Gary Glitter: Glitter Gatefold LP 1973.

Description

Glitter was released in 1972 by British glam rock singer Gary Glitter, produced by Bell Records. Two tracks, “I Didn’t Know I Loved You (‘Til I Saw You Rock ‘n’ Roll)” and “Rock And Roll”, the latter a song in two parts, achieved success as singles; each spent time among the top forty singles in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
The album featured, in addition to including the two singles, other original songs that generated fan support, including “Rock On!”, “Shakey Sue” and “The Famous Instigator”, as well as Glitters versions of “Baby, Please Don’t Go” (written and first performed by American Big Joe Williams) and “The Wanderer” (first recorded by Dion DiMucci & the Del-Satins).
The album was the first by Glitter to achieve international success and presaged his 1973 Touch Me.

Track listing:
Side 1
“Rock and Roll Part 1” (Glitter, Mike Leander)
“Baby, Please Don’t Go” (Big Joe Williams)
“The Wanderer” (Ernie Maresca)
“I Didn’t Know I Loved You (‘Til I Saw You Rock ‘N’ Roll)” (Glitter, Mike Leander)
“Ain’t That a Shame”
“School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell)” (Chuck Berry)

Side 2
“Rock On!” (Glitter, Mike Leander)
“Donna” (Ritchie Valens)
“The Famous Instigator”
“The Clapping Song” (Lincoln Chase)
“Shaky Sue” (Glitter, Mike Leander, Seago)
“Rock and Roll Part 2” (Glitter, Mike Leander)

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the music speak for itself,

“Glitter”, released in 1972, was Gary Glitters debut album. By 1973, glam rock would reach its peak of popularity – both the album, and Paul Gadds new alter-ego were well-timed to capitalise on the British publics appetite for kitsch, flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll. “Glitter” was a big success, rising to #8 on the UK album charts.

It was no overnight sensation – Paul Gadd had been releasing music as Paul Raven, Paul Mundy, Paul Russell and Rubber Bucket (!) since 1960. But with Gary Glitter, he had finally found a persona that would make him a star.

Compared to his contemporaries, Garys outfits were every bit as glamourous as Marc Bolan and David Bowie, but more importantly, he was not as distant and aloof as they often appeared to be. While Bolan and Bowie mystified audiences with abstract lyrics and androgynous images, Gary hooked them in by making a more direct and personal connection. He was The Leader, his fans were The Gang, and his songs described their relationship: “Did you miss me while I was away?” Gary sang to his audience, like a lover returning to his sweetheart.

The final pieces of the puzzle were a songwriting partner and a backing band, and on “Glitter”, both fell into place. Gary and Mike Leander joined forces to co-write new material based on big guitar hooks, even bigger sing-along choruses, and simple but memorable lyrics of falling in love and listening to great rock ‘n’ roll. The Glitter Band (comprising Gerry Shephard, John Springate, Pete Phipps, Tony Leonard, Harvey Ellison and John Rossall) added distorted guitars, saxophones and their legendary dwelling drum kits to the mix, creating a sound that was richer, fuller and more instantly recognizable than anything else on the glam rock scene. “The Glitter Beat” was born.

From the album, “Rock And Roll (Parts 1 & 2)” became the breakthrough hit of the summer in ’72, reaching #2 on the UK singles charts, and later that September “I Didn’t Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock And Roll)” followed it to #4. The albums popularity was further bolstered by superb Glitter/Leander originals “Rock On” and “The Famous Instigator”, as well as an exciting re-working of the blues standard “Baby Please Don’t Go”. Elsewhere on the record, covers of Dions “The Wanderer” and Ritchie Valens’ “Donna” give the listener a taste of 50s nostalgia, although in fairness this is given a little too much leeway at the expense of the tougher, cutting edge glam rock.

As an important part of the heritage of British rock music, and a wonderfully upbeat collection of music, “Glitter” is well worth buying, and in the face of tabloid hate-mongers who have attempted to bury Garys music in recent years, it is well worth preserving, too.

Let the music speak for itself.