Category Archives: Country

Categories: England, West Sussex

The Mexican Hat, Worthing

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The Mexican Hat in Worthing, West Sussex was a popular live venue during the early-to-mid 1960s. The venue wasn’t advertised regularly in the local press so I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further details of groups that performed there.

The Worthing Gazette only advertised the venue intermittently throughout 1964, so please get in touch if you can provide confirmed concert dates for this year.

Photo: Worthing Gazette

However, it looks like gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a ‘New Junior Twist Club’ may have started on 8 February 1964.

26 March 1964 – Gene Vincent & His Shouts and Lee Tracy & The Tributes (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

28 March 1964 – The Southern Sounds and The Jaguars (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

29 March 1964 – The Detours (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

30 March 1964 – Dave Storm, Jeff Spence & The Tremors (Bank Holiday Monday) (Worthing Gazette)

31 March 1964 – The Untamed 4 (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

There is a massive gap in the Worthing Gazette until the following dates

Photo: Worthing Gazette

25 September 1964 – The Beat Merchants (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

26 September 1964 – The Southern Sounds and Sherlock & The Saints (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

27 September 1964 – Unit Four (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

29 September 1964 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

30 September 1964 – The Southbeats (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)

There is a massive gap in the Worthing Gazette until the following dates

Photo: Worthing Gazette

24 December 1964 – The Beat Merchants and Force Four (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)

26 December 1964 – Jimmy Marsh & The Del Mar Trio and The J Crow Combo (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

27 December 1964 – Dave Storme & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

29 December 1964 – The Beat Merchants with supporting group (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

31 December 1964 – The Detours and Jimmy Marsh & The Del Mar Trio (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)

According to the Worthing Herald, the club was run by manager Chris Vallins. The newspaper only occasionally advertised gigs at the venue throughout 1965.

Photo: Worthing Gazette

However, the Worthing Gazette was better at advertising throughout 1965, although the list below isn’t complete. This newspaper notes that gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

26 February 1965 – The Detours (Friday) (Worthing Gazette) This is interesting as The Detours had recently joined forces with Beau Brummell to become The Noblemen so perhaps a solo gig for the band?

Photo: Worthing Gazette

27 February 1965 – The Tony Grant Group and The J Crow Combo (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

28 February 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Deltas (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

 

2 March 1965 – The Tremors (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

There’s a gap then until the following dates

Photo: Worthing Gazette

16 April 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

17 April 1965 – The Tony Grant Group and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

18 April 1965 – Dave Storme & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

19 April 1965 – The J Crow Combo (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)

20 April 1965 – DJ Blues Show (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

There’s a gap then until the following dates

Photo: Worthing Herald

21 May 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Scaffold (Friday) (Worthing Herald) Filmed live at the club for Southern television

22 May 1965 – The Force Four and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Herald)

23 May 1965 – Dave Storm & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Herald)

25 May 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Herald)

29 May 1965 – Sons of Man and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

30 May 1965 – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

 

1 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

5 June 1965 – The Giants and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

6 June 1965 – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

7 June 1965 – The Deltas (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)

8 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

12 June 1965 – The Giants and The Heads and Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

13 June 1965 – Lulu & The Luvvers (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

15 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

18 June 1965 – The Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

19 June 1965 – The Deltas and The Giants (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

20 June 1965 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

22 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

25 June 1965 – Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

26 June 1965 – The Klimacks and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

27 June 1965 – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

29 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

 

2 July 1965 – The Warren J Show and The Diamonds (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

3 July 1965 – The Klimacks and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

4 July 1965 – Heinz and The Wild Boys (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

6 July 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

9 July 1965 – The Klimacks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

10 July 1965 – The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

11 July 1965 – The Four Pennies (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

13 July 1965 – Surprise group (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

16 July 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

17 July 1965 – The Diamonds and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

18 July 1965 – The Applejacks (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

20 July 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

27 July 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

30 July 1965 – The Web (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

31 July 1965 – The Sons of Man and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

3 August 1965 – Them (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

6 August 1965 – Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

7 August 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds and Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

8 August 1965 – Two groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

10 August 1965 – Unit Four Plus Two (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

13 August 1965 – The Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

14 August 1965 – The Deltas and The Sons of Man (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

15 August 1965 – Two groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

17 August 1965 – The In Crowd (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

20 August 1965 – The Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

21 August 1965 – The Deltas and Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

22 August 1965 – The Noblemen and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

24 August 1965 – The Herd and The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

25 August 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)

27 August 1965 – The Klimacks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

28 August 1965 – The Deltas and The Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

29 August 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

31 August 1965 – The Nashville Teens and The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

1 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)

