Fabulous Poodles

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Fabulous Poodles


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Origin = United Kingdom
Genre = New Wave
Years_active = 1975–1980
Label = Private Stock, Pye, Epic
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Past_members = Tony De Meur
Bryn Burrows
Richie Robertson
Bobby Valentino

The Fabulous Poodles were a British pre-New Wave band formed in 1975. Known for quirky stage antics, such as exploding ukuleles, as well as songs with funny lyrics.

History

The Fabulous Poodles started out just as the Poodles in 1974 formed by Bob Suffolk, before adding the "Fabulous" prefix, a term reportedly coined by Frank Zappa. The original Fabulous Poodles band consisted of and was formed by Bob Suffolk on piano, Tony De Meur on lead vocals and guitar, Richie Robertson on bass and vocals, Bobby Valentino on violin, mandolin and vocals, and Bryn Burrows on drums. Many of the lyrics for the band's songs were written by John Parsons.

The Fabulous Poodles were very heavily influenced by such British 60's acts as the Who and the Kinks. The band released three official records between 1977 and 1979 on Pye Records, their first being self-named. It was produced by the Who's bass player John Entwistle, who also played eight- string bass on a few songs. [ [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=fabulous_poodles Trouser Press review] ] Their second LP, "Unsuitable", featured their two best known songs, "Mirror Star" and "Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)". In 1979 the Fabulous Poodles' final album, "Think Pink" was recorded and released, the title being the only lyrics to one of the songs, "Pink City Twist". The Fabulous Poodles sold more records in the United States in 1979 than the Clash. In 1980 the Fabulous Poodles released their final single, "Stompin' on the Cat" b/w "Anna Rexia" and "Don't You Lie To Me". The band broke up in 1980.

In 1979 the Fabulous Poodles embarked on an American tour supporting such notable acts as the Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Lead singer Tony De Meur now performs solo under the name Ronnie Golden.

Bryn Burrows later joined Freur and was in the original lineup of Underworld.

Bob Suffolk went on to design recording studios (Suffolk Studio Design). [ [http://suffolkstudiodesign.com/ Suffolk Studio Design] ]

Discography

* 1977: "Fabulous Poodles"
# "The Ending" (de Meur, Parsons, Valentino, Robertson, Burrows)
# "Doctor" (Bentley, Suffolk)
# "Work Shy" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Bike Blood" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Rum Baba Boogie" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "When the Summer's Thru" (de Meur)
# "Rosie Pink" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Roll Your Own" (Mel McDaniel)
# "Pinball Pin Up" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Mr. Mike" (de Meur, Parsons, Robertson)
# "Cherchez la Femme" (de Meur, Parsons)

* 1978: "Unsuitable"
# "Mirror Star" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Topless GoGo" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Chicago Boxcar" (Boston Back) (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Oh Cheryl" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Toy Town People" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Convent Girls" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "B Movies" (de Meur, Parsons, Valentino, Burrows, Robertson)
# "Tit Photographer Blues" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Third Rate Romance" (Smith)
# "Mugs Game" (de Meur, Parsons, Robertson)
# "Suicide Bridge" (de Meur, Parsons)

* 1978: "Mirror Star"This album was an American compilation of first two British records.
# "Mirror Star" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Work Shy" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Chicago Boxcar" (Boston Back) (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Oh Cheryl" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Toy Town People" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Mr. Mike" (de Meur, Parsons, Robertson)
# "Roll Your Own" (Mel McDaniel)
# "B Movies" (de Meur, Parsons, Valentino, Burrows, Robertson)
# "Tit Photographer Blues" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Cherchez la Femme" (de Meur, Parsons)

*1979: "Think Pink"
# "Man With Money" (Phil Everly, Don Everly)
# "Bionic Man" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Any Port in a Storm" (de Meur, Burrows)
# "(Hollywood) Dragnet" (de Meur)
# "Bike Blood" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Cossack Cowboy" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Anna Rexia" (de Meur)
# "You Wouldn't Listen" (de Meur)
# "Suicide Bridge" (de Meur, Parsons)
# "Pink City Twist" (de Meur, Valentino)
# "Vampire Rock" (de Meur, Parsons)

* 1995: "His Masters Choice"This is a compact disc personal best-of compilation
# "Mirror Star"
# "Work Shy"
# "Bionic Man"
# "B Movies"
# "Toy Town People"
# "Pinball Pin Up"
# "You Wouldn't Listen"
# "Stompin' on the Cat"
# "Mr. Mike"
# "Cherchez La Femme"
# "Talkin` Trash"
# "Rum Baba Boogie"
# "When the Summer's Thru"
# "Rosie Pink"
# "Man With Money"
# "Bike Blood"
# "Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back)"
# "Anna Rexia"
# "Suicide Bridge"
# "Pink City Twist"
# "Vampire Rock"

A bootleg live album recorded in Hempstead, New York in 1979 entitled "Radio Stars" has also been circulating around collector's circles for a few years.

Personnel

*Tony De Meur - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
*Richie Robertson - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
*Bobby Valentino - Violin, Mandolin, Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Bryn Burrows - Drum, Percussion

References

External links

* [http://fabpoos.eric-coleman.com/ Think Pink: The Fabulous Poodles Fan Page]
* [http://www.ronniegolden.com/ Ronnie Golden]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=sgNDEjFQ7w8 "Mirror Star" performed live on Peter Cook's Revolver in 1978]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n04N9pdX9Q "Work Shy" performed live on American Bandstand in 1979]