Library Rock's Backpages

Norman Jopling

Wesley Laine is a pseudonym for Norman Jopling
Norman Jopling

Norman Jopling began writing for Record Mirror in 1961 at the age of 17, interviewing and profiling the era’s pop stars, and instigating a pioneering coverage of the hitherto-neglected area of American rhythm & blues. As the Sixties progressed, he also became the flag-waver for the UK R&B boom, the first music reporter to write – and rave – about the Rolling Stones, and the first London writer to profile the Beatles.

In 1968 he went freelance, regularly contributing pieces to NME, Cream, Billboard, Record Retailer, Jazz Journal, Let It Rock, Music Now and many more.

In 1973 he quit music journalism and joined CBS Records. He spent several years in New York in the late '70s working as a songwriter, and in the '80s co-authored a number of books including The Beatles Conquer America, Cliff Richard & The Shadows and John Lennon with Dezo Hoffmann, and Harrap’s Book Of 1000 Plays with Steve Fletcher.

In 1988 he rejoined the music industry, and has since originated a large number of reissue albums for many record companies.  He lives in North London, and his book Shake It Up Baby! – covering his early career as a music reporter – was published in February 2015.

Norman on the RBP podcast

181 articles

List of articles in the library

By date | By artist | Most recently added

Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, Maureen Evans, Adam Faith, Clinton Ford, Bob Miller & the Millermen, Matt Monro, Bert Weedon: Adam Faith, Acker Bilk, Matt Monro et al: Beat Show, Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 29 April 1961

Bad Manners At Beat Show ...

The Drifters, Ben E. King: The Inconsistent Drifters

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 7 October 1961

IN AMERICA, TWENTY-ONE HITS. IN BRITAIN — THREE! NORMAN JOPLING FOCUSES ON... THE INCONSISTENT DRIFTERS ...

Del Shannon: Mix-Ups and Mr. Shannon

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 10 March 1962

BY NOW, mix-ups seem to be an integral pact of DEL SHANNON'S recording career. ...

B. Bumble & The Stingers, The Jarmels, Nero & the Gladiators, The Piltdown Men, Jackie Wilson, Jimmy "Kokomo" Wisner: The Classics and all that Jazz

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 12 May 1962

'NUT ROCKER' IS IN THE CHARTS ...

Mel Blanc, Pat Boone: Boone Changes Style Again

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 28 July 1962

IT LOOK A bit of the old rock 'n' roll, a screaming female, and a voice that takes you back to the sordid cartoon theatres ...

Beat Group Names from America and Liverpool

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 August 1962

IS THE Liverpool area the rockingest part of the great British Isles? A publication, Mersey Beat, just arrived, makes me think this is the ...

Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer: Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins: The Quiet Men from Nashville, Tennessee

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 September 1962

THE TWO most dominant figures in the Nashville, Tennessee, music scene – a scene noted for loud noises – are QUIET men. Chet Atkins, we ...

Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Little Eva: Four Careers & Carole King

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 22 September 1962

FOUR CAREERS? At twenty? How come you may well ask. In CAROLE KING'S case it comes naturally. ...

The Beatles: "We made sure of applause — we took our fans with us" reveal The Beatles

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 24 November 1962

"WHEN WE played outside Liverpool, as often as not we would hire a couple of coaches and take an audience with us," said a Beatle. ...

Chris Farlowe, Davy Jones, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Alexis Korner, Jimmy Powell, Mel Turner: The Wildest Men in the World...

Overview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 December 1962

THE STORY OF THE BRITISH RHYTHM AND BLUES RIOT-RAISERS... ...

Fats Domino: The Man Who Sang Rock Before Haley

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 12 January 1963

HIS first million-seller was named after himself. Until last year he had more million-sellers than Elvis, who finally caught up with him after a hard ...

The Shirelles: The Neglected Shirelles

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 12 January 1963

"I MET HIM on a Sunday" sang Addie, Doris, Shirley, and Beverly. They were heard by a class-mate at Passiac high school during a rehearsal ...

Chris Montez: Give Me The Flamenco

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 2 February 1963

"I REALLY like Spanish dancing best." Chris Montez told me over the transatlantic phone, "And 'though I jive and twist a lot I guess it's ...

The Bachelors: 'Don't Call Us Paddy' Begged The Bachelors

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 February 1963

"WHENEVER we talk to anyone they call us 'Paddy'," complained the three Bachelors. "We've got names you know." ...

The Marcels: Fallen Idols No. 13: The Marcels

Retrospective by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 February 1963

EVER SINCE the big beat came in it has been the custom to re-hash the standards into the mood fashionable at the time. ...

The Beatles: New Album and Single

Report and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 February 1963

THERE'S been a lot of stuff written on the Beatles lately. Rightly, too, for they happen to be in the class of the rarest performers ...

A Year of R&B

Overview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 March 1963

EVERYONE IS talking about the Rhythm and Blues revival that's going on. But we wondered whether in fact there was a revival. ...

Chubby Checker: Norman Jopling Views Chubby Checker's Teen Dance Hits and Finds He's the Commercial Dance King

Discography by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 March 1963

EVERYONE KNOWS the old story about Chubby Checker and the Twist. ...

