2012-03-16

TOMMYKNOCKERS' BEAT CLUB VOLUME 10: TUNE UP, CHURN OUT, KNOCK DOWN!

Uncompiled UK 60's BEAT for connoisseurs continued with 32 rarities few have ever heard of. Yes, Sirs, and Jeff Beck-, Soft Machine-, Kaleidoscope-, Spooky Tooth- and other completists won't be disappointed as well...

01- Louie Louie - John O'Hara & His Playboys (German-only 7", Decca, 64)

02- Do It With Me - The Cresters (HMV, 64)

03- U.S. Mail - Pete MacLaine & The Clan (Decca, 63)

04- What Would I Do - The Tremors (V.A. LP "Beat City", German Polydor, 65)

05- Yes - Rick Brown & The Hi-Lites (Swe-Disc, 66, Swedish-only 7")

06- Watch Your Step - The Clayton Squares (Büchergilde Gutenberg, German-only EP, 66)

07- Karen - Mark & John (Decca, 64)

08- You Thrill Me To Pieces - Herbie's People (CBS, 65)

09- Apple Blossom Time - The Pickwicks (Decca, 64)

10- Do You Believe In Magic - The Pack (Columbia, 65)

11- All The Children Sleep - Force West (Columbia, 67)

12- Brand New Cadillac - Vince Taylor & His Playboys (Parlophone, 59)

13- You Really Got A Hold On Me - The Gamblers (Decca, 63)

14- Reelin' And Rockin' - The In-Sect (US-only LP "Direct from England", RCA Camden, 65)

15- Those Words They Say - The Wilde Flowers (unreleased, 66)

16- Shame, Shame, Shame - The Big Six (German-only 7", Polydor, 66)

17- Carryin' On - The Nocturns (Decca, 64)

18- Peanut Butter - The Barron Nights (Columbia, 64)

19- Don't Cry Baby - The LeROYS (HMV, 64)

20- That's For Sure - Earl Preston & The Realms (Fontana, 64)

21- Penny Wren - The Shiralee (Fontana, 67)

22- I'm Not Running Away - The Fitz And Startz (Parlophone, 64)

23- Call Me On Your Telephone - Blues Section With Jim Pembroke (Love, Finnish-only 7", 67)

24- Luceanne - The Shades Of Blue (Parlophone, 65)

25- Ready Steady - The Clockwork Oranges (Ember, 66)

26- Walkin' In - The Measles (Columbia, 66)

27- Wildwood Days - The Bobby Patrick Big Six (Decca, 64)

28- Look At Me Now - The Naturals (Parlophone, 64)

29- But Say It Isn't So - The Aces (Parlophone, 64)

30- Please Stay, Don't Go - The Sidekicks (unreleased acetate, 66)

31- That's My Woman - The Vipps (US-only 7", Philips 66)

32- I'm Gonna Turn My Life Around - Peter Adler (Decca, 66)

lake it or tibet:

John O'Hara & His Playboys from Scotland were quite a popular act on the German scene, where they released four 45s and an LP, and often were featured on TV. This remarkable version of "Louie Louie" - with some new verses added - was the debut, but the success came with more mass-compatible bierzelt-muzak like the a-side or "Es gibt kein Bier auf Hawaii". They returned back home in the later 60s, changed style to blue-eyed soul and recorded three singles and an album for Fontana without chart action. +++

We've already had the Yorkshire Cresters on vol. 2. This is the b-side of the second of two singles for HMV. +++

Pete MacLaine & The Clan from Manchester only had one for Decca. Check vol. 8 for the a-side. "U.S. Mail" is a cover of a song by Teddy Randazzo & The Dazzlers. +++

The Tremors were a Scottish group and obviously had nothing to do with Dave Curtiss' backing group of the same name. Led by Mike Reoch, they spent the entire career in Germany, where they recorded an LP, two 45s and a couple of compilation tracks, before they metamorphized to Light Of Darkness and released an eponymous album in Germany that still is considered as a milestone of krautrock. "What Would I Do" was originally released by The Monotones on Pye. +++

