Angel Pavement - Desperate Dan (1969)

Coming from York, England, this group was named after a 1930 novel by the English novelist J.B. Priestley, who was also from York. Together, the group only put together one album, recorded in 1969, which failed to be released until 2003. Their 1960s peak was the release of a single in 1969 that never sold well. It’s clear from the group’s library that they were influenced by The Zombies, The Hollies, and other sunshine psychedelic pop bands of the era. The group’s plans to record an album in London were delayed when a quick show in Mexico City turned into a five month Mexican retreat. When the band finally returned to London, their guitarist, Dave Smith, parted ways with the group. Things weren’t looking good.

In an effort to please their local fans, they released a single with the A-side featuring “Baby, You’ve Got to Stay” and the pop-heavy B-side “Tell Me What I’ve Got To Do”. The single, as mentioned above, didn’t do well. To make matters worse, their new album's release was being delayed due to conflict between the group’s songwriter and the studio’s publisher. Unfortunately, the publisher won the tug-of-war and the group crumbled in 1970 without their album being released. This song was featured on the release of that never-before-heard album recorded in ’69 and released in 2003.

Lastly, the portion of the song that sounds warped is because of unrepairable damage done to the master record.



Angel Pavement - Desperate Dan (1969)

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Lyrics:

My name is Dan
I’m a desperate man
And I’m on the run again

I don’t sound lost
I’ll sing my song
My time to clear my name

My record is the longest you can find
But I can’t help myself
Won’t someone just be kind?
I’ve had my life of sin
But all the police could say is
“Book him in”
I can’t win

I get my car and drive it into town
Climb out, forgot my belt
I’m caught with trousers down
Then I’m in court again
And hear that jury sayin’

“Desperate Dan, dirty man
Don’t let your kids go near him
If you can”

Desperate Dan, dirty man
Nobody loves him
Desperate Dan, lonely man
Nobody wants Desperate Dan

Desperate Dan, dirty man
Nobody loves him
Desperate Dan, lonely man
Nobody wants Desperate Dan

My neighbor’s party
And everyone was kind
And so by accident
I touched his wife’s behind
And as I hit the floor
I heard the women shouting

“Desperate Dan, dirty man
Don’t let your kids go near him
If you can”

Desperate Dan, dirty man
Nobody loves him
Desperate Dan, lonely man
Nobody wants him
Desperate Dan, dirty man
Nobody loves desperate Dan

Please beteem me a broken-hearted man