired singer, I guess. Came and went sharpish in England but Marcello I'm intrigued by these Scottish charts. Were they published anywhere? Quick look at the Norwegian chart book reveals CCCC was no.1 for 12 weeks, Soley Soley for 7 and Sacramento for 9! Bigger than Abba (well, for a bit) who only ever managed two no.1s in Frida's homeland. No.2 watch: Hurricane Smith's Don't Let It Die - first eco hit? No.4 watch: John Kongos's He's Gonna Step On You Again was the first drum loop on a hit record, and still sounds dark and thrilling. I remember J Saville always comparing this lot to Abba - cos they had a run of number Euro number ones and a blonde haired singer, I guess. Came and went sharpish in England but Marcello I’m intrigued by these Scottish charts. Were they published anywhere?

Quick look at the Norwegian chart book reveals CCCC was no.1 for 12 weeks, Soley Soley for 7 and Sacramento for 9! Bigger than Abba (well, for a bit) who only ever managed two no.1s in Frida’s homeland.

No.2 watch: Hurricane Smith’s Don’t Let It Die - first eco hit?

No.4 watch: John Kongos’s He’s Gonna Step On You Again was the first drum loop on a hit record, and still sounds dark and thrilling.

]]> By: Mark G http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367605 Mark G Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:18:00 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367605 Heh, that'd probably be worth 3p to the writer. And in these d/l times, songs do actually move up the charts once again! Heh, that’d probably be worth 3p to the writer. And in these d/l times, songs do actually move up the charts once again!

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367600 Marcello Carlin Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:11:53 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367600 On the Radio Clyde Tartan Thirty show they used the "going up, going up, going up <i>up</i> <b>UP</b>" bit as a jingle to indicate that a record was, erm, going up the chart. On the Radio Clyde Tartan Thirty show they used the “going up, going up, going up up UP” bit as a jingle to indicate that a record was, erm, going up the chart.

]]> By: Mark G http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367599 Mark G Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:08:13 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367599 I remember that one. 43? Blimey, I'd have thought it was higher. Then again, all those "First Choice" type singers went the way round about then. I remember that one. 43? Blimey, I’d have thought it was higher. Then again, all those “First Choice” type singers went the way round about then.

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367586 Marcello Carlin Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:46:39 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367586 Again, not quite the case; the Sweet Dreams version charted in July '74, three months after "Waterloo." Sweet Dreams were in fact a very controversial duo; one of them was ex-Pickettywitch singer Polly Brown who blacked up for photos and TV appearances since we weren't supposed to know it was her. The record still went top ten but there was a huge outcry about the blacking up and it pretty much killed Polly's career stone dead; witness the brilliant "Up In A Puff Of Smoke" which came out under her own name three months later and petered out after peaking at #43. Again, not quite the case; the Sweet Dreams version charted in July ‘74, three months after “Waterloo.”

Sweet Dreams were in fact a very controversial duo; one of them was ex-Pickettywitch singer Polly Brown who blacked up for photos and TV appearances since we weren’t supposed to know it was her. The record still went top ten but there was a huge outcry about the blacking up and it pretty much killed Polly’s career stone dead; witness the brilliant “Up In A Puff Of Smoke” which came out under her own name three months later and petered out after peaking at #43.

]]> By: Mark G http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367571 Mark G Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:07:37 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367571 ah, soz, it was the now forgotten "Sweet Dreams"... They were another duo, sort of. As in, the guy sang no backing vocals and took the lead vocal for the middle eight, twice. "Honey Honey" was the song. T'was a hit before Abba etc... ah, soz, it was the now forgotten “Sweet Dreams”…

They were another duo, sort of. As in, the guy sang no backing vocals and took the lead vocal for the middle eight, twice.

