Motown legend Edwin Starr’s growing popularity in Britain encouraged promoter Roy Tempest to bring the singer back for a second British tour in 1968. It appears that for most of (if not all) the gigs, The State Express were hired to back the singer.
John Ogden has written extensively about this obscure band at his excellent site on the Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline.
Originally from the Midlands, Ogden lists the band’s personnel as John Crutchley (guitar), Jim Hickman (bass/vocals), Barry Fletcher (Hammond organ/vocals) and Johnny West (drums) plus two saxophone players.
It’s not clear how long the band had been around but there is a listing for The State Express for 21 May 1967 when they opened for The Troggs at the Starlite Ballroom in Greenford in west London (presuming this is the same outfit).
After working on this tour, The State Express apparently worked with other soul artists that Roy Tempest brought over and also gigged under their own name.
For example, the Buckinghamshire Examiner advertises The State Express playing at the Town Hall, High Wycombe on 28 September 1968 with The Wages of Sin, noting: “The Group that backed American singer Edwin Starr on his recent British tour 8-piece group includes gorgeous girl singers”.
Melody Maker has them also playing at the New Pink Flamingo in Wardour Street, Soho, central London on 6 September 1968.
I have found the following gigs for the Edwin Starr tour but I am sure others are missing.
I am pretty certain all of these are with The State Express but would welcome any comments from readers.
29 May 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker)
30 May 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, south London with The Evolution (Melody Maker)
31 May 1968 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby (Melody Maker)
1 June 1968 – Leicester University, Leicester (Melody Maker)
1 June 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Melody Maker)
2 June 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Chicken Shack (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
3 June 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Small Faces, Bill Haley & The Comets, The Fantastics, Gospel Garden, Clockwork Orange, The Herd, Alan Bown, The Amboy Dukes and Turquoise (Fabulous 208/Poster)
Formed in west London in early 1963 after Gore and Warwick had left The Fairlanes, The Trekkers were fronted by two singers and also included Jamaican sax player Johnny Crosby who was about 15 years older than the rest of the band and had played in and around the New York area before moving to the UK.
When the band broke up, Terry Gore, Terry Toothill and John Warwick stuck together and formed The Cast. They were all later in Tangerine Peel.
Photo: Terry Gore
Thanks to Terry Gore for the information. Please leave a comment below if you can add further information
The Riffs made this one cool single “Tell Her” / “I Been Thinkin'” on Lubee 304 in early 1965. The songs show pronounced Merseybeat influence, especially “Tell Her”.
J. Gocioch wrote both songs, and registered copyright in March, 1965. “I Been Thinkin'” lists only Gacioch on the label, but the registration includes Timothy Ryant, and also that Dandelion Music Co. published both songs along with Debra Music Corp.
I believe J. Gacioch is either Joe Gacioch or James Gacioch. Tim Ryant was likely a member of the band as well. He passed away in 2008.
The deadwax codes include SJW and Clingman, indicating a Wakefield Pressing, and also that Loy Clingman produced the single at his Viv Studio in Phoenix, like the Lost and Found’s “Don’t Move Girl” on Pins.
I can not find any news articles or other info on the band.
The 45 saw national release on Jamie 1296, but was not reviewed in the trades.
In early 1968, promoter Roy Tempest brought American soul legend Edwin Starr back to Britain for another tour.
It had been six months since his last visit and rather than employ Glaswegian soul outfit The Senate to back Edwin Starr, it looks (from the gigs below) like a group called The JJ Sounds were hired instead, although there may have been other bands that helped out.
Also, Tempest was known for bringing over tribute acts and passing them off as the real thing, so it’s quite possible that some of the gigs below may not have been performed by the real Edwin Starr.
We’d be interested to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below.
Little is known about The JJ Sounds but it’s quite possible that this was, in fact, Errol Daniel & The JJ Sounds, who played at the popular Soho nightclub, the Bag O’ Nails in Kingley Street in mid-1967.
I have found the following gigs and would welcome any comments from readers. I’ve listed the backing band where it is known:
26 January 1968 – Assembly Rooms, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
28 January 1968 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry with Soul Express (Coventry Evening Telegraph) Advert says with Big supporting band
28 January 1968 – Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
29 January 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Coulsdon and Purley Advertiser)
29 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
2 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Herd, The Move, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Brian Auger Trinity, Julie Driscoll, Sammy Small, The Union Blues Rave Band, Th Accent (Yorkshire Evening Post)
3 February 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Poster)
3 February 1968 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire with Beechwoods (Formby Times) Advert says backed by J J Sound
4 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Gin House Blues (Crawley Advertiser)
4 February 1968 – Roaring 20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
8 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
10 February 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with J J Sounds, Ivan & Danny Eaves with The Reformation and Django’s Castle (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next) Most likely backed by J J Sounds who are one of the acts listed
Photo: Eastern Evening News, Norwich
11 February 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation (Crewe Chronicle/Crewe Observer/Nantwich Chronicle) Crewe Chronicle advert says Edwin Starr was backed by The J J Sound
Harold Horn was born March 6, 1933 on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, MT. He served in the Army from 1950 until 1953, including ten months in Korea. Returning to Spokane, he became a professional musician around Spokane and in Coeur d’Alene.
He played guitar with Bobby Wayne and the Warriors, appearing on their only single on the LJV label, “Sally Ann” / “War Paint”. He also sang a fine lead vocal with the group on “Long Lean Baby”, which was only released in 2005 on the Sundazed EP ’55 Spokane Rockabilly!
Bobby Wayne would produce Harold Horn’s only solo release, “Dew B. Dewey”, a pop song set to a thumping beat with horns and cooing female backup vocals. The flip was the Little Richard standard, “Miss Ann”, a simpler production of acoustic guitar backed by another pounding drum beat.
Bobby Wayne (Robert Wayne Snyder) and Don Weise wrote “Dew B. Dewey”, published byBurdette Music Co. and released on Jerden 750 in 1965.
Harold Horn would lead his own bands during this time. One notice in the Spokesman-Review from June 13, 1964 gives the name of the other musicians in his trio:
Patients at the Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children were entertained Friday with a two-hour concert of music donated by a Spokane band.
The three-piece musical group of Harold Horn played for the children in the hospital’s auditorium. Other members of the band were Jimmy Mitten on drums and LaCharlie Cook on guitar.
Harold Horn left music around 1966, not long after the Jerden single.
The Spokane Daily Chronicle profiled Harold on June 22, 1968, when he was social service coordinator with the American Indian Community Center. Headlined “Indian Aide Recalls Frustration and Depression: Now Helping His People” it is well worth a read.
This is a Chicago 45 featuring Sons of Adam with Ron Steele on “Sleep in Public Places” backed with an instrumental, “I’m All Through with Her”.
It was released on Flop Records, a subsidiary of Jim-Ko Inc. In fact, “Sleep in Public Places” was also the A-side of Cole Steele and the Steele Drivers on Jim-Ko Inc. JK-41095.
I’m not sure if it’s the identical recording to the Sons of Adam version, but given both are Jim-Ko productions and include an artist named Steele, I would think it’s likely.
The flip is a fine instrumental in a different style, “I’m All Through with Her”, which doesn’t include horns, backing vocals or sound effects like “Sleep in Public Places”. Ron Steele is not credited on this side.
Jim Kolb produced the Sons of Adam 45, and Jim-Ko Pub published the songs. The dead wax includes “For Jeanette” on the A-side and “J. Kolb” on the flip, plus 41095 which was the Jim-Ko release number of the Cole Steele 45.
The Sons of Adam were a real group, including Bill Zimmerman and Joe Estok on drums, who was replaced by Marcus David in 1967. There was a well-known session guitarist in Chicago named Ron Steele, but I don’t know if this is the same person.
I couldn’t find publishing info on “Sleep in Public Places”, which was written by Zimmerman and Failla.
The July 12, 1966 registration for “I’m All Through with Her” lists Bill Stewart, pseudonym of William A. Zimmerman.
There’s another Stewart/Zimmerman registration on that date, for a song called “I Can’t Stand It”, words by Jim Dee, pseudonym of James N. Skarzynski, and words and music by Bill Stewart aka William Zimmerman. I’m not sure if this song exists on record.
Additional info on the Sons of Adam or Jim Kolb would be appreciated.
The Fairlanes were formed in Fulham, southwest London around 1960/1961 before Gore and Warwick joined and originally had a different rhythm guitarist, bass player and drummer.
Gore and Warwick, who had started out with The Bellairs, heard about the musicians rehearsing at a school in Fulham and went along to check them out. Gore, who’d played guitar previously, switched to bass and another rhythm guitarist called Reg briefly joined before Dave Beach came on board. Judging by the photo above they were a seven piece at one point.
The band played regularly in the London area, including many USAF bases. They also worked across the country backing a number of big stars before breaking up in early 1963.
Jimmy Marsh subsequently formed The Del Mar Trio before joining The Noblemen in July 1966 with future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. The band changed name to Motivation later that year.
