Early Tastes and Adventures in Music
James Sanderson
Interesting the recent chat about early LPs.
Two of mine stand out, the first of which is Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. Griff Lewis brought the record into Barnsbury (at Camden Road) one morning and asked if I wanted to buy it. An unwanted present, no doubt. I said, how much and he replied ten shillings. So I bought it and while it took me time to get used to the big band sound that Ray Charles used on the record, I came to play it to death. Also took Susan Corfield to the Finsbury Park Astoria to see him - late 1963. That was somewhat odd to watch as I had never seen a single artist perform on what I thought would be his own, all evening. I think we were all used to the get-'em-on, get-'em-off routine that constituted a rock 'n roll show in the early sixties.
Anyway, I was mistaken in my assumption because the whole of the first half was dedicated to the band and his backing group, The Raelettes. Disappointing. Second half, he comes on, performs and goes off again. Hard for a blind man on drugs to ooze charisma, I guess.
As a postscript to this, and apologies if I have mentioned this before, but my pal Alan Brown's dad worked in a record pressing plant and would sometimes 'take orders' for 45's and LP's. No covers for the LP's, though, you had to buy them separately. Anyway, I bought the Ray Charles Story on Atlantic for (another) ten bob and what good value that was as it was a double record set. I admit that some of his early Atlantic tracks took some getting used to but at that time I did not have a big collection and so I played the same records over and over. Eventually.........
Second LP: Dionne Warwick, Anyone Who Had A Heart. What a record and I gladly paid full price for it. Another pal, Peter O'Shea came up my flat - be the middle of 1963 - and brought the LP with him. His mate at Magnus had originally bought the record and played it to him and liking it so much, he went out and bought it. He knew that I would like it and how could you not? so we played it and then went straight down to the store for me to add it to my collection. Obviously I have it on CD now as I have to admit that I did not look after my collection and played them again and again till they wore out.
Postscript to this story: Early in '63 Pete said he wanted to buy a 45 and could I recommend a good one for him? Yes, I said, it's being played on the radio all the time right now. Have you heard of The Beatles, I asked? No, he replied. Well, let's go down to the store and get them to play it for you. Please, Please Me. What a new sound. He bought it all right.
Micky Simmonds
My first record was How Many Tears by Bobby Vee which cost 6s.3d. Bought in the shop at the bottom of Liverpool Road next to the pie & mash shop which was run by Barry Ward’s mum, a lovely lady who always wore loads of jewellery. John (Rooke) and Dave (Woozley) might remember Barry, he went to Alfred Pritchard.
Barry Page
By 1964, I had a whack of LPs, but not as many as my mate, Phil Davies, who used to work in Crossman's record shop in Holloway Road. My Dad bought LPs regularly from Woolworths - "Embassy" label - and many of them were well recorded given the discount price. We had a huge Ferguson radiogram; then a smaller HMV self-changing record player. To stop the records from 'skidding' on top of one another on the spindle, we placed small felt discs, called "Gippadisk" between each album. Changing the needle was routine, too, as we couldn't afford the diamond styli. I still have some of the old collection; mainly classical music ("Ace of Clubs" label), and play them on my Panasonic turntable to this day.
James Sanderson
Some of those Embassy LP's are sought after because of the people singing on them becoming so famous later. Like Reg Dwight. And no, I didn't watch his documentary at the weekend. I can listen to his early stuff but I do not like to watch him.
Mickey Isaacs
My first record was Hoots Mon by Lord Rockinghams XI, still a good record. Another prize possession was Cathy's Clown by the Everlys, it was on Warner Brothers WB1, and had the first multi colour label I had ever seen, and I think it still stands up all these years on.
James Sanderson
Couldn't agree more, Micky. Love 'em both and they are on my iTunes playlist. No need to ask if you watched the Northern Soul programme this weekend. Recorded it and just finished watching it. Think I saw Raymondo still getting soaked on his scooter.
Tam Joseph
Hoots Mon was favourite of mine as well as The witchdoctor.
My friend the Witchdoctor he told me what to dooo
my friend the witchdoctor he told me what to sayyyyyyy
I know that you'll be mine when I say this to yoouuuuuuuuuu
Oh baby,
Oooooo Eeeeee
Ohhhhhhh Aa Aa
Ting Tang
Wala wala
Bing bang...
and also
Pleazzzzze Mister Custer I don' wanna goooo
Pleazzzzze Mister Custer ....
My short term memory is going but the long term is kicking in. Oh dear!
Alan French
The mere mention of Crossman's, Holloway Road, brings back great memories. I first used the shop in around 1970. Working there at that time was a musician called Jimmy Jewell. I had many conversations with him. He played Tenor Sax. His CV is very interesting. At that time he was playing with Gallagher & Lyle on stage and on some of their recordings. He can be found on Google.
I still have the albums I bought there, in old money. He pointed me in the right direction to great musicians I never knew of. The first record I bought in that shop was the debut album of 'Atomic Rooster' featuring Vincent Crane (Keyboard's) and Carl Palmer (Drum's) both past members of 'The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown'. Carl Palmer had previously played with 'Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds', our local singer. I went to see the first gig of A/T/R at the Fishmongers Arms in Wood Green. I was knocked out with their playing so just had to have that LP.