Buddy Knox: The Great Unknowns No. 2: Buddy Knox

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 March 1963

SEVERAL MONTHS ago a disc entered the top fifty by an artist who hadn't seen the light of the charts for many years. It was ...

Dusty Springfield, The Springfields: The Springfields: The White Negress

Report and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 April 1963

"THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL ME" – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD ...

Cyril Davies, Alexis Korner: Cyril Davies: The Soul-Beat Revival...

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 April 1963

MR. CYRIL DAVIS, purveyor of R&B is currently the white hope of Pye's new R&B campaign. With his new single, the scintillating, exciting 'Country Line ...

The Drifters, Ben E. King: The Great Unknowns No.4: Ben E. King

Discography by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 April 1963

The Latin-Tinged Balladeer Who Never Quite Made It! ...

Bo Diddley: The Man With A Hundred Guitars... Diddley the Great

Retrospective by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 April 1963

ABOUT EIGHT years ago, a sound called Rock and Roll started to penetrate the music scene in a big big way, taking over completely from ...

Chuck Berry: When Chuck Shocked Jazz Fans

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 April 1963

THE PROOF of the pudding is in the eating, they say. But the proof of the R&B pudding is in the after effects. How many ...

The Rolling Stones: Genuine R&B!

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 May 1963

AS THE TRAD scene gradually subsides, promoters of all kinds of teen-beat entertainment heave a long sigh of relief that they have found something to ...

Joe Meek, Outlaws, The (UK), Gene Vincent: Rumour About The Outlaws Made Their Disc Company Panic...

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 29 June 1963

THERE WAS a rumour last Christmas that the Outlaws were to break up. It was of course, untrue, but the rumour spread pretty quickly throughout ...

Brenda Lee: A Brenda Bargain – Re-Issue Collection on Ace of Hearts

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 17 August 1963

LITTLE MISS NEWLY-MARRIED has had, believe it or not, no less than SEVEN years in the music business. And that's seven years making discs too. ...

Lonnie Mack: The Instrumental Influence and Hit Star

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 24 August 1963

BEAT instrumentals are probably at a higher degree of popularity in the States than ever before. Discs like 'Wipeout', 'Tips Of My Fingers', 'Pipeline', 'Hot ...

Roy Orbison: An Unexpected U.S. Hit For Roy

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 14 September 1963

But although he's clicking with a rocker, he's recording with 'Those Great British Strings' ...

The Tremeloes: The Tired Tremeloes..!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 14 September 1963

In the charts with 'Twist And Shout' and with 'Do You Love Me' crashing in at No. 33, Brian and the boys begin to feel ...

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers: I'm Much Happier Says Cliff Bennett

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 28 September 1963

"A GROUP'S group" is just one of the apt descriptions tagged on to Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, the highly rated London team just ...

Mickie Most: Do-It-Yourself Mick!

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 5 October 1963

AFTER A MINOR record success with his 'Mr. Porter', Mickey Most looks all set for a far bigger success with the follow-up 'The Feminine Look', ...

Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams: Big Blues Tour

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 12 October 1963

WITH R&B getting a deep hold in this country, many of the former fans of this type of music seem to be switching to the ...

Brook Benton, Dion, Lesley Gore, Trini Lopez, Timi Yuro: Brook Benton, Trini Lopez, Timi Yuro, Dion, Lesley Gore: "The Greatest Record Show Of 1963", Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 26 October 1963

ALTHOUGH IT'S billed as "The Greatest Record Show Of 1963", the first performance at Finsbury Park Astoria last Sunday didn't exactly bear witness to that. ...

Johnny Burnette: 'No Dance Discs From Me'

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 November 1963

THE MAN who has had many U.S. and British top 20 hits is over here again in Britain — and no-one seems to know anything ...

Duane Eddy, Little Richard, The Shirelles: Little Richard, Duane Eddy, The Shirelles: The Regal, Edmonton, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 November 1963

THE OPENING night of the Duane Eddy/Little Richard/Shirelles tour was a lot better than most people expected at the Regal Edmonton, 2nd performance on Saturday. ...

The Crystals, The Ronettes, Phil Spector: The Ronettes hit and Phil's flips

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 7 December 1963

BACK IN 1958 Estella & Ronnie Bennett bought a disc between them called 'To Know Him Is To Love Him'. So did their cousin Nadra ...

Johnny Kidd & The Pirates: Johnny Kidd: It's The Song, Not My Name Which Sells

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 14 December 1963

Johnny Kidd's Latest Success Was Quite A 'Sleeper' ...

1963: Rhythm And Blues Made The News

Overview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 21 December 1963

THIS HAS been THE year for rhythm and blues fans. There is no doubt about it. At the beginning of the year the R & ...

1963: Year Of Rhythm & Blues #2

Overview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 28 December 1963

Part two of a series spotlighting all the important events in the R & B world this year. ...

Mort Shuman: The Man Who Writes Hits For The U.S. Stars

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 January 1964

IF ANYONE bothers to look just under the titles of their records, they'll see a name or names in brackets. Those names are the songwriters. ...

Gene Pitney, The Rolling Stones: Gene Pitney: Why 'Tulsa' Made The Charts

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 January 1964

NORMAN JOPLING SUPPLIES THE ANSWER TO A CURRENT CHART SURPRISE ...

