This was the fourth 7" 45 rpm vinyl single by Adge Cutler & The Wurzels, released on 7th July 1967. It was issued on the Columbia EMI record label in mono, catalogue number DB8222.
At the time of both the recording and release of this single the Wurzels supporting Adge were Reg Quantrill, Reg Chant and John Macey.
'I Wish I Was Back On The Farm' backed with 'Easton In Gordano' was the third single to be released by Adge Cutler and his Wurzels. The title track was a song originally sung by George Formby in his 1940 film 'Spare A Copper' and was the first track that Adge had recorded that wasn't a self composition. It was recorded on the evening of the recording of Adge's second album ('Adge Cutler & The Wurzels Family Album') on 3 May 1967. Interestingly this track didn't appear on an album until Adge's 1972 LP 'Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee' - together with an introduction by Adge taken from the 1967 recording tapes. Side B, 'Easton-In-Gordano' is the same version that appears on the second album although the introduction has been shortened by deleting the first few bars. It is actually a studio recording, probably from the recording session Adge and the band had at EMI's Abbey Road in late May/early June 1967. The Gramophone Magazine' reported on this release in its September 1967 issue - they were obviously not too keen on this latest release from Adge! 'Back on the farm' - Adge Cutler continues to enrich the soil with his rustic doggerel. 'I wish I was back on the farm' is actually one of the titles on Columbia DB 8222 and it’s a typical ‘guileless bumpkin’ song. 'Easton-in-Gordano' is a piece of north Somerset local patriotism. Since I’m writing this in Dorset all I can say is give me Whitchurch Canonicorum any time. On July 28th 1967 EMI arranged for a short film to be made to go alongside this latest single release. Filmed in Bristol it is perhaps not up to today's' 'political correctness' standards and was very much in the style of Benny Hill - but interesting to watch never the less! A few stills from the film may sum this up!
The examples below and the associated statistics are taken from the collection of Professor Wurzel and represent what a collector should expect to find. For more information on references to matrix information (including information on acetates), vinyl tax codes , album sleeves, singles sleeves, and Columbia album labels, then refer to the Vinyl Collecting Guides on the main menu.
Image Ref. 11967/68 pressing of DB8222 with the 7XCA 30224-1 and 7XCA 30225-1 matrix, pressed with a first master, first mother on both sides and 'P' and 'A' stampers on the A and B sides respectively. This example has a four-pronged centre, with the embossed tax code 'KT' (indicating a pre-November 23rd 1968 pressing) and on both sides the standard 'sold in UK...' message across the centre of the label (indicating a pre-June 1969 pressing). The tax code 'KT' is also found on the run-off on both sides of the record.
Image Ref. 2 1967/68 pressing of DB8222 with the 7XCA 30224-1 and 7XCA 30225-1 matrix, pressed with a first master, first mother on both sides and 'R' and 'A' stampers on the A and B sides respectively. This example has a solid centre, with the embossed tax code 'KT' (indicating a pre-November 23rd 1968 pressing) and on both sides the standard 'sold in UK...' message across the centre of the label (indicating a pre-June 1969 pressing). The tax code 'KT' is also found on the run-off on both sides of the record.
Image 3:Demonstration pressing of DB8222 with the 7XCA 30224-1 and 7XCA 30225-1 matrix, pressed with a first master, first mother and 'G' stampers for both sides. Demonstration (or promotional) copies were produced for radio stations etc. This record, with the new standard Columbia green demonstration label and a large white 'A' to show the primary track, has the British release date of 7th July 1967 printed on both sides (7.7.67). Unusually no track timings are given. This example has a four-pronged centre (no example yet found as a solid centre.) There is the embossed tax code on the disc (and this tax code also appears on each side of the disc on the vinyl run-out). The standard 'sold in UK...' message is not present as this record was for demonstration purposes only, not for commercial sale, as printed on the label.
This is an unusual and rare copy of the ' I Wish I Was Back On The Farm' single. It came from the personal collection of Bob Barratt - Adge's record producer and close friend - and is known as a Demonstration (or promotional) record - produced for distribution to radio stations etc. Bob's handwriting can be seen on the sleeve giving the record title and his own collection reference number (1876).