Music Box 29th November 2025

The Damned are an English rock band formed in London in 1976 by lead vocalist Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist (and later guitarist) Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. They were the first punk band from the United Kingdom to release a single, "New Rose" (1976), release a studio album, Damned Damned Damned (1977) and tour the United States.]Nine of the band's singles charted within the top 40 on the UK singles chart. Here's that stunning debut single New Rose (Stiff 7" 1976)

Fanny was an American rock band, active in the early 1970s. They were one of the first all-female rock groups to achieve critical and commercial success, including two Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles. The group was founded by guitarist June Millington and her sister, bassist Jean, who had been playing music together since they moved from the Philippines to California in 1961. After playing in several bands, they attracted the interest of producer Richard Perry who signed them to Reprise Records in 1969 as Fanny. The band recorded four albums together before June Millington quit the group. Following a final album, Fanny disbanded in 1975. The Millington sisters have continued to play music together since the split, and formed the spin-off group Fanny Walked The Earth in 2018. The group has continued to attract critical acclaim for rejecting typical girl group styles and expectations of women in the rock industry generally, and emphasizing their musical skills. Later groups, such as The Bangles and The Runaways, cited Fanny as a key influence. Here's their superb (and in my opinion superior) cover of the Cream song badge, from their debut LP Fanny (Reprise 1970) 

Los Brincos (translates as the Jumps) were one of the most successful Spanish rock bands of the 1960s, and were sometimes called the "Spanish Beatles". The group was formed in 1964. The members were Fernando Arbex (drums), Manuel González (bass), Juan Pardo (guitar) and Antonio "Junior" Morales (guitar). All four sang, and vocal harmonies were an important part of their sound. This is their single Nobody Wants You Now (Page One 7" 1967)

Larry Williams (1935 – 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, and pianist from New Orleans. He is best known for writing and recording some rock and roll classics from 1957 to 1959 for Specialty Records, including "Bony Moronie", "Short Fat Fannie", "Slow Down", "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" (1958), "Bad Boy" and "She Said Yeah" (1959). John Lennon was an admirer, and the Beatles and several other British Invasion groups recorded several of his songs. Here's his classic fifth single Dizzy Miss Lizzy (Specialty 45rpm 7"/78rpm 10" 1958). The Beatles covered this and its B-side Slow Down

We conclude with a double-bill from Nick Drake, the British folk singer-songwriter and guitarist (19 June 1948, Rangoon, Burma - 25 November 1974, Tanworth-in-Arden, England), and brother of actor Gabrielle Drake . He released three albums before his untimely death in 1974. Here are Black Eyed Dog, which he wrote at his parents home in 1973, and recorded 1974, though he died shortly after. This and three other recordings of the time were later compiled onto Fruit Tree (Hannibal/Island 1979). We finish with the majestic and beautiful Northern Sky, featuring John Cale on celeste, from his second LP Bryter Later (Island 1971)