Kursaal Flyers

The Kursaal Flyers were little more than a footnote to the mid-Seventies British music scene, just one of many talented pop-rock bands whose budding careers were brought to an abrupt end by the smash and grab antics of punk. They did manage a hit - 1976's Top 15 "Little Does She Know", before several of the members were sucked away in more successful directions, and the group gave up the ghost. But frontman Paul Shuttleworth wasn't ready to shuffle off just yet, not when the Kursaal's label CBS was willing to give him a solo deal through their Epic subsidiary. "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl", a cover of a Mink de Ville number, was Shuttleworth's debut single, backed by the singer's own "Take Away Love", and both entitles and kicks off this compilation. The set follows Shuttleworth's solo career chronologically, across his three Epic singles (A- and b-sides) and a previously unreleased recording, and onto his brief spell with The Latest Craze. The Craze were a going concern called Black Gold, whom Shuttleworth enlisted them as his backing group for his self-produced recordings and a few gigs during 1979-1980. The group released one single through Epic, but recorded much more, all of which was unreleased until now. The sleevenotes tell the whole story, with Shuttleworth helpfully annotates all the tracks.

Working with excellent musicians and two top notch producers, it still amazes that the singer never found success. Unfortunately, timing was against him, with the UK scene having little interest in lavish covers, nor in Shuttleworth's own lovely pop compositions. Too lush and light for British tastes, Shuttleworth should have scuttled over to the States where he could have been not just a contender but a superstar. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide