Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Coleson Chen – bass

Carl Noel – keyboards

Carl Griffiths – tenor sax

Rupert Balgobin – percussion

Winston Martin – drums

Born on 13 September 1940 in the United States, Jimmy James moved to Jamaica in the mid-1940s and joined The Vagabonds in 1964 after recording solo singles. The Vagabonds had been formed in 1961 by Count Prince Miller, Coleson Chen and Wallace Wilson with other musicians, who were gradually replaced with the line-up above.

The musicians relocated to London in May 1964 with Chen’s younger brother Phil guesting on second guitar and initially they played at parties and social functions. This formation recorded The Vagabonds LP.

Soon after, Winston Martin left and Rupert Balgobin took over drums and Phil Chen became a permanent member.

Attracting the attention of manager Pete Meaden, who’d discovered The Who, the group landed a month-long residency at the Scene in March 1965. In mid-1965 Coleson Chen returned to Jamaica and his brother Phil moved on to bass.

Selected gigs

20 November 1964 – Kilburn State Ballroom, Kilburn, London with Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers and Dixieland Steel Band (billed as The Jamaican Vagabonds)

18 March 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (billed as The Vagabonds)

30 April 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

9 May 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London with The Spencer Davis Group

18 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

22 May 1965 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire

28 May 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

31 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

7 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Who

12 June 1965 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks

13 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Woburn Park Hotel, Addlestone, Surrey

14 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Solomon Burke

17 June 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds were featured in an article in the Staines and Egham News (18/6/65, page 10)

19 June 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (billed as The Vagabonds)

21 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

26 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire

28 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

1 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

2 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

5 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Animals

9 July 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

10 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

12 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

13 July 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London with The Brian Auger Trinity

14 July 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (billed as The Vagabonds)

19 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Manfred Mann

25 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

26 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The VIPs

29 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

31 July 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Under Pete Meaden’s management, the band’s debut single on Columbia, “Shoo Be Doo (You’re Mine)” c/w “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” was released in August 1965 but was not a chart success. They then moved to Piccadilly for seven singles, starting with “I Feel Alright” c/w “I Wanna Be Your Everything” in February 1966.

Despite not cracking the singles’ chart, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds became regulars at the Marquee and built up a huge following on the nationwide club circuit where they were regarded as one of the most dynamic live acts.

Selected gigs

2 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

9 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

12 August 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

13 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

16 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz and The Boz People

21 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire (Billed as The Vagabonds with Jimmy James and Count Prince Miller)

23 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

27 August 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

30 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs

2 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

6 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Crowd

9 September 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

13 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

17 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

20 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Sidewinders

22 September 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset

23 September 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as Vagabonds)

27 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

1 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

4 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz & The Boz People

6 October 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with Dave Antony’s Moods

11 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Uglys

13 October 1965 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire

14 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

18 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

21 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Action and Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Dave Allen research)

24 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans

25 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs

29 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

1 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo

4 November 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as The Vagabonds)

6 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

8 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Banshees

9 November 1965 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol

15 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Train (Moon’s Train?)

17 November 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset

18 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

22 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

27 November 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire

29 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

4 December 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire with Mike Cotton Sound

6 December 1965 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire wit Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, Goldie (of the Gingerbreads), Shangaans, The Mark Leeman Five and Gary Farr & The T-Bones

10 December 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

12 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

13 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo

15 December 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (billed as The Vagabonds)

19 December 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Blaizes

20 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

Around this time Carl Griffiths returned to Jamaica but later came back to the UK with singer Prince Buster. He also worked with Cat Soul Packet in September-November 1967 before joining The Bees who became The Pyramids. Griffiths later worked with Manfred Mann Chapter 3

 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds now comprises:

 Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Phil Chen – bass

Carl Noel – keyboards

Rupert Balgobin – drums

Selected gigs

9 January 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

10 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

14 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

15 January 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire

17 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

23 January 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham

24 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

25 January 1966 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol

27 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Drifters

31 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

5 February 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire

6 February 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London (on one occasion they were joined by John Brown’s Bodies, so maybe this date)

8 February 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

12 February 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

14 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

20 February 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

21 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five

19 February 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers and The Blueberries (with “Count Prince Miller”)

26 February 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (with “Count Prince Miller”)

3 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho,central London with The Summer Set

15 March 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)

18 March 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex

20 March 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with Rocky & The Emperors

21 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Boz “And New Group”

26 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Goodtime Band (billed as The Vagabonds)

28 March 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk

30 March 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

31 March 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey

Around this time former Rupert & The Red Devils’ tenor sax player Fred “Nat” Frederick joins. Frederick may be the same Fred who had recently played with John Lee’s Groundhogs.

