Song Of The Day 5/6/2015: Glenda Collins – “Thou Shalt Not Steal”

Brit Girls of the '60s: Glenda Collins, I’m reading from something I had in front of me a few minutes ago, was the “primary singer” for the groundbreaking but peculiarly troubled producer Joe Meek. They recorded their work in a maisonette above a “leather goods shop,” which isn’t too far off from the legend of Malcolm McLaren and the Sex Pistols if you think about it. On net balance, it feels weird to say, the Pistols’ legend probably made out a little better for the good of the country.

A shame, though, because Glenda Collins had some terrific singles that kept meeting unlucky ends. Her first single had the Tornados – you know, the original “Telstar” folks – as her backing band. Didn’t sell. Then she was backed up by the Outlaws (not the ’70s band from America), and they didn’t press enough copies. Soon the music business in general had had enough of Meek’s antics; he took it rather personally and offed himself. Glenda went to work in an office and that was that.

But “Thou Shalt Not Steal” is a big gem from the period, possibly my favorite song of the week (maybe even including yesterday’s Petula Clark joint). This is something that could have potentially set the world on fire if there had been a ravenous appetite for strong-willed women in the Western World during the ’60s.

One more bonus on this song: The guitar player for the Outlaws who plays on “Thou Shalt Not Steal” is none other, no less than Richie Blackmore, who went on to form Deep Purple, now officially the rock band not yet in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who should really be the hell in there by now the most. He later formed Rainbow, which weren’t half bad in their own right.