I wonder how many GOBBS went to Finsbury Park Astoria to see the Beatles in their 1963 Christmas Show? I was there; wish I had kept my ticket.
James Sanderson
Ah, the Christmas show. Griff Lewis (again) queued up and six of us went, including girlfriends. Don't know what year. Might have been '64 but probably '63. My girlfriend at the time could not stand the noise and walked out and muggins the mouse here went with her. We sat in the foyer waiting for it to finish. To tell the truth though, you could not hear a f...ing thing. Thanks for getting us the tickets, Griff. Good bloke.
Alan French
The screaming was the problem. I couldn't really hear the music very much. The show was fun. I was sitting in the circle so had a good view of all. It's a shame you never saw the complete show. I remember seeing John Lennon looking out of a tiny window at the side of the theatre.
I thought it was 1963 but 1964 it must of been. I did meet Billy J Kramer at Lakenheath American Air Base. The great Mick Green (guitarist) who passed away last year was in his band then. I believe Billy J recently moved to Canada and is still singing?
Micky Simmonds
I was very fortunate to see lots of stars at Finsbury Park Astoria which included Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney. Quite amazing that these two sang better on stage live than on record. Roy had the most gifted voice I have ever heard. Another great show I was lucky to see was the Tamla Motown show: Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Martha and the Vandellas, Little Stevie Wonder, Earl Vandyke sextet now know as the Funk Bros and guest artist Georgie Fame. Sat six rows from the front and all this for 7s 6d. By the way Sandy, went with Mac (Brian Collins) and his then girlfriend Linda. Oh well, great days and great value.
Billy Pitt-Jones
Tam & all the GOBB Mods (Where there any Rockers in our school by 1962 - our 4th year?)
Don Lang was the man - 'My Friend the Witchdoctor' - 'The 6.05 Special' Remember that one? Theme music to practically the first ever Pop Show on T.V.
Then Charley Drake (Didn’t we all love him?) - Please Mr Custer I don’t wanna go. - (Hello my Darlings.)
Were all on the same kick Tam, i.e. DEMENTIA!!!
My first ever purchase was Cliff and the Shads 'A Voice in the Wilderness / Don’t be mad at me' From the record shop near the Eel Stall in Chapel Market. God knows why. Our 'Radiogram' - what a wonderful description - had been kaput for months.
My first L.P. was The Shadows first ever L.P. 'The Shadows', I think it was a record shop close to the Wimpy at Nags Head - does anyone remember it? - and I nearly wore it out trying to learn the tracks by ear.
On a completely far higher level, Paul K will bear me out, Steve Howe's collection of L.P.'s. were by people I'd never heard of, like Django Reinhardt & Chet Atkins. To add insult to injury he could actually play all the tracks, by ear, with no mistakes on a tuppenny halfpenny, build it yourself from a kit guitar. The boy was phenomenal even at that age.
We passed the Astoria in the afternoon of the Beatles gig, hours before the show on our way to our own gig in Bruce Grove and had nutty young girls banging on the side of the Dormobile despite the fact we had 'The Blue Rondos' banners in the windows.
But my most enduring memory is of coming across girls I knew from my Estate, begging for money outside the Finsbury Park Empire, to raise the entry price to see Cliff Richard & the Drifters.
Where did all those years go? Be Lucky.
James Sanderson
Bill, tell us about Joe Meek. Please.
Micky Simmonds
There was also a record shop in Cross Street which was owned by a guy called Donaldson who son was a pro at Arsenal.
James Sanderson
I used that record shop all the time. They used their judgement and bought the 45's in boxes of about twenty and had the boxes lined up on the counter. All the Mods used it. No idea abt the son.
Barry Page
Great blasts from the past, lads. Found some miscellaneous images on Facebook today à propos to the conversation. Remember the listening booths in the record shops? 1964, great idea and guaranteed some sales. The other pix show a youngish Reg Smith (Marty Wilde) strumming, and another classic of Joe Brown (1950s). The immaculate couple, Wendy Richard and Mike Sarne, had that great duet "Come Outside", which really resonated with me (lot of mental images of teenage nervous groping come to mind). Shades of when we started dating or looking for pickups at the Tottenham Royal, Lyceum, Hammersmith Palais, etc.
Mickey Isaacs
I saw the Beatles & the Stones (not at the same time of course) in Brighton and it was the same thing, with the puny amplification of the time all you could hear was the screaming which reminded me of a Boeing 707 taking off.
The stand out show for me was to see the Stax show - by then the Astoria was the Rainbow. I think it was Otis Redding's last time in the UK, with Booker T & the MGs, Carla Thomas and Sam and Dave - what’s not to like ? At the time I thought Sam & Dave's dance routine was the height of cool (there are several clips of it kicking around). The Motown acts were almost always on package tours and again had line ups that you can only boggle at now. The Motown artists did not have fan clubs, at least not in the early years, but had "the Tamla Motown Appreciation Society" an umbrella organisation for all of them.
My favourite "everyday" group which used to visit Eastbourne a lot was the Artwoods who I expect some of you will have seen at the Marquee where they were regulars. The lead singer was Arthur Wood, brother of Ronnie, and the organist Jon Lord later of Deep Purple who even in those days was a moody sod. Happy days.
