Get Involved blog

Betty Everett - Hands Off

This is the b-side to the infinitely more familiar (although I can’t say I’m a fan of it - probably Cher’s fault) Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) - released on Vee Jay records (VJ 585) in 1964. And Hands Off is actually a cover of a cover: Donna Hightower recorded an excellent version of the song in 1956 – a year after Jay McShann and orchestra - with Priscilla Bowman on vocal duty - had a number one hit with it in 1955, when it was released also on Vee Jay (VJ 155). Everett’s version has a distinctly mod sound and is a real favourite of mine at the moment. Is it rare or expensive? No. You can look this record up right now on eBay and probably pick up a copy in good condition for about a fiver. Nice!

Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough (original 1978 demo)

OK, so this is slightly off the (wall) beaten track for this blog, BUT, having only just clapped ears on this demo version of MJ’s Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough, I had to stick it up - immediately. Get out your percussive instruments and get ready to get involved! And if you don’t have any - just grab a beer bottle and tap it with a pen or blow into it or do both.

On this recording you can hear Randy “yo dog” Jackson and Janet hitting those bottles and rattling those maracas. This beats the polished, album version hands down!

The Get Involved Poster Show opened last night to much whooping (by me) and much quaffing of beer at East London’s ace gallery and shop, Concrete Hermit.

For the show, all the posters created for Get Involved during its three year tenure at central London venue The Social have been reprinted on lovely paper using a posh ink jet (Giclée) printer and framed in white wooden frames. These prints, each in a strict edition of 10, are available to buy for £20 (unframed) or £35 framed. There are also archival ink jet prints of a selection of shots taken at Get Involved by top rock’n'roll photographer Dean Chalkley on show as well as badges to grab and stickers to steal. PLUS limited edition A2 Get Involved prints are available to buy for just £45 by James Joyce and also by Crispin Finn - who designed some bespoke Get Involved wallpaper specially for the event too. NICE! Here are some photos of last night’s launch party taken by Concrete Hermit head honcho, Chris.

and some shots taken by me on m’iPhone:

Contributing artists: Accept & Proceed / Ali Graham / Anthony Burrill / AustinFromNEW / Build / Crispin Finn / Dan Huglife / Dave Oscroft / Dave the Chimp / Design Friendship / Eskimopush / Ian Stevenson / Intercity / James Joyce / Jeremyille / John Slade / Jon Burgerman / Kate Moross / Kavel Rafferty / Kerry Roper / Laura Southcott / Lazy Oaf / Lucy Vigrass / Matthew Hodson / Nat Shah & Rob Jones / Nils Leonard / Paul Pensom / Peskimo / Richard Hogg / Roo Walton / Rose Stallard / Sam Muir/ TwoPoints.Net

Much thanks to all those that came down to the opening, and special thanks goes to Chris at Concrete Hermit, Dean Chalkley, Richard Hogg and Crispin Finn – whose help and encouragement was and is hugely appreciated; and to Roy Richards (who framed the entire show) – and also to Gareth Bayliss who installed the wallpaper and made up the Get Involved stickers that proved so popular.

The exhibition runs until 31 July at Concrete Hermit, 5a Club Row (between Redchurch Street and Bethnal Green Road), London E1 6JX. Go check it out / buy some nice affordable prints!