There is always a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach whenever I have to watch, (and then review), a British musical. Let's face it guys, we absolutely suck at this kind of thing and we always have as this 1963 offering shows.
Live It Up was basically an opportunity for maverick producer Joe Meek to showcase his rostrum of stars on film. Meek's major successes were already behind him by this time, but he remained a prolific songwriter and record producer (although totally tone deaf by all accounts), recording and releasing records from his makeshift studio/flat on the Holloway Road from the early 1960's through to his murder/suicide death in 1967.
His records and artists seldom bothered the charts with the notable exceptions of songs like Telstar, Johnny Remember Me and A Tribute to Buddy Holly.
By the time Live It Up was released in November 1963, his style of, shadows style rock and roll and bubblegum pop was well past it's sell by date, supplanted over the course of the year by the beat style music of bands such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Hollies and four other guys from Liverpool, whose name escapes me at the moment.
The plot is quite forgettable and mostly uninteresting, but the treat here IS actually the music, mostly performed by Meek's entourage of talent. Notably missing from this star line up of Meek artists is John Leyton who at the time of filming was off making a low budget escapey movie with some guys called Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson.
A very young David Hemings takes the lead role, whose band 'The Smart Alecs' are looking for their big break. They record a demo which Hemings subsequently loses leading to discontentment within the ranks. As the focus of the movie was the musical acts, the plot didn't really have to be anything more complex than that I guess.
Heinz Burt is also placed front and centre. Heinz had been the bass player in the Tornados at the time of their monster hit 'Telstar' and Meek was....ahem....'grooming' him for stardom, despite his awkward stage presence and distinct lack of any talent whatsoever.
In addition to Heinz and Hemmings, you can also catch sight of some fledgling stars right at the start of their careers that before too long would all become musical superstars in their own right. Such as Steve Marriott, (later of the Small faces and Humble Pie), Mitch Mitchell, (Later drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience), Chas Hodges (Chas and Dave) and an 18 year wunderkind guitar GENIUS named Ritchie Blackmore (later of Deep Purple/Rainbow/Blackmore's Night).
Whilst Marriott and Mitchell both show off some credible acting chops, Hodges and Blackmore are strictly musical acts, only seen performing with Meek's preferred 'house band' The Outlaws. Sadly, they only appear in one scene, (although their music is heard throughout), but at least we get to see the slick haired Blackmore give us a masterclass in some 'I need to go the toilet' dancing.
These rising stars get to wave as they pass by another artist whose star was very much on the wane at this time in the form of the already ailing Gene Vincent performing the OKish Meek penned song 'Temptation Baby'
Trisha Noble (billed here as Patsy Ann Noble), gives us a couple of punchy numbers and watching her songs are definite highlights of this early 1960's time capsule, especially the catchy earworm 'Accidents Will Happen'. Also along for ride is the very fine, yet distinctly out of place Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.
There's no getting around the fact that this film was dated even before the first foot of film was in the can, but it's a harmless watch, and the music is great, (if you like British pre-Beatles Rock n Roll and American style bubblegum pop). However, the film will leave you with one unanswered question.....
If you have Steve Marriott in your band, why in the name of all that's holy would you ever let Heinz Burt sing?
Enjoy!
Live It Up was basically an opportunity for maverick producer Joe Meek to showcase his rostrum of stars on film. Meek's major successes were already behind him by this time, but he remained a prolific songwriter and record producer (although totally tone deaf by all accounts), recording and releasing records from his makeshift studio/flat on the Holloway Road from the early 1960's through to his murder/suicide death in 1967.
His records and artists seldom bothered the charts with the notable exceptions of songs like Telstar, Johnny Remember Me and A Tribute to Buddy Holly.
By the time Live It Up was released in November 1963, his style of, shadows style rock and roll and bubblegum pop was well past it's sell by date, supplanted over the course of the year by the beat style music of bands such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Hollies and four other guys from Liverpool, whose name escapes me at the moment.
The plot is quite forgettable and mostly uninteresting, but the treat here IS actually the music, mostly performed by Meek's entourage of talent. Notably missing from this star line up of Meek artists is John Leyton who at the time of filming was off making a low budget escapey movie with some guys called Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson.
A very young David Hemings takes the lead role, whose band 'The Smart Alecs' are looking for their big break. They record a demo which Hemings subsequently loses leading to discontentment within the ranks. As the focus of the movie was the musical acts, the plot didn't really have to be anything more complex than that I guess.
Heinz Burt is also placed front and centre. Heinz had been the bass player in the Tornados at the time of their monster hit 'Telstar' and Meek was....ahem....'grooming' him for stardom, despite his awkward stage presence and distinct lack of any talent whatsoever.
In addition to Heinz and Hemmings, you can also catch sight of some fledgling stars right at the start of their careers that before too long would all become musical superstars in their own right. Such as Steve Marriott, (later of the Small faces and Humble Pie), Mitch Mitchell, (Later drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience), Chas Hodges (Chas and Dave) and an 18 year wunderkind guitar GENIUS named Ritchie Blackmore (later of Deep Purple/Rainbow/Blackmore's Night).
Whilst Marriott and Mitchell both show off some credible acting chops, Hodges and Blackmore are strictly musical acts, only seen performing with Meek's preferred 'house band' The Outlaws. Sadly, they only appear in one scene, (although their music is heard throughout), but at least we get to see the slick haired Blackmore give us a masterclass in some 'I need to go the toilet' dancing.
These rising stars get to wave as they pass by another artist whose star was very much on the wane at this time in the form of the already ailing Gene Vincent performing the OKish Meek penned song 'Temptation Baby'
Trisha Noble (billed here as Patsy Ann Noble), gives us a couple of punchy numbers and watching her songs are definite highlights of this early 1960's time capsule, especially the catchy earworm 'Accidents Will Happen'. Also along for ride is the very fine, yet distinctly out of place Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.
There's no getting around the fact that this film was dated even before the first foot of film was in the can, but it's a harmless watch, and the music is great, (if you like British pre-Beatles Rock n Roll and American style bubblegum pop). However, the film will leave you with one unanswered question.....
If you have Steve Marriott in your band, why in the name of all that's holy would you ever let Heinz Burt sing?
Enjoy!