Twin Reverb

Now, here’s a curiosity. The Twintones were a duo from Nanpean consisting of organist Kay Tucker & her twin brother, drummer Gary. They were each only eleven years old when they recorded this album, Eleven Plus Two (SENS 1025), which consists of –how I hate to use this word- cheesy instrumental versions of many top hits of the day (Solitaire, Remember You’re A Womble, Y Viva Espana, Popcorn), 60s revivals (These Boots Are Made For Walking, Peyton Place) and more trad fare (Ode To Joy, Amazing Grace, Theme from the Dambusters). There’s also a single self-composed number on the album, a quaint ditty entitled Melody Waltz. They even take to trombone & euphonium on Remember You’re A Womble, and vocalise on their interpretation of Banana Rock (what, two Wombles covers on the same LP?!).
It’s all pretty competent –remarkably so for a couple of eleven year olds- so rather lacks the charm you might expect from a record played by pre-teenagers. What it does have in its favour is a sleeve note from Dick Emery, for whom they opened during a season at Talk Of The West, St Agnes in 1974. “It was a very great pleasure for me to meet Kay & Gary in Cornwall”, he claims, “and I wish them every success with their new record.” They must have been thrilled.
We also get a colour cover photo of what I believe is the interior of the Riverbank Studio in Newlyn, but you don’t really see much beyond a few mics and a 13 amp socket. Lovely photo of the combo though.