3 September 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

4 September 1965 – Heads & Tails and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

5 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Just Five (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

7 September 1965 – Cops ‘N’ Robbers (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

8 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)

10 September 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

11 September 1965 – Heads & Tails and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

12 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and surprise group (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

14 September 1965 – ‘Another Top of the Pops attraction’ (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

15 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)

17 September 1965 – ‘One of the South’s top groups’ (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

18 September 1965 – Surprise groups (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

19 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Cyan Three (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

21 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

22 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)

24 September 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

25 September 1965 – Surprise groups (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

26 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Noblemen (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette) The Noblemen are just back from Norway and this is their last British appearance for six weeks

28 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

 

1 October 1965 – The Klimaks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

2 October 1965 – The Diplomats (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

3 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Deltas (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

5 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

8 October 1965 – The Brian Hugg Fraternity (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

9 October 1965 – Surprise attraction (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

10 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Cherokees (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

12 October 1965 – The New Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

15 October 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

16 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

17 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Orioles (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

19 October 1965 – The New Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

22 October 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

23 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

24 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Orioles (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

26 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

29 October 1965 – The Five of One (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

30 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

31 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Alex Laine Group (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

 

2 November 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)

5 November 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

6 November 1965 – The Five of One (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

7 November 1965 – The Profile with support (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

12 November 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

13 November 1965 – The Five of One (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

14 November 1965 – Force Four and The Profile (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

19 November 1965 – Mair Davis & The Rockets (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

20 November 1965 – The Palmer James Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

21 November 1965 – The Cherokees and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

26 November 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

27 November 1965 – Top local group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

28 November 1965 – Two top groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

The newspaper says The Profile and top group plays this week

3 December 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

4 December 1965 – Alex Lane (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

5 December 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

10 December 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

11 December 1965 – The Sons of Man (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

12 December 1965 – The Noblemen and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

17 December 1965 – The Look (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

18 December 1965 – The Palmer James Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

19 December 1965 – The Profile and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

 

24 December 1965 – The Look and The Diplomats (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

26 December 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Mike Stuart Span (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

27 December 1965 – The Don Williams Combo (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)

31 December 1965 – Chris Boyle & The Look and Sack of Woe (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)

Photo: Worthing Gazette

1 January 1966 – The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)

2 January 1966 – The Cherokees and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)

According to the Worthing Gazette, the Mexican Hat was closed for a short period for alterations. However, the newspaper did not advertise the venue again in 1966

We’d welcome any additions below in the comments section with dates if possible

Categories: England, London

The (Fantastic) Soul Messengers

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Rod Freeman – guitar/vocals

Ken Rankine – bass (ex-Art Wood Combo)

Terry Marshall – tenor saxophone

Mitch Mitchell – drums

The (Fantastic Soul Messengers) were formed in November 1963 by former Flintstones members Terry Marshall (who had been in The Flee-rekkers in the interim) and Rod Freeman.

Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell, who started out with The Crescents had previously worked with Frankie Reid & The Casuals (late 1961-mid 1962), Pete Nelson & The Travellers and Johnny Harris & The Shades.

According to Marshall, another band had been booked to play at the famous Ealing Club on a Sunday and let down the club’s owner by failing to turn up.

As he recalls, “There were musicians in the club so I brought together Rod Freeman who I went pro with in 1960 when he was 16, Ken Rankine on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. We went down so well that Feri who ran the club gave us a residency there on the spot for Sundays.”

Regulars at the Ealing Club, the Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette has the band playing every Sunday in December 1963.

In 1964, they are also listed for 2 February, 5 April, 18 April and 11 May but played at the club much more than these advertised dates.

Soon after, Terry Marshall, who joined The Ray Martin Group, was replaced by American Gary Bell.

Photo: Nick Simper. The Soul Messengers, circa July 1964. Left to right: Gary Bell, Rod Freeman (back), Mitch Mitchell and Ken Rankine

However, around July 1964, Mitch Mitchell, who joined The Riot Squad that December, departed and the band changed name to The Next 5.

