What Records remind you of fairgrounds?

Mannings_Supreme_Waltzer,_spinning_02

© Andrew Dunn http://www.andrewdunnphoto.com

Colin Bell mentioned on a previous post that he has fond memories of hearing Runaway by Del Shannon at the fair on the oval. Two records that always remind me whenever I hear them, are Doris Day Move Over Darling and Chris Montez The More I See You.

Caz Simpson… Let’s Dance, Chris Montez. Fire, Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

Jim Breeds…. Anything by Fairground Attraction? 😉 Actually, Edgar Winter Group – Frankenstein. Although it also reminds me of bank holiday at Santa Pod in the 70s.

Pete Fairless… Ah, I remember the fairs on The Oval in the mid ’70s, so it was a lot of Glam – Slade, T. Rex, Suzi Quatro and, of course, that bloke we’re not supposed to mention… Think I might have first heard R Dean Taylor at the fair, too!

Peter Millington… “Timing a tick a tick a tick Timing” Jimmy Jones-1960

Caz Simpson… I loved Timing!!

Leigh Wieland-Boys… My Coo Ca Choo (or however it’s spelt) by Alvin Stardust immediately came to mind

Peter Millington… Caz I think it must be an age thing – Music was never louder than at the fair in the early 1960s

Caz Simpson… The fair was the most magical place in the world Peter, and it was the louder than loud music that made it so.

Will Cornell… Amusement Parks USA by the Beach Boys, with Hal Blaine (supposedly) as the carnival barker.

Bill Webber… Double barrel, Elizabethan reggae

Phil Gill… I was about 12 or 13 and on the waltzer when Tommy Roe’s Dizzy was playing. It always reminds me of that moment.

Mick O’Dowd… I’m Alive by the Hollies. Thought this was a good choice after coming off of some of the rides!

John Storer… For me, it is unfortunately “Rock & Roll (Part 1)” by he-who-shall-not-be-named and the Glitter Band but also “The Liquidator” by Harry J Allstars and “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie Here in Boston, we have a fair the first week of May every year. Unusually, its charter allows it to set up in the town centre and it brings the town to a standstill. I am sure I would recognise all the songs that are played if I still listened to Radio 1, but I don’t. And they don’t play many of the songs you hear on Radio 6Music.

Jacqueline Robbins… Hold On Tight – Electric Light Orchestra.

Neil Steadman… Being for the benefit of Mr kite

Peter Thomson… Rockin’ Robin – Jackson 5 and that John Storer bloke just triggered off Double Barrel by Dave & Ansell Collins.

Lesley Brown… Young Girl! And I was….then!

Andy Qunta… 1st thing into my head on this subject is Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs & Virginia Plain by Roxy Music.

Colin Bell… The other record I remember apart from Del’s was Roy Orbisons ‘Lana’ after getting off the Octopus and being violently sick!……..hot dogs and candy floss was never a good mix!…..

Alan Pepper… As a teenager in the 70s the songs that I can remember being constantly Played on the oval whilst on the rides are Pied piper by Bob & Marcia Monkey spanner by Dave and Ansel Collins and of course Rock n Roll Pt 2 ( it must be about 1972. !?) Great memories eh?

Nicola Dobson… I used to go to that fair every year on the Oval….loved that song Move over Darling…I remember my cousin and her husband took me to see the film Doris Day!

Caz Simpson… Do they still call it the Oval, I really hope so. And I love Move over Darling so much! Also remember Mouldy old dough, Lieutenant Pigeon. Cathy’s Clown Everly Brothers.

Matt Thomas… Remember going up with my sister and her friends in the hot summer of 1976 and the track that sticks in my mind ‘Dont Go Breaking My Heart’ Elton & Kiki

Nicola Dobson… Oh yes I was living in Lewes that year…sooo hot…had that song plahying every day while doing the housework…just had my 2nd child Feb 76!

Ian Ellis… Anything from the original soundtrack to “The Lost Boys” !

Yvonne Cleland… Yes, Alan Pepper! Also Love of the Common People, Nicky Thomas and Band of Gold by someone! Bob & Marcia – Young, Gifted and Black.

