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Very much a vehicle for cult figure David Kubinek, aka Kubie. Kubinec had been a leading light of the World of Oz, a pop psych band who released a highly regarded album on Deram in 1969. He'd also been signed to Motown and he later had a solo album on A&M produced by John Cale. A talented original writer capable of beautiful tunes, haunting lyrics, though obsessed with despair, drink, drugs.
The Rats album was a collection of Kubinec songs recorded by producer Adrian Millar with musicians brought in for the job. Adrian Millar had a history in the studio going back to engineering for Joe Meek, and by the 70's was partner in several production enterprises with Andrew Loog Oldham, of which The Rats was one. (Millar's next move after The Rats was to put together another group of musicians to form the Babys.)
With only one single to their credit, the Rats were forgotten until they and that single, "Turtle Dove," were excavated for RPM's junk-shop glam rock Boobs -- and a few years later, RPM put out First Long Play Record, the first time a full-length Rats record ever surfaced. Appropriately for a band that barely existed in the charts, the Rats weren't so much a real group as a project, fronted by David Kubinec and produced by ex-Joe Meek engineer Adrian Millar.
They were meant to ride the glitter wave, so it's not much surprise that they sounded like a blend of T. Rex and the Sweet, two of the biggest bands in the style, and that kind of unapologetic theft is part of the pleasure here.
Glam and glitter always sounded better when they were trash, and what's trashier than stealing from other bands? But the Rats stole with style, crafting a bunch of really intoxicating pop along the way, including the boogie of "L.A. Highway" and "Oxford Donna," which brings to mind shades of Bolan's "Mad Donna." If the cheap pleasures of First Long Play Record kind of fizzle out by the end of the album, it nevertheless has plenty of punch throughout, and is the rare glitter record that comes very close to delivering on the promise of its single.
(First Album UK 1974)
01. Turtle Dove 02:23
02. L.A. Highway 02:41
03. Nose Job 03:57
04. Rolling Railroad Wagon 03:03
05. Queen 03:31
06. Glad That You're Not Me0 3:53
07. Very Small Child 03:04
08. Oxford Donna 02:54
09. Main Horse Cowboy 03:39
10. Child He Die 03:27
(Second Album UK 1974)
11. Shine On 03.12
12. Mr. Straight 03.12
13. Shootin´ Again 04.00
14. The Elf Sires 04.00
15. Bite The Bullet 02.48
16. All Ways In The Night 03.12
17. Go Get Straight 02.52
18. The Highway Man 03.32
19. Day Of The Madman 03.24
10. Good Girls Taste Nice 05.00
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3 comments:
Thank you very much!!
Can't believe no one else has commented on this.Really good stuff Chris.Thanks. Got anymore lost Glam up your sleeve?
Just discovered Rats via the Junkshop compilation – I didn't know they had a second album! I have the reissue now, so may I politely ask you for a re-up on the second album, please?
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