Categories: England

Amen Corner gigs 1966-1969

April 28, 2019 Nick Warburton 32 Comments

Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

AMEN CORNER

Photo may be subject to copyright. Top row, left to right: Neil Jones, Andy Fairweather Low, Dennis Byron and Allan Jones. Bottom row left to right: Mike Smith, Clive Taylor and Blue Weaver

Formed in Cardiff, south Wales in 1966, the band comprises:

Andy Fairweather Low (Lead vocals)

Neil Jones (Lead guitar)

Blue Weaver (Keyboards)

Allan Jones (Saxophone)

Mike Smith (Saxophone)

Clive Taylor (Bass)

Dennis Byron (Drums)

1966

25 November 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

4 December 1966 – Kensington Discotheque, Newport, Wales (South Wales Echo)

13 December 1966 – St Benedict’s Club, Sketty, south Wales (South Wales Evening Post)

20 December 1966 – St Benedict’s Club, Sketty, south Wales (South Wales Evening Post)

22 December 1966 – Ritz Club, Skewen, south Wales (South Wales Evening Post)

24 December 1966 – Ritz Club, Skewen, south Wales with The Eyes of Blue and Lott 13 (South Wales Evening Post)

26 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Brian Auger Trinity (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

31 December 1966 – Ritz Club, Skewen, south Wales with The Eyes of Blue, The Fleetwoods and The King Bees (South Wales Evening Post)

1967

1 January 1967 – Kensington Discotheque, Newport, Wales (South Wales Echo)

19 January 1967 – Social Club, Neath, south Wales (South Wales Evening Post)

22 January 1967 – The Basement Discotheque, Burton Buildings, Pontypridd, Wales (Glamorgan County Times)

3 February 1967 – Kookoo-Byrd Discotheque, Cardiff, Wales (South Wales Echo)

12 February 1967 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

19 February 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

22 February 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)

6 March 1967 – Poole College, Poole, Dorset with The Graham Bond Organisation and Nite People (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

22 March 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)

27 March 1967 – The Thing, Oldham (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

31 March 1967 – New Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

15 April 1967 – Majestic, Wellington, Shropshire with Index (Shropshire Star)

23 April 1967 – New Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

Photo may be subject to copyright. Clockwise from top left: Andy Fairweather Low, Allan Jones, Mike Smith (glasses), Blue Weaver, Clive Taylor, Neil Jones and Dennis Byron

3 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

5 May 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

6 May 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Tiles Big Band (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

10 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

12 May 1967 – Speakeasy, Margarget Street, central London (Fabulous 208/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies) Disc & Music Echo reports that Jimi Hendrix sits in. Guests include John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Eric Burdon, The Bee Gees and Brian Jones

15 May 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

17 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

26 May 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

27 May 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

31 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

1 June 1967 – Ritz, Skewen, Wales (Melody Maker)

2 June 1967 – Koo Koo Byrd, Cardiff, Wales (Melody Maker/Glamorgan County Times)

3 June 1967 – Iron Curtain, Birmingham (Melody Maker)

4 June 1967 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire (Melody Maker)

5 June 1967 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, west London (Melody Maker)

6 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Luton, Bedfordshire (Melody Maker)

7 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)

8 June 1967 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London (Fabulous 208/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)

9 June 1967 – Electric Garden, Covent Garden, central London (Melody Maker)

10 June 1967 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, Essex (Melody Maker)

11 June 1967 – Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Melody Maker)

13 June 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Fabulous 208)

14 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

15 June 1967 – Civic, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Melody Maker)

16-17 June 1967 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland (Melody Maker)

18 June 1967 – Top of Town, Manchester (Melody Maker)

19 June 1967 – McIllroys, Swindon, Wiltshire (Melody Maker)

20 June 1967 – Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire (Melody Maker)

21 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

22 June 1967 – Nutty! Leytonstone, Essex (Melody Maker)

23 June 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, London (Fabulous 208)

24 June 1967 – Luton College of Technology, Luton, Bedfordshire (Melody Maker)

25 June 1967 – Aquarium, Yarmouth, Norfolk (Melody Maker)

26 June 1967 – Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales (Melody Maker)

27 June 1967 – Derek’s birthday (no other details) (Melody Maker)

28 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

29 June 1967 – Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset (Melody Maker)

30 June 1967 – Carousel, Farnborough, Hampshire (Melody Maker)

5 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

6 July 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, Wales with The Goode Time Review (Port Talbot Guardian) Billed as Amen Corner Show

8 July 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Bedfordshire Times)

10 July 1967 – McIlroys Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire (Swindon Evening Advertiser)

12 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

14 July 1967 – Koo Koo Byrd, Cardiff, Wales (Glamorgan County Times)

17 July 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians and Agency (Express & Star)

18 July 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, London (Fabulous 208)

19 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

20 July 1967 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London (Fabulous 208)

21 July 1967 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with John Evans Smash (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

23 July 1967 – Aquarium, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Fabulous 208) Took over Sunday residency from The Move

24 July 1967 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (Fabulous 208)

26 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Amen Corner Show

29 July 1967 – Londesborough Street Barracks, Hull with That Feeling (Hull Daily Mail)

4 August 1967 – Apex Club, Brookfield Hall, South Ashford, Kent with The Shevelles (Kentish Express)

5 August 1967 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with Bubbles & Co (Maidstone Gazette)

6 August 1967 – Royal Aquarium, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Melody Maker)

11 August 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

12 August 1967 – Windsor Festival, Windsor, Berkshire with many others (Melody Maker)

13 August 1967 – Royal Aquarium, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Melody Maker)

18 August 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

19 August 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

22 August 1967 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford, Herefordshire (Fabulous 208)

25 August 1967 – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales (Fabulous 208)

26 August 1967 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, London (Fabulous 208)

27 August 1967 – Aquarium Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

28 August 1967 – Caesar’s Palace, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Fabulous 208)

29 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Timebox (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

1 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Disc & Music Echo/Cityweek)

Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright

1 September 1967 – Regal Ballroom, Ardglass, Northern Ireland (Disc & Music Echo/Cityweek)

2 September 1967 – Dublin Banbridge Castle Ballroom, Dublin, Eire (Disc & Music Echo/Cityweek)

3 September 1967 – Cork Acadia Ballroom, Cork, Eire (Disc & Music Echo/Cityweek)

5 September 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

9 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Bearwood, West Midlands (Express & Star)

9 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

10 September 1967 – Drokiweeny, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

10 September 1967 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

14 September 1967 – Worthing Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

15 September 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

16 September 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

17 September 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with DD Watson & the Big Crowd (Fabulous 208/The Star)

18 September 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)

18 September 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Cedar Cet (Birmingham Evening Mail)

19 September 1967 – Shenley Green Community Centre, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

20 September 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts (Fabulous 208)

21 September 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

21 September 1967 – Top West Club, Abertillery, Wales (Fabulous 208)

22 September 1967 – Royal Hall, Harrogate, North Yorkshire with Do-Dahs and Hepworth’s Good Impression (Tadcaster News)

23 September 1967 – Top West Club, Abertillery, Wales (Disc & Music Echo)

26 September 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)

29 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The All Night Workers and Jo Jo Gunne (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

30 September 1967 – 5D, Leicester with The Attack (Leicester Mercury)

1 October 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Crewe Chronicle)

2 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Disc & Music Echo)

3 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Disc & Music Echo)

4 October 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

8 October 1967 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

13 October 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London (Fabulous 208)

15 October 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

20 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

21 October 1967 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, east London (Fabulous 208)

27 October 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The West Coast Union (Gloucester Citizen)

28 October 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with support (North Norfolk News)

3 November 1967 – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales (Fabulous 208)

4 November 1967 – Welsh College of Technology, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

21 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

22 November 1967 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice and Eire Apparent (Portsmouth News)

23 November 1967 – Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales with The Move, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Nice and Eire Apparent (South Wales Echo)

25 November 1967 – Blackpool Opera House, Blackpool, Lancashire with Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice and Eire Apparent (Lancashire Evening Post)

30 November 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Nashville Teens (Birmingham Evening Mail)

8 December 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside (Fabulous 208)

9 December 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

9 December 1967 – Fifth Dimension, Leicester (Fabulous 208)

10 December 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

11 December 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bath (Fabulous 208)

12 December 1967 – St Luke’s College, Exeter, Devon (Fabulous 208)

14 December 1967 – Manchester College of Art, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

15 December 1967 – Nottingham Technical College, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

16 December 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset (Fabulous 208)

17 December 1967 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire (Melody Maker)

19 December 1967 – Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire (Fabulous 208)

21 December 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, South Parade, Southsea, Hampshire with The Action and The St Louis Checks (Portsmouth News)

22 December 1967 – “Big C”, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News)

26 December 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Narbeth, Wales (Disc & Music Echo)

27 December 1967 – Stevenage Locarno, Stevenage, Herts (Evening Post Hemel Hempstead)

28 December 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London (Fabulous 208)

29 December 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Narbeth, Wales (Fabulous 208)

31 December 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Silverstone Set (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

1968

6 January 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with The Section (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

17 January 1968 – Dundee College of Art, Dundee, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

18 January 1968 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

19 January 1968 – Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

20 January 1968 – Community Centre, Auchinleck, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

21 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

22 January 1968 – Park Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

23 January 1968 – Kings Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales, (Fabulous 208

26 January 1968 – Highbury Tech College, Portsmouth (Fabulous 208)

3 February 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Couriers (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

6 February 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Fabulous 208/Bournemouth Evening Echo)

9 February 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Jay tree Organisation (Crewe Chronicle)

10 February 1968 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire with Chicken Shack (Fabulous 208/Reading Evening Post)

13 February 1968 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

16 February 1968 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford, Herefordshire (Fabulous 208)

18 February 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham Post)

19 February 1968 – Greenwich Town Hall, Greenwich, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

According to Melody Maker, Amen Corner started a 22-day tour of Australia, starting in Melbourne on 19 February 1968 but this does not seem plausible considering the following gigs

23 February 1968 – Princess Club, Chortlon, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

23 February 1968 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

24 February 1968 – Plaza, Old Hill, Bearwood, West Midlands with Sylvie and The Image (Express & Star)

24 February 1968 – Plaza, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

25 February 1968 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

26 February 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

28 February 1968 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard/Fabulous 208)

29 February 1968 – Locarno, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

1 March 1968 – Royal Ballroom, Tottenham, London (Fabulous 208)

2 March 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Raynes (Crewe Chronicle)

3 March 1968 – Cat-Balou Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Melody Maker/Grantham Journal)

4 March 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Probe (Express & Star)

6 March 1968 – Cavendish Ballroom, Edinburgh, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

7 March 1968 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

9 March 1968 – Community Centre, Auchinleck, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

9 March 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands (Express & Star) This seems unlikely given the Scottish dates

10 March 1968 – Palais, Dundee, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

11 March 1968 – Locarno, Glasgow, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

12 March 1968 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria (Fabulous 208)

13 March 1968 – Cavendish Ballroom, Edinburgh, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

14 March 1968 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

15 March 1968 – Kinema Ballroom, Stranraer, Scotland with The Soul Pack (Wigtownshire Free Press & Galloway Advertiser)

16 March 1968 – Community Centre, Auchinleck, Scotland with The Merry Macs and Systems Go (Fabulous 208/Kilmarnock Standard)

17 March 1968 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

17 March 1968 – Top Ten Club, Dundee, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

19 March 1968 – Southport Casino, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

20 March 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts (Hertfordshire Express)

21 March 1968 – Worthing Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

26 March 1968 – Ice Rink, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

29 March 1968 – Basildon Locarno, Basildon, Essex (Fabulous 208)

30 March 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Fabulous 208)

1 April 1968 – St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk with The Western Union (Essex County Standard/Ipswich Evening Star)

3 April 1968 – Poole College Rag Ball, Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with Lemon Tree and Renaissance Fair (Bournemouth Evening Echo/Fabulous 208)

4 April 1968 – Airmen’s corner, RAF Coltishall, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

5 April 1968 – Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with Gene Pitney, Don Partridge, Status Quo, Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound and Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (South East London Mercury) Amen Corner were special guests

14 April 1968 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

20 April 1968 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Gene Pitney, Don Partridge, Status Quo, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Lucas & Mike Cotton Sound (Dorset Evening Echo)

23 April 1968 – ABC Gloucester, Gloucester, Gloucestershire with Gene Pitney, Don Partridge, Status Quo, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, Lucas & Mike Cotton Sound and Tony Brandon (Gloucester Citizen/Stroud News)

30 April 1968 – Granada, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Gene Pitney, Don Partridge, Status Quo, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound (Bedfordshire Times)

1 May 1968 – ABC Peterborough, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire with Gene Pitney, Don Partridge, Status Quo, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, Lucas and Mike Cotton Sound (Cambridgeshire Times)

7 May 1968 – Granada, Walthamstow, London (Fabulous 208)

8 May 1968 – Top Rank, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)

10 May 1968 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with Herman’s Hermits, The Paper Dolls, Dave Berry and John Rowles (Birmingham Evening Mail)

12 May 1968 – Wembley Pool, Wembley, London (Fabulous 208)

13 May 1968 – Granada, Maidstone, Kent with Herman’s Hermits, Paper Dolls, Dave Berry and John Rowles (Maidstone Gazette)

14 May 1968 – Gaumont, Worcester, Worcestershire with Herman’s Hermits, Paper Dolls, Dave Berry and John Rowles (Malvern Gazette)

15 May 1968 – Odeon Theatre, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Herman’s Hermits, Paper Dolls, Dave Berry and John Rowles (Doncaster Evening Post)

15 May 1968 – Gaumont, Worcester, Worcestershire with Herman’s Hermits, Paper Dolls, Dave Berry, The Echoes and John Rowles (Redditch Indicator)

19 May 1968 – Royal Nottingham, Nottingham with Herman’s Hermits, The Paper Dolls, Dave Berry and John Rowles (Derby Evening Telegraph)

22 May 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with John Drevars Expression (Fabulous 208/Welwyn and Hatfield Advertiser)

24 May 1968 – Subscriptions Room, Stroud, Gloucestershire with Pattisons Express (Stroud News)

25 May 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Steve Chapples research: www.lankybeat.com)

3 June 1968 – Barn Barbecue, Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire with Fleetwood Mac, The Move, James & Bobby Purify and Pesky Gee (Cambridge News)

8 June 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Plague (East Kent Times & Mail)

13 June 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with The Mirage (Western Gazette)

15 June 1968 – Elms Court Ballroom, Botley, Oxford (Oxford Mail)

16 June 1968 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

17 June 1968 – Silver Blades Ice Rink, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

18 June 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Plague (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

18 June 1968 – Ritz Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset (Fabulous 208) This is most likely 19 June

20 June 1968 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

21 June 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

22 June 1968 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with Whisky Mac (Malvern Gazette)

29 June 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Tuesday’s Outcome (Cambridgeshire Times)

5 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

6 July 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull (Fabulous 208)

9 July 1968 – Middle Earth, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

12 July 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Swansea, south Wales with Robbie and Ray and The Jaguar Showband and Ronnie Keene and His Music (South Wales Evening Post)

13 July 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

17 July 1968 – Top Rank, Reading, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

18 July 1968 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

19 July 1968 – Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Groovy Kind and The Fusion (Bournemouth Evening Echo/Fabulous 208)

21 July 1968 – Empire, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

1 August 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Jack Hawkins and The Jacobites (Portsmouth Evening News)

17 August 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Section and The Shades of Black (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

23 August 1968 – Newark Rugby FC, Newark, Nottinghamshire with Sons & Lovers (Nottingham Evening Post)

24 August 1968 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, North Yorkshire with The Exodus Showband and The Matchbox (Scarborough Evening News)

1 September 1968 – Nottingham Regional College of Technology, Nottingham with Woody Kern (Nottingham Evening Post)

11 September 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Leicester with The John Lees Show (Leicester Mercury)

13 September 1968 – Tabernacle Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

14 September 1968 – Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Fabulous 208)

17 September 1968 – Domino Club, Bedlington, Northumberland (Fabulous 208)

18 September 1968 – Croydon Top Rank, Croydon, London (Fabulous 208/Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)