The Crystals, Darlene Love, The Ronettes, Phil Spector: Phil Spector: The Man Behind America's Big Hits Comes to Britain

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 February 1964

ONE OF the mystery men of the U.S. recording scene is currently here in Britain following the interests of his artistes. His name is Phil ...

The Drifters, Ben E. King: Ben E. King — 'The Drifters and I'

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 February 1964

A MUSIC reporters life is not an easy one. But a big consolation is when instead of having to report on music and artistes which ...

Millie, Prince Buster: It's the Blue-Beat Craze

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 February 1964

A LOOK AT THE LATEST CRAZE TO TAKE THE RECORD INDUSTRY BY STORM ...

The Crystals' Story: Their Sound, Their Career And Their X-Certificate Disc

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 29 February 1964

Norman Jopling talks to the group with the hottest U.S. hit sound ...

The Joy Strings: Invasion By The Unexpected Army

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 7 March 1964

EVERY NOW and then, something happens which astounds and astonishes everybody in the disc biz. ...

The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones (Decca)

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 April 1964

GREAT NEW L-P FROM STONES ...

Manfred Mann: Meet The Manfreds

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 2 May 1964

PART ONE OF A NEW SERIES — MIKE HUGG AND TOM McGUINESS ...

The Animals, Chuck Berry, The Nashville Teens, Carl Perkins, Kingsize Taylor: Chuck Berry, Kingsize Taylor & the Dominos, Carl Perkins, the Animals, the Nashville Teens: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 May 1964

CHUCK'S HERE AT LAST ...

Manfred Mann: The Paul Jones Mann

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 May 1964

"UH-HU, IT'S THE Manfreds" yells Paul Jones, who is, to use the most overworked cliché in the book, last but not least in our series ...

The Beatles, Cilla Black, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde: Should A Pop Star Marry?

Report by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 16 May 1964

Norman Jopling and Peter Jones take a look at the pros and cons of pop star marriages ...

The Yardbirds: The Blueswailers With The Mod Appeal

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 30 May 1964

ALTHOUGH THE Sunday Telegraph insisted that the Yardbirds were called the Yardsticks, and also claimed they were public school boys it doesn't seem to have ...

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Mary Wells: Motown: Will 'HITSVILLE U.S.A.' Hit Britain Now?

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 June 1964

THEY SAY that there's not much chance for American hits here now. But nevertheless the multi-million dollar American label Tamla has scored its FIRST hit ...

Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Supremes, Mary Wells: A Great Visit To Hitsville U.S.A.

Interview by Dave Godin, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 September 1964

by DAVE GODIN as told to Norman Jopling ...

Burt Bacharach, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick: Burt Bacharach: "Time Is My Enemy"

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 September 1964

"I JUST DON'T get enough time to cram everything in," top U.S. songwriter, arranger and producer Burt Bacharach told me, during a two-day visit last ...

The Kinks: 'You Really Got Me' Was a Jazz Song! Say the Kinks

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 September 1964

'YOU REALLY Got Me', the Kinks third disc and first hit is now number 2 in the charts. But the story behind it is strange ...

The Kinks: Kinks

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 3 October 1964

HOT NEW KINKS L.P.! ...

Heinz's Hat, Some Surfing, & The Sharks!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 31 October 1964

THE FACT that Heinz has just visited Australia stuck out the proverbial mile when I met him last week, after an exhausting two week tour ...

The Animals: The Animals (Columbia)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 14 November 1964

BLUESY NEW ANIMALS LPREVIEW IN DEPTH by NORMAN JOPLING ...

The Honeycombs: 'Our Image Needs To Change'

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 28 November 1964

"WE WANT TO change our image" were the first words of Honeycomb Dennis D'Ell, lead vocalist. Dennis was worried, not only about their records, but ...

The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones No. 2

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 January 1965

"WE THINK IT'S a lot better than our first one... there's a more varied selection of songs... no instrumentals... we cut it at three different ...

Del Shannon: 'My Success Changed My Friends'

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 January 1965

ONE OF THE chief attractions about Del Shannon is his own individual style of singing and guitar playing. So it'll come as a shock to ...

The Honeycombs, Peter and Gordon, The Rolling Stones: Death of a Dynasty

Comment by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 30 January 1965

Norman Jopling takes a hard, cynical look at the declining beat boom and makes some frank comments ...

Phil Spector, The Righteous Brothers: 'Sorry Cilla,' Said The Righteous Brothers To RM's Norman Jopling, But 'We Don't Like Your Record!'

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 30 January 1965

"WHAT do we think of Cilla's version of 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling'?" said America's Righteous Brothers when I posed them the question. "Well, we ...

Sue Records: Not So Much A Label

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 February 1965

STORY OF BRITAIN'S STRANGEST RECORD LABEL ...

Goldie & The Gingerbreads: Goldie and the Gingerbreads: Four Tough Birds...

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 February 1965

THERE ISN'T much that scares Goldie And The Gingerbreads. Being an all-girl group in a male dominated scene tends to toughen up the so-called weaker ...

Del Shannon: The Unseen Side of Del Shannon

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 February 1965

THE IMAGE of Del Shannon is probably one of the most one-sided in the business. The man who in the last four years has built ...