Peter Fairless… I remember Pied Piper being played at the end of the night at….. Oh, The Pied Piper! Now, that reminds me of the band I went to see there….

Barbara Richardson (nee Watling)… Hitchin’ a Ride, Vanity Fare. Does anyone listen to Tony Blackburn on Radio 2 on Saturdays, 1-3pm. Music from the 70s is often featured . . . today 1970, including Hitchin’ a Ride!

Alan Esdaile… I remember Paul Dove playing the recorder at the start of Hitchin A Ride, probably the band 3 on Ice with Paul Wiseman & Steve Demetri.

Lynn Graham… Silence is golden.

Graham Belchamber… Wizzard, See My Baby Jive.

John Storer… Yvonne has reminded me of other great fairground songs … Band of Gold was by Freda Payne and there was also Give Me Just A Little More Time by Chairman of the Board.

Karen Sweatman Was Blackman… Actually, it’s most of the stuff on the That’ll Be The Day soundtrack. My parents had it and I love the film. A lot of the soundtrack was used as background music in the fairground scenes.

Andy Qunta… I remember playing a gig with Factory, around ’74, on the Isle of Wight! We went to the fairground where they had apparently filmed scenes for That’ll Be The Day. I think that’s when I heard Virginia Plain.

Geoff Peckham… What Do You Want? by Adam Faith and many more. Here’s one we saw in Vichy, France last month; that would be Johnny Holiday or Françoise Hardy.

11863257_1717741911787235_7827453901884644329_n

photo Geoff Peckham

Peter Fairless… When we took the girls last year there was a lot of Taylor Swift!

Phil Thornton… T REX !!

Mick Mepham… Turn Me On by the Tubes, there’s a blast of energy for you …..

Andy Pierce… It’s gotta be Monkey Spanner and Double Barrel – what great sounds as you pass the massive base speakers on ‘the octopus’. Fond memories indeed!

Alan Oliver… Band of Gold by Freda Payne. BUT I think the bestest ever tune for fairgrounds is Runaway by Del Shannon.

Dave Nattress… Living in Bexhill we had a fair on the downs early Summer. Of all the many tracks one by the Beach-Boys sticks out, Heroes and Villains, but I just don’t know why. I can hear it now and I’m back there. Living close by we were fascinated by the whole fairground crack and used to go round after the fair had gone to try and find dropped coins in the grass! Usually there would be 4 main rides – Giant Octopus, Dodgems, Roundabout/Switchback and the Skid. This would be early – mid 60’s I think, then the Twist arrived and occasionally the Waltzer. Lots of sideshows, each side of the main rides, the circular stalls and then the other stuff on the perimeter – seems like it was a huge place but in fact the area it was all packed in was quite small. Serious volume pumping out the songs. Then carnival day in the Polegrove, Bexhill, which always had a bigger fair including the dive-bomber which I never, ever tried and the big wheel, which was OK!! A diet of greasy, wet, slimy, Westlers hamburgers and hot-dogs, candy-floss, toffee apples and peanut brittle stuff was definitely dodgy with some rides. But, when older and mobile it had to be The Oval in Hastings – much, much bigger and maybe up to about 10 rides. Great days, great memories. Oh, and the poor Goldfish!!!!

Lynn Graham… Rag Doll.

Bill Webber… At Mitcham fair  Double Barrel  Dave n Ansil Collins

Andre Martin… Connie Francis Where The Boys Are, Little Peggy March I Will Follow Him, The Shadows Wonderful Land and Sounds Incorporated Rinky Dink.

Alan Esdaile… I will follow him works really well in the film Sister Act and The Shadows is a Classic.

Graham Belchamber… See My Baby Jive by Wizard. Halcyon days at the fair in The Polegrove in Bexhill-on-Sea.

Nick Prince… Crappy ones as prizes with no centres in. Time will Tell by the Story Tellers or a dead fish.
As for music on rides, I thought it was mandatory for fair ground rides to play the soundtrack to either Lemon Popsicle or Bachelor Party. Lol

Chris Fagg… Dire Straits – “Tunnel of Love” encapsulates it !

Eugene Hughes… Sugar Sugar The Archies, Coco The Sweet

Phil Thornton… Abduction – eat static !

