3×CD Box Set (Grapefruit / London, 2022)
Disc One – Pop Art, Bubblegum & Early‑70s Glitter Roots
Disc One dives into the colourful, quirky and hook‑laden world of early‑70s British pop. Expect bubblegum stompers, novelty‑tinged gems, glam‑leaning pre‑hits and songwriter‑driven pop craftsmanship.
Highlights include:
• Lynsey De Paul’s sugary pop sparkle
• Gilbert O’Sullivan’s melodic singer‑songwriter charm
• Marmalade, White Plains and Christie delivering polished radio‑friendly hits
• Early glam‑adjacent cuts from The Sweet and Stamford Bridge
• A mix of bubblegum, novelty pop, blue‑eyed soul and sunshine‑pop curios
Disc Two – Beat‑Pop, Pub‑Rock, Novelty & Early Glam
Disc Two shifts into a more eclectic mix: beat‑group revivalism, pub‑rock grit, novelty smashes, proto‑glam and early‑70s chart‑friendly rock.
Expect:
• Slade’s unmistakable stomp
• Judge Dread’s cheeky reggae‑pop crossover
• Middle Of The Road’s Europop brightness
• Tremeloes‑style harmony pop
• Folk‑pop, soft‑rock and quirky one‑off singles
• A blend of upbeat pop, glam‑leaning rockers and left‑field curios from the era’s smaller labels
Disc Three – Glam‑Pop, Psych‑Pop Echoes & Oddball Treasures
Disc Three brings the most adventurous mix: glam‑pop energy, psychedelic hangovers, novelty hits, and cult favourites.
Includes:
• The Pipkins’ bubblegum classic “Gimme Dat Ding”
• Bay City Rollers in their early pop‑rock phase
• Deep Feeling, Velvet Opera and Fairfield Parlour adding psych‑pop depth
• Hotlegs (pre‑10cc) with inventive art‑pop
• Lieutenant Pigeon’s cult hit “Mouldy Old Dough”
• A colourful sweep of glam, psych‑pop, novelty rock and melodic oddities
Overall Summary
Across three discs, the set captures the full technicolour spectrum of the British Pop Explosion — bubblegum, glam roots, novelty pop, beat‑group revival, sunshine pop, psych‑pop remnants and early‑70s chart rock.
It’s a collector‑grade deep‑dive into the labels, writers and studio teams who shaped the era’s most playful and inventive singles.