Similar story with Rick(y) Brown & The Hi-Lites from Southampton, who, due to the darker skin of Rick and his brother, often are mistaken for one of the many Dutch-Indonesian bands which flooded Mid-Europe in the early 60s. They made Germany their home for some years when they landed a contract with CBS here, where they had an LP and two 45s, but they travelled around a bit, and recorded two singles in Sweden as well. Here's one of those. "Yes" also was a 45 for Johnny Sandon & The Remo 4. You can find more of the band on old volumes of Prae-Kraut Pandaemonium, where you'll also find more of The Tremors and lots of other Brit bands, who never recorded on home turf. +++

Next is well-known Merseyside band The Clayton Squares. Three of four officially released sides are compiled on the "Mod Meeting" series, but this live recording was only released in Germany on an EP given away as part of the book "Beat in Liverpool". "Watch Your Step" was an R&B hit for Bobby Parker, and a natural choice for many Mersey groups. The other side had two songs by The Hideaways (see vol. 6) +++

Nothing known about Mark & John, who came from Liverpool and had this one-off for Decca in 64. +++

For Herbie's People see vol. 6. The wonderful, timeless "You Thrill Me To Pieces" was the flip of the debut of the group from Wolverhampton. (Dedicated to Michael Vee.) +++

For The Pickwicks from Coventry see vol. 7. This tango-beat-march is the a-side of the debut 7". +++

Don't know much about this sole 7" by The Pack from Calne, Wiltshire. It was produced by Mickie Most and the song was a hit for Lovin' Spoonful, whose original eclipsed and pushed the Pack's version off the Top 30, when it was released about 2 weeks later. The flip can be heard on "This Driving Beat 2". Oh, and Rustic Rod Goodway was the lead singer, and they had Android Funnel aka Andy Rickell on guitar. Rustic Hinge anyone?...+++

For a group with eight 45s surprisingly little is known about Force West from Bristol. (Not to confused with Force Five.) They recorded for Columbia and CBS from 65 to 69, and temporarily changed name for a 68 single to The Oscar Bicycle. (Not to be confused with Orange Bicycle.) +++

Here's a small history lesson.: It wasn't his first record, but this 1959 7" by Vince Taylor arguably was the stylistic starting point of the British beat boom, rivalled only by "Please Don't Touch" by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates from the same year, but releases three weeks later. While Vince Taylor's other material, as well as his stage antics, show a strong tendency to ape his idol Gene Vincent, "Brand New Cadillac" stays the prototype beatGROUP classic, i. e. selfwritten vocal song with driving rhythm and no Shadows or Billy Fury resemblance. Covered by anyone from The Downliners to The Clash, The Renegades had a massive Continental hit with it and got away with registering it under their own writers' credits. +++

Talkin' 'bout Billy Fury... The Newcastle Gamblers started as his backing group, but went their own way in 63 with this cover of a Miracles hit, better known in the version of The Beatles. Five 45s till they called it a day in 68. +++

The In-Sect in fact were The Flies of "Stepping Stone" and "House Of Love" fame. Before they recorded for Decca, they had covered a couple of songs which were picked up by RCA in the States for LP release on the budget Camden label in 65. Nothing to write home about, but this version of one of Chuck's classics is pretty good, even if it only was chosen because The Dave Clark 5 had a hit with it around that time. +++

While Kevin Ayers and Richard Sinclair also were in the band off and on, The Wilde Flowers from Canterbury on this take were Robert Wyatt, Hugh and Brian Hopper and Richard Coughlan, in fact not only the nucleus of Soft Machine and Caravan, but of the whole Canterbury Scene. And if names like that scare you off, you've still got a lot to learn. But this might be a perfect starting point. +++

The Big Six from Glasgow came to Hamburg as the Bobby Patrick Big Six, and when Patrick quit, they found enough work here to stay as backing band for people like Barry St. John and Tony Sheridan (see vol. 6). But they also had gigs and records in their own right, even if sometimes hidden under monikers like The Gilberts and The B.S.. +++

The Nocturns - not to be confused with The Nocturnes - were a Liverpool band and had some stage success as part of the musical "Maggie May". Reason enough for Decca to give it a try and record a shorter studio version of "Carryin' On", but the 7" didn't sell in the rest of the country, and thus was the first and last single for The Nocturns. +++

