Fleur De Lys' cover of The Who's "Circles" kicks off new Countdown 7" series

Eddie Piller's Countdown label is launching their mod classics 7" series with a freakbeat gem from the legendary Fleur De Lys.  

Here's the scoop from Acid Jazz HQ...

With the first release in our new Countdown ‘Mod Classics’ 7-inch single series - The Fleur De Lys' iconic cover of The Who’s ‘Circles’ - now in stock and set to ship next week, we are getting super excited about the future of this series.

Each record will be presented in a classy new Countdown bag, with a circular ‘chequered flag’ monochrome geometric sleeve. Our second title will be announced next week, and over the coming months we will be unveiling a series of astounding cuts on limited 7-inch vinyl. These will include titles by The Action, Mighty Baby, Shyster, The Mike Cotton Sound, Maxine and The Bo Street Runners.

The Fleur De Lys version of ‘Circles' comes backed with the band’s never-before on 7-inch cover of the Temptations ‘You Got To Earn It’ and is pressed in a run of 500 units on white vinyl. 

Fleur De Lys emerged from the vibrant Southampton scene with a love of Soul and R&B, and were signed to the Immediate label by Tony Calder, who had connections on the South Coast. Their first single was ‘Moondreams’ (produced by Jimmy Page no less), before their incendiary take on ‘Circles’. It proved to be their final release on Immediate, before they signed with Frank Fenter. 

The Pete Townshend song ‘Circles’ was originally slated as The Who’s follow up to ‘My Generation’, before getting caught up in legal matters. The Fleur De Lys version was released to take advantage of The Who’s misfortunes, but it was rush-released and failed to chart. It remains one of the finest slices of the Pop Art Mod sound, and is as fresh today as it was then. 

‘You’ve Got To Earn It’ is from a tantalizing, lost session from 1966 which also included takes of The Impressions ‘Amen’ and Don Covay’s ‘Sookie Sookie. All that survived from the session was an acetate of this amazing cut, found by group member Gordon Haskell, from which this side derives. It was originally released as the title track of the first Fleur De Lys compilation on Acid Jazz in 2013. It has never before been available on 7” vinyl. 

Now is the time to order the Fleur De Lys single, as these won’t be coming around again any time soon. Get it while you can via Bandcamp right here. Have a listen to both sides below.