HELP YOURSELF
''STRANGE AFFAIR''
1972
35:11
1 - Strange Affair 3:22
2 - Brown Lady 4:41
3 - Movie Star 5:43
4 - Deanna Call And Scotty 3:44
5 - Heaven Raw 4:14
6 - Excerpts From The All Electric Fur Trapper 9:32
7 - Many Ways Of Meeting 3:52
Tracks By Malcolm Morley, Except 3 By Ernie Graham
Bass, Guitar, Vocals – Paul Burton, Richard Treece
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Dave Charles
Guitar – JoJo Glemser
Guitar, Vocals – Ernie Graham
Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Malcolm Morley
REVIEW
by Dave Thompson
An excellent second album from a band that, familial comparisons to Man notwithstanding, was always closer to the British pub rock ideal than many of the movement's better-feted icons ever could be. And that despite the best of Help Yourself's bluesy barroom rock predating any but the earliest birds of the beer and sawdust circuit -- departing guitarist Ken Whalley's Ducks Deluxe included. Opening with the hefty chimes of the title track, Strange Affair moves on through a kaleidoscope of moves and movements, ranging from the gently and certainly Beatles-ish "Deanna, Call & Scotty," and onto a clutch of songs that would not have sounded out of place on the American West Coast -- a touchstone that, again, would soon become a pub rock ideal. The album's peak, however, has to be the nine-minute "The All Electric Fur Trapper," a lush and lovely epic that conjures images of a faintly country-flavored Pink Floyd as it moves through a series of distinct phases that climax with a semi-funky, deeply fuzzy burst of JoJo Glemser guitar savagery. Accompanied by a wryly flowery essay from Ducks Deluxe frontman Sean Tyla, "The All Electric Fur Trapper" stands not only among Help Yourself's greatest achievements, but also among the highlights of the entire early-'70s British underground.
History
Help Yourself formed in London in 1970, originally as a backing band for singer-songwriter Malcolm Morley, who had left Sam Apple Pie and been signed as a solo act by Famepushers. The band was assembled by John Eichler who, as well as working for Famepushers, was production manager at Strand Cosmetics, where he hired people either for 'musical ability' or 'strangeness'.
The eponymous debut album, "Help Yourself", was recorded from late 1970 to early 1971. Malcolm Morley, (guitars/keyboards/vocals) wrote all the songs on this album, which was recorded with another former Sam Apple Pie member Dave Charles (drums/percussion/vocals), ex member of Monday Morning Glory Band, Richard Treece (guitars/vocals/harmonica) and former Growth member Ken Whaley (bass)
The album was recorded before the band had played a gig, having been signed to Liberty Records by Andrew Lauder, head of A&R. The band toured on the Downhome Rhythm Kings package with Brinsley Schwarz & Ernie Graham (ex Eire Apparent), who were all managed by Famepushers. After the tour, Ken Whaley was fired, but no other bass player was recruited.
Help Yourself, Ernie Graham and his guitarist Jonathan “Jojo” Glemser, moved into Headley Grange in 1971, shortly after Led Zeppelin IV had been recorded there. The line up was amalgamated to include both Graham (who had just released his eponymous solo album backed by Help Yourself and Brinsley Schwartz) and Glemser, both of whom were guitarists, so Treece switched to bass. The band played the 1971 Glastonbury Festival Sam Apple Pie having played the first Glastonbury in 1970. "Street Songs" a track that would appear on the second album "Strange Affair", was issued on a United Artists double album sampler All Good Clean Fun. A tour was arranged to promote this album, so Help Yourself joined Man and Leicester band Gypsy, on a tour of Switzerland. The second album Strange Affair was recorded at the Grange, initially with Richard Treece still on bass, and adding his guitar parts later, until Paul Burton, a former Sam Apple Pie roadie, joined on bass, to complete the album. Strange Affair was released in early 1972, by which time both Graham and Glemser had left.
The new line up of Burton, Morley, Treece and Charles appeared on their first Peel Session in April 1972 and recorded the next album "Beware of the Shadow" almost immediately. Sean Tyla, who had been the band's roadie, helped with some of the songwriting, notably "All Electric Fur Trapper", which was based on a fairy tale he had written. Shortly after completing the album, the band left Headley Grange, Tyla moved in with ex member Ken Whaley, and they formed Ducks Deluxe.
