Patto - "Roll 'Em Smoke 'Em Put Another Line Out" LP


"Roll 'em Smoke 'em Put Another Line Out"
Released October, 1972
Island Records ILPS 9210 (UK) SW-9322 (US) EDCD 510 (UK CD release on Edsel Records)
Produced by Muff Winwood and the Patto's

SIDE A		SIDE B
FLAT-FOOTED WOMAN *		TURN TURTLE
SINGING THE BLUES ON REDS *		I GOT RHYTHM
MUMMY		PETER ABRAHAM
LOUD GREEN SONG		CAP'N 'P' AND THE ATTO'S Sea Biscuits parts 1 & 2

Side A Selections 1,2 & 4 (Patto/Halsall), 3 (Halsey)		* The order of these two tracks was reversed on the US release, presumably due to "Singing the Blues on Reds" being issued as a single. "Mummy" was left off of the Australian release.
Side B Selections 1 (Halsall/Patto), 2 (Patto) 3 (Halsall), 4 (Halsey/Halsall)		Engineered by Tony Platt and Richard Digby Smith; Recorded at Island Studios, London
All selections published by Island Music		Cover Design by Visualeyes, Ltd.

MIKE PATTO VOCALS. ELECTRIC PIANO ON "I GOT RHYTHM" AND PIANO ON "PETER ABRAHAM."	OLLY HALSALL GUITAR AND KEYBOARDS. VOCAL ON "PETER ABRAHAM."	JOHN HALSEY DRUMS AND PERCUSSION. RECITATION - "CAP'N P AND THE ATTO'S"; DIALOGUE - "MUMMY"	CLIVE GRIFFITHS BASS GUITAR.

Patto's third album was released on Island Records. Compared to the first two albums, "Roll 'em Smoke 'em..." is much looser. On stage, the band was known for its humorous antics, usually referred to as "looning", which you will read more about as you browse through this web site. The band wanted to have fun with the album and have it reflect more of their humor. The album starts off with the bizarre introduction to "Flat Footed Woman" to let you know straight away that this is going to be a different type of album from the band. The looning is to the fore in John's stage favorite "Mummy", about a "grown-up subject," and the twisted sea-chanteys in "Cap'n 'P' And The Atto's".

Another significant change from their earlier albums is Ollie opting to play a lot more keyboards -- he plays guitar on less than half of the album. This probably didn't please the guitar fans much, but Ollie does play some of his most outrageous guitar ever on "Loud Green Song". In fact, Nick Saloman (aka Bevis Frond) ranks the solos in the song as his favorite of all time! Ollie does plays some fine keyboards on the album, though. The album is more enjoyable once you get past the less prominent role of Ollie's guitar.

The production on "Roll 'em Smoke 'em" was their most adventurous to date. The rhythm section sounds great on this record. The band experimented more with effects (reverb, echo) on many tracks. Ollie's keyboards really fill out the sound along with the backing vocals on "Flat Footed Woman" and "Turn Turtle". There's an interesting guitar and electric piano blend on "I Got Rhythm". The middle section of "Singing The Blues On Reds" has beautiful, chiming double-track clean guitars that are complimented by Les Paul-esque runs achieved by recording with the tape slowed down.

Interviews from the period show that the band was quite proud of the album. However, this seems to be Patto's least popular album among fans. With the looser approach, the looning, fewer "serious" songs, and less of Ollie's brilliant guitar work, that isn't a big surprise. It is very different from their previous offerings.

Reviews of the album:

Rolling Stone, November 23, 1972 Review by Jon Tiven
Disc, Record Review, 11-25-72 Review by Peter Erskine
NME, December 2, 1972 Review by Ian MacDonald
ROCK, December 18, 1972 Review by John Swenson
Fusion, March 1973 Review by Ken Barnes
Music World Magazine, January 1973 Review by Lee Kaplan

Press Releases:
Island Records: United States
Island Records: Australia

I rate this as a great record, but for some it may not be the best album to start with if you are just starting to check out Patto's music. The first two albums may be a better place to start. Some of the tracks on the album may take a few listens to warm up to them. If you're a fan of English humor (Python, Bonzo Dog Band, etc.), you might also appreciate the looning side of the album.

