The House of Music (or The Music House Volume One as
the title appears on the disc’s labels), is one of the oddest things I have
purchased recently. Just seven tracks, totalling a tad under 19 minutes, this
blue vinyl, 12-inch, 45 rpm release is more of a mini-album or EP than a full
blown LP.
The songs on The House of Music were composed by
Bridget Harrison, arranged by Kenny Clayton and sung by a six-year-old child
luxuriating in the name Katinka. Issued in 1980, The House of Music appears
to have been the only disc issued by independent label Tatti Records of
Penrith, Cumbria, however, two of the tracks were picked up and released on 7”
by Carrere later that year on a one-off Tatti/Carrere custom label.
I can tell you a little about Kenny Clayton’s career, which can
be traced back to at least a decade before The House of Music saw the
light of day. As both a producer and musical arranger he worked with Matt
Monro, Petula Clark, Anita Harris, Spike Milligan and countless others. However
I’ve not been able to find a single word in print or on the ‘net about the two
ladies involved in the project – Bridget and little Katinka. Although Katinka
would now be 46, so perhaps not quite so little anymore.
Never mind, because this is a truly wondrous release.
‘Nonsense Nursery Rhymes are a part of childhood yet there have been no new
ones for over 100 years,’ the brief note on the reverse of the sleeve
announces. ‘This record makes the context more topical and uses the music of
today to which children can dance and play’.
Harrison wrote songs in a variety of styles for this bizarre
little project, clearly in the hope of appealing to kids too savvy for your
average nursery rhyme recording. The album includes two disco tracks, I Am A
Twinkling Star which rather worryingly recommends that six-year-olds drink
champagne, wear fur coats and use make-up if they want to make a splash, and
the less celebrity-conscious A Double Decker Bus. The aforementioned
seven inch featured a version of I Am A Twinkling Star remixed for
single by Carrere staffer Freddy Cannon (not THE Freddy Cannon), and the album
version of Watching Tele. If that sounds like an odd choice for a
potential chart hit, remember this was the same year that the St Winifred’s School
Choir hit big.
Other cuts on the album included kid-friendly fare about
ponies, hens and lollipops, plus a religious song, My Very Own Prayer to
Jesus, sung beautifully out of tune by Katinka. It’s mad, and hugely
entertaining.
I wish I could tell you more about it. Ah well, what I can
do is share some of this with you. So here, for your delectation, is Katinka
singing My Very Own Prayer to Jesus and the album version of I Am A Twinkling
Star.
Enjoy!
Download Jesus HERE
Download Star HERE
There is a Katinka J Harrison who lives in Penrith, Cumbria - could be the one and same.
ReplyDelete