Tam Joseph
Mickey, I've heard a lot about that Stax show. I never saw Otis nor Booker T live but saw Steve Cropper last year at The Assembly Rooms, AKA The Islington Town Hall. I saw Culture & Burning Spear at the Rainbow (Astoria) Hendrix at the Saville Theatre - some lucky people saw him at the Manor House pub Finsbury Park, James Brown, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Prince Nicko Mbarga and even T Rex in Hyde Park and... last Saturday George Clinton PFunk at the Forum Kentish Town.
GoBBs' Reflections on Little Richard
James Sanderson
Little Richard. Another one bites the dust.
Anyone of us lucky enough to have seen the 1964 TV show, where he entertained and rocked us for an hour, know just how good he was. I recall thinking that I had never seen anything like it, and clips of the show often appear in documentaries. [I could be wrong about the year and I haven't Googled it to check.]
My sister took me to see the rock 'n' roll films in the mid fifties; the ones where several artists took centre stage, each for only a few minutes. The Platters come to mind and, of course, The Girl Can't Help It.
I have the biography written by Charles White called The Life and Times of Little Richard, and highly recommend it. He was a very naughty boy and there are also explicit tales of Buddy Holly enjoying himself on tour. [not with LR.]
As my pal Paul Kenealy would say, "Happy Days.”
Paul Kenealy
Well said James.
Without Little Richard I doubt if we would have had The Beatles. So many of their early tracks were British versions of Richard's whooping sound.
Little Richard's drummer, Earl Palmer, invented rock ’n roll drumming with his double beat bass drum. Listen to the horn solo in Good Golly, I have to turn the sound up just to hear that boom, boom boom; copied by Ringo, Jim Keltner, Keith Moon and everybody's favourite (not) drummer, Ginger Baker.
R.I.P. Richard - whaaaaaaaa
Happy days will return.
Billy Pitt-Jones
One thing we bass players always...always.. worshipped above all the famous front men/woman and divas.... A drummer who kept perfect time.
Michael Stewart
Hallo all
Sad news about the death of Little Richard, one of the original greats of Rock 'n Roll. They are nearly all gone now; that first generation of innovators who pioneered this music. The only one left now is Jerry Lee Lewis. Richard, Elvis, Chuck Berry. Buddy Holly and Lewis broke the mould. Listening to his music I was struck by the saxophonists (I'm still nursing the bruises) when they let rip in a frenzy of agony and ecstasy. What power the music had then. R.I.P Richard.
David Chapman
Sad; brilliant performer.... and his energy!
GoBBs' Reflections on Joe Meek and Others
Interesting the recent chat about early LPs.
Two of mine stand out, the first of which is Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. Griff Lewis brought the record into Barnsbury (at Camden Road) one morning and asked if I wanted to buy it. An unwanted present, no doubt. I said, how much and he replied ten shillings. So I bought it and while it took me time to get used to the big band sound that Ray Charles used on the record, I came to play it to death. Also took Susan Corfield to the Finsbury Park Astoria to see him - late 1963. That was somewhat odd to watch as I had never seen a single artist perform on what I thought would be his own, all evening. I think we were all used to the get-'em-on, get-'em-off routine that constituted a rock 'n roll show in the early sixties.
Anyway, I was mistaken in my assumption because the whole of the first half was dedicated to the band and his backing group, The Raelettes. Disappointing. Second half, he comes on, performs and goes off again. Hard for a blind man on drugs to ooze charisma, I guess.
As a postscript to this, and apologies if I have mentioned this before, but my pal Alan Brown's dad worked in a record pressing plant and would sometimes 'take orders' for 45's and LP's. No covers for the LP's, though, you had to buy them separately. Anyway, I bought the Ray Charles Story on Atlantic for (another) ten bob and what good value that was as it was a double record set. I admit that some of his early Atlantic tracks took some getting used to but at that time I did not have a big collection and so I played the same records over and over. Eventually.........
Second LP: Dionne Warwick, Anyone Who Had A Heart. What a record and I gladly paid full price for it. Another pal, Peter O'Shea came up my flat - be the middle of 1963 - and brought the LP with him. His mate at Magnus had originally bought the record and played it to him and liking it so much, he went out and bought it. He knew that I would like it and how could you not? so we played it and then went straight down to the store for me to add it to my collection. Obviously I have it on CD now as I have to admit that I did not look after my collection and played them again and again till they wore out.
Postscript to this story: Early in '63 Pete said he wanted to buy a 45 and could I recommend a good one for him? Yes, I said, it's being played on the radio all the time right now. Have you heard of The Beatles, I asked? No, he replied. Well, let's go down to the store and get them to play it for you. Please, Please Me. What a new sound. He bought it all right.
Micky Simmonds
My first record was How Many Tears by Bobby Vee which cost 6s.3d. Bought in the shop at the bottom of Liverpool Road next to the pie & mash shop which was run by Barry Ward’s mum, a lovely lady who always wore loads of jewellery. John (Rooke) and Dave (Woozley) might remember Barry, he went to Alfred Pritchard.