3 April 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support

4 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

6 April 1966 – Target Paul’s Row, High Wycombe, Bucks

8 April 1966 – Links R&B Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts with The Fairies (opening night) Melody Maker has The Action as second group

9 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

11 April 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Sonny Childe & The TNT and The Real McCoy

14 April 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire

17 April 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Alan Bown Set

19 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Vibrations

20 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

25 April 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey

28 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

29 April 1966 – York University, York

30 April 1966 – Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

The group releases its third 45, “Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum” c/w “Come To Me Softly”

1 May 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with The News

2 May 1966 – Rag Queen Dance, East Ham Town Hall, East Ham, east London with The Symbols

4 May 1966 – Highbury Technical College, Cosham

5 May 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire

6 May 1966 – Keele University, Keele

7 May 1966 – Manor Lodge, Stockport, Greater Manchester

8 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with The Deakin Lewis Band (billed as The Vagabonds)

9 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk

11 May 1966 – College of Technology, Brighton, West Sussex

12 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Statesides (This is missing from Beat Instrumental unless this was moved to 16th)

13 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

14 May 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

15 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington

16 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

19 May 1966 – Starlight, Crawley, West Sussex

20 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London

21 May 1966 – St Martin’s School of Art, central London

22 May 1966 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry

23 May 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire and Concord Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hants

24 May 1966 – Concorde Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

27 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (possibly with John Brown’s Bodies) Trend & Boyfriend magazine has Links Ballroom, Borehamwood on this date as well

28 May 1966 – Gig in Islington, north London

29 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington

30 May 1966 – Blues Festival, East Dereham, Norfolk with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Sullivan James Band and Sounds Reformed. Beat Instrumental says this was the Tavern Club

3-5 June 1966 – Gigs in Ostend, Belgium

6 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

10 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton,  south London

11 June 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

12 June 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

13 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

14 June 1966 – St John’s College, Cambridge

15 June 1966 – Blue Flame Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands and Casino Club, Walsall, West Midlands

16 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

17 June 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Bobby Gibson and Group 004

18 June 1966 – Commonwealth Institute, central London

19 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London

20 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

21 June 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)

23 June 1966 – Birdcage, Porthsmouth, Hants

24 June 1966 – Gig in Exeter, Devon (probably university)

25 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

26 June 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

27 June 1966 – Wall City JC, Chester, Cheshire

28 June 1966 – American School, Hilton Hotel, central London

29 June 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire

30 June 1966 – Birmingham University, Birmingham

1 July 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough

2 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Roy C, The League of Gentlemen, The Amboy Dukes and The Ferryboys

4 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

5 July 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

6 July 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

7 July 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

8 July 1966 – Masonic Hall, Hornchurch, east London

9 July 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester

10 July 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

11 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

12 July 1966 – Bristol University, Bristol

14 July 1966 – Bircage, Eastney, Hampshire

16 July 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London

17 July 1966 –White Lion, Edgware, north London

18 July 1966 – Shoreline Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

19 July 1966 – Manor House, north London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

22 July 1966 –Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough

23 July 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

24 July 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington

The band releases its fourth 45 on Piccadilly “This Heart of Mine” c/w “I Don’t Wanna Cry”

29 July 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary Cray, southeast London

2 August 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Move

4 August 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

5 August 1966 – Beat ‘n’ Blues Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Better Days, The Kynd and The Reaction

