May 28, 2022

Vampires Stole My Lunch Money

Are You Being Served?

Mick Farren - I Want A Drink taken from the album 'Vampires Stole My Lunch Money' from 1978 and featuring the legendary blues and R&B guitarist Wilko Johnson from Dr Feelgood.

Describing the trials and tribulations of standing at a busy bar and trying to attract the bartenders attention (we have all been there!). Just love those lyrics, 'Bring it in a bucket, bring it in a pail, throw in a bunch of ice cubes, it'll never fail'. It is really easy to pick out the wonderful guitar style of Wilko as mentioned in my previous post 'Twenty Yards Behind With Essex Pub Rock'.

The album was released in 1978 on the 'Logo' Records label which was the successor to the Independent 'Transatlantic Records' label formed in the early 60's.

Track List

Trouble Coming Every Day
Half Price Drinks
I Don't Want To Go This Way
I Want A Drink
Son Of A Millionaire
Zombie Line
Bela Lugosi
People Call You Crazy
Fast Eddie
Let Me In, Damn You
(I Know From) Self Destruction
Drunk In The Morning

The track Half Price Drinks was the single release from the album in the same year, hmmm... there seemed to be a whole drink theme going on?

Larry Wallis & Stiff Records

The whole album was produced by the legendary guitarist, songwriter and producer Larry Wallis who was in 'underground' rock band The Pink Fairies and was also part of the early Motörhead line up. He was also on the Independent 'Stiff Records' for several of his own releases including 'Police Car' which was covered by punk band 'The Members'.

He worked with so many artists including Dr Feelgood, writing their song 'As Long As The Price Is Right' as well as producing for 'Stiff Records' and also writing 'On Parole' for Motörhead.

The 'Vampires Stole My Lunch Money' album had Larry Wallis on bass and backing vocals as well as Wilko Johnson on guitar, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) on backing vocals and old Deviants drummer Andy Colquhoun.

Deviants & Song Writing

Mick Farren & The Deviants also released tracks on 'Stiff Records' as well with their E.P. 'Screwed Up' from 1977 featuring a well known track on many a Stiff Compilation album called 'Let's Loot The Supermarket Again Like We Did Last Summer'. The Deviants were an 'underground' band from 'swinging' Ladbroke Grove in London and formed in the late 60's. Several members would actually go on to form The Pink Fairies who were also from the same area.

Farren also had links with Motörhead, in that he wrote 'Lost Johnny' , 'Keep Us On The Road' (both actually Hawkwind tracks) and finally 'Damage Case' for Motörhead on their 1979 album 'Overkill'.

Portobello Road Art — *Artwork Portobello Road, a mere spit from Ladbroke Grove.*

Free Festivals & Writing

As well as all the song writing he was also a journalist and author, initially writing for 'hippie counter culture' magazine 'The International Times', later writing for the more mainstream N.M.E. and one of the first to define the effects of the 'lazy world of mid 70's rock' into what was known as 'Punk'. He went on to write many books both fiction and non-fiction. He was also involved in organising one of the first 'free festivals' called Phun City in 1970.