POLYDOR “Flashback” Series of UK Budget-Priced Single LPs from 1975 to 1977

TITLES:
Although neither the label nor the sleeve gave this series any official title (most are simply credited in lists and discographies as self-titled compilations), this series of single LPs became known as “ROCK FLASHBACKS” because of that title on the sticker that accompanied many of the early issues (see picture above).

PRICE:
The albums were also pitched at a Special Price of £1.47 (a lot cheaper than the full price LP of 1975) and the compilations generally featured early or rare material by the artist. The “Flashbacks” stickers disappeared on the 2nd run of issues and the label went from their Polydor Standard imprint to Polydor Special (Their Budget Label). Almost all of these compilations are simply ‘self titled’, “Roy Buchanan” “Focus” etc – but those that aren’t are noted below (“Live” for Rory Gallagher, “Vol.2” for Cream etc).

COPYRIGHT/RELEASE DATES:
Very few of the compilations (except towards 1978) had a copyright date on the record label or rear sleeve (i.e. 1975 or 1976), but instead had the copyright date of the material on the label - which has led to some confusion on eBay at times about when these albums were released. Some label variations away from Polydor also occurred, Verve, MGM, RSO etc

ARTWORK:
I’ve only included the album covers in this series, which featured the centred ‘photo’ against a colour background sleeve – it became the series trademark look and was devised by VINCENT McAVOY. There are many other albums on Polydor Special like “Clapton” (RSO Special 2394 186) from 1978, but they tended to be straightforward reissues of early LPs and didn’t sport the ‘photo’ artwork of this series.

ALPHABETICAL LIST – ARTISTS and TITLES

1. Roy Buchanan (Polydor Special 2482 275)
2. Eric Burdon and The Animals (Metro Special 2356 142)
3. Cream (Polydor Standard 2384 067)
4. Cream Vol.2 (RSO Special 2479 701)
5. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity (Polydor Standard 2384 062)
6. Fairport Convention (Polydor Standard 2384 047)
7. Focus (Polydor Special 2384 070)
8. Rory Gallagher (Polydor Standard 2384 066)
9. Rory Gallagher – Live (Polydor Special 2384 079)
10. Golden Earring (Polydor Special 2482 329)
11. Richie Havens (Polydor Special 2482 273)
12. Jimi Hendrix (Polydor Standard 2343 080)
13. Jimi Hendrix, Vol.2 (Polydor Special 2343 086)
14. Lifetime featuring John McLaughlin etc (Polydor Special 2482 179)
15. John Mayall (Polydor Special 2482 272)
16. Medicine Head (Polydor Special 2384 069)
17. Pink Fairies (Polydor Special 2384 071)
18. Rare Bird (Polydor Special 2384 078) 1977
19. Stone The Crows (Polydor Special 2482 279)
20. Taste (Polydor Special 2384 076)
21. The Velvet Underground (MGM Special 2354 033)
22. Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention (Verve Special 2352 057)

23. Various – Medium Rare (Polydor Special 2482 381)
24. Various – Rare Tracks (Polydor Special 2482 274)

ALPHABETICAL LIST – ARTISTS and TITLES - DETAILED


1. Roy Buchanan (Polydor Special 2482 275) 1978
[Compilation of tracks from the UK LPs “Roy Buchanan” (1972), “Second Album” (1973), “That’s What I Am Here For” (1974) and “Rescue Me” (1975)]
Side 1: Sweet Dreams/Tribute To Elmore James/Roys Bluz/Cajun/Country Preacher/After Hours
Side 2: The Messiah Will Come Again/Filthy Teddy/Wayfaring Pilgrim/Please Don’t Turn Me Away/She Once Lived Here/In The Beginning


2. Eric Burdon and The Animals (Metro Special 2356 142) 1976
Side 1: Good Times/Sky Pilot/San Francisco Nights/Paint It Black/When I Was Young/See See Rider
Side 2: Ring Of Fire/River Deep Mountain High/Monterey/Help Me Girl/I’m An Animal/To Love Somebody


3. Cream (Polydor Standard 2384 067) 1975
[Consists of their debut album “Fresh Cream” from late 1966 plus their 1st UK 7” single “Wrapping Paper” and “The Coffee Song” (previously unreleased in the UK at the time of this release)]
Side 1: N.S.U./Sleepy Time Time/Dreaming/Sweet Wine/Spoonful/Wrapping Paper
Side 2: Cat’s Squirrel/Four Until Late/The Coffee Song/Rollin’ And Tumblin’/I’m So Glad/Toad


