We Are Ever So Clean

Description

Initially known as the Ingoes, Brian Godding (b. 19 August 1945, Wales; guitar, vocals, keyboards), Jim Cregan (b. James Cregan, 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset, England; guitar/vocals), Brian Belshaw (b. 25 February 1944, Wigan, Lancashire, England; bass/vocals) and Kevin Westlake (b. 5 March 1947, Eire, d. 29 September 2004; drums) became Blossom Toes in 1967 upon the launch of manager Giorgio Gomelskys Marmalade label. The same years We Are Ever So Clean was an enthralling selection, astutely combining English pop with a quirky sense of humour. The grasp of melody offered on Love Is or Whats It For was akin to that of the Idle Race or the Beatles, while the experimental flourish on What On Earth or Look At Me Im You captured the prevailing spirit of 1967. If Only For A Moment marked the departure of Westlake, who was replaced, in turn, by John Poli Palmer (b. John Michael Palmer, 25 May 1943, Evesham, Worcestershire, England), then Barry Reeves. A noticeably heavier sound was shown to great effect on the revered Peace Loving Man, but the set was altogether less distinctive. The quartet was dissolved in 1970, but while Belshaw and Godding rejoined Westlake in B.B. Blunder, Cregan formed Stud with Jim Wilson and Charlie McCracken, before joining Family. He later found fame with Cockney Rebel and Rod Stewart. Original Blossom Toes records are highly collectable, although the Sunbeam Records label reissued both albums in 2007. A reappraisal is long overdue.