Musically, the Glam rock movement owed much to 1950’s culture and Fumble fit right in with Wizzard, The Rubettes and Showaddywaddy and other retro bands of the day.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Fumble
ALBUM: Poetry In Lotion
LABEL: RCA
SERIAL: LPL1-5082
YEAR: 1974
CD REISSUE: https://www.discogs.com/master/161548-Fumble-Poetry-In-Lotion’>Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Des Henly – lead vocals, guitars * Dave Christopher – guitars, vocals * Sean Mayes – piano, vocals * Mario Ferrari – bass, vocals * Barry Pike – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Here We Go Again * 02 Not Fade Away * 03 Marilyn * 04 Free The Kids * 05 Break My Mind * 06 Don’t Take Love * 07 Honey What A Feelin’ * 08 The Letter * 09 Gone Is All My Love For You (Gone, Gone, Gone) * 10 Runaround Sue * 11 Keep On Knockin’
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Fumble were at the right place at the right time when David Bowie asked them to join him on his 1973 British and North American tours. Initially and according to legend because he liked the cover of their self-titled debut featuring two teenagers in 1950’s garb copping a feel. The group had already supported Wishbone Ash, Slade, Stackridge and other biggies of the day, but a Bowie tour of this magnitude was a godsend for any band.
Musically, the Glam rock movement owed much to 1950’s culture and Fumble fit right in with Wizzard, The Rubettes and Showaddywaddy and other retro bands of the day. Their first record was chock full of 50’s cover tunes and the album sold respectably, no doubt because of the high profile Bowie tour.
The Songs
‘Poetry In Lotion’ released two years after the debut is a step up in my opinion. I’ve never been a huge fan of music from the 1950’s to be honest and here Fumble pick up on classic 70’s pop mixed in with cover tunes that are far more palatable to my tastes.
‘Here We Go Again’ opens the album sounding much like classic Marmalade complete with strings and sugar sweet chorus. Of the originals, it’s the best here although side two’s kick off ‘Don’t Take Love’ is almost as good, again right in the pocket with Marmalade, Pilot, Smokie and the like.
Of the cover tunes ‘The Letter’ made popular by The Box Tops and their version of Dion‘s ‘Runaround Sue’ are highlights adding just enough 70’s rock to the mix and making the tunes a bit more interesting than just straight copies.
In Summary
This would be the group’s last studio album although the Fumble would continue to tour and release singles into the late 70’s. YouTube has a few Fumble videos but it shows more of their rockabilly, 1950’s cliche side and not really what ‘Poetry In Lotion’ was all about so with some warning viewing these might be a turn-off. Watch at your own risk. Neither Fumble album has been reissued on CD, but would be a perfect choice for a label like ‘7T’s’ to take the ball and run with.
Video
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