The new-line up comprised:

Rod Freeman – guitar/vocals

Ken Rankine – bass

Gary Bell – tenor saxophone (from the United States)

Willie Garnett – tenor saxophone (ex-Five Embers, Mille Small’s backing band)

Dave Golding – drums (ex-Flintstones)

Photo: Boyfriend magazine, August 1964. The five-piece Next Five

The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette lists The Next 5 at the Ealing Club playing a number of Thursdays throughout October and into November 1964 (see gigs below).

According to music writer David Else, they were also resident band at Tottenham Royal Ballroom.

Thanks to Terry Marshall and David Else for their help

Selected gigs:

The following are all from Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette unless otherwise noted

Billed as The Fantastic Soul Messengers:

23 November 1963 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with Johnny Five & The Ramblers (Evening Argus) Billed as Soul Messengers

 

1 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (billed as every Sunday)

8 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)

15 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)

22 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)

29 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)

Billed as The Soul Messengers:

18 January 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Druids and The Alex Group with Jo-Anne (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

26 January 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette) (Sunday)

 

1 February 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)

8 February 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday) This may have been John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

 

20 March 1964 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Streatham News)

22 March 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette) (Sunday)

 

5 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)

11 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette) (Sunday)

29 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette) (Sunday)

 

5 May 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardners, Isleworth, Middlesex with The Bo Street Runners and The Mark Leeman Five (Middlesex Chronicle)

11 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday)

12 May 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardners, Isleworth, Middlesex with The Bo Street Runners and The Mark Leeman Five (Middlesex Chronicle)

19 May 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardners, Isleworth, Middlesex with The Bo Street Runners and The Mark Leeman Five (Middlesex Chronicle)

26 May 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardners, Isleworth, Middlesex with The Bo Street Runners and The Mark Leeman Five (Middlesex Chronicle)

28 May 1964 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex

2 June 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardners, Isleworth, Middlesex with The Bo Street Runners and The Mark Leeman Five (Middlesex Chronicle)

11 June 1964 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex

12 June 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Mark Leeman Five and James Royal

10 July 1964 – Ovaltine Ballroom, Kings Langley, Herts with The Leons (Watford and West Herts Post)

 

18 August 1964 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex

Billed as The Next Five:

1 October 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette) (Thursday) Needs confirmation

8 October 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)

15 October 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)

22 October 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)

29 October 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)

 

5 November 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)

If you can add more information, please leave a message in the comments section below.

Categories: England, London

The Flintstones

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Terry Slater (lead guitar/vocals)  

Rod Freeman (rhythm guitar/vocals)  

Terry Marshall (tenor saxophone) 

John Puddy (baritone sax)

Sonny (aka Tony Smith) (tenor saxophone/baritone saxophone)

Doug Collins (bass) 

Dave Golding (drums)

The Flintstones were formed in 1961 from the ashes of The Blue Men who included Collins, Freeman and Golding. Slater had previously been a member of The Cadillacs.

Marshall was the son of Jim Marshall, who ran the famous music shop in Hanwell, west London that became a meeting point for many notable Sixties musicians.

Tony Ross, who was called Rupert by the musicians, took over from Collins in early 1962 after playing in Peter Nelson & The Travellers.

According to Marshall, the band’s first recording was done with the legendary Joe Meek, who insisted that they record under the name The Stonehenge Men.

That summer singer Pete Fleerekker asked Terry Marshall to join his group, The Flee-rekkers and Tony Holley joined on tenor sax/vocals.

According to music writer David Else, Puddy left in November 1962 and formed The Night Sounds (featuring guitarist Albert Lee) and Ricky Marsh took over baritone saxophone.

Else says that The Flintstones backed Little Richard on a British tour in September 1963. By this point, Ernie Cox had succeeded Dave Golding and Dave Green had replaced either Tony Holley or Tony Smith on tenor saxophone.

Photo: Walthamstow Guardian

After a second Little Richard tour in October-November 1963, Freeman left to form The Soul Messengers with Terry Marshall.

Not long afterwards, Tony Ross departed to join Carter Lewis & The Southerners.

Photo: Boyfriend Magazine, July 1964

In July 1964, Terry Slater revamped the band with the following musicians:

Terry Slater (lead guitar/vocals)

Mickey Fitzpatrick (bass) (ex-Pete Chester and Chris Ravel Ravers)

Dave Green (tenor saxophone)

Ray Taylor (tenor saxophone)

Ernie Cox (drums)

Not long afterwards, however, Cox and Green joined The John Barry Seven and the band split up.