The Pretty Things: The Things Hit Back!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 February 1965

ONE ACCUSATION that can't be levelled against the Pretty Things is that they're dull. In fact this wild-sounding, and equally wild-looking group are one of ...

Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes, The Temptations, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder: America Hits Back With Tamla Motown Attack

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 March 1965

IN RETALIATION to the British craze sweeping the States, America launches its biggest-ever campaign to bring back the Yanks into the British charts in the ...

The Honeycombs: The Honeys Have Changed!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 27 March 1965

ALTHOUGH THEY'VE only notched up one big hit here, the Honeycombs are certainly one of the most successful groups on the international scene. In the ...

Larry Williams: "I'm No Rock 'N' Roller"

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 3 April 1965

LARRY WILLIAMS talks to Norman Jopling ...

The Drifters: Lyceum Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 3 April 1965

DESPITE THE attraction of the Queen at an Aldwych theatre and the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon at Covent Garden Opera House, a ...

The Drifters: The Big Daddy Group

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 3 April 1965

THE MOST interesting thing about the Drifters isn't the fact that they've been singing for ten years, that they've sold millions of records, that they've ...

John Hammond: Folk And Blues Friends

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 May 1965

"DYLAN — WELL, let's say he gave me confidence when I needed it most." The speaker was John Hammond, 22 years old blues singer from ...

Otis Redding: The Two-Sided Bluester

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 May 1965

VERSATILITY is often the sign of greatness on the music scene. The same applies to the blues, and one of its most popular modern exponents ...

The Everly Brothers: Rock 'n' Soul (Warner Bros. WM 8171); Gone, Gone, Gone (Warner Bros. WM 8169)

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 May 1965

2 wild albums from Everlys ...

The Animals: What the Animals found in America

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 May 1965

THE BIG thing that struck the Animals during their recent brief visit to the States was the heat. Especially in the deep south, where they ...

The Beatles: How The Beatles Spend An Evening

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 May 1965

IT WAS A typical quiet evening at London's Savoy Hotel. Quiet that is until the Beatles turned up to see Bob Dylan. They all trooped ...

Larry Williams: The Return of Rock

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 May 1965

SUDDENLY, ROCK 'N' ROLL isn't a dirty phrase any more. ...

The Artwoods: "We Aim To Excite!" ...Say the Artwoods

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 5 June 1965

JUST FOR the record, the Artwoods aren't a part of Epping Forest. In fact they're a group of five interesting young men, named after the ...

The Drifters, Ben E. King: LP's from Ben E. King & Drifters

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 5 June 1965

THE DRIFTERS — The Good Life — 'Quando Quando Quando'; 'On The Street Where You Live'; 'I Wish You Love'; 'Tonight'; 'More'; 'What Kind Of ...

Screamin' Jay Hawkins: King of Rock and Horror

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 5 June 1965

EVERY ONCE in a while someone different comes along. In January, none other than the legendary Screamin' Jay Hawkins entered Britain, and established himself as ...

The Rolling Stones: We Want The Stones (Decca EP)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 5 June 1965

STONES EP – EXCITING & DIFFERENT ...

Solomon Burke, Bob Dylan: Solomon Burke: Can Dylan Be Beaten?

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 12 June 1965

The answer is probably no — but all the stops are being pulled out for Solomon Burke's version of the Dylan number 'Maggie's Farm'. ...

James Brown, Solomon Burke: Solomon Burke: The Burke v. Brown Feud

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 3 July 1965

"TELL ME," I said, "all about you and James Brown. There was a two-second hush, and then Solomon Burke, king of rock & soul, launched ...

Jonathan King: X-Certificate Jonathan King

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 September 1965

JONATHAN TALKS TO NORMAN JOPLING ABOUT THE LYRICS HE WAS FORBIDDEN TO USE... ...

Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (American Columbia)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 September 1965

THOUGHT I'D jump the gun and tell you all about this LP, just issued in the States but not here. Side one starts off with ...

The Pretty Things: Viv — "It's All Lies"

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 September 1965

'I could sue them' says Viv Prince, about newspaper articles which appeared about him in New Zealand. Norman Jopling reports...' ...

Goldie & The Gingerbreads: Goldie Tells What's Wrong With British Record Buyers!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 January 1966

"I'M TOLD that alcohol isn't good for the voice," said Goldie, sipping an exotic looking snowball which had taken about ten minutes of careful preparation ...

Nina Simone: Pastel Blues (Philips BL 7683) ****

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 22 January 1966

Nina goes back to blues on her new LP Pastel Blues ...

Otis Redding: Otis R.: The Man Who Sings As Though He Means It

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 22 January 1966

EVERY SINGER, no matter how good or bad, has one dominating thought in mind when making a record. Simply, will this be the record to ...

Bob & Earl: Bob and Earl Unmasked!

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 19 February 1966

PREPARE yourselves for the most complicated R&B feature of all time! It's the story of the Bob & Earl record 'Harlem Shuffle', currently revived for ...

Irma Thomas

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 April 1966

SIPPING A CUP of coffee and looking out over the wilds of Shaftesbury Avenue, it was very hard to get Irma Thomas to talk about ...