6 August 1966 – Cadillac Club, Brighton, West Sussex

7 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

11 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

13 August 1966 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court Casino Ballroom, Hampton Court, Middlesex

14 August 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire

17 August 1966 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

18 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol with The Fanatics

21 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham

23 August 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

25 August 1966 – Astoria, Finsbury’s Park, north London with Sonny & Cher, Sharon Tandy & The VIPs

27 August 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London and Lyceum, central London

28 August 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

29 August 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

30 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Clayton Squares

31 August 1966 – Discoblue Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight

Baritone sax player Milton James, who has previously worked with Hogsnort Rupert, The Olympics and The Dynamics joins

2 September 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Him & Others

3 September 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

5 September 1966 – Wall City Jazz Club, Chester, Cheshire

8 September 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

9 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

10 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London

13 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog

14 September 1966 – Ackys Scene, New Maid’s Head Hotel, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

16 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London

17 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Leicester

18 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

20 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders, The Ferryboys

26 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, south London with Bluesology

27 September 1966 – Churchill Hall, Kenton, north London

1 October 1966 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London

2 October 1966 – Palais Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire

3 October 1966 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

4 October 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

6 October 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

9 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

11 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Episode Six

14 October 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts

15 October 1966 – International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire

15 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

Melody Maker says the band went to Belgium to play gigs in Brussels and Ostend on 17 October. Is this possible for one day?

18 October 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks

19 October 1966 – Falcon Hotel, Eltham, southeast London

20 October 1966 – Concorde, Southampton with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

20 October 1966 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, east London

21 October 1966 – The Marquee Show, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Spencer Davis Group, The Move, Wynder K Frog, The Herd and The VIPs

22 October 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire

23 October 1966 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

25 October 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

26 October 1966 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, east London

27 October 1966 – BRC R&B Club, Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire

28 October 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

29 October 1966 – Manchester University, Manchester

29 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester

30 October 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

The band releases its fifth 45 “Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud” c/w “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do”

9 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts

10 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London

12 November 1966 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London

13 November 1966 – Youth Centre, Liverpool

16 November 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hampshire

18 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Summer Set

19 November 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

24 November 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford

26 November 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

27 November 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham

28 November 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

29 November 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

Around this time, the band releases its LP The New Religion

1 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton

2 December 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester

3-4 December 1966 – Maryland Club, Glasgow, Scotland

6 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn

9 December 1966 – Durham University, Durham with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

10 December 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Orlons, The Gates of Eden and The Ebonites

11 December 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

12 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Hip 100

13 December 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

15 December 1966 – School of Art, Guildford, Surrey with The Alan Bown Set

16 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Unchained

17 December 1966 – Disco Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight

20 December 1966 – St Thomas, Brentwood, Essex

22 December 1966 – Southampton Guildhall, Hampshire with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

22 December 1966 – Ricky Tick, Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire

23 December 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Hounslow, west London with The Summer Set

24 December 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

26 December 1966 – Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

27 December 1966 – Corn Exchange, Bristol

31 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Neat Change and The Bunch

The band releases its sixth 45 “I Can’t Get Home to My Baby” c/w “Hungry For Love”

1 January 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

2 January 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire

The Hillingdon Mirror ran an article and photos in its 3 January 1967 issue, page 20

4 January 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soul Sisters with The Tonic and Charades

8 January 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians

Around this time Milton James departs. Baritone sax player Pat Gravende (aka Pat Sandy) replaces him. Also, longstanding member Carl Noel departs and Tom Parker, who has previously played with The Groundhogs, The Mark Leeman Five and Eric Burdon’s New Animals takes his place

The line-up now comprises: 

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Phil Chen – bass

Tom Parker – keyboards

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax

Pat Sandy – baritone sax

Rupert Balgobin – drums

Selected gigs

27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

28 January 1967 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

 29 January 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

31 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Syn

3 February 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire

4 February 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire

5 February 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts

6 February 1967 – Wall City Club, Chester, Cheshire

7 February 1967 – Manchester University, Manchester with Alan Bown and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