Patto did not release any singles in the UK/US from their first two albums. But a single was pulled from "Roll 'em Smoke 'em" for a US-only release - "Singing The Blues On Reds" coupled with (can you believe it?) "Mummy"! It would make sense if this single was released to coincide with their American tour with Joe Cocker. The "Roll 'em Smoke 'em" LP did not come out until after the American leg of the tour was completed, however. Cat. # Island 1208

Around the time Mike was in Spooky Tooth, he told John Halsey that he had met two DJ's that were fired for the playing the B-side while they were touring the States!

Various "Roll 'em Smoke 'em..." Items: Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.
Labels from the US stock LP and the UK stock LP. The US label shown here came out of a sealed promo copy (cover had a standard promo hole in the corner). It is just a regular stock label, so a promo label variation may not exist.
Label from the Australian pressing. Note the absence of "Mummy", which was apparently considered unsuitable for Australian fans.
Not-so-interesting label from a UK test pressing of the album. No cue sheets or other information accompanied this LP. It has the same matrix numbers as the final UK release.
US press kit photo and 1 page bio.
US promotional poster. Measures approximately 23" x 32"
Full page ad for the album as it appeared in the November 4, 1972 issue of Melody Maker.

For those who have not yet had the pleasure of hearing this album:
Flat Footed Woman	A bit of looning begins and ends this rock tune with a great groove that deservedly opens the album. "Sounds from the inside..." Everyone is in fine form on this cut. Great vocals, keyboards, etc. John's drumming and Ollie's keys are particularly good. Reverb-soaked backing vocals help create a full sound. Check out this related story from Helen Newman!
Singing The Blues On Reds	A great funky number which features Mike's vocals. There is a great middle break with layered guitars from Ollie. After the last verse, the song explodes into a kick-ass ending. Inspired by Alvin Lee of Ten Years After, believe it or not!
Mummy	John's dialog about motherly love. It goes a bit over the top for some people. Yes, you can laugh and cringe at the same time. Leather underwear?
Loud Green Song	The powerhouse rocker of the album. Everybody jams hard on this tune, and it features perhaps Ollie's most outrageous guitar soloing committed to tape. Guitarists must hear this track! "Whatever you do, don't make it sound like Sergio Mendes!"
Turn Turtle	A great up-tempo rocker that is similar to "Flat Footed Woman" in production with its backing vocals and dominant piano. Great vocal from Mike that is lyrically about a man's boiling sexual frustration with his frigid woman.
I Got Rhythm	A bluesy number, and the first song ever released that is credited solely to Mike. Unusual guitar tone that works well with Mike's electric piano.
Peter Abraham	Ollie sings this strangely crafted song about a world traveler who makes the papers every week, while the less fortunate are sleeping on the grass and having problems with their lungs, intestines, stomachs, minds, etc. Peter Abraham was one of Ollie's school friends. Geoffrey Dean was a drummer for Timebox until he got TB. It's a pretty bizarre song, and it has very funny moments like when the shoo-wah-dee-wah-dee backup vocals come in. Side note: This song was also recorded in January, 1972 for Ollie's unreleased album with his band The Blue Traffs. The album was to be released on Robert Fripp's EG label. John Halsey provided the drums and remembers it being a fine album. These tapes are assumed lost, but we can only hope that someone will stumble onto a copy one day.
Cap'n 'P' and the Atto's - Sea Biscuits parts 1 & 2	John leads the band through another track of looning. This one is basically a pair of sea chanteys, complete with seasickness. You ought to be quite at home with this if you like the Bonzo Dog Band. Arrrr...drop a fart, matey, and hoist the Jolly Roger!


Here's a Spanish single for "Flat Footed Woman", Cat. # Island 11600. Side A fades 4:15 into the song during the brief pause for Ollie's piano flourish. Side B starts cold when the rhythm section kicks back in.

The Island Records eight-track cartridge (Catalog No. Y81 9210) featured a different running order of the tracks:
Program A Flat Footed Woman Mummy Program B Peter Abraham Loud Green Song	Program C Turn Turtle I Got Rhythm Program D Singing The Blues On Reds Cap'n 'P' And The Atto's (Sea Biscuits Parts 1 & 2)