Barry Page
By 1964, I had a whack of LPs, but not as many as my mate, Phil Davies, who used to work in Crossman's record shop in Holloway Road. My Dad bought LPs regularly from Woolworths - "Embassy" label - and many of them were well recorded given the discount price. We had a huge Ferguson radiogram; then a smaller HMV self-changing record player. To stop the records from 'skidding' on top of one another on the spindle, we placed small felt discs, called "Gippadisk" between each album. Changing the needle was routine, too, as we couldn't afford the diamond styli. I still have some of the old collection; mainly classical music ("Ace of Clubs" label), and play them on my Panasonic turntable to this day.
James Sanderson
Some of those Embassy LP's are sought after because of the people singing on them becoming so famous later. Like Reg Dwight. And no, I didn't watch his documentary at the weekend. I can listen to his early stuff but I do not like to watch him.
Mickey Isaacs
My first record was Hoots Mon by Lord Rockinghams XI, still a good record. Another prize possession was Cathy's Clown by the Everlys, it was on Warner Brothers WB1, and had the first multi colour label I had ever seen, and I think it still stands up all these years on.
James Sanderson
Couldn't agree more, Micky. Love 'em both and they are on my iTunes playlist. No need to ask if you watched the Northern Soul programme this weekend. Recorded it and just finished watching it. Think I saw Raymondo still getting soaked on his scooter.
Tam Joseph
Hoots Mon was favourite of mine as well as The witchdoctor.
My friend the Witchdoctor he told me what to dooo
my friend the witchdoctor he told me what to sayyyyyyy
I know that you'll be mine when I say this to yoouuuuuuuuuu
Oh baby,
Oooooo Eeeeee
Ohhhhhhh Aa Aa
Ting Tang
Wala wala
Bing bang...
and also
Pleazzzzze Mister Custer I don' wanna goooo
Pleazzzzze Mister Custer ....
My short term memory is going but the long term is kicking in. Oh dear!
Alan French
The mere mention of Crossman's, Holloway Road, brings back great memories. I first used the shop in around 1970. Working there at that time was a musician called Jimmy Jewell. I had many conversations with him. He played Tenor Sax. His CV is very interesting. At that time he was playing with Gallagher & Lyle on stage and on some of their recordings. He can be found on Google.
I still have the albums I bought there, in old money. He pointed me in the right direction to great musicians I never knew of. The first record I bought in that shop was the debut album of 'Atomic Rooster' featuring Vincent Crane (Keyboard's) and Carl Palmer (Drum's) both past members of 'The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown'. Carl Palmer had previously played with 'Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds', our local singer. I went to see the first gig of A/T/R at the Fishmongers Arms in Wood Green. I was knocked out with their playing so just had to have that LP.
I wonder how many GOBBS went to Finsbury Park Astoria to see the Beatles in their 1963 Christmas Show? I was there; wish I had kept my ticket.
James Sanderson
Ah, the Christmas show. Griff Lewis (again) queued up and six of us went, including girlfriends. Don't know what year. Might have been '64 but probably '63. My girlfriend at the time could not stand the noise and walked out and muggins the mouse here went with her. We sat in the foyer waiting for it to finish. To tell the truth though, you could not hear a f...ing thing. Thanks for getting us the tickets, Griff. Good bloke.
Alan French
The screaming was the problem. I couldn't really hear the music very much. The show was fun. I was sitting in the circle so had a good view of all. It's a shame you never saw the complete show. I remember seeing John Lennon looking out of a tiny window at the side of the theatre.
I thought it was 1963 but 1964 it must of been. I did meet Billy J Kramer at Lakenheath American Air Base. The great Mick Green (guitarist) who passed away last year was in his band then. I believe Billy J recently moved to Canada and is still singing?
Micky Simmonds
I was very fortunate to see lots of stars at Finsbury Park Astoria which included Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney. Quite amazing that these two sang better on stage live than on record. Roy had the most gifted voice I have ever heard. Another great show I was lucky to see was the Tamla Motown show: Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Martha and the Vandellas, Little Stevie Wonder, Earl Vandyke sextet now know as the Funk Bros and guest artist Georgie Fame. Sat six rows from the front and all this for 7s 6d. By the way Sandy, went with Mac (Brian Collins) and his then girlfriend Linda. Oh well, great days and great value.
Billy Pitt-Jones
Tam & all the GOBB Mods (Where there any Rockers in our school by 1962 - our 4th year?)
Don Lang was the man - 'My Friend the Witchdoctor' - 'The 6.05 Special' Remember that one? Theme music to practically the first ever Pop Show on T.V.
Then Charley Drake (Didn’t we all love him?) - Please Mr Custer I don’t wanna go. - (Hello my Darlings.)
Were all on the same kick Tam, i.e. DEMENTIA!!!
My first ever purchase was Cliff and the Shads 'A Voice in the Wilderness / Don’t be mad at me' From the record shop near the Eel Stall in Chapel Market. God knows why. Our 'Radiogram' - what a wonderful description - had been kaput for months.
My first L.P. was The Shadows first ever L.P. 'The Shadows', I think it was a record shop close to the Wimpy at Nags Head - does anyone remember it? - and I nearly wore it out trying to learn the tracks by ear.
On a completely far higher level, Paul K will bear me out, Steve Howe's collection of L.P.'s. were by people I'd never heard of, like Django Reinhardt & Chet Atkins. To add insult to injury he could actually play all the tracks, by ear, with no mistakes on a tuppenny halfpenny, build it yourself from a kit guitar. The boy was phenomenal even at that age.