9 February 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

11 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool

17 February 1967 – Gyro Club, Troutbeck Hotel, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

19 February 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

20 February 1967 – Bluesville Club, Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

21 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire

24 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

25 February 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Eyes of Blonde and Ray Bones

25 February 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester

26 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

27 February 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

2 March 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Gordon Riots

3 March 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire

4 March 1967 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, London

5 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

5 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Hubbubs

7 March 1967 – Corn Exchange, Bristol

10 March 1967 – Phillipa Fawcett College, Streatham, London

11 March 1967 – Aquarium, Brighton, West Sussex

12 March 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians

14 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog

15 March 1967 – The Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester with The Drifters

16 March 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

17 March 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham

18 March 1967 – Manchester College, Manchester

19 March 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

20 March 1967 – Assembly Hall, Stafford, Staffordshire

21 March 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire

24 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

25 March 1967 – Trade Union Hall, Watford, London

25 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire with The Alan Price Set

27 March 1967 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange with Family, Reformation and Rubber Band

28 March 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Bossmen

30 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fab 208 says 29 March)

31 March 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby, Humberside

1 April 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

2 April 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

4 April 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

13 April 1967 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

14 April 1967 – Brighton Arts Festival, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, West Sussex with Paul Jones, The Move, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Mike Stuart Span, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and others

15 April 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire

17 April 1967 – Bluesville Club, Ipswich, Suffolk

19 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

20 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

21 April 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

22 April 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

24 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

26 April 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge

28 April 1967 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

29 April 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with Sons and Lovers

The band releases its seventh 45 on Piccadilly “No Need to Cry” c/w “You Showed Me The Way”

It’s possible that Carl Noel may have returned at this point to briefly replace his successor Tom Parker

5 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The American Vibrations and The Hubbubs

6 May 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Fleur De Lys

7 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

8 May 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

9 May 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

24 May 1967 – Purple Fez Club, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon

25 May 1967 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

25 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog

27 May 1967 – Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Survivors

28 May 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners

29 May 1967 – Boulevard Gardens, Tadcaster, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes, Ellison’s Hog Line, The Screen, The Shotgun Express, Pete Lala Group and others

29 May 1967 – Crystal Bowl, Castleford, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes

1 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

3 June 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

4 June 1967 – The Place, Oldham, Greater Manchester

5 June 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

7 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts

8 June 1967 – Electric Garden, Covent Garden, London (Disc and Music Echo, 27 May issue, says the venue recently opened)

9 June 1967 – Matrix Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (with Mike Cotton Sound and The Big Jump Band?)

10 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

11 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London

14 June 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

15 June 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Life

17 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

17 June 1967 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

According to Melody Maker, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds played at The Shoreline in Bognor Regis and Jimmy James collapsed from exhaustion. The Derby gig was called but he was fit to do the Klooks Kleek gig

18 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (cancelled)

20 June 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

22 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

25 June 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Jude Brown Trust

26 June 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

28 June 1967 – Royal Pier, Mecca Ballroom, Southampton, Hampshire

29 June 1967 – Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Wales with The Fortunes

30 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Condors

1 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Steps and Ray Bones

2 July 1967 – Spinning Disc Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire

3 July 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Disc & Music Echo has this on 5 July)

3 July 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Bath

4 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Malvern, Worcestershire

7 July 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

7 July 1967 – Victoria Hall, Dunbar, Scotland

8 July 1967 – Market, Carlisle, Cumbria

9 July 1967 – Top 10 Club, Dundee, Scotland

10 July 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland

12 July 1967 – Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen, Scotland

13 July 1967 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland

15 July 1967 – Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Stewart Henry & The Livewires

19 July 1967 – Disco Blue, Ryde, Isle of Wight

20 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

21 July 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

22 July 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

22 July 1967 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent

24 July 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

26 July 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Brighton, West Sussex

On 27 July 1967, Arthur (Art) Regis took over from Carl Noel after playing with Billie Davis & The Quality (and more recently Engelbert Humperdinck). Regis had previously worked with Frederick in Rupert & The Red Devils. He’d also played with Arthur Brown during 1965-1966 and then Freddie Mack in early 1967.

