The Bats - Image

Tracks:

1. Huff Puff (Ditchfield, Clifford, Jarman, Eckstein)
2. Herd Boy (Diamini, Ditchfield, Clifford, Jarman, Eckstein)
3. Money Ain't Worth A Dang (Ditchfield, Clifford, Jarman, Eckstein)
4. My Girl (Robinson, White)
5. What Is Soul (medley):
   1. Soul Finger ()King, Jones, Cunningham, Cauley, Caldwell)
   2. Knock On Wood (Cropper, Floyd)
   3. Fa Fa Fa (Redding, Cropper)
   4. Land of 1000 Dances (Kenner, Domino)
6. The Image (Ditchfield, Clifford, Jarman, Eckstein)
7. Waiting For You (Diamini, Ditchfield, Clifford, Jarman, Eckstein)
8. Love Of The Common People (Hurley, Wilkins)
9. Warren (Ditchfield, Clifford, Jarman, Eckstein)
10. Trouble (Lieber, Stoller)

Musicians:

• Eddie Eckstein: drums
• Pete Clifford: guitar
• Barry Jarman: bass
• Paul Ditchfield: vocals

  Produced by Allan McInnes and the Bats
  String and brass arr: George Hayden
  Recording Engineer: B. Pretorius
  Cover Design by Creative Photography SA

Release information:

1968, CBS stereo ALD-8129

Liner notes:
(some of this is grammatical nonsense, but that's how it's written!)

One reason why the Bats are great and why they will be even greater is because they are independent. As a group they are individual. They Bats don't borrow, beg or steal anyone else's mind and would rather present an honest version of themselves than be imitations of others. This is a hard way of going about the pop business but when the formula clicks it really happens.

They were musicans long before they played pop and are even more musical than those four lads who emerged from that Cavern in Liverpool. And just as original. Check the SAFCA details and see how many tracks are by Paul E. Ditchfield, Eddie Eckstein, Barry E. Jarman and Peter Clifford.

This LP started a long time ago. Long before it was actually recorded, the Bats began to search for good album numbers. Instead of copying existing ideas they learnt new ones by tearing up strong roots and working and watching in London. They have played their findings on the bandstand and in the nightclub many times, each playing has improved and matured the songs until they have been ready to record in this captured state. The songs have a true and free ring about them. Essentially the Bats are entertainers/pop stars/composers and their many cabaret acts assure them of a lifetime of a future in the business. As friends, too, they are unbeatable.

When the Bats first started out they were considered as way ahead of the time -- but now that recording techniques have caught up with them we can begin to understand the message in their music. Unlike the blatant attention -- getting antics of most hit-parade conscious artists, the Bats have something to say, and they're saying it with good pure music.

-- Ronnie Wilson

Comments:

track 1: good album opener, fake cockney accent, like Manfred Mann, joking studio chat talking at end
track 2: also on 7", penny whistle, cellos, like the Bee Gees, haunting melodies, heavier sound during bridge, sticks in the memory
track 3: organ based, fuzz, distortion but used in pop idiom. superb chorus harmonies, like the Rascals, brilliant song
track 4: cover of Motown classic, very laid back, dance floor favourite
track 5: famous tunes introduced by 'What Is Soul' theme. Must have been great in concert. Very competent however, can't hold a candle to the Flames (pun intended)
track 6: dramatic intro, soft psychedelic, first song to live up to sleeve pic atmosphere, strings, very like Bee Gees, drum sound much like the Flames, same sound engineer, same reverb
track 7: also on 7", heavier song, great upper range vocals, catchy flute/guitar lines, weird drum break ending
track 8: also on 7", cover song, big production number, lots of harmony vocals
track 9: song about a baby boy, very much a pop tune but played superbly, album filler
track 10: intro with Afrikaans accent, featuring strong "r's", Elvis impersonation, fake noisy audience (they wish!), speed up with Mickey Mouse vocals halfway. Logical album closer

Summary: a great pop-rock album hinting at psychedelia, one I wouldn't be without.

-- Bas Möllenkramer, Holland, September, 1999
[webmaster of The Flames website]

Webpage:

• The Bats