According to David Else, Fitzpatrick subsequently worked with future Ferris Wheel member Mike Liston in Simon’s Triangle.

Terry Slater moved to the US and became part of The Everly Brothers Band.

Thanks to Terry Marshall and David Else for their help.

If you can add anything more to the band’s story, please get in contact via the comments section below.

Categories: Action, Leetonia, Ohio, Salem

The Crescendos “I Need Love” on Action Records

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Crescendos Action 45 I Need LoveThe Crescendos came from the Leetonia and Salem area south of Youngstown, Ohio, and made this one single in 1965. “I Need Love” is fine garage, and the flip is a good ballad, “Blue Sunday”. Both were written by vocalist Jim Altomare.

They cut the record at Gateway and released it on the Action Records label of Youngstown, between the two singles by the Executioners on the label. Trend Setter Music did the publishing, and Jerry Starr produced.

Instrumentally, the Crescendos was a quartet but I only have two names so far Jim Altomare on vocals and guitar and Jim Ginther on drums. I’m not sure who was playing bass or piano on these cuts.

The Crescendos received a few mentions in the Salem area press. In October, 1964, they played a street fair in Columbiana, and in February 1965 they headlined a dance at the Knights of Columbus hall in Leetonia.

Jim Ginther was also part of the Invictas from Lisbon, with Jerry Justice on piano.

Any further info on the group would be appreciated.

Categories: Dove Recording Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Unknown, Westchester

The Novells “Go Now” on Westchester

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Novells Westchester 45 Go NowThe Novells recorded a great lament “Go Now” for Dale Menten’s Westchester label of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Other than a writing credit to Steve Johnson, the Novells are a mystery to me.

“Go Now” was released on Westchester DR-271, as the B-side to a version of “Billy Boy”. The DR-271 number on the label indicates this was recorded at Dove Recording Studios in Bloomington.

Producer Dale Menten is most famous as guitarist of the Gestures, and writer of “Run, Run, Run”.

The Minneapolis Tribune on Sunday, June 2, 1968 ran an overview of the local rock business that included this paragraph:

Candyfrost Productions is a two-year-old firm that manages about 16 bands and does promotion for them as well. The firm did about $400,000 worth of business last year. Dale Menten and Peter Steinberg, the owners, are both 23. Steinberg is also a major stockholder in Dove Recording, a 3 1/2-year-old rock recording compoany that grossed more than $50,000 last year.

More info on the Novells would be appreciated.

Categories: Amber Records, Colorado, Denver

The Teeny Titans “Don’t Cry Girl” on Amber

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Teeny Titans Amber 45 Don't Cry GirlThe Titans came from the Denver area, releasing only one single, the very cool “Don’t Cry Girl” b/w “”Don’t Miss the Boat” on Amber 218-DCG in 1968 as the Teeny Titans.

The Titans were about 14 years old at the time of the single and had been together about two years with this lineup:

Dave Feager – guitar
Mark Siegert – guitar
Cheryl Justice – keyboards
Greg Schriener – bass
John Justice – drums

Mark Siegert wrote “Don’t Cry Girl” with two names I’m not familiar with, Wyant and Tarvin.

I’m not sure how they ended up on the New York City based Amber Records label, but their B-side “Don’t Miss the Boat” had been the A-side of one Amber singles by the Zephyrs. Writing credits for “Don’t Miss the Boat” go to Fuller and Bruce.

Categories: Dayton, Ohio, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Unknown, Wildwood Sound Productions

Last Exit “The Fast One” on Wildwood

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Las tExi t Wildwood 45 The Fast OneLast Exit came from western Ohio, perhaps Montgomery County, near Dayton. The only name I have is K.K. Petty, who wrote both sides.

“The Fast One” gives the lead guitarist plenty of time to solo. “The Slow One” is, as the title suggests, a ballad, with lines like “The best foundation for true love is simply a little trust / But the whole thing can be shattered, with a sudden burst of lust”!

The band cut their single at Wildwood Sound Productions in Brookville, where the Centrees, and Captain Crunch and the Crew also recorded.

Gene Turner’s Gene O Music published the songs but I cannot find registration for either. It is a Rite pressing, account # 1850, from 1967.

