The Jean Genie BlockBusters

Bob Holness, who at one point worked with Elvis Presley (most notably on live performances), is best known as presenter of quiz show Blockbusters, which originated in the USA, and was named after The Sweet's 1973 hit 'Block Buster!' 


Weeks earlier, a very similar riff to the one used by The Sweet was developed by David Bowie for The Jean Genie. But Bowie himself may have been listening to The Yarbirds covering Bo Diddley's 'I'm A Man'. Written in 1955, Diddley (aka Ellas McDaniel) was born within mere weeks of Bob Holness, and the pair had met while the latter was collaborating with Pressley. 


Incredibly, the originator of quiz show Blockbusters, Mark Goodman, also worked with Holness and Pressley (and may have had a chance encounter with Diddley) during the 1960's, and was very keen to involve the King of Rock'n'Roll in one of his shows. Elvis never consented, but Holness was eventually captured in 1983.


By this time, Holness, with his sound reputation in many aspects of show business, had potentially contributed to both songs combined here in the latest Van Credenza number: The Jean Genie Blockbuster.


Assisting the band vocally here are German songsters Fortuna (Lucius, Copia and Annonia).

Jackdaw & Crow

Noise.
Noise of mechanical structures. Man made machines. Noise.
Natural noise. Noise of the creatures around us. We curse it.
Noise!
Yet, we also treasure the din, for some among us cannot perceive sound.
Van Credenza brings together nature and apparatus, plus two deaf, totally anonymous guest musicians (JD & WMD) for 'Jackdaw & Crow'.
This item wasn't simply played; it was built by Van Credenza. We sent 'Jack' and 'Walter' to capture two live birds to use in the recording. Instructions were issued to our hearing-impaired collaborators (Mr Dow and Mr Marks-Davies) in order for them to construct makeshift percussive instruments. Finally, Tens pain relief machines were attached to both functioning ear restricted drummers to ensure they picked up and played the required beats, on time.
Whether this has been a successful project, only you can judge. Unless you too are unable to perceive noise.

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