This was the seventeenth 7" 45rpm vinyl single released by The Wurzels after Adge Cutler's death. It was released on 7th August 1995 on the Loose Records record label, catalogue number WURZELP1. Unusually this single was simultaneously released in the 7" vinyl, cassette tape and CD formats. It entered the UK singles charts on 19 August 1995 for 2 weeks reaching number 93.
At the time of the recording of this single The Wurzels consisted of Tommy Banner, Pete Budd, John Morgan and Dave Wintour. Of interest are the numerous credits on the sleeves notes for all four tracks which include only two Wurzels - Pete Budd and Tommy Banner. In full the credits given are: Tommy Banner (accordion, keyboard, harmonies), Geoff Betsworth (acoustic guitar, dobro, steel guitar, harmonies), Pete Budd (banjo and lead vocal) and Malcolm Mason (guitar, sequences, harmonies). Becky Hutchison, Emma Richardson, Anna Chaddock and Sarah Clarke - backing vocals and cheers on 'I Want To Be An Eddie Stobart Driver'. The sleeve artwork - for all formats - shows a cartoon of all four members of the band.
There were four new and previously unreleased tracks on this EP - I Want To Be An Eddie Stobart Driver, You Can't Kid A Kidder, 40 & Bone Dry and Rig Jig. They were all studio recordings, recorded at the Lemon Grass Studio in Cumbia. The title song was the brainchild of Loose Records owner Andy Titcombe. Issued in three formats the EP was an entry in the lower reaches of the UK Top 100. Although the sleeve notes claim that the tracks were taken "from the forthcoming album 'Wurzel, Hits, The Road' " - this album (WURZELCD201) was never recorded.
The examples below are taken from the collection of Professor Wurzel and represent what a collector should expect to find. Generally The Wurzels' vinyl single releases from 1975 onwards tended to have an initial pressing run and were then taken off the catalogue. Matrix, Mother and Stamper codes were still used on the vinyl and the information centred around Adge's 1960's recordings that can be found on the Main Menu under 'Vinyl Collecting Guides' remains relevant (with minor changes between different record labels).This vinyl single was produced without sleeve or information leaflet unlike the CD and cassette tape versions which both had informative case inserts
This EP release was a first for The Wurzels in several ways - their first EP single, their first coloured vinyl and their first (and most unusually) shaped vinyl - in this case 'lorry shaped'. Matrix: WURZEL LP 5/A ORLAKE Matrix: WURZEL LP 5/B ORLAKE
Interesting promotional letter sent out to members of the Eddie Stobart fan club relating to the amended record release date. Of particular note is that the reason for the delay was that the discs were 'mispressed' and had to be destroyed. No copies of the mispressing have yet surfaced!
Signed copy of this vinyl - autographed by Pete Budd, Tommy Banner, John Morgan and Dave Wintour (bottom right) For some reason the autograph of Dave Wintour is unusually rare on Wurzel-related items.