We passed the Astoria in the afternoon of the Beatles gig, hours before the show on our way to our own gig in Bruce Grove and had nutty young girls banging on the side of the Dormobile despite the fact we had 'The Blue Rondos' banners in the windows.
But my most enduring memory is of coming across girls I knew from my Estate, begging for money outside the Finsbury Park Empire, to raise the entry price to see Cliff Richard & the Drifters.
Where did all those years go? Be Lucky.
James Sanderson
Bill, tell us about Joe Meek. Please.
Micky Simmonds
There was also a record shop in Cross Street which was owned by a guy called Donaldson who son was a pro at Arsenal.
James Sanderson
I used that record shop all the time. They used their judgement and bought the 45's in boxes of about twenty and had the boxes lined up on the counter. All the Mods used it. No idea abt the son.
Barry Page
Great blasts from the past, lads. Found some miscellaneous images on Facebook today à propos to the conversation. Remember the listening booths in the record shops? 1964, great idea and guaranteed some sales. The other pix show a youngish Reg Smith (Marty Wilde) strumming, and another classic of Joe Brown (1950s). The immaculate couple, Wendy Richard and Mike Sarne, had that great duet "Come Outside", which really resonated with me (lot of mental images of teenage nervous groping come to mind). Shades of when we started dating or looking for pickups at the Tottenham Royal, Lyceum, Hammersmith Palais, etc.
Mickey Isaacs
I saw the Beatles & the Stones (not at the same time of course) in Brighton and it was the same thing, with the puny amplification of the time all you could hear was the screaming which reminded me of a Boeing 707 taking off.
The stand out show for me was to see the Stax show - by then the Astoria was the Rainbow. I think it was Otis Redding's last time in the UK, with Booker T & the MGs, Carla Thomas and Sam and Dave - what’s not to like ? At the time I thought Sam & Dave's dance routine was the height of cool (there are several clips of it kicking around). The Motown acts were almost always on package tours and again had line ups that you can only boggle at now. The Motown artists did not have fan clubs, at least not in the early years, but had "the Tamla Motown Appreciation Society" an umbrella organisation for all of them.
My favourite "everyday" group which used to visit Eastbourne a lot was the Artwoods who I expect some of you will have seen at the Marquee where they were regulars. The lead singer was Arthur Wood, brother of Ronnie, and the organist Jon Lord later of Deep Purple who even in those days was a moody sod. Happy days.
Tam Joseph
Mickey, I've heard a lot about that Stax show. I never saw Otis nor Booker T live but saw Steve Cropper last year at The Assembly Rooms, AKA The Islington Town Hall. I saw Culture & Burning Spear at the Rainbow (Astoria) Hendrix at the Saville Theatre - some lucky people saw him at the Manor House pub Finsbury Park, James Brown, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Prince Nicko Mbarga and even T Rex in Hyde Park and... last Saturday George Clinton PFunk at the Forum Kentish Town.
GoBBs' Reflections on Little Richard
James Sanderson
Little Richard. Another one bites the dust.
Anyone of us lucky enough to have seen the 1964 TV show, where he entertained and rocked us for an hour, know just how good he was. I recall thinking that I had never seen anything like it, and clips of the show often appear in documentaries. [I could be wrong about the year and I haven't Googled it to check.]
My sister took me to see the rock 'n' roll films in the mid fifties; the ones where several artists took centre stage, each for only a few minutes. The Platters come to mind and, of course, The Girl Can't Help It.
I have the biography written by Charles White called The Life and Times of Little Richard, and highly recommend it. He was a very naughty boy and there are also explicit tales of Buddy Holly enjoying himself on tour. [not with LR.]
As my pal Paul Kenealy would say, "Happy Days.”
Paul Kenealy
Well said James.
Without Little Richard I doubt if we would have had The Beatles. So many of their early tracks were British versions of Richard's whooping sound.
Little Richard's drummer, Earl Palmer, invented rock ’n roll drumming with his double beat bass drum. Listen to the horn solo in Good Golly, I have to turn the sound up just to hear that boom, boom boom; copied by Ringo, Jim Keltner, Keith Moon and everybody's favourite (not) drummer, Ginger Baker.
R.I.P. Richard - whaaaaaaaa
Happy days will return.
Billy Pitt-Jones
One thing we bass players always...always.. worshipped above all the famous front men/woman and divas.... A drummer who kept perfect time.
Michael Stewart
Hallo all
Sad news about the death of Little Richard, one of the original greats of Rock 'n Roll. They are nearly all gone now; that first generation of innovators who pioneered this music. The only one left now is Jerry Lee Lewis. Richard, Elvis, Chuck Berry. Buddy Holly and Lewis broke the mould. Listening to his music I was struck by the saxophonists (I'm still nursing the bruises) when they let rip in a frenzy of agony and ecstasy. What power the music had then. R.I.P Richard.
David Chapman
Sad; brilliant performer.... and his energy!
GoBBs' Reflections on Joe Meek and Others
James Sanderson
Did any of our musicians ever meet Peter Green, work with him or have anecdotes?
Frank Tepper
One of my 1st LPs was Peter Green, End of the Game. Fantastic.
