There is a tendency to see The Wurzels exclusively as mid-70s purveyors of double-entendre pop, who then went on to carve out a career in light entertainment and children’s TV. While all this is true, it’s only half the story.
The Wurzels existed long before their 15 minutes of fame in the 70’s, and early on found a niche as a folk band with a comic twist. Tragically, main songwriter and frontman Adge Cutler was killed in 1973. The band elected to carry on in more ways than one as they re-wrote pop classics with a yokel twist, the best example being Melanie’s Brand New Key, which became that celebration of rural romping, Combine Harvester. By 1980 the hits had dried up, so the band concentrated on the live circuit, occasionally popping into the studio to record funny bumpkin cover versions of rock and pop classics. If you’re stick sceptical, check out their versions of Oasis’s Don’t Look Back In Anger and Gina Gee’s Hi-NRG Eurovision gem, Just A Little Bit. Crack open the cider and enjoy.
