Peter Sarstedt
Listen/Download – Peter Sarstedt – Frozen Orange Juice
Listen/Download – Peter Sarstedt – Aretusa Loser
Greetings all.
I hope the new week finds you well.
Last week saw one of the first musical losses of 2017, British singer/songwriter Peter Sarstedt.
Though not very well known here in the States, he had a huge hit in the UK (and internationally) with ‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)’ in 1969.
It was that song – which had the sound of early Leonard Cohen, with a very healthy dash of French chanson – that brought him some new level of fame when it was used by Wes Anderson for the soundtrack of ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ in 2007.
Sarstedt was born to a British family in India, and started in a skiffle group with his brother Clive (later known as Robin) Sarstedt, and their older brother Richard was a pop star in the UK under the name Eden Kane.
Today’s selection, ‘Frozen Orange Juice’ was Sarstedt’s follow-up hit in the UK, making it into the Top 10.
‘Frozen Orange Juice’ has the feel of some of the records by the Bee Gees or Tom Northcott from the same period. It has a wonderful arrangement – by Ian Green, who also arranged Sharon Tandy’s epic reading of ‘Our Day Will Come’ and Rosetta Hightower’s classic cover of Eddie Floyd’s ‘Big Bird’ – will all kinds of interesting touches.
Sarstedt had an engaging tenor, and a great way with lyrics.
The flip side, ‘Aretusa Loser’ has a looser, boogie feel to it that suggests a slightly later, pub rock feel (maybe even a little Stealers Wheel).
Sarstedt never had another big hit, but continued to record through the 70s and 80s, including a collaboration with his brother Clive.
He continued to perform until his retirement (due to illness) in 2010.
He will be missed.
See you next week.
Peace
Larry
Iron Leg 
Thanks for this news. I recently learned Martin Stone had passed away Nov 9 from cancer. RIP to all .