Lee Dorsey, Allen Toussaint: Lee Dorsey: Things You Don't Know About Lee

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 30 April 1966

FOR A LONG time Lee Dorsey has been the golden boy of the in-most R&B hippies. His first couple of American hits were 'Ya Ya' ...

The Band, Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 June 1966

With A Mixture Of Folk, Rock And Comedy, Dylan Shows He Can Take Every Insult But Not A Compliment ...

Phil Spector, The Teddy Bears, Ike & Tina Turner: More Spector Magic out of the Hat

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 June 1966

PROBABLY, PHIL SPECTOR was the only person in the world who could have produced a record for Ike and Tina Turner that could make the ...

B. Bumble & The Stingers, Kim Fowley, The Hollywood Argyles, P.J. Proby: Kim Fowley: The Story of a Story-book American

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 June 1966

KIM FOWLEY sat in the Angus steak house munching buttered toast and drinking milk, happily unable to communicate with the waiters. He was wondering — ...

The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (Capitol)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 2 July 1966

AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE BEACH BOYS' WIDELY-PRAISED NEW ALBUM PET SOUNDS ...

The Beatles, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Kim Fowley, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Napoleon XIV, The Righteous Brothers, Nancy Sinatra, The Small Faces, Ike & Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder: The Beatles, Small Faces et al: New Singles

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 August 1966

Wonderful new Beatles, and 2 versions of America's 'Napoleon' hit. Very good Small Faces & old Righteous Bros & Ike and Tina. Slower Nancy and ...

Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde (CBS)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 August 1966

"GUILTY UNDERTAKERS sighed..." sings Bob Dylan, somewhat prophetically on his latest folk-rock-rhythm-blues-smash-top-twenty hit. And now, as Bob is lying in hospital with a broken neck, ...

Napoleon XIV: Bad Taste?

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 August 1966

THE VOICE OF Napoleon XIV didn't crackle across the transatlantic 'phone. In fact, it sounded as though he was talking from the other side of ...

The Mindbenders Tell Of U.S. Race Rioting, The Girl Who Writes Their Songs, And What Happens When You Hire A 'Plane

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 August 1966

RACE RIOTS and pop music don't mix. If you buy records by a coloured artiste and you happen to be white, it's difficult to be ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker: Autrey (De Walt, not Gene) Aids Tamla's British Chart Invasion...

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 10 September 1966

AT LAST TAMLA'S wonder boy Junior Walker, alias Autrey DeWalt, has made our charts, after eighteen months of records which have been revered and worshipped ...

Phil Spector, Ike & Tina Turner: Ike & Tina Turner: Ike...

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 October 1966

...tells, among other things, why he wants to change the act's name, and why he dislikes 'River Deep' ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Troggs, The Walker Brothers: The Walker Brothers, The Troggs, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Granada, East Ham, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 October 1966

Scott Was The Hit On Walker Tour First Night ...

Kim Fowley, The Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out!

Report and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 22 October 1966

The latest West Coast way of life — rebels with a cause, & their music ...

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Easybeats, The Four Tops, Bob Miller & the Millermen: The Four Tops: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 19 November 1966

UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE AT TOPS SHOW ...

The Walker Brothers: The Reluctant American: Some Interesting Opinions from Scott Walker

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 31 December 1966

"I DIDN'T like it in America, and I'm not going back to live there. When I did live there it was terrible – once I ...

Bobby Fuller Four, The , The Mamas and The Papas, Ravi Shankar, Simon & Garfunkel, Barbra Streisand: New albums from the Mamas and the Papas, Simon & Garfunkel et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 7 January 1967

Mamas and Papas next single on their new LP ...

Booker T & The MGs, The Mar-Keys, Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, Sam & Dave, The Vibrations: Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge et al: New Albums Reviewed by Norman Jopling and Peter Jones

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 14 January 1967

Rhythm & Blues galore! ...

The Rolling Stones: Between The Buttons (Decca)

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 28 January 1967

'Yesterday's Papers'; 'My Obsession'; 'Back Street Girl'; 'Connection'; 'Cool, Calm and Collected'; 'All Sold Out'; 'Please Go Home'; 'Who's Been Sleeping Here?'; 'Complicated'; 'Miss Amanda ...

Jimi Hendrix, The Who: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 February 1967

GLOOMY SAVILLE ...

Cream, Edwin Starr: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 February 1967

AFTER LAST week's unfortunate non-happening at the Saville, almost everything that happened this Sunday seemed to be in contrast. ...

Maxine Brown: "John Lennon stopped my hit"

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 25 February 1967

MAXINE BROWN has been one of the all-time raves of the Soul Set, both here in Britain and in the States. ...

Andy Williams, Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex, Love, Mose Allison, The Shangri-Las: New Albums From Aretha Franklin, Mose Allison, Love et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 25 February 1967

NEW US SOUNDS INCLUDE Soul (Joe Tex & Aretha), Cool (Andy Williams) Beat (Shangri-Las, Love) Jazz (Mose Allison)   ...

Sandy Posey: Sandy's a Single Girl who goes for R&B

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 25 February 1967

"SHE'S DIFFICULT to interview — she's very quiet and she's only interested in music and people concerned with music." That was the advice I was ...

