GARY HOLTON - Ruby (7"vinyl-rip)

Gary’s been mentioned in despatches on this blog before. Here’s his first solo single since he left/was asked to leave the Heavy Metal Kids. Ruby (Don’t Take Your Love To Town) was a song written in 1967 by Mel Tillis. It originally told the tale of a dying and disabled Korean War Veteran, who didn’t want his lover to leave him. By the time it had been made popular by Kenny Rodgers in 1970 it was about a Vietnam Vet, In Gary’s tale the line about “That old crazy Asian War” was changed to reflect the British Armies involvement in Northern Island. It’s a stonking slab of bar room boogie, dominated by Gary’s cockney barrer boy vocals. When he released it in 1982 with Casino Steel of The Boys fame It reached Number One in Norway, don’t think it dented the spittoon when it came out in Britain two years previously. Gary will probably be remembered more for his acting roles, especially his role in the popular Auf Wiedersein Pet, which he should really have sung the theme tune to rather than the no-mark that did who’s name I can’t and don’t particularly want to remember. However Gary did sing the theme to Murphy’s Mob, an early 80’s kids drama about the trials and tribulations of a youth football team, directed by Mickey Dolenz of Monkees fame trivia fans. I don’t know if it was ever released as a single, if it was, it’s a bastard to find, however here’s a brief sound clip of it, and here’s Gary’s Ruby single, plus it’s b-sides. Or was it the other way round? Whatever, enjoy!