Out On Blue Six: The Timelords (aka The KLF)

This week's repeat of Top of the Pops had a rare treat at number one - Doctorin' The Tardis by The Timelords, once described by Pete Paphides as 'the one novelty record most people admit to liking' and by The Timelords themselves as 'probably the most nauseating record in the world'

All I know is that, as a kid sat in front of the TV in 1988, I loved it. And I still do now if I'm honest! It's pointed title (sending up the recent hit Doctorin' The House by Coldcut feat Yazz) mix of the Doctor Who theme tune, Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Parts 1 and 2, The Sweet's Blockbuster and football-style chanting was the perfect primer for what was to come with The KLF.

End Transmission

Lieutenant Pigeon

If you ever needed conclusive proof that the 1970s was a strange and quirky decade, then look no further than Lieutenant Pigeon.

Novelty pop was nothing unusual in the 70s, with a raft of acts performing songs that somehow got to number one. My own personal theory is that life was so grim that people sought genuine escapism from their music, something  enjoyable to listen to that made you smile or even laugh a little. But still, Lieutenant Pigeon took the mouldy old biscuit; a four piece from Coventry, their origins lay in the experimental music outfit, Stavely Makepeace.  The line up was noteworthy for one major eccentric reason, because as well as Stephen Johnson on bass guitar and tin whistle, Nigel Fletcher on drums and Robert Woodward on keyboards, guitar and yet another tin whistle, there was also Woodward's old mum, Hilda, on piano!

Hilda's involvement came about because not only was she an accomplished pianist, she had loaned the boys - who were inspired by the Joe Meek home recording sound - her spare room in her semi detached for them to record their demo tracks. It was an inclusion to the group that certainly caught the eye!

I wonder if they ever got groupies with old Mamma Woodward around?!

Their biggest hit was of course the infuriatingly catchy Mouldy Old Dough from 1972