Chuck Berry: Rock Lives!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 March 1967

...especially it seems, at the Saville. Chuck Berry talks to RM's Norman Jopling for this in-depth interview ...

Chuck Berry: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 4 March 1967

Rockers Dominate Saville Again ...

Duane Eddy, The Lomax Alliance, The Senate, Edwin Starr: Duane Eddy, Edwin Starr, The Senate, Lomax Alliance: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 March 1967

ANY DR. ZHIVAGO "gear" seen in the Savllle last Sunday was not due to a 'fab fad' but to the nippy draughts which whistled through ...

Cat Stevens, The Walker Brothers: The Walker Brothers: Images; Cat Stevens: Matthew & Son

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 March 1967

Moody Walkers L.P. and a great debut L.P. from Cat Stevens ...

Booker T & The MGs, Arthur Conley, Eddie Floyd, The Mar-Keys, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas: Otis Redding, Sam & Dave et al: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 25 March 1967

STAX SHOW REVIEW — & THE FIRST LP'S ...

Booker T & The MGs, Eddie Floyd, The Mar-Keys, Carla Thomas: Stax Volt

Profile and Interview by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 25 March 1967

Sometimes, fame comes to a label as well as a star — like Tamla Motown. Now here's Stax Volt from America with hot soul discs, ...

The Bee Gees, Fats Domino, Gerry & The Pacemakers: Fats Domino, the Bee Gees, Gerry and the Pacemakers: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 April 1967

FATS TRIUMPH AT SAVILLE ...

The Monkees: More Of The Monkees (RCA)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 April 1967

IT'S A STRANGE thing to review an LP which you know will go to the top of the LP charts and sell a load of ...

Judy Collins, Eddie Floyd, Bert Kaempfert, James Last, The Magic Lanterns, The Mindbenders, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, The Smothers Brothers: Albums from Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Eddie Floyd et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 15 April 1967

Remarkable sincerity on El's How Great Thou Art album. ...

Otis Redding: The Stax Controversy

Readers' Letters by Norman Jopling, uncredited writer, Record Mirror, 15 April 1967

THE FACTS are these. Record Mirror columnist Norman Jopling reviewed the Stax show. Frank Fenter, manager of Atlantic Records replied. Then, Record Mirror readers wrote, ...

The Doors, James Brown, Joe Tex, Lonnie Mack, McKinley "Soul" Mitchell, Petula Clark, Roy Orbison, Sonny & Cher: New Albums From The Doors, Roy Orbison, Sonny & Cher et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 22 April 1967

Orbison Gibson album — a fine LP but could be depressing... ...

Donovan: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 29 April 1967

DONOVAN AT THE SAVILLE — A PSYCHEDELIC TROUDADOR ...

Bo Diddley: Bo'N'Chess

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 May 1967

The tender story of a love-hate relationship ...

The Byrds, Marvin Gaye, Gerry & The Pacemakers, John Lee Hooker, Mantovani, The Modern Jazz Quartet, The Olympics, Roy Orbison, Prince Buster, Jimmy Ruffin, The Supremes, Jackie Trent: Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston, John Lee Hooker, Byrds, Prince Buster et al Album Reviews

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 May 1967

Some sophisticated new Motown albums ...

The Isley Brothers, The Supremes: Singles from the Supremes and Isley Brothers

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 May 1967

The Supremes: 'The Happening'; 'All I Know About You' (Tamla Motown TMG 607). ...

The Beach Boys, Helen Shapiro: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 May 1967

Happy Beach Boys sing the single they don't like ...

Stevie Wonder: "John Lennon has soul," says Stevie Wonder...

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 5 August 1967

FOR SOME strange reason, Tamla Motown have suddenly started calling Stevie Wonder "The Prophet Of Soul" which seems to be a somewhat corny catch-name for ...

Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall: Fleetwood Mac: Peter Green – The Guitarist Who Won't Forsake The Blues

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 19 August 1967

ANYONE WHO in a year has built up the reputation of being Britain's best blues guitarist, must have some interesting things to say, and therefore ...

Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones: Aftermath: Mick Jagger Answers Some Questions

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 26 August 1967

WHEN I SPOKE to Mick Jagger everything was "nice" and "groovy" with him, so don't believe everything you read in the papers. And he's happy ...

James and Bobby Purify: The Soul Difference in the USA — by James Purify...

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 September 1967

STROLLING into EMI's James and Bobby Purify reception clutching an EMI handout on the duo, I bumped into James P. who came out with some ...

Vanilla Fudge: Vanilla Fudge

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 September 1967

Vanilla Fudge LP – even more dramatic than the hit single ...

Jimmy Cliff, Freddie King, Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker & the Allstars, Freddie King, Jimmy Cliff: Saville Theatre, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 21 October 1967

IT WAS A 'soul show' at the Saville last Sunday, in the very widest sense of the term. Jimmy Cliff started off, and when he ...

Arthur Conley, Linda Carr, Percy Sledge, Sam & Dave: Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley, Percy Sledge et al: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 21 October 1967

ALL SOUL CAN sometimes be a little too much for one whole show. But the Soul Explosion package tour going around at the moment manages ...

