My friend Stuart gave me this single a couple of weeks ago, "Here, you'll like this" he said. Not only do I love it, but its been on my wants list for a little while now. I'm a sucker for children's television theme tunes from the 1970's and this piano instrumental song ,"The Automatic Camel" by Joshua (aka Joe Griffiths) was used as the backing tack for the music on the UK animated kids show, "Chorlton and the Wheelies", which ran for 40 episodes between 1976 and 1979. This type of music always reminds me of the more playful side of the Beatles, much like the whole Popsike genre. The b-side "Mr Cuffling's Cake-Walk" is equally as enjoyable as the flip.
From the 7" promo sleeve - Joe Griffiths?
I cant find a lot of information about Joe Griffiths, but the connection with producer Harold Franz links them to at least two more single releases under different names.
Independant Operator b/w Share My Caravan as Joe Griffiths (Philips 1970)
Love Is Love, Is Love b/w All You Have To Do Is Say Hello as Umbrella (RCA 1972)
...anyone heard these?
So, a bit of a fun tune for this Easter holiday. I hope you enjoy...
Dunno about Joe Griffiths either, but afterreading your post I found on Soulseek an LP by him on KPM (music library label like de Wolfe) called "A Child For All Ages" (1978) [KPM 1212].
Track Listing:
joe griffiths - 01 - whippersnapper strut.mp3 joe griffiths - 02 - a hippo called hubert.mp3 joe griffiths - 03 - big top.mp3 joe griffiths - 04 - reggie reggae.mp3 joe griffiths - 05 - don't stop now.mp3 joe griffiths - 06 - the swarm.mp3 joe griffiths - 07 - pecking orders.mp3 joe griffiths - 08 - tom & jerry (a).mp3 joe griffiths - 09 - tom & jerry (b).mp3 joe griffiths - 10 - the perils of pauline.mp3 joe griffiths - 11 - top dog.mp3 joe griffiths - 12 - tingles.mp3 joe griffiths - 13 - mock baroque.mp3 joe griffiths - 14 - swings & roundabouts.mp3 joe griffiths - 15 - purrfection.mp3 joe griffiths - 16 - the hump.mp3 joe griffiths - 17 - mumbo jumbo.mp3 joe griffiths - 18 - donkey cart.mp3 joe griffiths - 19 - summers green.mp3 joe griffiths - 20 - summer tranquility.mp3 joe griffiths - 21 - sweet dreams.mp3 joe griffiths - 22 - first love.mp3
The titles suggest this is the same guy. Listening to the first cuts now......definately the McCartney vibe, more Admiral Hawlsey-ish Wings than Beatles. Popville gives it a thumbs up! :)
Joe was part of the Tramshed Fundation, a music and comedy revue at the Tramshed Theatre, Woolwich during the 1970s and 1980s. Other Alumni included Hale & Pace (before they were famous). I have a self-released LP of the Fundation recorded on 8th July 1978 and featuring Joe with singer/comedienne Jane Lee and comedian Phil Skinner. I believe Joe also took part in some children's TV programmes about that time. According to the Movie Dude website, he appeared in the pilot episode of Regan in 1974. I am inclined to believe that the Joe Griffiths Popville mentions is the same.
Yes exactly as Phil says. Tramshed at Woolwich mid late 1970s. And his name was Joe or Joshua. The sleeve photo looks like him - slim build, beard, and Automatic Camel was def his theme tune - hearing it on your site has brought back those memories, thank you. He sat on a stool rocking back and forth as he played. As the audience got excited he played with increasing gusto, more pronounced hand movements,and greater stool rocking. That got the audience more excited .... and so on. Don't know anything else to help you though. The tramshed still exists GLYPT.co.uk.
Belles recherches sur Joe, ce maître incontestable de la mélodie captivante, du rythme addictif et de l'humour musical. J'ai eu l'immense chance de rencontrer Joe en 1983-1984 pendant mes études à Londres et j'ai suivi avec plaisir presque toutes les revues de Fondation au Tramshed Theatre...."Dont'stop now it's Fondation"... J'ajouterai que Joe jonglais sur tous les instruments. Il s'asseyait sur son tabouret et attaquait le généric au piano puis attrapait simultanément sa trompette, sa flute, la batterie, et tout ce qui composait la mélodie dont il pouvait être l'orchestree a lui seul !! Incroyable mélomane ! Auteur, compositeur, interprète il vivait à travers la musique qu'il jouait ou composait sous le regard attentif et approbateur de Corianda.
