Katinka, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor

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