(originally written for The Beat Goes On And On Magazine a couple of years ago.)
To be fair when most people think of influential music of the 70s the The Wombles aren’t instantly going to spring to mind, but I am more than happy to confess that the musical output of the furry inhabitants of Wimbledon Common had a major influence on me as a small child. We always had music in the house, the radio was on a lot and if we responded to any of it we were encouraged. I obviously responded to the Wombles.
The musical genius behind the Wombles is Mike Batt, who was also responsible for the song “Bright Eyes” from Watership Down, the musical of The Hunting Of The Snark, and his latest work is entitled The Planets. (You can find out more about him on his website www.mikebatt.com - well worth a visit.) In 1974 he assembled a fine group of session musicians to create the album Wombling Songs. And I’m not kidding when I say the session players were good, they were top guys at the time. They were in such demand that they couldn’t always make the Top Of The Pops performances for the Wombles (not that anyone in the audience would have noticed). On drums was Clem Cattini, former member of the Tornados, who has played with The Bee Gees, Joe Cocker, The Kinks, Jimmy Page, and Lou Reed among others. Chris Spedding was on guitar and his pedigree includes Laurie Anderson, Ginger Baker, John Cale, Mike d’Abo, Julie Driscoll, Roy Harper, Harry Nilsson, and Paul McCartney to name a mere fraction! Bass player Les Hurdle has worked with Elton John, Chad And Jeremy, Lou Reed, and Rick Wakeman. Percussionist Ray Cooper is well known on the music scene working with everyone from Long John Baldry to Eric Clapton to Kiki Dee to Lonnie Donegan and many many more, though most Beatles fans will know him for his association with George Harrison and Handmade Films. Saxophonist Eddie Mordue worked with Ginger Baker, Alexis Korner and Crispian St Peters. Two musicians even appeared on the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour - saxophonist Rex Morris and violinist Jack Rothstein so as you can see everyone involved were excellent musicians and very much in demand both before and after they were Wombles.
In the world of the Wombles the line up was Vocals/Sax - Orinocco, Lead Guitar - Wellington, Bass Guitar - Madame Cholet, Violin - Great Uncle Bulgaria, Drums - Bungo.
The songs on the albums were wonderfully crafted, and represented many different types of Wombles. After all they had Wombles everywhere - North, South, East and West (though personally they were from Wimbledon cos Wimbledon is best) and each burrow had it’s own style, so the Nashville Wombles were into Country music, the Californian Wombles sang about their Non Stop Wombling Summer Party in a surf music stylee and the Chinese Wombles invited us to a Ping Pong Ball! There was even a partial Wombles concept album - with one side of Keep On Wombling revolving around Orinocco’s dreams in which he visits the Jungle, takes on Big John Womble Wayne as the Orinocco Kid, conducts an orchestra, gets chased by a giant and flies off into space!
The skill behind each song is apparent. The lyrics are often clever and witty and the production lavish. There are classical references and tributes to many musical styles with an added Wombles twist. (If you’ll pardon the pun!) The albums were put together as well (if not better in some cases) as any serious Rock venture at the time which I think is part of the longevity of the work, and the appeal of Womble songs.
While looking around at various websites gathering information for this article, I came across an interview with Mike Batt that intimated there was a possibility that there was still a few Wombles songs that could emerge, and deep down inside I hope so! After all they are still instantly recognisable to a majority of people who remember them fondly, there’s been new interest with a new version of the series and CD releases of some of the best songs, and they did put in an appearance at the Queen Mum’s 110th birthday parade by Royal request no less! And there’s a whole new set of musical styles to take on and Womblify.
I really could go on and on about various tracks from the Womble catalogue but I’ll save you having to read any more of my Wombles ravings and end with a list of my favourite tracks -
Wombles Everywhere, The Wombles Warning (don’t go Wombling in the nettle beds!), Bungo’s Birthday, Wellington Goes To Waterloo, Minuetto Allegretto, Non-Stop Wombling Summer Party, Wombling In The Rain, Womble of The Universe, Hall Of The Mountain Womble, Wombling Merry Christmas, Womble Shuffle, Down At The Barbershop, To Wimbledon With Love, Wombling White Tie and Tales.
Yes I really that this article makes me sound a tiny bit mad, but The Wombles and their music was huge part of my childhood, and yes I still do listen to them for pleasure even now I’m in my 30s (just!) and my heart flies with joy everytime my four year old neice sings a Wombling song!