Len Smith… Red River Rock, Johnny & Hurricanes

Bill Webber… Double Barrel,Elizabethan Reggae

Eugene Hughes… Now we’re talkin. How about adding Monkey Spanner Return of Django and Long shot kick the bucket. I want all you skinheads to get up on your feet. Moon stomp

Alan Esdaile… Do you remember The Rotor ride at the fairground?

Dennis Torrance… Remember to put bicycle clips bottom of jeans lol

Steve Mann… Brilliant.

Phil Gill… Can’t remember seeing the headless lad in black.

Joe Knight… Lazy days of summer

Terry Hardwick…  I still see Billy Davis and his family. Fairground Legends

Dennis Torrance… I remember Tommy roe at the fair Dizzy that’s the one that stuck in my head and a lot of reggae that was 1969 I think

Carol Ann Bolton… ‘Shakin’ all over’….Johnny Kid and the Pirates, back in the 60s.

Colin Gibson… I’ve still got the thundering headache

Tony Mcwhirter… I used to work on the speedway in 70’s. My favourite tracks were rock&roll pt 2. Liquid Gold Dance Yourself Dizzy, Thelma Houston don’t leave me this way & Gloria Gaynor I will survive.

Pete Prescott… I was at a fair in sittingbourne in 70 and heard Get Back. I’ll never forget it.  It sounded amazing. First time I heard a song that was in a loud system.

Yvonne Cleland… Young, Gifted and Black!

Andy Qunta… Summer in the City, & Woolly Bully

Tony Ball… Many records by Duane Eddy + Red River Rock etc

8 thoughts on “What Records remind you of fairgrounds?”

  1. For me, it is unfortunately “Rock & Roll (Part 1)” by he-who-shall-not-be-named and the Glitter Band but also “The Liquidator” by Harry J Allstars and “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie

    Here in Boston, we have a fair the first week of May every year. Unusually, its charter allows it to set up in the town centre and it brings the town to a standstill. I am sure I would recognise all the songs that are played if I still listened to Radio 1, but I don’t. And they don’t play many of the songs you hear on Radio 6Music

    Reply
  2. As a teenager in the 70s the songs that I can remember being constantly
    Played on the oval whilst on the rides are Pied piper by Bob & Marcia
    Monkey spanner by Dave and Ansel Collins and of course Rock n Roll
    Pt 2 ( it must be about 1972. !?)
    Great memories eh?

    Reply
  3. Hitchin’ a Ride, Vanity Fare. Does anyone listen to Tony Blackburn on Radio 2 on Saturdays, 1-3pm. Music from the 70s is often featured . . . today 1970, including Hitchin’ a Ride!

    Reply
  4. Living in Bexhill we had a fair on the downs early Summer. Of all the many tracks one by the Beach-Boys sticks out, Heroes and Villains, but I just don’t know why. I can hear it now and I’m back there. Living close by we were fascinated by the whole fairground crack and used to go round after the fair had gone to try and find dropped coins in the grass! Usually there would be 4 main rides – Giant Octopus, Dodgems, Roundabout/Switchback and the Skid. This would be early – mid 60’s I think, then the Twist arrived and occasionally the Waltzer. Lots of sideshows, each side of the main rides, the circular stalls and then the other stuff on the perimeter – seems like it was a huge place but in fact the area it was all packed in was quite small.

    Serious volume pumping out the songs.

    Then carnival day in the Polegrove, Bexhill, which always had a bigger fair including the dive-bomber which I never, ever tried and the big wheel, which was OK!! A diet of greasy, wet, slimy, Westlers hamburgers and hot-dogs, candy-floss, toffee apples and peanut brittle stuff was definitely dodgy with some rides.

    But, when older and mobile it had to be The Oval in Hastings – much, much bigger and maybe up to about 10 rides.

    Great days, great memories. Oh, and the poor Goldfish!!!!

    Reply
  5. I used to work on speedway in 70’s. My favourite tracks were rock&roll pt 2. Liquid gold. Dance yourself dizzy. & thelma Houston don’t leave me this way. & Gloria gay or. I will survive.

    Reply

Leave a comment