Ugly Custard - Ugly Custard (Remastered, Reissue) (1970/2007)

This is an impressive crew of studio/session musicians, embarking on what could have been the umpteenth boring exploitation album. Luckily, it turns out to be surprisingly good. Side one of this all-instrumental LP is made up of covers of songs like "Scarboro' Fair", "My Babe" and Stephen Stills' "Hung Upside Down", while side two comprises Parker originals. Strangely enough, side one is actually better, pairing imaginative arranging with expert playing. Not as good or disturbing as the similarly-inclined Blue Phantom on the same label, this is nonetheless listenable, though nothing very special. Alan Parker was also involved in Blue Mink and Hungry Wolf and made a solo album in 1970 too.

Recorded in London under an assumed name by legendary session musicians including Alan Parker, Roger Coulam, Herbie Flowers and Clem Cattini, and released with different artwork in Germany and Spain in 1970, before creeping out in the UK the following year, this cult classic is as enigmatic as they come. A moody blend of Hammond organ, distorted electric guitar and funky rhythms, it's also a lost treasure for beat diggers everywhere.