Paul Kenealey
I was at The Downbeat, Manor House, in about ’67 when Eric Clapton had been sacked when he formed Cream. Clapton was a no show at the gig, and Mayall asked if there was anybody in the crowd who could play lead. Peter Green was in the crowd and stepped forward. Plenty of guys took their guitars with them to gigs.
I never spoke to him, but was amazed how good he was. I always went to see Mayall locally, cos he frequently sacked musicians and I had my bass with me, but John McVie kept his job.
Life is full of missed opportunities. Two years later I did The Knowledge.
Happy Days
Bill Pitt-Jones
Re: Peter Green. As it’s another long, boring, rainy lockdown Sunday afternoon (unless you rich blokes are watching Sky football), let me bore you some more with this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXLnlx-wmPE
Bobby Jones
I lived in Richmond in 1980 and Peter Green was my neighbour. He was very reclusive and would sit on his doorstep watching the traffic go past.
Paul Kenealey
Funny how the YouTube nonsense can waste a day. You play one track then they offer you another.
I went from The Blue Rondos playing Peter Green to Peter Frampton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and ended up with another Green, Mick Green (RIP ex-Pirates) playing with Paul McCartney. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdzVFrvKa6M
Bill Pitt-Jones
Sorry about the video acoustics. Just a hand held camcorder in an old fashioned dance hall that probably doubled as a drill hall. Great video with Mick Green, thanks for putting me on to it.
Heres another little anecdote. To join Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Mick left a band called Red E. Lewis and the Red Caps. Red was the elder brother of Micky Stubbs (The Blue Rondos and Home).
To replace Mick Green, The Red Caps gave a chance to a very young teenager called Jimmy Page, and after some weeks of schooling and rehearsing in the front room of the Stubbs’ family home, offered him the job of Mick Green's replacement.
Mick Stubbs clearly remembers this when writing the album, “Pause for a Hoarse Horse”, with track called Red E. Lewis and the Red Caps.
Just a bit of trivia but it helps pass the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pJYEVn_CJQ
Paul Kenealey
I’ll see your Micky Stubbs and raise you Wilko Johnson.
I saw the Canvey Island based Dr. Feelgood at the Hope and Anchor in about ’76. Wilko Johnson wielding his black/red Telecaster like a tommy gun. Many years later saw him again with his own three piece band in the 100 Club.
Wilko was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and decided to keep gigging. Roger Daltry heard about it and offered to make a record with him. They were both interviewed on radio and asked how they got together. Wilko said he’d always loved The Who, and had stolen his guitar playing from Pete Townsend. When Pete Townsend heard this he said he’d stolen his style from Mick Green. Mick was later interviewed and said he’d nicked His style from Wilko Johnson. So there; what comes round goes around.
Long live Wilko, still going strong years later after his diagnosis. Listen to this, and say it doesn’t bring back memories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeoKCJNI-k4
Dr. Feelgood live at Saaaaafend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzF0AETdRF8
Pirates live with Mick Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kWR5p4T4gA
Well, here is my all-time list of famous GoBBs musicians:
1 Steve Howe Syndicats (Joe Meek)
Teenage Opera
Yes !
Steve Howe trio
2 Ray Baldwin George Bean and the Runners
(Later Russell) John Barry Seven
Take Three Girls (BBC Series)
West end session guitarist
3 John Godfrey (RIP) George Bean and the Runners
Mungo Jerry
4 Derv & Lincoln Gordon Equals
Eddy Grant Equals
5 Peter Hayward Royal College of Music
6 Billy Pitt-Jones The Blue Rondos
7 Me The Cardinals
Billy and me taught Steve Howe everything we knew. Sadly that was nowhere near as much as he knew.
With the exception of Steve Howe and Ray Russell, we all had to get ‘proper’ jobs to make a living. But it was fun while it lasted, for me till 1969.
Happy days
David Chapman
Blimey, you lot! You had so much more of an exciting adolescent and early adulthood life than me! I must write down some memories of Islington and the move from the fifties to the sixties, but they will be so much more dull than your lives obviously were!
I'm loving the links to bands you've all played in or got interesting anecdotes of.
Frank Tepper
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones’ Gran lived in the flat below us in Geary House (which was across the street from our old school). I saw him walking across the grounds to go and see her a few times.
John Tythe
"And Chris Farlow lived across the road from me but had a different name?” JP.
That would be Johnny Dighton. My Ex, when she was in her early teens, blagged a ride on his new bike (push bike) and promptly fell off and scratched it - she was not the most popular kid on the block with him after that! lol.
James Sanderson
When you were in The Blue Rondos, did you always record at Holloway Road?
Bill Pitt-Jones
The short answer is yes. Although an earlier demo disk was made around the corner at Curly Clayton’s Studio. The Rolling Stones made their early demos there too.
Most of our recordings were made at night. Joe seemed to prefer that and seemed more relaxed and happy. Less interruptions I suppose. The R.G.M. studio was a bit like Waterloo Station. People and bands coming and going, lugging amplifiers and drums in and out. You did not really get the time to know most of the people you met. Mostly just a “Hi” and a nod as you passed.
To celebrate the launch of our first disc, we bought a couple of bottles of champagne and arranged to meet Joe in the studios. On the way in, we had to pass a small office on the first floor, and through the open door we could see a large photograph of The Blue Rondos surrounded by smaller pictures of his other recording artists. Pride of place no less. Patrick Pink, Joe's assistant, had placed a large circular glass coffee table in the middle of the studio with chairs around it and we had an affable hour talking to Joe.