The line up now comprises:

 Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Phil Chen – bass

Art Regis – keyboards

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax

Pat Sandy – baritone sax

Rupert Balgobin – drums

Selected gigs

27 July 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (presumably Regis’ debut gig)

29 July 1967 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent

5 August 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

12 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

15 August 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

18 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

22 August 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

24 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

26 August 1967 – St George’s Hall, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Catharacts

28 August 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire with Elmer Gantry

28 August 1967 – Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop (Wakefield Express) Missing from Art Regis’ gig list

29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Long John Baldry, Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and Wynder K Frog

1 September 1967 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester

1 September 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester

2 September 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Bread & Butter Band

3 September 1967 – Locarno, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

9 September 1967 – Gigs in Ghent and Lens, Belgium

10 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)

11 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)

15 September 1967 – St Michael’s Hall, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire

16 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Friction and Eyes of Blonde

17 September 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts

19 September 1967 – Gig in Malvern, Worcestershire

20 September 1967 – Pavilion, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire

23 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Crew and The Gentle Madness

24 September 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

25 September 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk

26 September 1967 – BBC Overseas Service, Aeolian Hall, London

29 September 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

30 September 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington with the Purple Mist and The Penjants

1 October 1967 – Cosmopolitan, Carlisle, Cumbria

2 October 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

3 October 1967 – BBC Dave Symonds, Saturday Club

5 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Le Gay

6 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

7 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow and McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

8 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow, Scotland

9 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

11 October 1967 – 5^th Dimension, Leicester

13 October 1967 – Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire

14 October 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire

14 October 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

15 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire

16 October 1967 – Gig in Norwich (cancelled)

17 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

19 October 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

20 October 1967 – Carnatic Hall, Liverpool

21 October 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent

22 October 1967 – Kyrle Hall, Birmingham

24 October 1967 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire

25 October 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

27 October 1967 – University of Surrey, Battersea Park Road, London

28 October 1967 – The Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop

28 October 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

29 October 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands

30 October 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, St Matthew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

3 November 1967 – Gig in York, North Yorkshire

4 November 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

10 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Deadly Nightshades and The System

11 November 1967 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex

12 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, London with The Nice and David McWilliams

13 November 1967 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Amboy Dukes

14 November 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (with Eddie Gray’s resident house band)

17 November 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire with Bleu Kats

18 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester

18 November 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester

19 November 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

20 November 1967 – Bluesville ’67, St Mathew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk

22 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Southampton, Hampshire

23 November 1967 – Locarno, Streatham, London

24 November 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

25 November 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Nature’s Own

26 November 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London with The Living Daylights

27 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Bath

1 December 1967 – Lancaster University, Lancaster

2 December 1967 – Nottingham University, Nottingham

3 December 1967 – New Regis Club, Butlin’s Holiday Camp, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

7 December 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

8 December 1967 – Students’ Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers and Precious Few (Eastern Evening News)

9 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jo Jo Gunn, Reformation and Ray Bones

10 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex

12 December 1967 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (cancelled)

12 December 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham

14 December 1967 – Student’s Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night Timers and Precious Few

15 December 1967 – “Big C”, Farnborough, Hampshire

16 December 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

18 December 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

21 December 1967 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex

22 December 1967 – Manor House (could be London or Ipswich)

23 December 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

24 December 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Bluecaps

27 December 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

30 December 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire with Peppers Machine

30 December 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester

31 December 1967 – Brave New World, Southsea, Hampshire

4 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

13 January 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Funny Farm

18 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Derby, Derbyshire

19 January 1968 – Students Union, Nottingham Regional College of Technology, Nottingham with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and The Litter

21 January 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

8 February 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

Around this time, Count Prince Miller, Wallace Wilson, Phil Chen and Rupert Balgobin gave notice that they were splitting from the group. Miller and Chen started to form The Counts with former member Carl Noel. The final gig with the old line-up appears to have been 2 March.

Jimmy James kept Art Regis, Fred “Nat” Frederick and Pat Sandy (aka Pat Gravesende) and started to recruit new musicians, billed as The New Vagabonds. 

These included former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band members John Roberts (bass) and Herb Prestidge (drums). Another new recruit was trumpet player Barry Sutton and guitarist Dave Tedstone, who gave notice with his current employer Freddie Mack.

