Lesser-known British invasion material unearthed
Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 12/23/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In addition to his one top-20 tune, the atmospheric and lyrically puzzling "Everyone's Gone To The Moon", Jonathan (Kenneth) King had his music in the charts by way of Hedgehoppers Anonymous' version of "It's Good News Week". This CD conveniently gathers up both King's album done around "Everyone..." along with 10 sides done by HA including their only charting tune, "It's Good News Week". King's follow-up to "Everyone...", "Where The Sun Has Never Shone" a sound-alike that barely scratched the lower reaches of the top-100 is included, making its debut on domestic CD. While not packed with hits, this niche collection fills a long-standing gap in the British invasion material available on domestic CD. Sound quality is good with all tracks having been taken from the original masters. The Hedgehoppers material (tracks 1-10) is in mono along with the two King bonus tracks (23,24). The other King tracks appear in stereo. The liner notes in the booklet are brief but informative. Heretofore ignored by the majors, this material now sees the light of day by way of the small Wounded Bird Records."
It's Good News Week with Jonathan King
Fredric A. Cooper | Torrance, CA United States | 09/23/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is one clever compilation. It contains the entire Parrot LP by Jonathan King, "Or Then Again", plus 2 non-LP bonus tracks, coupled with all 5 of the singles by Hedgehoppers Anonymous, thus making their first appearance since the 1960s. King wrote their hit "It's Good News Week", which appears on his album as well, with different lyrics. "Daytime" and "Stop Press" are interesting tracks, but Hedgehoppers was a one-hit wonder band if there ever was one. Jonathan King's album contains some really excellent tracks such as "Seagulls", "Passions of Ancient Egypt" and "Time and Motion", as well as his hit singles "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" and "Round Round". The informative liner notes point out that "Where the Sun Has Never Shone" was the ill-chosen follow-up to "..Moon", being far too similar in sound. "Round Round" got airplay in my area (Los Angeles), so it was a hit as far as I'm concerned. I'm not sure how it did on the national charts, but it is an extremely catchy track, even with its rather strident anti-drug lyric. All in all, a fine CD with some excellent, neglected British Invasion material."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1