I had never heard of Joe Meek, or who was who in the record business, until other band members had suggested we try for an audition. So when we started chatting I was amazed to find out he was behind many of the records of the 50s I grew up listening to. In particular, he engineered the Anne Shelton hit “Lay Down Your Arms”, which was very popular on the BBC Radio Sunday lunch time program Two Way Family Favourites. The record had the sound of marching feet in the background. He said he had dubbed it on later using gravel in a shoe box. Miss Shelton was not very pleased when she heard the result!.... Until it raced into the Hit Parade' He was throwing names about like Lonnie Donnegan, Frankie Vaughan and many others that he had recorded and I was sitting there fascinated.
Looking back Joe must have been in his element. Being fêted and idolized by five young boys. Till........ our keyboard player (whom I won’t name) thought he would add his thr’penny worth….... He said to Joe that although he did not like the latest song by Heinz, he thought the production was exceptionally good. Well Joe was answering in a quiet, calm voice, and saying that he remembered the recording session well and about who else was involved.....
Then the place erupted!
From a sitting position Joe Meek managed to kick the coffee table off its feet and into the air... Crash!... Glass and Champagne all over the place…..Glowering down from a now standing position, he yelled “It so happens 'I' wrote that fucking song.” “And I don’t see why I should be criticized by a tin pot fucking organist who can’t play the fucking organ better than fucking Micky Mouse!” With that he tuned on his heels and stormed out, slamming the door and stamping down the stairs. Then we heard what sounded like furniture being chucked about downstairs.
We all just sat there gobsmacked. Looking at one and other thinking, “What the ….!” I was still sitting down with my glass of champers still in my hand. None of us knew what to do. Eventually Patrick Pink come in and told us we had better leave now, and he would talk to Joe. On the way out we noticed our large photograph ripped up and placed in a waste paper bin where we could see it.
A week later we were invited back into the studio and commenced recording as if nothing had happened.
Footnote:
In 2018, our recording of “Baby I Go for You” was used by the Chinese telecom company Huawei on a world wide advertising campaign for their S20 Smart Phone. 54 yrs after it was recorded.
Hope you found this of interest.
John Prysky
What a great story, and masterly told. It was so good I’ve read it three times. Every time I go to see the Arsenal play in future, I will look at Holloway Road with new eyes (if I can still see then).
Us GoBBs have plenty of history, and I love reading it.
Did any of our musicians ever meet Peter Green, work with him or have anecdotes?
Frank Tepper
One of my 1st LPs was Peter Green, End of the Game. Fantastic.
Paul Kenealey
I was at The Downbeat, Manor House, in about ’67 when Eric Clapton had been sacked when he formed Cream. Clapton was a no show at the gig, and Mayall asked if there was anybody in the crowd who could play lead. Peter Green was in the crowd and stepped forward. Plenty of guys took their guitars with them to gigs.
I never spoke to him, but was amazed how good he was. I always went to see Mayall locally, cos he frequently sacked musicians and I had my bass with me, but John McVie kept his job.
Life is full of missed opportunities. Two years later I did The Knowledge.
Happy Days
Bill Pitt-Jones
Re: Peter Green. As it’s another long, boring, rainy lockdown Sunday afternoon (unless you rich blokes are watching Sky football), let me bore you some more with this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXLnlx-wmPE
Bobby Jones
I lived in Richmond in 1980 and Peter Green was my neighbour. He was very reclusive and would sit on his doorstep watching the traffic go past.
Paul Kenealey
Funny how the YouTube nonsense can waste a day. You play one track then they offer you another.
I went from The Blue Rondos playing Peter Green to Peter Frampton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and ended up with another Green, Mick Green (RIP ex-Pirates) playing with Paul McCartney. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdzVFrvKa6M
Bill Pitt-Jones
Sorry about the video acoustics. Just a hand held camcorder in an old fashioned dance hall that probably doubled as a drill hall. Great video with Mick Green, thanks for putting me on to it.
Heres another little anecdote. To join Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Mick left a band called Red E. Lewis and the Red Caps. Red was the elder brother of Micky Stubbs (The Blue Rondos and Home).
To replace Mick Green, The Red Caps gave a chance to a very young teenager called Jimmy Page, and after some weeks of schooling and rehearsing in the front room of the Stubbs’ family home, offered him the job of Mick Green's replacement.
Mick Stubbs clearly remembers this when writing the album, “Pause for a Hoarse Horse”, with track called Red E. Lewis and the Red Caps.
Just a bit of trivia but it helps pass the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pJYEVn_CJQ
Paul Kenealey
I’ll see your Micky Stubbs and raise you Wilko Johnson.
I saw the Canvey Island based Dr. Feelgood at the Hope and Anchor in about ’76. Wilko Johnson wielding his black/red Telecaster like a tommy gun. Many years later saw him again with his own three piece band in the 100 Club.
Wilko was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and decided to keep gigging. Roger Daltry heard about it and offered to make a record with him. They were both interviewed on radio and asked how they got together. Wilko said he’d always loved The Who, and had stolen his guitar playing from Pete Townsend. When Pete Townsend heard this he said he’d stolen his style from Mick Green. Mick was later interviewed and said he’d nicked His style from Wilko Johnson. So there; what comes round goes around.
