Back in 1995, Blur released arguably their best song ever (if you don't count Song 2), on which Damon Albarn informed us, "Well, it really, really, really could 'appen...". Clearly he was looking forward thirty years (OUCH) into the future and predicting the day that Namesakes would look at bands called...
THE UNIVERSALS #1
Let's start in 1957 with some Philly doo wop Universals...
THE UNIVERSALS #2
More doo wop Universals, this time from Boston in 1958...
THE UNIVERSALS #3
Even more doo wop Universals from 1961 in... Amityville! The horror!
THE UNIVERSALS #4
Hollywood-based Universal from 1962. Youtube has a photo of the Amityville Universals on this video, but I'm pretty sure my photo is more accurate.
THE UNIVERSALS #5
Texan Garage band originally known as The 4 Today. On the label of the track below, they'd stuck their new name over the top.
THE UNIVERSALS #6
Irish* Universals who arrived on the scene in 1963 and ended up supporting Jim Reeves on his tour of American military bases in the UK. Originally billed as Chris Lamb and The Universals, they eventually changed their name to Plastic Penny. Some members drifted off to Screaming Lord Sutch, while others joined The Flowerpot Men, The Troggs, Chicken Shack, The Spencer Davis Group and Procul Harum.
(*Only Chris Lamb and one other member were actually Irish - the rest of the group were English, Scottish and American.)
THE UNIVERSALS #7
New Joisey Universals from 1965 with a track that was later given a second life on the Northern Soul scene... no relation to the Prince namesake.
THE UNIVERSALS #8
North Carolina garage band from 1967... possibly also known as Gary & The Universals.
THE UNIVERSALS #9
Soulful Philly Universals from 1968... used in quite a few film and TV soundtracks, this one.
THE UNIVERSALS #10
From Daytona Beach, Florida in the year of our lord 1970, these Universals also released the same single on a different record label as The Universouls. Neither was a hit, and I can't find the A-side anywhere, but the B-side is pretty funky...
THE UNIVERSALS #11
Just about the only Universals I could find who originated in the last 50 years: here's a dodgy video of a Puerto Rican wedding band... though the lead singer has a pretty decent voice.
Which Universals would you give Universal Credit to?
And which band should be Universally panned?
55 seconds into #10. It's not very good. My vote is for #2
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to the days of the incisive track-by-track analysis?
DeleteI'm surprised you were able to listen to any of these. Aren't you without electricity?
In my teens, I dallied with the idea of starting a band that I fully intended to call The Universal, singular, in a nod to the Small Faces' track of the same name. I designed a very moddish logo... and that was as far as I went, because I am me.
ReplyDeleteDiscogs lists a fair few (The) Universal (singular) bands, including these fine fellas...
Deletehttps://www.discogs.com/artist/2845139-Universal-11
I might get round to them one day.
Wow. Just wow. Great outfit in that photo too.
DeleteMost of these aren't too bad (with the honorable exception of #11). I'll go for #8
ReplyDeleteDon't get married in Puerto Rica.
Delete