Lee Dorsey, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Stevie Wonder: Singles from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Aretha Franklin, Lee Dorsey and Stevie Wonder

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 21 October 1967

MARVIN GAYE AND TAMMI TERRELL: 'Your Precious Love'; 'Hold Me Oh My Darling' (Tamla Motown TMG 625). What a beautiful record this is. A medium-pace, ...

Lee Dorsey: Soul Explosion! Lee Dorsey

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 November 1967

LEE DORSEY is a very interesting looking singer. He looks like a brown Bing Crosby and the effect of Lee's new teeth (which he pointed ...

The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, J.J. Jackson, Parliament, Wilson Pickett, Edwin Starr, Joe Tex: Singles from the Beach Boys, the Parliaments, Wilson Pickett et al

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 November 1967

AMERICA AWAKES, INCORPORATING 'ROCK-SOUL-BLUES REVIEWS' BY NORMAN JOPLING ...

The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 December 1967

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR is another example of a subject in which the Beatles have been able to exercise their vivid imaginations. ...

The Beach Boys, Murry Wilson: Murry Wilson: 'If The Beach Boys Realize Their Dad Is On The Ball, They'll Work Harder!'

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 2 December 1967

ARRIVING at the Hilton Hotel to talk to Murry Wilson, I phoned his room to enquire as to whether I could go up and start ...

The Tokens: Suddenly it's Happening for the Tokens

Report and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 2 December 1967

THE BACK-ROOM boys of pop music, such as record producers, arrangers, engineers and managers, seem to be getting as much fame and fortune as the ...

The Band, Bob Dylan: New Dylan

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 December 1967

Ten New Songs (RBP Editor's note: these songs would later be bootlegged, then released, as The Basement Tapes) ...

Otis Redding: To Otis

Obituary by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 23 December 1967

The life and music of Otis Redding — and some tributes... ...

The 5th Dimension, The Byrds, Dion: Best Records of 1967: The Fifth Dimension, Dion & The Belmonts, The Byrds

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 January 1968

UNLIKE DAVID Griffiths, I have no really clear-cut LP choices of last year. I've narrowed the field down to three records which I've written about ...

The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Spinners, The Supremes, Tammi Terrell, Stevie Wonder: Major LP Release from Tamla

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 January 1968

THE BIG R & B companies have a habit of LP release lists which make mouths watery with anticipation. Of course the omnipresent financial problem ...

The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes: Tamla's Miracles Break Through At Last!

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 20 January 1968

THE FIRST of the Tamla Motown groups, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, have finally made it big in the British charts with their runaway transatlantic ...

Herb Alpert, The Equals, The Herd, Love, Wes Montgomery, Des O'Connor, Jim Reeves, Jimmie Rodgers (pop), Big Jim Sullivan, Doc Watson: Albums from Love, Herb Alpert, the Equals et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 27 January 1968

From the U.S.A. there are West Coast goodies by Love and Herb Alpert. U.K. albums include first Herd, second Equals and an L.P. by Des ...

Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding (U.S. Columbia)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 27 January 1968

BOB DYLAN'S LATEST LP JOHN WESLEY HARDING – A REVIEW IN DEPTH BY NORMAN JOPLING ...

Bert Kaempfert: Massive Kaempfert LP Release

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 17 February 1968

ONE BATCH of LP's which, altogether, may slightly be beyond the reach of your pocket — no less than FIVE LP's by BERT KAEMPFERT and ...

James Brown, Patti LaBelle, Wilson Pickett, The Sweet Inspirations: Soul LPs... including Wilson Pickett and James Brown

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 17 February 1968

WILSON PICKETT: The Best Of Wilson Pickett 'In The Midnight Hour'; 'I Found A Love'; '634-5789'; 'If You Need Me'; 'Mustang Sally'; 'Don't Fight It'; ...

Boots Randolph, Fleetwood Mac, Frankie Laine, Jack Jones, James Brown, John Fred and his Playboy Band, John Mayall, The Peddlers, Robert Mitchum, Van Morrison: New Albums by John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 2 March 1968

Staunch British blues fans will dig Mayall's Diary LP set ...

Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Joe Tex: Bonanza Atlantic LP Issue: Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex et al

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 March 1968

IN AN EFFORT to smash the Tamla domination of the LP market, the rival R&B giant Atlantic have put out a batch of soul and ...

Fleetwood Mac: Rock'n'Blues Via Peter Green

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 March 1968

THE BIG BEAT BUG BITES BLUESMAN PETER ...

Acker Bilk, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Judy Collins, Herbie Mann, Manfred Mann, Jackie Mittoo, Tim Rose, The Troggs, Slim Whitman: New Albums from Manfred Mann, Judy Collins, Butterfield Blues Band et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 9 March 1968

MANFRED MANN: Up The Junction (Fontana TL 5460). HOW FORTUNATE it is for the Manfreds that this LP of film music — never strictly commercial ...

The American Breed, The Byrds, The Hobbits, Jefferson Airplane, The Move, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison, Plastic Penny: New Albums From Roy Orbison, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 6 April 1968

Some interesting LP's — a new and an old Orbison, powerful Move, brilliant Byrds, but a let-down from Jefferson Airplane, and an unexpected goodie by ...