Remember you’re a Womble!
To be fair when most people think of influential music of the 70s the The Wombles aren’t instantly going to spring to mind, but I am more than happy to confess that the musical output of the furry inhabitants of Wimbledon Common had a major influence on me as a small child. We always had music in the house, the radio was on a lot and if we responded to any of it we were encouraged. I obviously responded to the Wombles.
The musical genius behind the Wombles is Mike Batt, who was also responsible for the song “Bright Eyes” from Watership Down, the musical of The Hunting Of The Snark, and his latest work is entitled The Planets. (You can find out more about him on his website www.mikebatt.com - well worth a visit.) In 1974 he assembled a fine group of session musicians to create the album Wombling Songs. And I’m not kidding when I say the session players were good, they were top guys at the time. They were in such demand that they couldn’t always make the Top Of The Pops performances for the Wombles (not that anyone in the audience would have noticed). On drums was Clem Cattini, former member of the Tornados, who has played with The Bee Gees, Joe Cocker, The Kinks, Jimmy Page, and Lou Reed among others. Chris Spedding was on guitar and his pedigree includes Laurie Anderson, Ginger Baker, John Cale, Mike d’Abo, Julie Driscoll, Roy Harper, Harry Nilsson, and Paul McCartney to name a mere fraction! Bass player Les Hurdle has worked with Elton John, Chad And Jeremy, Lou Reed, and Rick Wakeman. Percussionist Ray Cooper is well known on the music scene working with everyone from Long John Baldry to Eric Clapton to Kiki Dee to Lonnie Donegan and many many more, though most Beatles fans will know him for his association with George Harrison and Handmade Films. Saxophonist Eddie Mordue worked with Ginger Baker, Alexis Korner and Crispian St Peters. Two musicians even appeared on the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour - saxophonist Rex Morris and violinist Jack Rothstein so as you can see everyone involved were excellent musicians and very much in demand both before and after they were Wombles.
In the world of the Wombles the line up was Vocals/Sax - Orinocco, Lead Guitar - Wellington, Bass Guitar - Madame Cholet, Violin - Great Uncle Bulgaria, Drums - Bungo.
The songs on the albums were wonderfully crafted, and represented many different types of Wombles. After all they had Wombles everywhere - North, South, East and West (though personally they were from Wimbledon cos Wimbledon is best) and each burrow had it’s own style, so the Nashville Wombles were into Country music, the Californian Wombles sang about their Non Stop Wombling Summer Party in a surf music stylee and the Chinese Wombles invited us to a Ping Pong Ball! There was even a partial Wombles concept album - with one side of Keep On Wombling revolving around Orinocco’s dreams in which he visits the Jungle, takes on Big John Womble Wayne as the Orinocco Kid, conducts an orchestra, gets chased by a giant and flies off into space!
The skill behind each song is apparent. The lyrics are often clever and witty and the production lavish. There are classical references and tributes to many musical styles with an added Wombles twist. (If you’ll pardon the pun!) The albums were put together as well (if not better in some cases) as any serious Rock venture at the time which I think is part of the longevity of the work, and the appeal of Womble songs.
While looking around at various websites gathering information for this article, I came across an interview with Mike Batt that intimated there was a possibility that there was still a few Wombles songs that could emerge, and deep down inside I hope so! After all they are still instantly recognisable to a majority of people who remember them fondly, there’s been new interest with a new version of the series and CD releases of some of the best songs, and they did put in an appearance at the Queen Mum’s 110th birthday parade by Royal request no less! And there’s a whole new set of musical styles to take on and Womblify.
I really could go on and on about various tracks from the Womble catalogue but I’ll save you having to read any more of my Wombles ravings and end with a list of my favourite tracks -
Wombles Everywhere, The Wombles Warning (don’t go Wombling in the nettle beds!), Bungo’s Birthday, Wellington Goes To Waterloo, Minuetto Allegretto, Non-Stop Wombling Summer Party, Wombling In The Rain, Womble of The Universe, Hall Of The Mountain Womble, Wombling Merry Christmas, Womble Shuffle, Down At The Barbershop, To Wimbledon With Love, Wombling White Tie and Tales.
Yes I really that this article makes me sound a tiny bit mad, but The Wombles and their music was huge part of my childhood, and yes I still do listen to them for pleasure even now I’m in my 30s (just!) and my heart flies with joy everytime my four year old neice sings a Wombling song!
Remember you’re a Womble!
