{"title":"Mark Wirtz","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"a-teenage-opera-ost","title":"A Teenage Opera - Ost","description":"\u003cp\u003ethe teenage opera - one of the legendary long lost projects of the sixties - comes to life for the first time. rpm presents the soundtrack for the teenage opera - in as near a form to the original concept as possible - as it would have been had emi not pulled the plug back in 1968. producer mark wirtz began work on the teenage opera story idea in 1966 when contracted to emi, and teamed up with a group of musicians including steve howe and keith west plus engineer geoff emerick. there are 24 tracks - most never reissued on any format, six previously unreleased. with the full cooperation of wirtz, the opera is presented as a film soundtrack and includes incidental music linking the tracks together, taken from wirtz's own library of original demos. these include different versions of the 'theme', 'grocer jack', and 'weatherman'. at the time, 1967, the teenage opera was very newsworthy with cliff richard being mooted to play the leading role in the film. the hype reached crazy proportions and made the daily newspapers. today the teenage opera is still talked about in 'whatever happened to' circles and its emergence now will be of immense interest to all lovers and collectors of 1960's music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50467422503243,"sku":"332685","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/fc03215a-04cd-4360-9c76-7d05b921686e_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727337869"},{"product_id":"lost-pets-2","title":"Lost Pets 2","description":"\u003cp\u003eBack in stock, limited numbers. PoppyDisc is excited to announce the return of the Alsatian psych-pop master, \u003cstrong\u003eMark Wirtz\u003c\/strong\u003e. Mark's work in the fields of 1960s and 70s psychedelia, northern soul, and general pop is legendary, and was acknowledged at the time via the album and single sales, and their chart performance worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLost Petz 2\u003c\/em\u003e is the follow up to 1979's \u003cem\u003eLost Pets\u003c\/em\u003e, and all of us here at PoppyDisc feel it's Mark's most personal album project to date. Bearing all the hallmarks of the innovative arranging and production skills that stood him in such good stead throughout his hit-making period, and Mark's unfeasibly lovely voice, which you may be surprised to hear has remained unchanged since 1967, \u003cem\u003eLost Petz 2\u003c\/em\u003e is a timeless pop masterpiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMark delivers no less than expected, simple as that. \u003cem\u003eLost Petz 2\u003c\/em\u003e is destined to be a future classic that no music fan should be without.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Poppydisc","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50507211505995,"sku":"2213550","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_8ff00726_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727842504"},{"product_id":"dream-dream-dream-the-anthology","title":"Dream Dream Dream - The Anthology","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDream Dream Dream: The Anthology\u003c\/em\u003e spans Wirtz's entire career, providing both a perfect introduction to new listeners and a treasure trove for long-time fans. The collection features a staggering 131 recordings, meticulously compiled and curated by \u003cstrong\u003eStephen C Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e on behalf of the Estate of Mark Wirtz to showcase Wirtz’s multi-faceted talents as a composer, producer, and performer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis anthology includes not only his most iconic works but also rare and previously unreleased material that will excite collectors and music enthusiasts alike. Alongside this any orders of the box set made directly from Cherry Red Records will include access to a free download of the digital edition of the boxset (featuring an additional 35 tracks). The 5CD collection spans from 1963 through the 1970s. It highlights his collaborative work with a diverse range of artists, including \u003cstrong\u003eCaroline Munro\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eSheila And Jenny\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Soul Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eMiki Antony\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Matchmakers\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eTomorrow\u003c\/strong\u003e, and many others as well as a plethora of Mark's solo works as a singer\/songwriter in his own right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis set serves as both a retrospective and a detailed look into Wirtz's prolific output during these formative years and beyond. Included is a 40-page booklet featuring recollections and tributes from several artists, friends, and family that knew, worked with and\/or loved Mark over the decades including \u003cstrong\u003eCaroline Munro\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eKeith West\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Carter\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eSheelagh Regan\u003c\/strong\u003e, Mark's daughter Nicole and his widow Amanda. Also included in the booklet are