The Magic Mixture - It's Alright By Me (1968)

This band, originally called Maton’s Magic Mixture, was formed in 1968 in London. It was composed of Jim “Terry” Thomas, Stan Curtis, Melvyn Hacker, and Jack Collins (“Jack McCulloch”). Hacker had gotten Thomas into music, and they’re probably the co-founders of this particular band. The band was offered to make their first record on the low-budget label Saga Records in 1968. Although they accepted, they were disappointed to find out that they had signed all of their rights away to the music the moment they got paid for it. And they were only paid one hundred fifty pounds each. The album, titled This is the Magic Mixture, would be the group’s first and last album. They played a few live shows, but when their lead singer Jim Thomas quit, the band folded behind him.

Jim Thomas would soon start calling himself Terry Thomas and create the British rock band Charlie in 1971, as well as produce and write songs for Bad Company and Foreigner in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Jack Collins would go on to perform with The Five Day Week Straw People, which eventually evolved into Andromeda.

This song, the opening track to the second side of This is the Magic Mixture, was written by band member Jim Thomas (as were all of the other songs on the album). Unfortunately, because Saga Records decided against putting any money behind producing the album, this song and all the others slipped into instant obscurity. It took years before the album was ever released in the United States, but failed to make an impact there, as well.



The Magic Mixture - It's Alright By Me (1968)

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Lyrics:

You say you seek the brightness of another kind of life
You must leave the drabness behind
‘cause life is so boring; it’s tiring and dull
And there’s so much more you must find

Well that’s alright by me
Yes, it’s alright by me
You know it’s alright by me

You seek the colors of the rainbow
And the pastel shades of night
And you’re troubled to define just this
You want to let the grass caress you
As the night wind sweeps along
Then to feel the cool ray’s kiss

Well that’s alright by me
Yes, it’s alright by me
Oh, it’s alright by me

Can you imagine life with no pain?
A barring existence
A sun with no rain

Well that’s alright by me
Yes, it’s alright by me
Yes, it’s alright by me

Can you imagine life with no pain?
A barring existence
A sun with no rain

So, go if you want to and leave all behind
Your friends, your home, and yourself
But don’t forget reality is always on your side
And to come back when you find yourself

Well it’s alright by me
Yes, it’s alright by me
Oh, it’s alright by me

The Five Day Week Straw People - Postman (1968)

This British band was composed of two session musicians, Mick Hawksworth and Jack Collins (born Jack McCulloch), and ex-member of The Attack John Du Cann for the sole purpose of recording a concept album written by David Montague and Guy Mascolo. Never expected to tour or last long, the three members were assembled in 1967 having never worked together. Collins, the drummer, showed up at the record session having never even heard any demos of the songs they were to record. That recording session, by the way, took place in a London classroom and lasted in total only four hours. It’s quite impressive what the trio was able to put together given their limitations. After finishing the album, the pseudo-bandmates decided to continue on as a hard rock band and named themselves Andromeda. Their one album as The Five Day Week Straw People was the only material ever released under that name, as they had ended the band the same year it started, 1967.

This song appeared as the fourth track on that album, which was self-titled and appeared on the tiny Saga label. As with the rest of the album, the song was written by David Montague and Guy Mascolo and featured a theme focusing on the daily life in London by the “straw people,” or, the working class. It featured lead vocals and lead guitar by John Du Cann, bass by Mick Hawksworth, and drums by Jack Collins. The album was recorded and finalized in 1967, but not released until 1968.



The Five Day Week Straw People - Postman (1968)

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Lyrics:

I hope the postman brings a letter to me
I hope the postman brings a letter from Marie

Even though she’s far away
In my heart, she’ll always stay
I hope the postman brings a letter to me

Every day, every day, so patiently
Every day a letter from Marie

Even though she’s far away
In my heart, she’ll always stay
I hope the postman brings a letter to me

Even though she’s far away
In my heart, she’ll always stay
I hope the postman brings a letter to me

Oh, oh, postman
Please fetch me a letter

Oh, please postman
Don’t you forget her

And just because she’s far away
Want to hear from her every day
I hope the postman brings a letter to me