CELIA & THE MUTATIONS

Formed: London, England, 1977

Celia Gollin was a London-based singer who was "discovered" in a Chinese restaurant by Dai Davies, where she was (according to Sounds) "singing camp cabaret with former Kilburn and the High Roads pianist Rod Melvin". Davis managed a band called The Stranglers (you may recognise the name), and he persuaded them to act as her backing band on Mony Mony, where they masqueraded as The Mutations. This was not a well-kept secret: even the adverts admitted everybody knew who The Mutations were. Less obvious, unless you looked at the song-writing credits, was that the B-Side, 'Mean To Me, was a Stranglers song, as it credited to Black/Burnel/Cornwell/Greenfield. Although it got positive reviews, not even the Stranglers connection could propel this excellent single into the charts. The Stranglers re-recorded 'Mean To me' themselves in 1978 as part of a free single with their 3rd LP, Black And White. For her second single, You Better Believe Me, JJ was the only Strangler who helped out, although he did co-write the A-Side as well as play bass, aided and abetted by Wilco Johnson (guitar, from Dr Feelgood) and Terry Williams (drums, from Man). Following this, Gollin faded into obscurity.

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DISCOGRAPHY

Singles & Albums

Mony Mony (7", 1977)

You Better Believe Me (7", 1977)

Various Artists

Punk Off! Italy LP 1977 (United Artists): Mony Mony / You Better Believe Me

Street Music - No Heroes No Legends Japan LP 1978 (United Artists): Mony Mony

Happening, Alive And Nasty - The EMI Punk Singles Collection UK CD 2007 (Zonophone): Mony Mony

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