many photographs, several never previously published, plus a short Bio of Mark and detailed track notes by \u003cstrong\u003eStephen C Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs an added bonus, the box set includes exclusive content, such as a free collectible badge designed by Stewart Harris who also designed the Box set's distinctive artwork, and a collectible double-sided facsimile of the handwritten lyrics for Wirtz’s iconic 1967 hit ‘Grocer Jack’. This extra material provides fans with a tangible connection to Wirtz's creative process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe anthology also features a wealth of unreleased material, offering listeners out-takes, rare tracks, work tapes, home demos and works in progress. Additionally, several tracks are presented in stereo for the first time ever, providing a fresh auditory experience even for long-time fans. Many of the recordings in this set are being reissued for the first time in over five decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong these are two complete LPs: '\u003cem\u003eCome Back And Shake Me\u003c\/em\u003e' from 1968 and '\u003cem\u003eFantastic Teenage Fair\u003c\/em\u003e' from 1970. These albums have long been sought after by collectors and are now available to a new generation of listeners and include Mark's own takes on three classic Beatles tracks – 'Hey Jude', 'Fool On The Hill', and 'Ob La Di Ob La Da'. For the first time in many years, tracks like 'Grocer Jack', 'Sam', and four classic Tomorrow tracks are included in their original highly sought after Mono mixes. These versions offer a nostalgic listening experience, preserving the sound as it was originally intended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe box set also introduces several tracks that have been newly remixed by \u003cstrong\u003eStephen C Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e for the Estate and this collection. These remixes provide fresh perspectives on classic hits, enhancing the listening experience with modern audio techniques while maintaining the integrity of the original recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo add a personal touch, the fifth disc commences and concludes with intimate piano renditions of ‘Grocer Jack’ and ‘He's Our Dear Old Weatherman,’ performed by Mark in 2017 for an audience that included only his wife, Amanda. These recordings offer a deeply personal and emotional close to this extensive collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMark Wirtz\u003c\/strong\u003e’s influence on the music industry is immeasurable, and this box set is a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy. Mark’s daughter Nicole says of her father’s legacy: “Dad didn’t do art; he WAS art. He conceived just about everything he engaged in as an expression of creativity. Though he was talented in all areas of the arts, he even made such mundane tasks as making dinner an artistic event. There was a drive within him: a fizzy cocktail of wild genius, exultant sensuality as well as profound trauma. He had a thirst that was perhaps never quenched, for the limits of this world fell short of what his inner universe yearned to express. Although he often embodied the tortured artist archetype, he never lost his smile or wit. Needless to say, being raised by him was quite an experience!”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDream Dream Dream: The Anthology\u003c\/em\u003e not only celebrates his past works but also reintroduces them to a new generation of listeners, ensuring that his musical genius continues to inspire and captivate.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Strawberry","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50531293757771,"sku":"2219964","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Screenshot_2024-09-03_at_16.49.24_3800cc04_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1728103052"},{"product_id":"the-70s-albums-balloon-hothouse-smiles","title":"The 70s Albums: Balloon \/ Hothouse Smiles","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst-ever reissue of both 1973 Capitol albums by Mark Wirtz — the producer, arranger, and Ivor Novello winner behind A Teenage Opera — restored to their original US LP configurations and paired together for the first time. Balloon (February 1973), recorded at Apple Studios with engineer Geoff Emerick, introduced Wirtz as a singer, with lush orchestration and theatrical pop craft. Hothouse Smiles (August 1973), written after his move to Silver Lake, California, turns the same lavish production toward sharp, satirical vignettes of American life — hailed at the time as an attempt at an American Sgt. Pepper. Session players include Chris Spedding, Clem Cattini, Ray Cooper, Albert Lee, Jim Gordon, Larry Knechtel, Jim Horn, and Max Bennett. Bonus track: the non-LP B-side Nothing To Do. Newly remastered by Prof. Stoned. Mini-LP gatefold packaging with printed inserts. Limited pressing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Think Like A Key Music","offers":[{"title":"2CD","offer_id":57727440617803,"sku":"R0634-7226","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0601570655845_c7c7f86c-42ea-4eb9-a5b3-e5e74baa55aa.webp?v=1782838326"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/mark-wirtz.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}