19 September 1968 – Palais, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

20 September 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with The Boston Souls and Dave the Rave (Fabulous 208/Somerset County Gazette/Western Gazette) Western Gazette has Vicki Marauder & The Mirrors as support

21 September 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Yes (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

25 September 1968 – Top Rank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

28 September 1968 – Seagull Ballroom, Ryde, Isle of Wight (Fabulous 208)

29 September 1968 – Carnival on the waves, Music Showboat Dover to Boulogne with Johnnie Walker, Cupid’s Inspiration, East of Eden, Spread and Blue Horizon Blues Band (Kent Herald/Maidstone Gazette)

30 September 1968 – Silver Blades, Streatham, London (Fabulous 208)

17 October 1968 – Locarno, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

18 October 1968 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Herts with Simon K & The Meantimes (Fabulous 208/Welwyn and Hatfield Advertiser)

21 October 1968 – Silver Blades, Streatham, London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)

22 October 1968 – Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)

25 October 1968 – Kursaal Ballroom, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)

26 October 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Village Green (Cambridgeshire Times)

27 October 1968 – Top Rank, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

31 October 1968 – Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

6 November 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

12 November 1968 – Top Rank, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

14 November 1968 – Guild Hall, Thetford, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

15 November 1968 – Pavilion, Newton, Shropshire (Fabulous 208)

16 November 1968 – Shrewsbury Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Melody Maker)

16 November 1968 – Pavilion, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset (Fabulous 208)

21 November 1968 – Civic Hall, Ellesmere Port, Merseyside (Fabulous 208)

22 November 1968 – White Lion, Edgware, London (Fabulous 208)

23 November 1968 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

25 November 1968 – Ipswich Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)

28 November 1968 – Ice Rink, Paisley, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

29 November 1968 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News)

30 November 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Capitol Systems (Warrington Guardian)

11 December 1968 – Pavilion, Hampstead, London (Fabulous 208)

18 December 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Epics (Berkhamsted Gazette)

21 December 1968 – Elms Court Ballroom, Botley, Oxford (Fabulous 208)

1969

18 January 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

23 January 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire (Fabulous 208)

24 January 1969 – New Revolution, Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham Evening Post)

8 February 1969 – Civic Hall, Haverfordwest, Wales (Fabulous 208)

15 February 1969 – Pavilion, Folkestone, Kent (Fabulous 208)

19 February 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

20 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

22 February 1969 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

26 February 1969 – Top Rank, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

28 February 1969 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208)

1 March 1969 – Spa Ballroom, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

7 March 1969 – Royal Mecca, Tottenham, north London with Sugar (Melody Maker)

19 March 1969 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

20 March 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Blackburn, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

21 March 1969 – Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire (Fabulous 208)

22 March 1969 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Fabulous 208)

25 March 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

26 March 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Leicester (Fabulous 208)

27 March 1969 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull (Fabulous 208)

28 March 1969 – Casino Club, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

29 March 1969 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Sad Soul (Warrington Guardian)

4 April 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Steve Chapples research: www.lankybeat.com)

8 April 1969 – Old Picture House, Halesowen, West Midlands with Magic Roundabout (Birmingham Evening Mail)

5 May 1969 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)

24 May 1969 – Warwickshire Equestrian Centre, Balsall Common, near Coventry, Warwickshire with Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

25 May 1969 – Skegness Teesside Soul Festival, Skegness Town FC, Lincolnshire with Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

12 July 1969 – Northcroft, Newbury, Berkshire with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, Chicken Shack and J J Jackson (Melody Maker)

23 August 1969 – Marquee, Grays, Essex with The Who, Aardvark, Andromeda, The Classics, Bum, Evolution, Freedom and Ipsissimus (Melody Maker)

30 August 1969 – Royal Lancashire Showground, Blackpool, Lancashire with The Casuals, Vanity Fair, Bandwagon, The Expectations, Springfield Park, Sunshine, Shoo String Band and Gary Buchanan Caribbean Band (Melody Maker)

