THE TEMPERANCE SEVEN - “You’re Driving Me Crazy”
(27th May 1961)
Next time you find yourself cursing the radio as another band winds back the decades and nests cosily in music’s past, spare a thought for the Temperance Seven, who were retro before most of pop was even original. “You’re Driving Me Crazy” is a finely-judged, though rather stiff, pastiche of 1920s dance-band music - spoiled by “Whispering” Paul McDowell, whose insincere vocals on the chorus give the gag away too easily.
One of the strangest Number Ones - playing back my CDs the first time, I cursed and reached for the Guinness Book, convinced a slip of the mouse had put some forgotten period MP3 on the disc by mistake - this is also somehow one of the most prescient. The Temperance Seven were art school boys and “You’re Driving Me Crazy” is the first big meta-pop hit: deliberate, tongue-in-cheek commentary on pop via pop, the world of the dance orchestras pushed flippantly into the TV age. This way lies Roxy Music and Richard X - but it seems likely that the people buying the single bought it out of nostalgia as much as delight in its cleverness. So The Darkness beckon, too.
And now how does it sound? Now the music it refers to has slipped out of popular memory? Ignore the cynical singing and the playing is charming, tender even. But even at this distance the novelty outweighs the content. 5
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Chasbo Cox on December 11th, 2006
No no no! Yes they are a parody, but a very clever one…..and much more besides. Fantastic musicianship…..and a real feel for the lilt in authentic 20s jazz. I agree that PMcD’s vocals are the weakest element, but I guess his rather camp style was part of their appeal……..
Marcello Carlin on December 11th, 2006
The first number one single produced by George Martin.
alex balmforth on February 13th, 2007
Curious, I cannot listen to the Temperance mob on CD’s, it is only on vinyl that their ‘essence’ translates.
Keith W on March 21st, 2008
I think they get away with it. Mind you, I also think Bob Monkhouse gets away with it in the theme tune to You Rang, M’Lord?
rosie on July 27th, 2008
This kind of music hasn’t slipped out of popular memory but is continued by, amongst others, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. The PRO generally attract a good audience when they do the rounds of the provincial halls. I met their pianist, Simon Townley, once. Nice chap, turns up on Radio 4 from time to time.
DJ Punctum on July 28th, 2008
Also ought to mention that this directly paved the way for the likes of the Bonzos since they started out as essentially an art school bunch of Temperance Seven wannabes but later upped the Dadaist bar.
Alex McKenna on August 16th, 2008
As much as I liked the Temps, theis type of pastiche band always seems to miss the essence of 20s and early 30s bands - the rhythm. The syncopation. As an early reviewer - Jack Good? _ noted, his rare copy of “If I had a talking picture of you” by Alfredo’s Band on an 1930 Edison Bell Radio 8″ disc was far more lively and punchy than the 1962 Syncopators record on Decca 45rpm. The Decca record to me is obviously a repro antique- stiff, amusing maybe but not something you could get excited about. The Alfredo band was always a delight…