menial

Proxy Gumby
$1.99

Might Navy, The / Too Weak to Work / Scrap the Japs
$1.99

Pampered Menial
$11.98
Although this album was released in the mid 70s I did not encounter it until 20 years later when a friend of my then husband loaned him the cassette. I must admit I couldn't get beyond the first song at the time. David Surkamp's singing style was a little too unique for my more conventional tastes.
Then late last year I came upon a 1981 CD/DVD set by Hi Fi, a short lived dance band featuring Surkamp and British folk rocker, Iain Matthews. I just couldn't get enough of it. Surkamp's stage presence intrigued me. He's only a little guy, sort of a cross between the Monkees' Davy Jones and Richard Hammond from British motoring show, Top Gear, in looks. But he throws himself into his performance with complete abandon. The man clearly enjoys his work.
So that inspired me to give his Pavlov's Dog set a second chance. And I'm glad I did. The songs are actually quite good, taking me back to an era when lyrics had something to say. I particularly like Late Noveber and Of Once And Future Kings. The latter has a slightly medieval feel to it.
The vocals are quirky, and some may find them irritating, but if you can get beyond that, Pampered Menial is good, listenable 70s rock.

Menial Man
$0.99