Just as the Helps were due to start a tour to promote Beware of The Shadow, Morley suffered a bout of depression, ("The Shadow" referred to in the album title). Rather than cancel the tour, Deke Leonard, who had just been fired by Man, stood in. Leonard stayed with the band after Morley had recovered, whilst Help Yourself backed Leonard on his first solo album "Iceberg"
In December 1972, Help Yourself with Leonard and BJ Cole, played at Man's Christmas Party. The double 10" album, Christmas at The Patti recorded at this concert, contains far more of their performance (24’) than their hosts (11’30’’). Ducks Deluxe also played this concert, but Whaley had already left.
Beware of the Shadow was released in late 1972, but none of the first three albums sold well. The Helps appealed to a hippie audience such as fans of The Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service so they were moderately successful in the U.S. but never toured there.
In 1973, the band proposed touring with the Flying Aces and Vivian “Spiv” Morris, in a vaudeville show, called “Happy Days”, which was to be held in a circus tent. They started recording material for this in January, but Burton was unhappy with the proposed theatrical tour, so he left. Whaley returned and the band started recording a new album in February, finishing the "Happy Days" album in March and the Helps album in April,
He performed with Deke Leonard, Wreckless Eric and "Kirsty Mccoll", including a TV appearance with McColl in 1981. He then left the music business. In 2001 he recorded another solo album Aliens which was issued on Creo Records, and in 2008 he started appearing live again.
Richard Treece
Briefly joined Deke Leonard's Iceberg and later re-joined George and Martin Ace in The Flying Aces. Briefly joined The Splendid Humans; before joining former Man members Phil Ryan and Will Youatt in The Neutrons In 2000, he issued a solo album Dream Arena East (Treece 1) and then joined Ken Whaley in 'The Archers', which evolved into his current band 'The Green Ray'
The Green Ray comprises Richard Treece (guitar and vocals), Ken Whaley (bass and Vocals), his brother Simon Whaley (drums) and Simon Haspeck (guitar and vocals). They have issued three albums: Soft Cloud (2002) SC001/FYPC15, Back from the Edge (2006) Gray 11 with Aaron Liddard, and the live Classic Rock Club, Cheshunt, 5th Jan 2008 with Nick Saloman of Bevis Frond (Effigy 2008), and a DVD with Barry "The Fish" Melton guesting.
Dave Charles
Charles was an Engineer whilst he was in Help Yourself, (recording the infamous Brinsley Schwarz “hype” concerts at the Filmore East) and subsequently became the resident engineer and producer at Rockfield Studios where he produced and/or engineered albums by Hawkwind, "Dr Feelgood", The Charlatans, The La's, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and others. He still plays drums, and has played for Dave Edmunds as well as Carl Perkins, George Harrison, Dion DiMucci, Steve Cropper, Jeff Beck and "Kid Creole And The Coconuts"
Ken Whaley
Briefly joined Deke Leonard's Iceberg, until joining Man with Leonard and Morley. Recorded Man's two most successful albums Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics and Slow Motion and also left after a US tour. Worked for John Eichler at The Three Kings. Played with Richard Treece in 'The Archers' and is currently in 'The Green Ray' (see above)
Sean Tyla
After Ducks Deluxe, he formed the Tyla Gang, which made three albums and which both Treece and Whaley played with at various times. In 1981 he worked with Joan Jett and then formed The Force, with Deke Leonard, who recorded one album, Forces First, but Tyla left after suddenly suffering stage fright. He has recently reformed Ducks Deluxe.
Ernie Graham
Formed pub rock group Clancy in 1971, which recorded two albums before they split in 1976. Gave up being a professional musician. Worked on the railways, including as a guard on The Orient Express, and was training to become a counsellor when he died in April 2001
Discography
Albums
* Help Yourself (1971) Liberty ((UK Cat No) LBS 83484)) ((US Cat No) LBS 5583)
* Strange Affair (1972) United Artists ((UK Cat No) UAS 29287) ((US Cat No) UAS 5591)
* Beware of the Shadow (1972) United Artists (UAS 29413)
* The Return of Ken Whaley (1973) United Artists (UAS 29487)
* Happy Days (with the Flying Aces and Spiv) (1973) United Artists (UA Free 1)
free with the first 5,000 copies of The Return of Ken Whaley as a box set (UDG4001)
* 5 (8 unreleased 1973 recordings & 3 recorded in 2002/2003) (2004) Hux Records (HUX054)
Live Album
* Christmas at the Patti (with Man, Ducks Deluxe, Flying Aces and others) (1973) United Artists
Singles
* "Running Down Deep" / "Paper Leaves" (1971) Liberty (LBF15459)
* "Heaven Row" / "Brown Lady" (1972) United Artists (UP 35355)
* "Mommy Won’t Be Home for Christmas" / "Johnny B. Goode" (1972) United Artists (UP 35466)
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