“Honey Honey” was the song. T’was a hit before Abba etc…

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367549 Marcello Carlin Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:11:27 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367549 Incorrect. Their first hit single after their cover of "CCCC" was "Sugar Candy Kisses" in January 1975, which was not only not written by Abba (it was another Bickerton/Waddington production) but charted nine months after "Waterloo." Incorrect. Their first hit single after their cover of “CCCC” was “Sugar Candy Kisses” in January 1975, which was not only not written by Abba (it was another Bickerton/Waddington production) but charted nine months after “Waterloo.”

]]> By: Mark G http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367227 Mark G Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:16:07 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367227 and Mac and Katie kissoon had a hit in the UK with an Abba song, before Abba had even had any! (Hits in the UK, that is) and Mac and Katie kissoon had a hit in the UK with an Abba song, before Abba had even had any! (Hits in the UK, that is)

]]> By: Alan Pennington http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367155 Alan Pennington Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:27:18 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-367155 In reply to "bramble" November 2006. I Knew Lally Stott having lived only a few miles away from him in St.Helens Merseyside, he came from Shore Lane Prescot between St.Helens & Liverpool. Lally went living in Italy and became a big pop star there and married the daughter of a high ranking official, possibly the head of the milatary forces,Lally had a massive hit with Chirpy in Italy but his was a much slower version. He then divorced and returned to England and lived with his mother in Prescot. He bought himself a Jaguar but on that fateful day he borrowed his mothers moped to quickly go on an errand to Prescot and was knocked off the moped and killed. The biography of Middle of the Road group going to Italy and recording the song sounds feasable considering the writer Lally was living there at the time. However, to my knowledge he never owned or rode a Harley Davidson, he was not really into motor bikes so I don't think the story about him being killed on a Harley is correct, thinking about it,in those days you could ride a moped with "L" plates using a car licence, you only needed a motor bike one for anything over 250cc at that time. In reply to “bramble” November 2006.
I Knew Lally Stott having lived only a few miles away from him in St.Helens Merseyside, he came from Shore Lane Prescot between St.Helens & Liverpool. Lally went living in Italy and became a big pop star there and married the daughter of a high ranking official, possibly the head of the milatary forces,Lally had a massive hit with Chirpy in Italy but his was a much slower version. He then divorced and returned to England and lived with his mother in Prescot. He bought himself a Jaguar but on that fateful day he borrowed his mothers moped to quickly go on an errand to Prescot and was knocked off the moped and killed. The biography of Middle of the Road group going to Italy and recording the song sounds feasable considering the writer Lally was living there at the time. However, to my knowledge he never owned or rode a Harley Davidson, he was not really into motor bikes so I don’t think the story about him being killed on a Harley is correct, thinking about it,in those days you could ride a moped with “L” plates using a car licence, you only needed a motor bike one for anything over 250cc at that time.

]]> By: johnnyf http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-271278 johnnyf Sun, 13 May 2007 22:12:16 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-271278 What are the thoughts of the Mac and Katie kissoon version>thatwas the hit in the US! What are the thoughts of the Mac and Katie kissoon version>thatwas the hit in the US!

]]> By: CarsmileSteve http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-214016 CarsmileSteve Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:49:05 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-214016 <i>But still, this is such a great tune it’s at least a 7 in any version not sung by barking dogs.</i> clearly the barking dogs version would be a 10? But still, this is such a great tune it’s at least a 7 in any version not sung by barking dogs.

clearly the barking dogs version would be a 10?

