25 January 1969
The Marmalade, as they were known before they dropped the ‘The’ in the ’70s, were apparently the first Scottish act to have a number one single in the UK and, notwithstanding any supporting Caledonian member of an Irish showband, the first to do so in neighbouring Ireland too. They also turned down the chance to cover minor US soul-pop hit ‘Everlasting Love’ before it became a beloved ’60s classic in the UK and Ireland for Love Affair. That should tell you something.
Indeed, if the original Beatles version was just too edgy for you or your ’60s relatives, have I got a cover of ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ for you! The Marmalade manage to eke out even lower depths of naffness and schmaltz in this terrible song with their bland schlager arrangement. True, they scour out Paul’s ska borrowings, notably by singing without a cod-Caribbean accent and dropping the “brah” from the chorus, but I doubt this call was made to strike a blow against cultural appropriation. Then they throw in a comic reference to jam! Already I’m nostalgic for the avant garde acuity of ‘Lily The Pink’.
So that’s The Marmalade, taking the low road and blazing a trail for the Bay City Rollers. And there’s a lot more of this dreadful McCartney-worshipping, chart-topping bubblegum pop to come – including some from Ireland.
