The Flame are most known for their connections to the Beach Boys, though they'd been active for quite some time in a much different part of the world than Southern California before they came to the Beach Boys' attention. Originally known as the Flames, the group with brothers Ricky Fataar, Steve Fataar, and Edries Fataar, as well as Blondie Chaplin was a popular act in their native South Africa in the mid- to late '60s, moving to London near the end of the decade to try to break into a larger market.
Still using the name the Flames, they put out an obscure album in the U.K. in 1968, Burning Soul. In July 1969, they were seen at the London nightclub Blaise's by Beach Boys guitarist Al Jardine, who brought the band's other guitarist, Carl Wilson, to see them the following night. Wilson offered to produce an album for the band on the Beach Boys' label, Brother, in California, although it wasn't until the late '70s that the LP was released. By this time, the group was using the name the Flame to avoid confusion with James Brown's backup singers, the Famous Flames.
The album didn't actually sound much like the Beach Boys, instead bearing a quite prominent late-'60s Beatles influence in the intricately arranged vocal harmonies and guitars, as well as showing traces of other, more hard rock-oriented late-'60s British acts. Cuts such as "Don't Worry, Bill," "Another Day Like Heaven," and "Highs and Lows," in fact, came about as close as anyone did to simulating the feel of Abbey Road, though the material wasn't as brilliant as that penned by the Beatles. Although a single from the album, "See the Light," made the bottom reaches of the national charts, a second album was recorded but not released, the band breaking up shortly afterward.
Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin were absorbed into the Beach Boys for some recordings and touring in the mid-'70s, and Ricky Fataar, in addition to acting and recording as part of the Beatles parody group the Rutles, played on numerous sessions (mostly as a drummer). Chaplin has also had a busy session career, mostly notably in the studio and on-stage with the Rolling Stones since the late '90s. (Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com)
Even though the album was produced by Carl Wilson, it clearly sounds more like the Beatles than the Beach Boys. Still, I wouldn't call it a copy of the Fab Four. For people who like Beatles-inspired music, this album is definitely a must. Enjoy.(Frank)
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Muchas gracias,pop music, quality products.
ReplyDeleteMany Thanks, this sounds pretty good. Be Well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Frank, cool album!
ReplyDeleteActually, way back in 1965, the three Fataar brothers and Blondie started as The Upsetters of whom there is an ultra rare 45er on the local Continental SA label.
In fact, the addition of Fataar and Chaplin to The Beach Boys affected the alignment and the sound of the band. You can bet your Beach Boys record collection that Mike Love was against the inclusion. "Holland" and especially "Carl & The Passion - So Tough" rank among my favorite BB albums because they are so special and different. But the most dramatic change occured live on stage. Fataar more than only substituted the injured Dennis Wilson, in that he brought rock dynamics to the sound of a more light weighted oldie band, and Blondie's soulful lead vocals added an unusual timbre to the harmonies.
In 1973, 18 years of age then, I walked into a record shop with 10 deutschmarks and bought a sealed copy of the new released "Holland" album. When I opened it, a bonus 45er fell out. I kept the fairy tale bonus single and gave the 12" away as a birthday present, fool, that I was. Little did I know, that I had acquired and given away one of the incredibly rare first run of German pressings featuring the song “We Got Love” (sung by Chaplin) as final track of the A-side, rather than “Sail On Sailor” as opener. This German only release was swiftly withdrawn from sale and recalled, because of (according to Warner Brothers executives) the perceived “lack of a hit”. It’s estimated that there were only around 200 copies pressed, now worth a little fortune.
Hello Greeny,
Deletetimes changing. There are no more ''Deutschmarks'' and for the price of ten Deutschmarks we will get no complete album in these days anymore. It's a shame, lol.
That you gave the 12'' away is of course a pity and also annoying for you, but there are worse things. I have given away or somehow lost so many albums that are worth a small fortune today, but these days I don't really care about those things anymore. The most important thing is the music that's on it, isn't it? Everything else I see more as an investment and I never had a reference to it, at least not with records. In any case I would like to thank you for your comment, which is again informative. Regarding Mike Love and the admission of the new members into the band. I did not know that he probably did not agree with it. Okay, have a good weekend,
Greetings
Frank