Wired Up!: Glam Proto Punk and Bubblegum European Picture Sleeves 1970-1976

by Jeremy Thompson, Mary Blount, Tommy Chung (Editor)

"Wired Up!" is the first book to fully document the underground European glam rock scene of the early 1970s, cataloging hundreds of the best and most sought after junkshop glam, proto-punk and bubblegum 45 sleeves from the 1970-76 period. The history of this highly influential but seldom discussed moment in rock 'n' roll is told through reproductions of the colorful, outrageously designed record sleeves as well as first-hand accounts from some of the musicians who were there, such as Alan Gordon of Hector, Jesse Hector of the Hammersmith Gorillas and Gordon Nicol of Iron Virgin. "Wired Up!" is truly a labor of love, requiring several years of research--digging through record bins and scouring online auctions--as well as the assistance of several prominent collectors, including Phil King, bass player with The Jesus & Mary Chain and driving force behind the groundbreaking "Glitterbest" compilation of UK glam, and Robin Wills, guitarist with The Barracudas and author of the Purepop blog. While a handful of better-known names are present--Bay City Rollers, Gary Glitter, The Osmonds, Suzi Quatro, Slade, Sparks, The Sweet--the bulk of "Wired Up!" is given over to a proudly revisionist history of a parallel pop universe, one populated by the now-forgotten likes of Carol and the Boston Garden, Floating Opera, Galahad, Lemming, The Panics, Punchin' Judy and Union Joke.

Genres: Music

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of insanely cool &/or indescribably weird ‘70s album covers, beautifully laid out art-book style. The pages open flat. There are some interesting short essays and interviews too. A few well-known bands are included, but the criteria is just distinctive European album cover art from a time when people would buy records based on what the sleeve looked like. Someone gave me this book for Chuannukah which was great because it was something I really wanted but never would have gotten for myself.
I have been trying to mentally send her a picture to someone who has lucid dreams while she is sleeping, which we both know is impossible but it’s fun to try. I used an image from this book for one of the pictures. This practice is very restful for me because when I wake up in the middle of the night instead of worrying about one thing and another, I can just think, “Red background, two glam Asian girls with long hair in kimono-style minidresses and silver knee high go go boots, Ride Captain Ride.” Then sometimes I fall right back to sleep.

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wired Up!: Glam, Proto Punk, and Bubblegum European Picture Sleeves, 1970-1976 is a gorgeous artefact. 384 pages that lovingly chronicle European glam rock seven inch single sleeves of the 1970s.

Whilst boring old Britain used to sell seven inch singles in plain paper sleeves, until the advent of punk rock changed this practice for the majority of single releases, in the rest of Europe the picture sleeve was standard throughout the whole of the 1970s.

So, along with covers for Sweet, Slade, and T.Rex singles, and other familiar names like Rubettes, Hello, Mud, Suzi Quatro, there are covers for a host of other acts that frequently sound too perfect to be true. Many of these acts are now highly collectable and celebrated on so-called JunkShop Glam compilations.

Be honest, if, to pluck a few favourite examples, Sandwich, Toggle, Shag, Zipper, Crunch, Hobnail, Pantherman, Clutch, Streak, Tiger, Stud Leather, and so on, had never existed we'd have to make them up.

Many of these singles have fabulous designs, with garish colours, great glam outfits and 70s typography. They are very beautiful, and this book is a wonderful thing if you are attracted to such things.

Not only do we get the single covers, there are also short interviews with members of Iron Virgin, Hector, The Jook, The Hammersmith Gorillas, Milk N'Cookies, and Brett Smiley. Most of these detailing thwarted ambition, mismanagement, and some great memories.

This book is the perfect way to celebrate Glam Rock - one of the great musical scenes. 4/5