Scott Walker: Scott 2 (Philips)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 12 April 1968

Scott's LP in depth ...

Otis Redding: Otis' Ambition Was To Replace Sam Cooke...

Obituary by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 April 1968

ABOUT THREE years ago I wrote a feature on Otis Redding as part of a series called "Great Unknowns". It was based on four records ...

Tim Buckley

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 April 1968

TIM BUCKLEY is a vague, interesting folksinger who doesn't know how many copies his records have sold or which of his songs have been put ...

1910 Fruitgum Company, Eddie Cochran, Sammy Davis Jr., Bo Diddley, Lee Hazlewood, Etta James, Little Walter, Cliff Richard, Nancy Sinatra: Albums from Nancy Sinatra, Etta James et al

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 May 1968

ETTA JAMES Tell Mama — 'Tell Mama'; 'I'd Rather Go Blind'; 'The Love Of My Man'; 'I'm Gonna Take What He's Got'; 'The Same Rope'; ...

Duane Eddy, Bill Haley, The Wild Angels: Bill Haley & the Comets, Duane Eddy: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 May 1968

The Great Leap Backwards! ...

Johnny Cash: 'Dylan — He's The Best Songwriter Around Now...' said Johnny Cash

Profile and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 11 May 1968

IN THE YEAR 1956, one of the most formidable of the small American labels was Sun records, owned and run by Sam Phillips who was ...

Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 May 1968

SOME PEOPLE are going around saying that Aretha Franklin is the Queen Of Soul, many people are buying her records, and one person (show compère ...

Albert King, Big Joe Turner, Booker T & The MGs, The Box Tops, The Dells, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Lou Rawls, Merrill Moore, Otis Redding: James Brown, Box Tops, Albert King, Otis Redding et al, Album Reviews

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 May 1968

Loads of R&B albums including Otis' great Dock Of The Bay LP ...

The Byrds, Gram Parsons: The Byrds: Middle Earth, London

Live Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 18 May 1968

HIGH FLYING BYRDS TRIUMPH WITH A BRITISH AUDIENCE... ...

Captain Beefheart: People Talk About BEEFHEART!

Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 1 June 1968

MOST PEOPLE who play pop music and seem to be successful (judging by the conventional criteria of success) seem to have a little musical talent ...

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Simon & Garfunkel: Simon & Garfunkel: Bookends (Columbia); Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick & Tich: If No One Sang (Fontana)

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 June 1968

FOCUS ON 2 GIANT LPs ...

Glen Campbell, Hank Williams, The Righteous Brothers, Sandy Posey, The Small Faces, Velvet Underground: Small Faces, Velvet Underground etc.: New Albums Reviewed

Review by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 June 1968

Cockney Rock LP puts Small Faces in West Coast bracket ...

Jimi Hendrix: Man, Myth Or Magic? Jimi Hendrix is Back, and Happy, and Talking…

Interview by Norman Jopling, Music Now, 12 September 1970

JIMI HENDRIX is staying at a West End hotel prior to his appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival and his forthcoming European tour. ...

Shakespeare in the 70s: Jack Good's Catch My Soul

Interview by Norman Jopling, Music Now, 23 January 1971

CATCH MY SOUL, as you've doubtless read, is a rock musical based on Shakespeare's Othello. It was conceived by Jack Good who plays the title ...

Captain Beefheart: Love Over Gold: Captain Beefheart Talks To RM Readers

Report and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 8 April 1972

FIVE YEARS ago, the magic name of Captain Beefheart was no more than an imported LP in the window-display of clique-ey One-Stop Records. There ...

Brinsley Schwarz, Captain Beefheart, Donovan, Dr. John, The Flamin' Groovies, Grateful Dead, Hawkwind, The Kinks, Wishbone Ash: Bickershaw

Report by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 May 1972

Maybe if you're young enough, from a dreary home environment with nothing but a soul destroying future, then maybe you could enjoy a festival like ...

Michael Jackson: Got To Be There (Tamla Motown STML11205).

Review by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 13 May 1972

Are Tamla stretching Michael? ...

John Prine: An Interview with John Prine

Interview by Norman Jopling, unpublished, September 1972

JOHN PRINE IS THE GUY that sang the song about the hole in Daddy's arm where all the money goes, and a whole bunch of ...

Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley: Scotty Moore: The Man Who Launched A Thousand Licks

Interview by Norman Jopling, New Musical Express, 27 January 1973

PEOPLE AROUND at the time Elvis first made it claim that guitarist Scotty Moore was the musician most responsible for "The Elvis Presley Sound". Moore ...

Jerry Butler: The Iceman Talking: The Life And Times Of Jerry Butler

Interview by Norman Jopling, Cream, June 1973

BUTLER'S MUSIC Workshop is upstairs in a tatty warehouse building in Chicago's South Side, very near Chinatown and uncomfortably near Lake Michigan so it gets ...

Phil Spector: Talk of the Town: Phil Spector in London

Book Excerpt by Norman Jopling, 'Shake It Up, Baby!', March 2015

THE RECORD MIRROR office was a four-room apartment above Drum City at 116 Shaftesbury Avenue and employed a total of nine full-time staff and numerous ...

back to LIBRARY

COPYRIGHT NOTICE