A one-off label from 1970. Avnei Hakotel was a group from Israel. Under its leader-and-founder Martin Davidson it attempted to blend the sound of some of that country's traditional music with contemporary Pop, using guitar, drums and bass; hence the title of its 'Pop Goes Hassidic' EP. The band paid a visit to the U.K. in 1970, and it seems a reasonable guess that the record was made to be sold during the tour. Its catalogue number, WAR EP-216 / 217, indicates a product of the Warren Studios (q.v.), of Hendon, and the style of the matrix number in the run-off points to British Homophone as being the manufacturers. In addition to the tracks shown on the scan the EP featured 'Hodo Lashem' and a traditional folk song called 'Wus Gewehen'. It exists in at least two other forms: there was what appears to be an American edition, presumably from when the band toured that country, and there was also an Israeli version, on Isradisc (191034; 1970). 1971 saw the release of an album, 'Reflections', on the London-based I.D. label (ID-001).
Copyright 2016 Robert Lyons.