Nick Frater is someone who has been on here regularly via his solo albums. Here you get much more because the list of guest artists reads like a party at I Don't Hear A Single. Rather than take up all the writing space namechecking them here, I will post the list at the end of the review and you will see what I mean.
This isn't a tribute to The Beatles, but a tribute to that other world bothering band, The Rutles and this isn't a covers album. These are 11 original songs. The first Rebutles album covered the band's imagined solo years, now we get the band's rarities from the 1967 - 1970 period.
All of the songs were recorded using instruments and recording methods from the period and written by Frater. Anything by the Croydon musician is always totally melodic and catchy and here the mix of vocalists is particularly splendid.
It is deliberately akin to both fab fours and loyal to the period, particularly the magnificent The Devil You Know and in true Rutles fashion the material is great pastiche, but the songs stand up in their own right beautifully. For instance you don't have to be in Mensa to realise what Loose Tea In Disguise is aimed at.
Don't Play The Fool is part great McCartney Piano Pop, but also stands up in comparison to those great 70s Pop Rock albums. Back In The Unicorn Inn is obviously aimed at the USSR song, but it also sounds very Harrison and is also very Bop Shoo Wop.
I could go on, but so many of you are Beatles fans that you will immediately get the references, indeed novices would too. There is also plenty of faithful references to The Rutles, particularly involving Tea. Indeed Frater takes the Innes role and cracks it with the mixture of melody and wit.
Many of you know how I don't "get" tribute albums in most shapes or forms, this isn't that. Also many albums laden in with can be one joke, this isn't that either. There is a real warmth in the arrangements, just like the band they acknowledge managed. The album is both heartwarming and great Pop and you really can't ask for more than that.
You can listen to and buy the album here.
The Cast :
Nick Frater - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, Anvil
Kirkcaldy McKensie - Vocals
Ivan Clare - Vocals
Luke Smith - Vocals, Guitar
Jake Smith - Vocals, Guitar
Peter Watts - Vocals, Guitar
Joe Kane - Vocals, Guitar, Tapes, Fire Bell
Jamie Whelligan - Vocals, Bass
Chris Mulligan - Bass
Andy Pickering - Keys
Andy Thompson - Mellotron
Joe Montague - Drums
Chris Twomey - Backing Vocals
Scott Robertson - Backing Vocals
Kevin Robertson - Backing Vocals
Ross Palmer - Recorder
Scott Gagner - Psychedelic breakfast
Michael Simmons - Bass harmonica
Simon Love - Percussion
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