4 October 1969 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire Standard)

Categories: Fredericksburg, Texas

The Jolly Rogers of Fredericksburg, TX

April 26, 2019 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Jolly Rogers Kerrville Daily Times, January 26, 1967 — Jolly Rogers, Kerrville Daily Times, January 26, 1967

The Jolly Rogers came from Fredericksburg, Texas, its members were:

Byron Freeman – organ
Danny Kunz – lead guitar
Robert Miller – bass guitar
D.L. Chase – drums

An article in the Kerrville Daily Times from January 25, 1967 announces their upcoming show at the J.M. Auld Youth Center, and notes the band had been together for about six months with Byron Freeman as manager. Also that they had “played at the San Angelo Air Base and Service Club, the Commanche Club in Burnet, The Char Door in Comfort, Legioin Hall in Fredericksburg, and the teen Club in Kennedy and New Braunfels.”

The article also mentions another dance with a band called The Gates of Creation.

I don’t believe this group ever recorded. There was a group called Jolly Roger and the Poppiteers, from the Waco area, with a couple singles on White Deer. From the label credits, that band included Roy Irby, Dave Carr, Ray Colin, Jim Muile and Roger Simmons.

Categories: Albuquerque, Centurion, New Mexico

The Creation: the original version of “No Silver Bird”

April 24, 2019 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Creation were from Albuquerque, New Mexico. There were three members in the group: Al O’Donnell on lead and rhythm guitar, his brother Mike O’Donnell on bass, and Ernie Phillips on rhythm guitar. All three contributed lead and harmony vocals.

The Creation recorded two singles within a few months of each other. The first was “What The Daisies Know” / “Sun And Stars (I Miss Her So)” on Centurion 45-3001, recorded in October 1967 and released by December. Both sides were written by O’Donnell and Phillips for Tenmand Music, BMI. The publishing contracts list Joe Green with Tenmand Music. Distribution was by Lance Music Enterprises on SW 4th St.

The second single is “No Silver Bird” backed with “The Warmth of Love” on Centurion 45-3002, recorded December, 1967. The quality of the band’s performance is very different from the Creation’s first 45, more disciplined and better-recorded, with a droning, trance-inducing sound.

The label design is also not much like Centurion 45-3001, with a different typeface, nor does it have the Lance distribution credit at the bottom. The Wakefield plant in Phoenix pressed both singles.

Lyrics to “No Silver Bird” consist of only six lines!

Go on, take an airplane ride,
Get on that big silver bird and fly,
The world would be so heavenly,
If you would come along trippin’ with me,
Go on, take an airplane ride,
Don’t need no silver bird by my side.

The Creation’s single of “No Silver Bird” is very rare; until 2018 the only image circulating was a poor quality b&w photo of a DJ promo label. With nothing known about the Creation, there was speculation that their version of “No Silver Bird” was an ’80s recording made in an older style.

On July 7, 1968, the Hooterville Trolley recorded their own versions of “No Silver Bird” and “The Warmth of Love” at Norman Petty’s recording studio in Clovis with producer Tommy Bee. The Hooterville Trolley and the Creation did not share any band members.

The labels give Ernest Phillips sole credit for both songs, and publishing changes to Reginald Music Publ. and Stinger Music. The Hooterville Trolley single wasn’t released until January of 1969.

Creation No Silver Bird Publishing Contract — Tenmand Music publishing contract for “No Silver Bird” and “The Warmth of Love” by the Creation

In 2018 Al O’Donnell contacted me, and together with his brother Michael, answered my questions about the group and provided the scans of the contracts, lyrics and radio survey seen here.

Al O’Donnell:

The Creation was short-lived and we mostly wrote and arranged songs.
I have been playing guitar since very young. I usually played lead and rhythm on tracks. Mike picked up the bass as a new undertaking at the time we formed the band and became good very quick. Earnie played rhythm. The drummer and keyboard were always hired out and not part of the music development or lyrics.
Q. Who sang on the songs?
In all the songs Earnie, Mike and I sang and/or harmonized.
Q. Did the Creation play live shows? Are there any photos of the group?
Not really and no photos, [we were] just song writers composers and hopeful performers.
A couple of older gentlemen came to us and wanted to make us big. We had a backer and recorded both records that did get lots of airplay in the local area. Several thousand records were distributed.

