Beachbuggy were, for a period in the mid-1990s a fairly significant feature in my life. Hailing from Doncaster, and reflecting the creative vision of their singer/guitarist Jack Straker, they had a small but vociferous following around Leeds, though this never entirely translated into wider popularity or success. This single is fairly typical of their sound - fairly basic production, garage rock with a hint of '60s surfer rock and themes that revolve around classic cars, drag racing and 1950s Americana. I first remember being aware of them when they performed one of their trailer gigs (they'd play a short set from the back of a trailer at the end of a another band's gig) and then saw them in a wide range of pubs and small venues in Leeds and Sheffield over the next few years. This was the last single released during their first burst of creativity; shortly afterwards Straker joined the Wedding Present as bassist/guitarist, though there was a second spell which generated wider interest once they signed to Alan McGee's Poptones label and got themselves produced by Steve Albini. However it all amounted to very little and the band hung up their matching overalls in the mid-'00s.
My recollections of the specifics of which gigs I attended are pretty sketchy and I'd welcome any details that others reading this may recall. I think they're the only band I ever saw in Leeds' Cardigan Arms and also the only band I saw play the downstairs bar at Sheffield's legendary and long closed Boardwalk.
The B-side is called The Chauffeur, but sadly, it's not a cover of this.