Gore and Warwick stuck together and formed The Trekkers. They later played in Tangerine Peel.
Please leave a comment below if you can add any further information
This notable rock music venue on England’s south coast was run by Eric St John-Foti who later handed it over to the owners of the Marquee Club in London in late 1966.
Mike Read has written extensively about the Shoreline and the bands that played there in his excellent book “The South Coast Beat Scene during the 1960s”, which I would thoroughly recommend readers get a copy of. This excellent website also provides a wealth of information on the venue.
Initially, when the club opened in the Caribbean Hotel during the Easter holiday in 1965, it looks like gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Mondays were added soon after.
In its few months, the club mainly catered for local bands but by late 1965 more nationally recognised groups began appearing at the club.
I have started to put an entry together but would welcome any additions/corrections in the comments section below.
1965
Photo: Littlehampton Post
17 April (Saturday) – Act 4 with Johnny Devlin and Dave Storme & The Tremors (Littlehampton Post)
18 April (Sunday) – The Road Runners and “The Fabulous” Mo-Henry (Littlehampton Post)
19 April (Monday) – Formula V and Force Four (Littlehampton Post)
21 April (Wednesday) – The Southbeats with support (Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
23 April (Friday) – The “Sensational” Southbeats and The Blue Chords (from Portsmouth) (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
24 April (Saturday) – The Southbeats and The Vigilantes (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
25 April (Sunday) – The Southbeats and The Hunters (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
30 April (Friday) – The Milestones and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
1 May (Saturday) – The Talismen and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
2 May (Sunday) – The Untamed (from Brighton) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
5 May (Wednesday) – The Southbeats and The Road Runners (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) This may have been the first Wednesday booking
Photo: Littlehampton Post
7 May (Friday) – The Triffiks and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
8 May (Saturday) – The “Great” Untamed and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
9 May (Sunday) – Mo Henry and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
12 May (Wednesday) – Johnny Devlin with Act 4 and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
14 May (Friday) – The Soundwave Vibrations (from Worthing) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
15 May (Saturday) – Dave Storme & The Tremors and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
16 May (Sunday) – The Coastliners with Danielle (from Southampton) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
19 May (Wednesday) – Force Four (from Portsmouth) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
21 May (Friday) – The Jaguars and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Deltas replaced The Southbeats
22 May (Saturday) – 4 Hits and a Miss (from Bournemouth) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) Looks like The Coastliners featuring Danielle and Dawn and The Soundwave Vibrations replaced 4 Hits and a Miss
23 May (Sunday) – Mo Henry and The Untamed (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
26 May (Wednesday) – The Crow and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
28 May (Friday) – The Untamed and The Deltas (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
29 May (Saturday) – Dave Storme & The Tremors, The Southbeats and The Soundwave Vibrations (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) Blues by Five replaced The Southbeats
30 May (Sunday) – Plain and Fancy and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
2 June (Wednesday) – The Milestones (from Midhurst) with supporting group (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
4 June (Friday) – The Cellarbrations and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
5 June (Saturday) – The Diamonds, The Southbeats and The Sound Vibrations (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Nightmares replaced The Sound Vibrations and The Warren J Show was added later along with The Cyan
6 June (Sunday) – The Web with Sandy Crawford and Act 4 with Johnny Devlin (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Web was formerly known as The Flames. A poster in Mike Read’s book has The Southbeats instead of Act 4 with Johnny Devlin
7 June (Monday) – The Untamed, The Soundbeats and The Sound Vibrations (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) A poster in Mike Read’s book also has The Zabres
9 June (Wednesday) – The Tremors with Dave Storme and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) A club poster in Mike Read’s book lists The Southbeats instead of The Tremors
11 June (Friday) – The Warren J Show, The Diamonds and Dave & The Sounds (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
12 June (Saturday) – Force 4, The Southbeats and The Sound Vibrations (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
13 June (Sunday) – Act 4 with Johnny Devlin and The Southbeats (Poster)
16 June (Wednesday) – Johnny Tempest & The Nomads with resident group (Poster)
18 June (Friday) – The Untamed and The Just Men (from Bournemouth) (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
19 June (Saturday) – The Cosmic Sounds, The Southbeats, The Fenmen (not the London band) and The House-of-Blues (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Littlehampton Post also has The Fab
20 June (Sunday) – The Trackmarks and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
The Littlehampton Post notes there is no dance on Wednesday, 23 June
25 June (Friday) – The Untamed, The Southbeats and The Just Men (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
26 June (Saturday) – The Alan Bown Set, The Untamed, The Southbeats and The Midnight Blues (from Bognor Regis) (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Littlehampton Post also lists the “reformed” John Barry Seven
27 June (Sunday) – The St Louis Checks (debut at Shoreline) supported by resident group (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
30 June (Wednesday) – The Web (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
2 July (Friday) – John Brown’s Body (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) This was Keith Emerson’s Brighton group not the Hammersmith one led by Clive Barrow
3 July (Saturday) – West Side (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) A poster in Mike Read’s book (see above) also lists The Klassiks, The Southbeats and The Midnight Blues
4 July (Sunday) – Simon & The Surreys and resident group (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
7 July (Wednesday) – The Untamed supported by The Ends (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
9 July (Friday) – The Cosmic Sounds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
10 July (Saturday) – 4 Group Nite (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
11 July (Sunday) – The Dark Ages (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
27 August (Friday) – The Equals and The Bow Bells (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
28 August (Saturday) – The Klassiks, Heads & Tails and The Midnight Blues (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
29 August (Sunday) – The Strats and The Mob (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
30 August (Monday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Bolts and The Midnight Blues (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
According to Mike Read’s excellent book The South Coast Beat Scene during the 1960s, September (this is more likely November) 1965 saw appearances from Billie Davis, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, Wayne Gibson and The Dynamic Sounds and The Mojos. Local bands that played this month included The Mike Stuart Span, The Web and Beau Brummell & The Noblemen.
