As we reach the end of the W’s and before we proceed with the final X’s, Y’s and Zee’s (there’s a song in there somewhere), we pause for another alphabetical anomaly and new addition to the collection.

Who remembers the Streetband ? They had a “turntable hit” in 1979 with a partly comic ditty called “Toast” all about said breakfast item. You all remember Paul Young though dontcha ? 80’s over-coiffed singer of “Love of The Common People”, “Wherever I Lay My Hat” and what is most certainly the worst cover version of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” it is possible to imagine (it’s that bad legal proceedings and possibly jail time should have resulted). Streetband, as some of you may know or have worked out, were fronted by Mr Young but between their demise and his chart conquering solo career he and some former members of Streetband made quite a name for themselves as Q-Tips.

Young along with bass player Mick Pearl and guitarist John Gifford corralled together what became an 8 piece Soul Revue band including a 4-piece horn section. John Gifford was in time replaced on guitar by Garth Watt-Roy (Blockhead Norman’s brother) and they embarked on an endless series of gigs and TV appearances on shows like “Rock Goes To College” and “The Old Grey Whistle Test” which is where they made their name, as a live band. I saw Q-Tips a couple of times in 1980 and they were a fantastic live band stirring up a serious Soul mix, mostly covers of the great Southern Soul Stax and Atlantic stompers.

By the time they made this, their only studio album, the cover versions were outnumbered by songs they’d written themselves 4 to 6. Also for some reason only 7 of them are pictured on the cover (Mr Watt-Roy is missing). Q-Tips were never gonna change the world, think of them as an English Blues Brothers without the humour, but sometimes all that’s required is good time dance music and they certainly knew about that.

SYSLJFM (The Letter Song) - https://youtu.be/XuokPD_7oWE?si=PKrRFKTfe5y2jSwR