John's Children did not trouble the charts during the 1960s but gained fame as a result of their recruitment of Marc Bolan as guitarist to replace Geoff McLelland. This album was recorded prior to Bolan joining with the original line-up.

The original LP was due for release in 1967 but was not issued until 1970 and in the US. A UK version followed in 1982. This is mostly a live album but it is no normal live album. The first two tracks and final two tracks are studio singles with the remainder made up of live tracks. There is a very noisy, screaming audience which is somewhat unexpected as John's Children were not a well-known band. If you listen carefully you can hear the girls shouting the Beatles' names. Yes, the audience sound was dubbed from A Hard Day's Night soundtrack and added to the John's Children studio recordings by manager Simon Napier-Bell.

The first two tracks were released as singles with Just What You Want - Just What You'll Get reaching the top 50. Smashed Blocked had to be retitled due to its apparent drug reference. It is also known as The Love I Thought I'd Found.

Following the studio singles the "live section starts. Small Faces fans will recognise the start of Jagged Time Lapse when the band starts playing the East End Fab Four's Understanding.

Strange Affair was released as the b-side of Smashed Blocked. It is a whole track played backwards rather than just an element such as guitar. There is no evidence of which track it is or even if it is a John's Children track. But She's Mine was the b-side of the second single. This takes the standard "mod-style" riff from I Can't Explain, I'm Rowed Out or You Really Got Me. This is probably one of the band's best tracks.

Certainly there are some decent tracks on this LP and it does stand out as one of the decade's curiosities.

White Whale (US)

Original release: September 1970 (Scheduled for March 1967)

Reissue: 1982 (Cherry Red)

Essential Tracks