Categories: England, London

Fat Daughter

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Fat Daughter, late 1969. Left to right: Ian Miller, Phil Hearn, Mike Reed (obscured), Pete Hicks and Dennis Lascelles. Photo: Ian Miller

Ray Edwards (lead vocals)

Ian Miller (lead guitar) 

Dennis Lascelles (Hammond organ) 

Steve Fields (bass) 

Del Coverley (drums) 

+

Pete Hicks (lead vocals) 

Phil Hearn (bass/vocals) 

Mike Reed (drums) 

Formed around March/April 1969, this group from the Bexleyheath area of southeast London included some notable individuals in its ranks during its short tenure together.

Del Coverley had started out with school band The Millionaires in 1963 and then progressed on to The Scimitars before joining The Big Wheel in late 1965. After working in Switzerland with The Big Wheel, Coverley joined Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede in October 1966 but left in late July 1967 to join the final incarnation of The Fenmen, who gigged as Kindness (reuniting with keyboard player/singer Andy Clark from The Big Wheel).

When Kindness split in late 1967, Coverley reformed The Big Wheel with original members, Del Grace (guitar), Barry Nicholls (bass) and Mike Manners (keyboards) plus new singer Pete Hicks.

Photo: Melody Maker, December 1968

In late 1968, Coverley left The Big Wheel to reunite with Andy Clark and his new collaborator guitarist Mick Hutchinson (both ex-Sam Gopal Dream and Vamp) in the short-lived Dogs Blues. Barry Nicholls who’d recently worked briefly with Pete Hicks in Promise joined the outfit but in January 1969 he was replaced by American Jerome Arnold (ex-Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band) and guest tabla player Sam Gopal.

Photo: South East London Mercury. Dogs Blues, January 1969
Dogs Blues featured in South East London Mercury, 28 January 1969

However, the group split in early February when Arnold formed his own group and Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson decided to continue as a duo and record their debut LP.

Coverley then joined a reformed version of The Royalists with guitarist Ian Miller, keyboard player Dennis Lascelles (who had briefly played with Del Grace in The Rifle) and bass player Steve Fields, who had previously worked with local bands The Kinetics and The Abstracts. The band’s singer was Lascelles’ cousin Ray Edwards.

Herbie & The Royalists. Left to right: Ian Miller, Steve Fields, Herbie Hunte and Brian Cooper. Photo: Ian Miller

As Miller explains, The Royalists had started out as a soul band around 1966 with singer Herbie Hunte from Barbados. Originally known as Herbie & The Royalists, the group also included Dennis Lascelles, Steve Fields and drummer Brian Cooper. The band’s equipment was supplied by South Eastern Entertainments in Catford.

Herbie & The Royalists gig (1968). Photo: Ian Miller

Herbie & The Royalists released a rare LP Soul Of The Matter on Saga Records in 1968, which Miller says was recorded on four-track over two Sundays in a studio in Finchley. However, by the time the LP was released, Lascelles and Miller were pushing for a more progressive rock sound and so Herbie Hunte departed around December 1968. Lascelles brought in his cousin Ray Edwards as a replacement but by February 1969 Brian Cooper had also departed.

The reformed Royalists, circa March 1969. Left to right: Del Coverley, Ray Edwards, Steve Fields, Dennis Lascelles and Ian Miller. Photo: Ian Miller
The reformed Royalists gig (1969) shortly before becoming Fat Daughter. Photo: Ian Miller

With Del Coverley taking Cooper’s place, the band gigged as The Royalists before adopting the name Fat Daughter. However, not long after the band’s singer departed.

In Ray Edwards’s place, Del Coverley brought in singer Pete Hicks who had started out in 1965 fronting The Down & Outs. In 1966, he joined The South East London Blues Band who played a few times at Happening 44 in central London.

When that group split in 1968, Hicks worked with Coverley in Big Wheel (bringing in Alan Fuller from The Down and Outs to replace Mike Manners during the year) and then joined the band Promise.

During this period Miller remembers the band playing alongside Jon Hiseman’s Colosseum at Erith Polytechnic.

Promise with Pete Hicks (centre) and Barry Nicholls (far right)

Around early June 1969, Del Coverley and Steve Fields departed Fat Daughter and subsequently joined forces with Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson in Clark-Hutchinson after they had cut their debut LP.

Before he hooked up with Clark-Hutchinson, Coverley briefly worked with Rust who had just recorded an LP in Germany called Come With Me. The only surviving member from the LP was John Thomas and other new members were guitarist Eric Lindsey and bass player Alex Alexander.