4. Cream Vol.2 (RSO Special 2479 701) 1978 Release
Side 1: I Feel Free/Those Were The Days/World Of Pain/Doin’ That Scrapyard Thing/Lawdy Mama/What A Bringdown
Side 2: Deserted Cities Of The Heart/Dance The Night Away/Anyone For Tennis/We’re Going Wrong/Passing The Time/Crossroads


5. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity (Polydor Standard 2384 062) 1975
Side 1: Let The Sunshine In/The Road To Cairo/Take Me To The Water – I’m Going Back Home/Why (Am I Treated So Bad)/Light My Fire/Save Me/A Kind Of Love In
Side 2: This Wheel’s On Fire/Break It Up/Tramp/Season Of The Witch/Save The Country/Indian Rope Man



6. Fairport Convention (Polydor Standard 2384 047) 1975
[Straightforward reissue of their 1968 debut album (stereo version) on Polydor]
Side 1: Time Will Show The Wiser/I Don’t Know Where I Stand/If (Stomp)/Decameron/Jack O’Diamonds/Portfolio
Side 2: Chelsea Morning/Sun Shade/The Lobster/It’s Alright Ma, It’s Only Witchcraft/One Sure Thing/M1 Breakdown


7. Focus (Polydor Special 2384 070) 1975
[Band featured Jan Akkerman, Thisj Van Leer, Bert Butler, Cyril Havermans, Colin Allen, Pierre Van Der Linden, Martin Dresden, Hans Glevver]
Side 1: Hocus Pocus/Round Goes The Gossip/Love Remembered/House Of The King
Side 2: Early Birth/Focus II/Carnival Fugue/Janis/Elspeth Of Nottingham/Tommy/Sylvia


8. Rory Gallagher (Polydor Standard 2384 066) 1975
[Consists of tracks from his 1st and 2nd solo albums “Rory Gallagher” and “Deuce”, both from 1971 on Polydor]
Side 1: Used To Be/Sinner Boy/For The Last Time/Hand’s Up/Just The Smile
Side 2: Crest Of A Wave/I’m Not Awake Yet/There’s A Light/I Fall Apart/Don’t Know Where I’m Going


9. Rory Gallagher – Live (Polydor Special 2384 079) 1976
[Consists of tracks from “Live! In Europe” from 1972 and the 2LP set “Irish Tour ‘74” from 1974, both on Polydor]
Side 1: Cradle Rock/Tattoo’d Lady/Pistol Slapper Blues/Walk On Hot Coals
Side 2: In Your Town/Who’s That Coming/Messing With The Kid


10. Golden Earring (Polydor Special 2482 329) 1976
Side 1: Back Home/Buddy Joe/Kill Me (Se Soir)/She Flies On Strange Wings (Part 1)/I Sing My Song/Avalanche Of Love/One Huge Road/The Song Is Over
Side 2: Radar Love/Stand By Me/Song Of A Devil’s Servant/Landing/All Day Watcher/Candy’s Going Bad


11. Richie Havens (Polydor Special 2482 273) 1975
[Compilation of tracks from 1967’s “Mixed Bag” through to “Mixed Bag II” from 1975]
Side 1: Here Comes The Sun/Ooh Child/I Don’t Need Nobody/Minstrel From Gault/End Of The Seasons
Side 2: It Was A Very Good Year/Someone Suite/Open Your Eyes/She’s Leaving Home/Tight Rope/I Pity The Poor Immigrant/The Indian Prayer


12. Jimi Hendrix (Polydor Standard 2343 080) 1975
Side 1: Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)/Ezy Rider/Little Wing/Love Or Confusion/House Burning Down/Johnny B. Goode
Side 2: All Along The Watchtower/Little Miss Lover/Power To Love/The Drifter’s Escape/Angel


13. Jimi Hendrix Vol.2 (Polydor Special 2343 086) 1976
Side 1: Freedom/Gypsy Eyes/Remember/Castles Made Of Sand/Stone Free/Straight Ahead
Side 2: In From The Storm/I Don’t Live Today/Crosstown Traffic/Are You Experienced


14. Lifetime featuring John McLaughlin, Jack Bruce, Tony Williams and Larry Young (Polydor Special 2482 179) 1975
Side 1: One Word/A Famous Blues/Vashkar/Emergency
Side 2: Two Worlds/Spectrum/Big Nick/Vuelta Abajo


15. John Mayall (Polydor Special 2482 272) 1976
[Compilation – “Accidental Suicide” features Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor on Guitars – the front cover miscredits Track 1, Side 1 as “The Years Are Gone”]
Side 1: Ten Years Are Gone/Mess Around/Room To Move/Don’t Waste My Time/Accidental Suicide/Red Sky
Side 2: Nature’s Disappearing/Television Eye/High Pressure Living/The Law’s Must Change