KQEO Survey, December 16, 1967 Creation Sun And Stars2

“The Warmth of Love” was played locally as well, just did not get a local spotlight note.
On “No Silver Bird”, the guitar I was playing used a sound effect pedal and the repeater was adjustable with which I could set the tempo, that was the sound you refer to. Not even sure of what brand all the equipment was … I have had so many.
After several months of air play and not hearing from the guys who were doing the distribution, we went to their office and it was empty. Gone, along with the proceeds from the record shops. Being young and broke we could not pursue.
I never heard the Hooterville Trolley version [before recently]. I was not involved with Hooterville.
“Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling” recorded by the Fortunes and “Signs” recorded by the Canadian group Five Man Electrical band sounded suspiciously like ones we wrote, can’t prove it today as the originals were on Earnie’s machine, gone forever. Both were credited to have been written by others.
Phillips died some time ago.
I am the only one who plays today for fun. I own a Martin 6 and a Seagull 12 with pickups for larger occasions. I have some some originals I have written since then but no real connection to the industry, and just copywriting for the heck of it seems a waste of time knowing the industry.
Al ODonnell, 2018

Creation lyrics to "Sun and Stars" — Lyrics to “Sun and Stars”

Michael O’Donnell:

Earnie was in sales so he actually found Green [Joe Green, Tenmand Music publisher]. Green had advertised in the paper looking for local talent and Earnie responded after telling us about what he found, at least that is how I remember it.
After we made contact Earnie, Al and myself went and met Green and sang something for him and that is where it started.
I believe the second record, “Warmth of Love” and “No Silver Bird” were recorded in December 1967. I do remember hearing the song on KQEO while I was driving down the street, that is not something you easily forget.
Q. I checked BMI and the Library of Congress lists online but couldn’t find registration of any of your songs. I noticed Phillips was listed as sole writer of “No Silver Bird” on the label. Was that a mistake?
Creation lyrics to “No Silver Bird”
Ernie is no longer with us to speak for his recollection so I can only say I remember that no one could claim individual credit for anything the group did. There was collaboration in the lyrics, music and arrangement by each member for everything recorded. I have included the original note paper lyrics that I wrote down as we all worked together.If you looked at the initial contract for the second record, “Warmth of Love” and “No Silver Bird” you will see all three individuals were credited for writing etc. Not that it makes any difference, the history is just fun.
I seem to recall that Ernie fronted a larger portion of the money to record the second record (“No Silver Bird”) so I can only assume that this is how he negotiated with the promoter to be repaid.
There were different “tasks” each undertook in the process and Ernie took on the task of getting paperwork processed with the promoter etc. When I found the paper-work concerning the contracts, I also found uncompleted copy-right paperwork so I suppose that was one task that did not get completed.
When you are very young and naive, things like this attention to detail sort of slips. We were just having fun and trusting the promoters, contracts and each other.
Michael O’Donnell, 2018

——

There was one additional single on Centurion 45-3003/4. One side is Los Gallegos y Sr. Max Roybal “San Martin des Porres”, written by Jose Green and arranged by Ramon Gallegos. The other side is Sean & the Junction with “My Little Girl” written by Ernest Phillips and Joseph E. Green, and produced and arranged by Ernie Phillips. “My Little Girl” starts slow and immediately picks up tempo, with an unusual middle section, and a lead vocal in what I consider a crooning or song-poem style. Unlike the Creation’s songs, Tenmand Music registered both of these with the Library of Congress on December 9, 1968. Al and Michael O’Donnell do not recall these artists or know who was involved with Sean & the Junction.

Thank you to Al and Michael O’Donnell for answering my questions about the group and also for providing scans of contracts, lyrics and the KQEO survey.

Thank you to Jeremy Sloan for alerting me to the third Centurion single.

