Rock Follies: Waiting For Waves

Rock Follies and Rock Follies of 77 was a TV show created by Howard Schuman and aired on Thames TV between 1976 and 1977. It centred on the female rock group Little Ladies, from their creation, through their trials and setbacks and those small betrayals that populate the music industry. The show dealt with contemporary issues in an honest exploration of feminism, capitalism, female friendships, misogyny, drugs, sex, money, exploitation, and the things you have to do. The songs were not just throw-away additions, but genuinely good rock songs that also explored the issues of the show’s plot. The songs were written by Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, with lyrics by Schuman. The Little Ladies were Dee (Julie Covington), Anna (Charlotte Cornwell) and Nancy “Q” Cunard de Longchamps (Rula Lenska), with a later addition of Rox (Sue Jones-Davies). Both series produced successful soundtrack albums, but not every song featured in the show made it onto these records. These are the songs that didn’t make the cut, but are still a part of the Rock Follies legacy, and deserve to be heard. Most are performed by the Little Ladies, but there are additional songs by Stevie Streeter (Tim Curry), Kitty Schreiber (Beth Porter), Sandra Lemon / Lennon (“Little” Nell Campbell), punk band Xero, Harry Moon (Derek Thompson), and The Angel (Trevor Ward). Both series of Rock Follies are available on DVD, and the official soundtracks are available on CD, as digital downloads and to stream on Spotify.