Long live Wilko, still going strong years later after his diagnosis. Listen to this, and say it doesn’t bring back memories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeoKCJNI-k4
Dr. Feelgood live at Saaaaafend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzF0AETdRF8
Pirates live with Mick Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kWR5p4T4gA
Well, here is my all-time list of famous GoBBs musicians:
1 Steve Howe Syndicats (Joe Meek)
Teenage Opera
Yes !
Steve Howe trio
2 Ray Baldwin George Bean and the Runners
(Later Russell) John Barry Seven
Take Three Girls (BBC Series)
West end session guitarist
3 John Godfrey (RIP) George Bean and the Runners
Mungo Jerry
4 Derv & Lincoln Gordon Equals
Eddy Grant Equals
5 Peter Hayward Royal College of Music
6 Billy Pitt-Jones The Blue Rondos
7 Me The Cardinals
Billy and me taught Steve Howe everything we knew. Sadly that was nowhere near as much as he knew.
With the exception of Steve Howe and Ray Russell, we all had to get ‘proper’ jobs to make a living. But it was fun while it lasted, for me till 1969.
Happy days
David Chapman
Blimey, you lot! You had so much more of an exciting adolescent and early adulthood life than me! I must write down some memories of Islington and the move from the fifties to the sixties, but they will be so much more dull than your lives obviously were!
I'm loving the links to bands you've all played in or got interesting anecdotes of.
Frank Tepper
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones’ Gran lived in the flat below us in Geary House (which was across the street from our old school). I saw him walking across the grounds to go and see her a few times.
John Tythe
"And Chris Farlow lived across the road from me but had a different name?” JP.
That would be Johnny Dighton. My Ex, when she was in her early teens, blagged a ride on his new bike (push bike) and promptly fell off and scratched it - she was not the most popular kid on the block with him after that! lol.
James Sanderson
When you were in The Blue Rondos, did you always record at Holloway Road?
Bill Pitt-Jones
The short answer is yes. Although an earlier demo disk was made around the corner at Curly Clayton’s Studio. The Rolling Stones made their early demos there too.
Most of our recordings were made at night. Joe seemed to prefer that and seemed more relaxed and happy. Less interruptions I suppose. The R.G.M. studio was a bit like Waterloo Station. People and bands coming and going, lugging amplifiers and drums in and out. You did not really get the time to know most of the people you met. Mostly just a “Hi” and a nod as you passed.
To celebrate the launch of our first disc, we bought a couple of bottles of champagne and arranged to meet Joe in the studios. On the way in, we had to pass a small office on the first floor, and through the open door we could see a large photograph of The Blue Rondos surrounded by smaller pictures of his other recording artists. Pride of place no less. Patrick Pink, Joe's assistant, had placed a large circular glass coffee table in the middle of the studio with chairs around it and we had an affable hour talking to Joe.
I had never heard of Joe Meek, or who was who in the record business, until other band members had suggested we try for an audition. So when we started chatting I was amazed to find out he was behind many of the records of the 50s I grew up listening to. In particular, he engineered the Anne Shelton hit “Lay Down Your Arms”, which was very popular on the BBC Radio Sunday lunch time program Two Way Family Favourites. The record had the sound of marching feet in the background. He said he had dubbed it on later using gravel in a shoe box. Miss Shelton was not very pleased when she heard the result!.... Until it raced into the Hit Parade' He was throwing names about like Lonnie Donnegan, Frankie Vaughan and many others that he had recorded and I was sitting there fascinated.
Looking back Joe must have been in his element. Being fêted and idolized by five young boys. Till........ our keyboard player (whom I won’t name) thought he would add his thr’penny worth….... He said to Joe that although he did not like the latest song by Heinz, he thought the production was exceptionally good. Well Joe was answering in a quiet, calm voice, and saying that he remembered the recording session well and about who else was involved.....
Then the place erupted!
From a sitting position Joe Meek managed to kick the coffee table off its feet and into the air... Crash!... Glass and Champagne all over the place…..Glowering down from a now standing position, he yelled “It so happens 'I' wrote that fucking song.” “And I don’t see why I should be criticized by a tin pot fucking organist who can’t play the fucking organ better than fucking Micky Mouse!” With that he tuned on his heels and stormed out, slamming the door and stamping down the stairs. Then we heard what sounded like furniture being chucked about downstairs.
We all just sat there gobsmacked. Looking at one and other thinking, “What the ….!” I was still sitting down with my glass of champers still in my hand. None of us knew what to do. Eventually Patrick Pink come in and told us we had better leave now, and he would talk to Joe. On the way out we noticed our large photograph ripped up and placed in a waste paper bin where we could see it.
A week later we were invited back into the studio and commenced recording as if nothing had happened.
Footnote:
In 2018, our recording of “Baby I Go for You” was used by the Chinese telecom company Huawei on a world wide advertising campaign for their S20 Smart Phone. 54 yrs after it was recorded.
Hope you found this of interest.
John Prysky
What a great story, and masterly told. It was so good I’ve read it three times. Every time I go to see the Arsenal play in future, I will look at Holloway Road with new eyes (if I can still see then).
Us GoBBs have plenty of history, and I love reading it.