Milton Keynes, now the biggest town in Buckinghamshire, was
incorporated in January 1967, part of a scheme to build new towns to deal with
Britain’s expanding population. Named after an ancient settlement in the area,
this new town swallowed up existing small towns and villages, including Bletchley,
Middleton, Stony Stratford, and Wolverton. Often ridiculed as an example of
what not to do in terms of town planning and modernist architecture, the new
town of Milton Keynes would also provide the subject for a 45 release by the Style
Council (Come to Milton Keynes), and Sir Cliff Richard filmed his infamous
roller skating video for Wired For Sound there too.
The track, You’ve Never Seen Anything Like It has the
credit ‘music by Ronnie Bond’, rather than ‘performed by Ronnie Bond’ or simply
‘Ronnie Bond’. Bond was the former drummer of The Troggs who, by the end of the
1970s, was starting to make a name for himself writing advertising jingles. He
wrote the famous Lee Cooper ad Don’t Be A Dummy, originally recorded by
Gary Numan while still a member of Tubeway Army, before being re-recorded for
45 release by John Du Cann. He also penned It’s Written On Your Body for
rival denim company Levi’s, scoring a minor UK chart hit with the resulting
single release.
But that is not Ronnie Bond singing on You’ve Never Seen
Anything Like It. Bond had a very distinct, pinched nasal voice, nothing
like the rich baritone on display here. I wonder who that anonymous session singer
is. Any suggestions?
Milton Keynes was not the only town to get its own corporate
anthem, of course: let’s not forget the wonderful Energy in Northampton or
the remarkable It’s a Leicester Fiesta. The Centre: MK is now a Grade II
listed building. Looks like the town planners had the last laugh there.
Enjoy!
Download Never Seen HERE
new town swallowed up existing small towns and villages, including Bletchley,
ReplyDeleteBletchey Park is still there fortunately:
https://bletchleypark.org.uk/