Dunno about Joe Griffiths either, but afterreading your post I found on Soulseek an LP by him on KPM (music library label like de Wolfe) called "A Child For All Ages" (1978) [KPM 1212].
ReplyDeleteTrack Listing:
joe griffiths - 01 - whippersnapper strut.mp3
joe griffiths - 02 - a hippo called hubert.mp3
joe griffiths - 03 - big top.mp3
joe griffiths - 04 - reggie reggae.mp3
joe griffiths - 05 - don't stop now.mp3
joe griffiths - 06 - the swarm.mp3
joe griffiths - 07 - pecking orders.mp3
joe griffiths - 08 - tom & jerry (a).mp3
joe griffiths - 09 - tom & jerry (b).mp3
joe griffiths - 10 - the perils of pauline.mp3
joe griffiths - 11 - top dog.mp3
joe griffiths - 12 - tingles.mp3
joe griffiths - 13 - mock baroque.mp3
joe griffiths - 14 - swings & roundabouts.mp3
joe griffiths - 15 - purrfection.mp3
joe griffiths - 16 - the hump.mp3
joe griffiths - 17 - mumbo jumbo.mp3
joe griffiths - 18 - donkey cart.mp3
joe griffiths - 19 - summers green.mp3
joe griffiths - 20 - summer tranquility.mp3
joe griffiths - 21 - sweet dreams.mp3
joe griffiths - 22 - first love.mp3
The titles suggest this is the same guy. Listening to the first cuts now......definately the McCartney vibe, more Admiral Hawlsey-ish Wings than Beatles. Popville gives it a thumbs up! :)
Cheers!
Good find Popville. I'll have to keep an eye out for this album. The titles do look very tempting!
ReplyDeleteJoe was part of the Tramshed Fundation, a music and comedy revue at the Tramshed Theatre, Woolwich during the 1970s and 1980s. Other Alumni included Hale & Pace (before they were famous). I have a self-released LP of the Fundation recorded on 8th July 1978 and featuring Joe with singer/comedienne Jane Lee and comedian Phil Skinner. I believe Joe also took part in some children's TV programmes about that time. According to the Movie Dude website, he appeared in the pilot episode of Regan in 1974. I am inclined to believe that the Joe Griffiths Popville mentions is the same.
ReplyDeleteYes exactly as Phil says. Tramshed at Woolwich mid late 1970s. And his name was Joe or Joshua. The sleeve photo looks like him - slim build, beard, and Automatic Camel was def his theme tune - hearing it on your site has brought back those memories, thank you. He sat on a stool rocking back and forth as he played. As the audience got excited he played with increasing gusto, more pronounced hand movements,and greater stool rocking. That got the audience more excited .... and so on. Don't know anything else to help you though. The tramshed still exists GLYPT.co.uk.
ReplyDeleteJoe (my uncle) and certainly still rocking and testing the structural integrity of piano stools with his enthusiastic style of playing.
ReplyDeleteBelles recherches sur Joe, ce maître incontestable de la mélodie captivante, du rythme addictif et de l'humour musical. J'ai eu l'immense chance de rencontrer Joe en 1983-1984 pendant mes études à Londres et j'ai suivi avec plaisir presque toutes les revues de Fondation au Tramshed Theatre...."Dont'stop now it's Fondation"... J'ajouterai que Joe jonglais sur tous les instruments. Il s'asseyait sur son tabouret et attaquait le généric au piano puis attrapait simultanément sa trompette, sa flute, la batterie, et tout ce qui composait la mélodie dont il pouvait être l'orchestree a lui seul !! Incroyable mélomane ! Auteur, compositeur, interprète il vivait à travers la musique qu'il jouait ou composait sous le regard attentif et approbateur de Corianda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie. I only remembered the piano, and had forgotten the other instruments.
ReplyDelete