16. Medicine Head (Polydor Special 2384 069) 1975
[Compilation – tracks from the albums "Dark Side Of The Moon" (1972), "One & One Is One" (1973) and "Thru' A Five" (1974)]
Side 1: Rising Sun/How Does It Feel/ Kum On/Out On The Street/The Seasons & The Signs/Indian Queen
Side 2: Cajun Kick/Slip And Slide/All The Fallen Teenangles/Only To Do What Is True/White Dove/Another Lay/Sittin' In The Sun/ One & One Is One


17. Pink Fairies (Polydor Special 2384 071) 1975
Side 1: The Snake/City Kids/Wargirl/Portobello Shuffle/Heavenly Man/Do It/Pigs Of Uranus
Side 2: Well Well Well/Chromium Plating/I Went Up, I Went Down/Say You Love Me/Street Urchin


18. Rare Bird (Polydor Special 2384 078) 1977
[Compilation – tracks from the albums, “Epic Forest” (1972), “Somebody’s Watching” (1973) and “Born Again” (1974)]
Side 1: Body And Soul/Epic Forest/Passing Through/Diamonds/Turn Your Head/
Virginia
Side 2: Don't Be Afraid/Hey Man/Reaching You/Hard Time/Redman/Somebody's Watching


19. Stone The Crows (Polydor Special 2482 279) 1976 release
[Featured Maggie Bell, Jim Dewar, Jimmy McCulloch]
[Compilation – tracks from the albums “Stone The Crows” (1970), “Ode To John Law” (1970), “Teenage Licks” (1971) and “Ontinuous Performance” (1972 – deliberately spelt without the ‘c’)]
Side 1: Big Jim Salter/Love 74/Touch Of Your Loving Hand/Sad Mary/Good Time Girl
Side 2: On The Highway/Mr. Wizard/Sunset Cowboy/Raining in Your Heart/Seven Lakes


20. Taste (Polydor Special 2384 076) 1977
[Compilation – tracks from the albums “Taste” (1969), “On The Boards” (1970) and “Live Taste” (1971)]
Side 1: Blister On The Moon/Railway And Gun/Hail/Leaving Blues/Sinner Boy/Born On The Wrong Side Of Time
Side 2: Same Old Story/If I Don’t Sing I’ll Cry/Gamblin’ Blues/Morning Sun/Sugar Mama/Eat My Words


21. The Velvet Underground (MGM Special 2354 033) 1976
[Compilation – Label miscredits “I’m Set Free” as I’m So Free”]
Side 1: White Light-White Heat/What Goes On/Venus In Furs/That's The Story Of My Life/Here She Comes Now/Beginning To See The Light/Jesus
Side 2: Run Run Run/Some Kinda Love/The Gift/I'm Set Free/I Heard Her Call My Name


22. Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention (Verve Standard 2352 057)
[Compilation – Contains tracks from “Freak Out!” (1967), edits from "We're Only In It For The Money" (1968), two single-only tracks (“Why Don’t You Do Me Right” and “Big Leg Emma”), “Absolutely Free” (1967), “Lumpy Gravy” (1968) and “Cruising With Ruben & The Jets” (1969). “Excerpt From Lumpy Gravy” on Side 1 is credited to The Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Orchestra]
Side 1: Why Don't You Do Me Right/Who Needs The Peace Corps/Concentration Moon/Mom & Dad/Bow Tie Daddy/Harry, You're A Beast/What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?/Absolutely Free/Cheap Thrills/Excerpt From Lumpy Gravy/Wowie Zowie
Side 2: Flower Punk/Later That Night/Let's Make The Water Turn Black/Lonely Little Girl/Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance/What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise)/America Drinks/Status Back Baby/Uncle Bernie's Farm/Son Of Suzy Cream Cheese/Big Leg Emma


23. Various – Medium Rare (Polydor Special 2482 381) 1977
Side 1:
1. “Crackers” by FOCUS [exclusive mix, 1975]
2. “Come To The Sunshine” by VAN DYKE PARKS
[Non-Album A-Side of a USA 7" single on MGM Records 13570, 1966]
3. “When Can I Come Home?” by LEE DORSEY
[Non-Album A-Side of a USA 7" single on Polydor 14147, 1972]
4. “Trees” by GALLAGHER and LYLE
[Non-Album A of their debut 7” single on Polydor BM 56170 from 1967]
5. “The Reason” by THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN
[A-side of their 4th UK 7” single on Track Records 2094 003 from 1970]
6. “Daddy Daddy” by BIRDS BIRDS
[Non-Album B-side of the 1966 ultra-rare 7” single on Reaction 591 005; contains members of BIRDS and GODS, tie-ins with THE CREATION, Ronnie WOOD of FACES and STONES, URIAH HEEP…]
7. “Man Of Constant Sorrow” by GINGER BAKER’S AIR FORCE
[UK 7” single version on Polydor 56380 from 1970]
8. “Foxfire” by BOBBY THOMPSON