Read more about The Barron Knights on vol. 2. "Peanut Butter", a simple re-write of "The Hully Gully", was a 61 hit for The Marathons, and among the many covers are versions by The Liverbirds and The Big Three. It's the flip of their best 7" "Comin' Home Baby". +++

The LeROYS backed Johnny Leyton, Mike Sarne and Simon Scott on stage and in the studio, and had three singles of their own. All in 64 on HMV. +++

The Realms were Earl Preston's second recording band in Liverpool. He only recorded this 7" with them, after three with The T-T's. (One of them credited to Eden Kane with Earl Preston & The T-T's, another to Cy Tucker with Earl Preston & The T-T's, one only to him and The T-T's.) He temporarily retired in 65, when Merseybeat seemed to be old hat, but The Realms had another try as The Realm on CBS in 66. +++

The Shiralee was a famous British movie in 1957 with Peter Finch starring. But that's all I know about the group that took up the name for this 67 one-off. Catchy tune anyway... +++

The Fitz And Starz from Farnworth were another group with only one release. The most interresting thing about the rather tame "I'm Not Running Away" is the fact, that the producer felt that the track needed some drive and polish, and booked a young Jeff Beck to play guitar instead of the disappointed axeman of the Fitz. It's one of two known early session jobs of Beck. The other with The Nightshift might follow on the next volume. +++

Read about Jim Pembroke's Finnish adventures on vols. 2 and 6. Here's the second of two singles with Finlands's finest, Blues Section. +++

The Shades Of Blue reportedly were from Newcastle. After one on Pye, this was their second and last 7". You'll find the a-side"Voodoo Blues" on "Rhythm & Blues At Abbey Road". I've been told that they later emerged to Toby Twirl, but I can neither confirm nor disprove this. +++

Nothing known about The Clockwork Oranges. Their only record was also released in a couple of European countries and in the States without much response. +++

We had Manchester's Measles on vol. 7. This is their fourth and last 45. +++

For The Bobby Patrick Big Six see above, track 16. Here we have the group in the first incarnation. They had two singles and an EP in the UK, but all these tracks have been recorded in Hamburg, and had German releases on Ariola before Decca bought the licences. +++

For The Naturals from Harlow see vols. 1 and 5. "Look At Me Now" is the a-side of "It Was You". +++

This is the second and last 45 by The Aces from Hull. Sorry, that's all. Rumours of Mick Ronson being a shorttime member can't be confirmed. +++

West London's Sidekicks changed name to The Key, then to Kaleidoscope, then to Fairfield Parlour, and I Luv Wight was another moniker for the worlds best pop-psyche band. In the beginning they were a formidable rhythm & beat band with a lot of stunning demos and acetates, but no proper release. +++

The Vipps, aka The V.I.P.'s, of course were the germ cell of Spooky Tooth after a fantastic album as The Art. Why one of their finest singles was only released in the USA isn't quite comprehensible, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. "That's My Woman" was also released by The Nashville Teens to equally lukewarm chart reaction on both sides of the swimming pool. +++

Peter Adler was born in the States, but came to Dublin as a youngster with his parents. He hung around a bit with Ian Whitcomb and Bluesville, and replaced him in the band when Ian settled down in the home of the brave after a surprise hit with "You Turn Me On" there. He somehow got under the radar of Larry Page, who produced his two singles as a solo artist. "I'm Gonna Turn My Life Around" is the second, and in spite of a little over-orchestration, it's a damn fine original. More next time. Stay blessed and blitzed, Lolly Pope and Van Daale, the buzzed fire-fox with the tunnel vision.

TOMMYKNOCKERS VOLUME TEN
(150 MB, DIRECT DOWNLOAD, HAVE FUN!)

17 comments:

unkerz said...

Fantastic another one!I just love Your series.
BIG THANKS(anymore in the pike?)

Anonymous said...

i'm mo modarm tjhan yule evan nose.ooops, yors

Anonymous said...

to unkerz- yep, 10 down, 8 to go. to anonymouse- quit drinking AFTER sturclub nights, or i'll lol your coax hill. Lolly Pope

Gummo said...