Creation lyrics to "What The Daisies Know" — Lyrics to “What The Daisies Know”

Creation publishing contract for Sun and Stars — Tenmand Music publishing contract for “Sun and Stars” and “What the Daisies Know” by the Creation

Categories: California, Gass, Hollywood, Los Angeles

The Chevels on Gass: Pat & Lolly Vegas

April 12, 2019 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Chevels released only one single that I know of, but it’s a double-sided instrumental winner. It’s not an unknown single, but it is one of many featuring Pat and Lolly Vegas, who deserve a full singles discography of their own.

Lolly Vegas wrote “Hendersonville”, a fine guitar workout on blues changes. It’s difficult to know which Hendersonville the title refers to, the suburb of Nashville along the Cumberland River is a possibility.

Pat Vegas and E. Engber wrote “Hootenanny Ho-Down”. Engber is actually Elliot Ingber, who played rhythm guitar with the Gamblers of “Moon Dawg!” / “LSD-25” fame, joined the Mothers of Invention and played on Freak Out, started the Fraternity of Man, and joined Captain Beefheart on The Spotlight Kid, among many other credits.

Released on Gass GS-1001, the October 19, 1963 issue of Cash Box reviewed the single favorably, listing “Hootenanny Ho-Down” as the top side.

Production was by Gram – Fisher, possibly J. Fisher, but I haven’t come across these names before to my recollection.

The only other Gass single, by the Travelers, was produced by Leo Kulka, who would move to San Francisco and found Golden State Recorders in 1964.

Categories: Bittner's, Kantner, Pennsylvania, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Somerset

The Buggs from Kantner, PA – “It’s All Right”

April 1, 2019 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

The Buggs came from Forbes High School in Kantner, Pennsylvania, about 75 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. In February, 1966, the Buggs cut two songs at Bittner’s Recording Co. in nearby Somerset. “It’s All Right” is great frantic garage, “Please Be True” is an original ballad by Raymond Lohr. Rite Record Productions in Cincinnati pressed the 45s, which are now very scarce.

Members were:

Raymond Lohr – singer and lead guitar
Ernie Lohr – bass guitar
Barry Boyer – organ
Joe Wirleich – drums

The Somerset Daily American Newspaper on Wednesday, March 9, 1966 wrote:

No, these are not the kind that will bite or harm you. As a matter of fact, they are pretty friendly. It is a name given to a Rock and Roll band from Forbes. Members of the group are: Raymond Lohr, singer and lead guitar; Ernie Lohr, bass guitar; Joe Wirleich, drums; and Barry Boyer, organ. All members of the group are from Forbes, except the manager, Ronnie Eutin, who is from Frielens.
They recently cut their first record with the Bittner Recording Company of Somerset.
The group will suffer a great loss, when Ernie Lohr leaves for the service at the end of March. Ernie has been with the group since it started in 1964.

Bittner’s would release four other singles that I know of, one each by Andy Wynn, Donnie Hunter, Larry LaVigne and Judie Follmar.

Ray Lohr passed away on May 17, 2017. An obituary online adds some information about his song, “Please Be True”:

He grew up in Hooversville, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1966 from Forbes High School in Kantner, Pennsylvania. While in high school, he was a member of “The Buggs” rock ‘n’ roll group; he wrote and produced a 45 record entitled “Please Be True to Me Girl” about his high school sweetheart who had moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Shortly thereafter, Ray headed to Anchorage where he married the love of his life, Sandra J. Shumaker, on March 4, 1967.

Categories: California, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Target (Hollywood), Unknown

Brook Hall “I Had a Dream” on Target

April 1, 2019 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

Here’s a relatively unknown single by female vocalist Brook Hall. The A-side has the solid hippie-psych of “I Had a Dream”, the flip “Coming of the Sun” is a ballad.

Brook Hall and P. Kasper wrote “I Had a Dream”, and Phil Kasper wrote “Coming of the Sun”, both show publishing Target Music (BMI).

Produced by Terry Munford, this was released on the one-off Target label of Hollywood as Target T-1010 in March of 1970.

I can’t find any leads on the people who made this record. I did find “I Had a Dream the Other Day” registered to Guy Ditmars and Brook Hall, Vail Pub. Corp, in November 1969.

Garage Hangover

Monthly Archives: April 2019