Miller remembers Coverley leaving Fat Daughter to help Carl Douglas on a tour, so this would have been his first job before playing with Rust.

Fields, who changed his name to Stephen Amazing, also spent a brief time with The Skatalites, which may have been just before Clark-Hutchinson. Amazing played in Upp (who featured Jeff Beck as guest guitarist on their LPs) in the Seventies but later died.

Bass player Phil Hearn, who had worked with Coverley in his early 1960s bands The Millionaires and The Scimitars, and drummer Mike Reed both joined at this point and their first gig was opening for Fleetwood Mac.

Photo: Melody Maker, 1969

Later that year, the group opened for Alexis Korner (at Eel Pie Island) and Free (most likely Dartford Grammar School) among others.

Fat Daughter are uncredited for this support gig in late 1969. Photo: Melody Maker
Photo: Melody Maker, 1969

Miller says the band played at Eel Pie Island a few times. He also remembers gigs at the Scotch of St James in Mayfair, the Marquee on Wardour Street, central London and the Black Prince Hotel in Bexley.

Fat Daughter gig (1969). Photo: Ian Miller

He also recalls playing at Mildenhall USAF Airforce base with Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Avery Hill Teachers Training College with The Peddlers and Bromley College of Technology with Pink Floyd (most likely 26 April) where Syd Barrett joined his former band.

Fat Daughter, Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, late 1969. Left to right: Ian Miller, Phil Hearn, Mike Reed (obscured) and Pete Hicks. Photo: Ian Miller

 

Fat Daughter late 1969. Left to right: Ian Miller, Phil Hearn, Mike Reed and Pete Hicks. Photo: Ian Miller
Dennis Lascelles, late 1969. Photo: Ian Miller

When Hicks and Lascelles departed in early 1970, Hearn brought in a singer called John and a Hammond organist called Alan from his previous group Isis.

However, the new band didn’t last long and Phil Hearn and Mike Reed reunited with Pete Hicks in a new version of southeast London band Justin Thyme alongside guitarist Tony Pearman and organist Geoff Hurrell. That band’s original drummer Dave Neal went on to join Suzie Quatro.

Phil Hearn, who later moved to guitar, remained with Justin Thyme throughout the Seventies. He then became a sound engineer and worked with The Who, Aerosmith, Captain Beefheart, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Michael Jackson among many others.

Original keyboard player Dennis Lascelles later became a noted artist and lives in Brighton. Mike Reed later ran his own entertainment agency named Mike Reed Promotions.

Thanks to Phil Hearn, Pete Hicks, Ian Miller and Del Coverley for information

 

Categories: England, London

The James Set

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Members of The James with fans. Photo: Phil Hearn

Andy Tyler (lead vocals) 

Allen Berry (guitar) 

Richard Holdaway (guitar) 

Phil Hearn (bass/vocals) 

Tony ? (drums) 

When The Scimitars split in late 1965, Phil Hearn was invited to join another Bexleyheath area group, The James Set with the above line-up.

During 1966, Ian Mingham replaced the original drummer and keyboard player Derek Johnson succeeded Richard Holdaway. The band shortened their name to The James and played regularly in the local area with some gigs further afield.

Sometime around 1968, Phil Hearn left to form a group called Isis and later played with Fat Daughter.

Thanks to Phil Hearn for photo and information

Categories: England, London

The Scimitars

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Photo: Phil Hearn

Mike Inkster (guitar/vocals) 

Phil Hearn (bass/vocals) 

Derek Taylor (guitar/vocals)

Del Coverley (drums)

Hailing from the Bexleyheath area in southeast London, Phil Hearn and Del Coverley had started out in 1963 with school band, The Millionaires alongside guitarists Ron Cochrane and Stuart Robinson.

One of Hearn’s friends, Mike Inkster was looking for a bass player and drummer to replace outgoing members and invited Hearn and Coverley to join.

According to Hearn, the group mainly played youth clubs and social gatherings in Bexleyheath and the surrounding areas. However, they did play the famous 2 I’s coffee bar in Compton Street, Soho before they split up in late 1965.

Coverley joined The Big Wheel and subsequently played with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede, Kindness (the final incarnation of The Fenmen) and later Clark-Hutchinson.

Hearn meanwhile joined The James Set.  Both Coverley and Hearn played with Fat Daughter (albeit at different times) in 1969.

Thanks to Phil Hearn for photo and information