“Can You Do It” (MFP 50061) June 1973

Since I took early retirement a couple of years ago I spend a lot of time searching for cheap records in charity shops. I don’t mind taking a chance and spending a couple of quid on an album. It’s still quite a buzz finding vinyl junk.

I’ve decided to begin a new series on my blog where I’ll focus on a track from a budget label release, remaster a FLAC directly from the record, create a YouTube video and investigate / research the performer and album under the spotlight.

My new series will be called “Budget Label Curios.”

Who knows what I’ll uncover, the music may be delightful to your ears or it could make you want to bang your head against the nearest brick wall to make the pain go away.

The LP “Hot Hits 19” cost 50p Shelter, a local charity shop in Sunderland. The cover girl playing polo in the Vicar’s garden is page three pin-up Jilly Johnson.

It’s unknown if the Vicar and his good lady choked on their afternoon cup of tea while the silver bikini clad Jilly was bending down to whack some balls through those goal posts, or whatever they’re called.

My featured track from the LP is “Can You Do It”, the original single by Geordie was released on EMI in June 1973. It climbed to a respectable number #13 in the charts.

Geordie were fronted by Geordie boy and shouty-heed Brian Johnson who found world wide fame with AC/DC.

It’s unlikely that Brian heard this MFP budget label remake of “Can You Do It” but I’m sure if he did he wouldn’t necessarily caveman gargle on a bottle of Broon Ale in disapproval.

It’s a fairly decent hard rock effort with crunching lead guitar and battering-ram drums that do the song justice.