]]> By: BabyBoomer1960 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-213993 BabyBoomer1960 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:52:14 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-213993 This song was all over the AM airwaves when I was a child, right about the time when the Viet Nam conflict had reach it's boiling point and divided America into two camps. That bit said, there's been so many covers recorded and quite a few in foreign languages, Mickie Krause's German dance mix Riesse Die Hutte Ab to name in particular. As said above, a catchy little tune yet to appear in a TV commercial to sell soft drinks or personal computers.-Post Script: Harold (Lally) Stott did release a quirky B/W video to this song, it's posted on YouTube and worth a peek. Yes, Middle Of The Road had their own version available on that site as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jZG-UugBrw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BOcTVHmq_k This song was all over the AM airwaves when I was a child, right about the time when the Viet Nam conflict had reach it’s boiling point and divided America into two camps. That bit said, there’s been so many covers recorded and quite a few in foreign languages, Mickie Krause’s German dance mix Riesse Die Hutte Ab to name in particular. As said above, a catchy little tune yet to appear in a TV commercial to sell soft drinks or personal computers.-Post Script: Harold (Lally) Stott did release a quirky B/W video to this song, it’s posted on YouTube and worth a peek. Yes, Middle Of The Road had their own version available on that site as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jZG-UugBrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BOcTVHmq_k

]]> By: koganbot http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-213955 koganbot Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:54:09 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-213955 OK, first heard this song not in this version but in a mix-and-match dance remix on a cheap cassette out of Singapore. Vastly better; hearing it, you'd realize what a fundamentally great song it is. Probably wasn't actually recorded/mixed in Singapore but in Italy or Germany, which is where the East Beat Singapore pirates pulled a lot of their material; in fact, I think the draggy old Middle Of The Road's version was <i>also</i> recorded in Italy. Anyway, Tom, just want you to know there's an amazing version out there, unfortunately I don't know whom by. This is terrible compared to that one - no wonder Mama's gone. She's bored. But still, this is such a great tune it's at least a 7 in <i>any</i> version not sung by barking dogs. Also, the disparity between word and melody is truly bizarre. OK, first heard this song not in this version but in a mix-and-match dance remix on a cheap cassette out of Singapore. Vastly better; hearing it, you’d realize what a fundamentally great song it is. Probably wasn’t actually recorded/mixed in Singapore but in Italy or Germany, which is where the East Beat Singapore pirates pulled a lot of their material; in fact, I think the draggy old Middle Of The Road’s version was also recorded in Italy. Anyway, Tom, just want you to know there’s an amazing version out there, unfortunately I don’t know whom by. This is terrible compared to that one - no wonder Mama’s gone. She’s bored. But still, this is such a great tune it’s at least a 7 in any version not sung by barking dogs. Also, the disparity between word and melody is truly bizarre.

]]> By: david b http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-121446 david b Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:45:31 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-121446 Re Denim's quoting of CCCC, P J Harvey doing the same even more wrackingly at the end of the Robert Wyatt-esque "Nina in Ecstacy" Re Denim’s quoting of CCCC, P J Harvey doing the same even more wrackingly at the end of the Robert Wyatt-esque “Nina in Ecstacy”

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-92500 Marcello Carlin Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:40:58 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-92500 Best bit is Ken Andrews' deadpan cymbal on every fourth beat of the chorus! Best bit is Ken Andrews’ deadpan cymbal on every fourth beat of the chorus!

]]> By: mike http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-91757 mike Sun, 26 Nov 2006 23:41:52 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-91757 As this was the single which got me properly into "following the charts", it will always hold a special place in my heart ("Knock Three Times" occupying the John The Baptist slot). Best bits: Sally Carr's interjections between each repetition of the chorus during the outro. ("Let's go now!" "All together now!" "One more time now!" "LemmehearyouallSINGINnow!"... oh OK, maybe you had to be very young.) Lally Stott (yes, male) had a solo album out later in 1971, as I recall from a half-remembered full-page review in <i>Target</i>... As this was the single which got me properly into “following the charts”, it will always hold a special place in my heart (”Knock Three Times” occupying the John The Baptist slot). Best bits: Sally Carr’s interjections between each repetition of the chorus during the outro. (”Let’s go now!” “All together now!” “One more time now!” “LemmehearyouallSINGINnow!”… oh OK, maybe you had to be very young.) Lally Stott (yes, male) had a solo album out later in 1971, as I recall from a half-remembered full-page review in Target…