Side 2:
1. “On Your Way Down” by LEE DORSEY
[Non-Album A-side of a USA 7" single on Polydor 14181, 1973]
2. “O Avondrood” by FOCUS
(the track “Red Sky At Night” from the “Ship Of Memories” compilation from 1977, but with Dutch Lyrics instead of English)
3. “Number Nine” by VAN DYKE PARKS
[Non-Album A of his debut 7” single on MGM Records MGM 1301 from 1968]
4. “Sarah’s Crazy Child” by JOHN’S CHILDREN [pre T.REX]
[B-Side of the ultra-rare withdrawn UK 7" single "Midsummer Night's Scene" on Track 604 005, 1967] £4000.00 Plus
5. “In The Crowd” by GALLAGHER and LYLE
(Non-Album B of their debut 7” single on Polydor BM 56170 from 1967)
6. “More Tea Vicar” by MAINHORSE [featuring PATRICK MORAZ of YES]
[from the 1971 "Mainhorse" LP on Polydor]
7. “Freedom For The Stallion” by LEE DORSEY
[A-side to a UK 7” single on Mojo 2093 009 from 1972]
8. “Devil Dance” by BOBBY THOMPSON


24. Various – Rare Tracks (Polydor Special 2482 274) 1976
[Compilation of mostly rare 7" single releases; Record Collector Price Guide Value for 2010 issue follows after each entry]
1. Love Makes Sweet Music by THE SOFT MACHINE
[Non-Album A-Side of their debut UK 7” single on Polydor 56151 from 1967] £150.00
2. Anyone For Tennis (The Savage Seven Theme) by CREAM
[A-side of their 4th UK 7” single on Polydor 56258 from 1968] £10.00
3. To Fly Away by KEVIN GODLEY
[Exclusive track to the label sampler “Marmalade –100% Proof” from 1969 on Marmalade 643 314] £15.00
4. If I Had A Ribbon Bow by FAIRPORT CONVENTION
[Non-Album A-Side of their Debut UK 7” single on Track 604 020, 1967] £75.00
5. You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet by LINDA LEWIS
[A-Side of her debut UK 7” single on Polydor 56173, 1967] £80.00
6. Sunshine Day by JETHRO TOE
(Non-Album A-side from 1968 of their Debut 7” single on MGM Records 1384 – Jethro Tull, miscredited as Jethro Toe) £500.00
7. Mister Pleasant by NICKI HOPKINS & THE WHISTLING PIANO
[A-Side of his 2nd UK 7” single on Polydor 56175, 1967] £18.00
8. Zoot Suit by THE HIGH NUMBERS
[Non-Album A-side of THE WHO’s debut UK 7” single on Fontana TF 480 from 1964] £500.00
9. I'm Gettin' Tired (Of Drinkin' And Gamblin' Etcetera) by JACK BRUCE
[Non-Album A-Side of his debut UK 7” single on Polydor BM 56036, 1965] £70.00

Side 2:
1. Rootin’ Tootin’ by JACK BRUCE
[Non-Album B-Side of his debut UK 7” single on Polydor BM 56036, 1965] £70.00
2. Just A Little Bit by STU BROWN AND BLUESOLOGY
[ELTON JOHN as Reg Dwight]
[Non-Album B-side of their only UK 7” single “Since I Found You Baby” on Polydor 56195, 1967] £300.00
3. Aeroplane by JETHRO TOE
(Non-Album B-side from 1968 of their Debut 7” single on MGM Records MGM 1384 – Jethro Tull, miscredited as Jethro Toe) £500
4. Desdemona by JOHN'S CHILDREN [Marc Bolan of T.Rex]
[A-Side of their 3rd UK 7” single on Track 603 003, 1967] £125.00
5. Take My Advice by SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE [unreleased at the time]
6. Dolly Dagger by JIMI HENDRIX [1970 recording, unreleased at the time]
7. Ain’t That Just Too Bad by ALEX HARVEY AND HIS SOUL BAND
[A-Side of his 3rd UK 7" Single on Polydor BM 56017, 1965] £45.00
8. Feelin’ Reelin’ Squeelin’ by THE SOFT MACHINE
[Non-Album B-side to to their Debut 7” single on Polydor 56151 from 1967) £150.00

PS: see also listing for "Pop History" series of double-albums on Polydor out of Germany - separate blog