Initially, Art Regis’ old band mate from The Arthur Brown Union, Roy Stacey played bass before John Roberts took over.

17 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (billed as Jimmy James Show)

18 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex

23 February 1968 – Tottenham Royal, Tottenham, London

24 February 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset

25 February 1968 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Coconut Mushroom

26 February 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (billed as Jimmy James Show)

29 February 1968 – Streatham Locarno, Streatham, London

1 March 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

2 March 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

The new line up comprises:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Dave Tedstone – lead guitar

Art Regis – organ

Roy Stacey – bass (replaced by John Roberts)

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone

Pat Gravesende – tenor and baritone saxophone

Barry Sutton – trumpet

Herb Prestidge – drums

Selected gigs

5 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (debut of new line up according to Regis’ diary) Roy Stacey on bass

6 March 1968 – South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, Hampshire

9 March 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Supernatural

10 March 1968 – Butlins “Regis Club” Bognor Regis, West Sussex

Roy Stacey left to work in a short-lived group with Iain Clark who went on to Cressida in late 1968 and John Roberts joined on bass

13 March 1968 – Mecca Ballroom, Leeds, West Yorkshire

16 March 1968 – Cheshire College of Education, Crewe, Cheshire

17 March 1968 – Lyddon Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset

20 March 1968 – Top Rank, Bristol

22 March 1968 – Gig in Addington, London

23 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire

27 March 1968 – Tangerine Club, East Ham, London

28 March 1968 – Marimba, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

29 March 1968 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester

30 March 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)

In early April 1968, the press announces that Count Miller and other former Vagabonds had formed The Counts

5 April 1968 – Die Hallen, Kortrijk, Belgium with Johnny Halliday and The Lemons

6 April 1968 – Eden Ranch, Lens, Belgium

7 April 1968 – L’Omnibus and Le Trident, Paris, France

11 April 1968 – Barn Barbecue Dance, Thurmaston, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Alan Bown, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention, Legay, Sons & Lovers, The Equals, Pesky Gee, Pitiful Souls and Six Across (Regis says this clashes with the following gig)

11 April 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

12 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland

13 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland

14 April 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Dominoes

15 April 1968 – The Barn Barbecue, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Soft Machine, Fleetwood Mac, The Equals, Alan Bown, Fairport Convention, Legay, Pitiful Souls, Sons & Lovers, Six Across, Pesky Gee

19 April 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

20 April 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine (billed as The Jimmy James Show)

21 April 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

22 April 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk

24 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

25 April 1968 – The Pier, Worthing, West Yorkshire

26 April 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Delroy Williams and The Sugar Band, The New Trend and Continuity Big D Show

27 April 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinkley, Leicestershire (Regis has Hackney but this is more likely)

30 April 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

4 May 1968 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Ten Years After and The Precious Few

8 May 1968 – Spa Lounge & Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

10 May 1968 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

11 May 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

12 May 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham

21 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

24 May 1968 – Manor House (London or Ipswich)

25 May 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with support

26 May 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex

31 May 1968 – White Lion, Edgeware, London

1 June 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Peppermint Creams

3 June 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

7 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Green Ginger (billed as The Jimmy James Show)

8 June 1968 – Winter Gardens, Western Super Mare, Somerset

14 June 1968 – Anson Suite, New Union Building, Bristol

15 June 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent

19 June 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts

20 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London

21 June 1968 – College of Education, Leicester

22 June 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)

23 June 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex

28 June 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire

29 June 1968 – Newark Rugby Club, Newark, Nottinghamshire

30 June 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The West Coast Promotion

The new formation releases its debut 45, issued on Pye, “Red Red Wine” c/w “Who Could be Loving You?”

Tony Priestland, who has played with Art Regis in Arthur Brown’s band in 1965 briefly joins around about now plus a trumpet player called Don.