]]> By: Doctor Casino http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87668 Doctor Casino Fri, 24 Nov 2006 19:01:54 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87668 Huh. This pretty harmless as these things go. Catchy enough. Keep hearing "The Locomotion" in the verses. I do have to admit that each one of these minor bubblegum hits does make me appreciate Tom's take on "Sugar, Sugar" more - the Archies still bug me, but I'm starting to yearn for that layering-up of elements and hooks. Here we just get them in steady alternation without any variation in arrangement or timbre. Good, could be better. Huh. This pretty harmless as these things go. Catchy enough. Keep hearing “The Locomotion” in the verses. I do have to admit that each one of these minor bubblegum hits does make me appreciate Tom’s take on “Sugar, Sugar” more - the Archies still bug me, but I’m starting to yearn for that layering-up of elements and hooks. Here we just get them in steady alternation without any variation in arrangement or timbre. Good, could be better.

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87565 Marcello Carlin Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:53:33 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87565 And future Teardrop Explodes trumpeter to boot! "Oh Babe What Would You Say" was bizarrely a US number one in '72 (number four here). And future Teardrop Explodes trumpeter to boot!

“Oh Babe What Would You Say” was bizarrely a US number one in ‘72 (number four here).

]]> By: Dadaismus http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87433 Dadaismus Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:40:51 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87433 Hurricane Smith, now yer talkin'! Hurricane Smith, now yer talkin’!

]]> By: Erithian http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87415 Erithian Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:29:57 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-87415 Number 2 Watch: a motley collection of songs stalled at 2 while Middle of the Road were at the top. “I Did What I Did For Maria”, Tony Christie’s biggest hit pre-Peter Kay; “Don’t Let It Die” by Hurricane Smith (former Pink Floyd sound engineer, bizarrely enough) and “Co-Co”, the first of the Sweet’s five Number 2s. Number 2 Watch: a motley collection of songs stalled at 2 while Middle of the Road were at the top. “I Did What I Did For Maria”, Tony Christie’s biggest hit pre-Peter Kay; “Don’t Let It Die” by Hurricane Smith (former Pink Floyd sound engineer, bizarrely enough) and “Co-Co”, the first of the Sweet’s five Number 2s.

]]> By: Erithian http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82657 Erithian Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:53:41 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82657 Can someone confirm the Harold Stott/Harley story? Must say I always thought this was awful, and the band did have smaller hits with better songs (“Soley Soley”, “Tweedledee Tweedledum” – well, relatively better). Mainly, though, this brings to mind the image of TOTP dancers doing that archetypal early 70s dance best described as “trying to break out of an invisible bubble” – the one that all the dolly birds were doing in that club George Best strode into to fill the stack of champagne glasses in the clip included in every obituary. (a year ago this weekend. R.I.P.) Can someone confirm the Harold Stott/Harley story?

Must say I always thought this was awful, and the band did have smaller hits with better songs (“Soley Soley”, “Tweedledee Tweedledum” – well, relatively better). Mainly, though, this brings to mind the image of TOTP dancers doing that archetypal early 70s dance best described as “trying to break out of an invisible bubble” – the one that all the dolly birds were doing in that club George Best strode into to fill the stack of champagne glasses in the clip included in every obituary. (a year ago this weekend. R.I.P.)

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82598 Marcello Carlin Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:28:08 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82598 Oh right, that's what it means. Obviously punishment for the impetuous request: "Lend me a fiver, I'll bring you back a spare one." Oh right, that’s what it means. Obviously punishment for the impetuous request: “Lend me a fiver, I’ll bring you back a spare one.”

]]> By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82590 Marcello Carlin Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:25:17 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82590 What the bleep is "fragging"? What the bleep is “fragging”?

]]> By: pˆnk s lord sükråt cunctør http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82508 pˆnk s lord sükråt cunctør Wed, 22 Nov 2006 11:48:21 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2006/11/middle-of-the-road-chirpy-chirpy-cheep-cheep/#comment-82508 it is a euphemism for fragging! it is a euphemism for fragging!

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