This series has to be one of the best collections of English mod/rock I've ever heard. Thanks again and again.

Anonymous said...

Another great addition. Thank You


regards


Rhod

Gyro1966 said...

Here's Volume 10 fully tagged, via mediafire:

http://www.mediafire.com/?nlth5zwt74ttck7

boogieman said...

Unbelievable series!
You should put all this info in a book format. I'd buy it!

Anonymous said...

Haha !
It goes Voran !
Thanks very schön aus Kiel !

Anonymous said...

ehm...@anonymous aus Kiel. Gib mir doch mal einen Tip. Wen kenn ich denn in Kiel? Allen Voran.

aldo said...

Didn't realize after the getting the early volls that it ran up to vol.10...I need to catch up.
BRILLIANT!
A true discovery and a real fave is the track by FORCE WEST...but have a listen to LOS BRINCOS "Mejor" (easy to find on the tube. It's the very same song! It took me a couple of mins but it was instantly familiar.
About the CLOCKWORK ORANGES it was assumed that it was a very early incarnation of I POOH from Italy...that are pictured on the sleeve but according to many are not actually playing...in any case what you hear is the English version of a song done originally in Italian by EQUIPE 84 as "Prima di cominciare" (check the tube...)

CIAO!

Anonymous said...

thanks Aldo. the italian connection could have come to my birdbrain by myself. the uk label spills the beans: a Vedette recording. produced by Jim Economides. but they really don't sound much like I Pooh to my ears... Anyway: we all still miss new uploads on your terrific blog "Dive Into Yesterday". Ciao, bello. yours, Lolly P.

aldo said...

The early early Pooh had a different line-up(incl. an Englishman) from those that released the first LP for example...the problem is that some, including members of the band have opposite views on whether they actually recorded the songs or not...it's them pictured on the German 45, Vedette was owned by Armando Sciascia...
there is a Greek issue thoughwith other guys on the completely different sleeve, confirming for some that it was an English band that did indeed exist with the name Clockwork Oranges...
Listening to volume 8: LOVE IT!

CHRIS said...

hi lolly, yet another great volume,keep it up, just one little item to put right, THE NOCTURNS are from birmingham, not liverpool, CARRYIN ON also appeared on the EP MORE SONGS FROM MAGGIE MAY DECCA STO 862 - 1964, Tthe band also released a USA only single, on Fontana F1528 - 1965 SHA-LA-LA/WHAT DO THEY KNOW, produced by Derek Lawrence in the UK.
the band were
DAVID WILCOX - LEAD VOCALS
KEITH DRAPER - LEAD GUITAR
DAVID ELIAS - GUITAR
BARRY ELMSLEY - PIANO / VOCALS
DAVID FOLEY - BASS
FRANCES SLOAN - DRUMS

hope thats some help, cheers chris

Anonymous said...

hi bro,
another load of solid gems, and the hommage couldn't have sounded better, made me really happy, thx a bunch!
link for the booklet is:
http://www.mediafire.com/?c06806o2yy0mwdm
(check out the site with the Scots , see liner notes John o'Hara)

Shawn said...

Congratulations on Volume 10, and thanks again for posting so many rare and exciting tracks.

Anonymous said...

thanks to chris and michael vee. For info on Nocturns (I simply didn't research properly. When I read about a musical called "Maggie May" all seemed clear.)and for the marvellous work on the booklet again. Lolly

Rustic Rod Goodway said...

Congratulations on BEAT CLUB Vol. 10. Here's a late comment on your info on THE PACK (The Pack – Do You Believe In Magic / Things Bring Me Down - 1965 - Columbia DB 7702 ) ... You got as far as the lead singer's involvement in RUSTIC HINGE in 1970 with Android Funnel ? Prior to this they were together in LINDA LEWIS' WHITE RABBIT in 1968 as well as recording the flower power epic LP J.P.SUNSHINE (free on YouTube) But what about since then ? Android Funnel (aka Andy Rickell) sadly died but lead singer of The PACK & RUSTIC HINGE, 'Rustic' ROD GOODWAY, went on to many projects including MAGIC MUSCLE & BEVIS FROND to mention but 2. Still recording too. The beat goes on !! ;)