4 July 1968 – Cornwall Technical College (possibly St Austell) with PP Arnold and Spirit of John Morgan

6 July 1968 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent

7 July 1968 – Douglas House, U.S. Military Social Club, London

12 July 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

13 July 1968 – Gig in Yardley, Birmingham

14 July 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

16 July 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

18 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol

19 July 1968 – Tottenham Royal, London

21 July 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham

23 July 1968 – The Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

25 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire

26 July 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London

27 July 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

28 July 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

At some point (most likely during July), the band recorded four tracks which were later picked up by Acid Jazz for its Lookin’ Good EP: “She’s Looking Good”, “Aunt Dora’s Love Soul Shack”, “Soul Sister, Brown Sugar” and “Why (Must I Be Treated So Bad)”

Regis’ diary has Scottish tour for 29 July-6 August 1968

Dave Tedstone leaves immediately after this tour to work with Geno Washington. His temporary replacement is guitarist John Bedder who has played with The Savages and also Winston G

The line-up now comprises: 

Jimmy James – lead vocals

John Bedder – lead guitar

Art Regis – organ

John Roberts – bass

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone

Pat Gravesende – baritone saxophone

Tony Priestland – alto saxophone

Barry Sutton – trumpet

Don ? – trumpet?

Herb Prestidge – drums

10 August 1968 – Botley, Oxfordshire

13 August 1968 – BBC Stuart Henry Show (if this is the date the show aired, this might be the tracks described above, later released by Acid Jazz)

15 August 1968 – Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire

16 August 1968 – Plaza, Teignmouth, Devon

16 August 1968 – Plaza, Tynemouth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (very unlikely but advertised)

17 August 1968 – R.A.F. Raven Club, Waddington, Devon

18 August 1968 – Linden Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset

24 August 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

29 August 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Echo says 27 August)

30 August 1968 – Candlelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Dave Tedstone returns around about now

31 August 1968 – Gig in Western Super Mare, Somerset (may be Tedstone’s first gig back)

1 September – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands

8 September – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire

9 September – Gig in Bath

12 September – Gig in Worthing, West Sussex

13 September 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

Around this time Art Regis departs and Bill Coleman takes over on organ. Tony Priestland also moves on to join Titus Groan. Another former Ram Jam member, Lionel Kingham comes in on sax

This same month, Pye issues the band’s LP Open Up Your Soul

25 September 1968 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

28 September 1968 – Leascliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent

1 October 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

4 October 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

5 October 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

9 October 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Renaissance Fair

15 October 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

18 October 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

19 October 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Privy Seal

20 October 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Chelfont Line

29 October 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

1 November 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with The Package Deal and Dave the Rave

3 November 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London

8 November 1968 – University of Sussex, Brighton, West Sussex

9 November 1968 – Pavilion, Weston Super Mare, Somerset

10 November 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

12 November 1968 – Kirkcaldy Ice Rink, Kirkcaldy, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession

13 November 1968 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Herd, The Procession and The Emeralds

15 November 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with Brian Marshall Foundation, Haze and Procession

15 November 1968 – Dundee Ice Rink, Dundee, Scotland with The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession

28 November 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

29 November 1968 – Elms Court Hotel, Botley, Oxford with Paper Lemon

30 November 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent

3 December 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

6 December 1968 – Pier Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire

7 December 1968 – Brighton University, Brighton, West Sussex

8 December 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art, northeast London with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Pretty Things

13 December 1968 – John Dalton College, Manchester

14 December 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands

14 December 1968 – Cliff Pavilion, Folkestone, Kent (unlikely)

15 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London

16 December 1968 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire

21 December 1968 – St George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Spring and Tom-E-Tee

In late December Jimmy James dissolves the current formation and puts together a new line up the following month. Phil Chen returns from The Counts and the group also features former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band member, guitarist Pete Gage

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Pete Gage – lead guitar

Bill Coleman – keyboards

Phil Chen – bass

Clive Stephens – saxophone

Barry Sutton – trumpet

+ others

Pete Gage describes the situation as a “pick up band vibe” with various musicians coming and going alongside those listed above. He was also getting tired of the soul scene and started to get into more early jazz fusion so later that year he and Stephens left to form Dada. Chen also departs and Coleman helps Jimmy James revamped the group again

Selected gigs

1 January 1969 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire

6 January 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

10-11 January 1969 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

24 January 1969 – Shrewsbury Hotel, Bridgewater, Somerset

25 January 1969 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with Justin Tyme

26 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners

Melody Maker notes that Jimmy James split from their recording manager John Schroeder and will use independent producers from now on. Next is Pete Gage and 45 “Close The Door on My World”.

1 February 1969 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset

4 February 1969 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

6 February 1969 – Locarno, Portsmouth, Hampshire

8 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

13 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

15 February 1969 – New Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, West Midlands

16 February 1969 – Belle Vue, Manchester

17 February 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Lemon Cartoon and Cleo’s Mood

22 February 1969 – Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset

The band releases the 45 “Open the Door” c/w “Why” on Pye

6 April 1969 – Sherwood rooms, Nottingham with Marv Johnson & The Bandwagon

12 April 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

15 April 1969 – Revolution, central London

27 April 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with White Rabbit

3 May 1969 – Kennington College, south London

26 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

2 June 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Rubber Soul Band and Wall City Jazzmen

7 June 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Rainbow Folly and The Connection

14 July 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

18 July 1969 – Devizes Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire with Tom Browne and Green Ice

20 July 1969 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Clyde McPhatter

Pip Williams joins on lead guitar around late July from The Fantastics’ backing band The House of Orange. From his recollections, it looks like some of the musicians who had played with Jimmy James in 1968 returned

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Pip Williams – lead guitar

Bill Coleman – keyboards

John Roberts – bass

Barry Sutton – trumpet

Lionel Kingham – tenor sax

Herb Prestidge – drums

Williams doesn’t remember many gigs but does recall playing at the Club Saint Hilaire de La Mer in St Maxime in the south of France during the summer, which lasted about a week. He also remembers that former member Count Prince Miller stepped in as MC a few times. The group later split from Jimmy James to back Jimmy Ruffin.

Selected gigs

6 August 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

6 September 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Attic Express and Paper Lemon

14 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

21 September 1969 – Caribbean Music Festival, Empire Pool, Wembley, London with Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker, Maxi Romeo, Jackie Edwards, Count Prince Miller, Joyce Bond, Root and Jenny Jackson, Black Velvet, Derek Morgan, The Mohawks, Pat Kelly and The Skatalites

2 October 1969 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band

25 October 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Ritual

27 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Petrus, Golliwog and Wall City Jazzmen

31 October 1969 – Flamingo Entertainment Centre, Hereford

8 November 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Village Green Road Show

9 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

23 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

24 December 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Freddie Mac Show and Lloyd Williams Soul Caravan

3 January 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Dandelion Replaced Spooky Tooth

In early 1970, James completely revised the group line-up as the following:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Chris Garefield – lead guitar

Alan Kirk – keyboards

Alan Wood – bass

Russell Courtney – drums

Selected gigs

2 March 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands

14 May 1970 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London

23 May 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

31 May 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

4 July 1970 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London

28 July 1970 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham with Major Lance, J J Jackson & Dilemma, The Fantastic Honey and Darling & The Purple Bloom

9 August 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

10 October 1970 – Madison Club, Torquay, Devon

24 December 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Fantastics and Carl Edwards Roadshow

Art Regis helped greatly by sharing his diary dates. Thanks also to Pete Gage, Pip Williams, Dave Tedstone, Phil Chen and Roy Stacey. Big thanks to David Else for his help with chronology of the early years and fact checking

Sources include:

Aldershot News, Beat Instrumental, Maidstone Gazette, East Kent Times & Mail, Nuneaton Evening Tribune, Fabulous 208 Magazine, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Argus (Brighton), Bournemouth Evening Echo, Gloucestershire Echo, Melody Maker, Leicester Mercury, Southern Evening Echo, Northwich Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Newham, West & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express, Yorkshire Evening Post, Eastern Evening News, Evening Star (Ipswich), Bucks Free Press (High Wycombe), Dundee Evening Telegraph, Folkestone & Hythe Gazette, Essex Chronicle, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Portsmouth News, Retford Times, The Star, the Dorset Evening Echo, the Express & Star, Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. Western Gazette, Derbyshire Times, Wakefield Express, Dave Allen provided Birdcage gigs for Southsea and Eastney.