24 September (Friday) – The Spectres (Poster) This is most likely the band that became Status Quo
25 September (Saturday) – The Inevitables and The Southbeats (Poster)
26 September (Sunday) – The Untamed (Poster)
29 September (Wednesday) – The Untamed (Poster)
15 October (Friday) – The Rebels (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
16 October (Saturday) – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Five More (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
17 October (Sunday) – The Cosmic Sounds with Lynda Crane (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
24 October (Sunday) – The Web (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Cherokees played in the evening
1 November (Monday) – The Mojos (Littlehampton Post)
8 November (Monday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (Littlehampton Post)
12 November (Friday) – The Talismen (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
13 November (Saturday) – DJ Blues Band and Five More (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
14 November (Sunday) – The Buckinghams (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
15 November (Monday) – Heinz (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
8 December (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer) Every Wednesday
10 December (Friday) – The Just Men (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
11 December (Saturday) – The Changing Times and Five More (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
12 December (Sunday) – Plain & Fancy (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
13 December (Monday) – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
15 December (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer) Every Wednesday
3 January (Monday) – Them (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
8 January (Saturday) – Beau Brummell & The Noblemen (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
9 January (Sunday) – The Klimaks (afternoon) (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
10 January (Monday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
12 January (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
15 January (Saturday) – The Brothers Scarlett with Gary & Lee (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
16 January (Sunday) – The Untamed (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Klimaks play in the afternoon
17 January (Monday) – The Applejacks (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
19 January (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
22 January (Saturday) – All Nite Rave with five groups (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
23 January (Sunday) – The Cosmic Sounds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Klimaks play in the afternoon
24 January (Monday) – The Cardinals (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
26 January (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
29 January (Saturday) – The Alex Laine Group (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
30 January (Sunday) – Ray Flacke & His Muckabouts (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Klimaks play in the afternoon
31 January (Monday) – The Mojos (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
7 March (Monday) – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
21 March (Monday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
9 April (Saturday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, The Mob and The Klimaks (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
10 April (Sunday) – The Untamed and The Clayton Squares (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
11 April (Monday) – The Jimmy Brown Sound and Jimmy Winston’s Reflections (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
18 May (Wednesday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-04-23.PDF) Record Mirror’s 23 April issue, page 12 says that the group starts a Wednesday residency at the Shoreline today but doesn’t say for how long. They are also booked for 11 Sunday concerts in the summer. Bass player Geoff Jones confirms the residency.
25 May (Wednesday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) Band has Wednesday residency
1 June (Wednesday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) Band has Wednesday residency but this needs confirmation as do other June dates
5 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above
12 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above
19 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above
21 September (Wednesday) – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Fabulous 208)
28 September (Wednesday) – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Fabulous 208)
As Mike Read notes in his book, in the autumn of 1966, Eric St John-Foti, who ran the Shoreline, signed the club over to the owners of the Marquee, Harold and Barbara Pendleton
29 October (Saturday) – The Action, Long John Baldry, Bluesology and David Bowie & The Buzz (Melody Maker) This was the grand opening of the Marquee at the Shoreline
Photo: Melody Maker
2 November (Wednesday) – Sands (Fabulous 208)
5 November (Saturday) – Sands, Duffy Power’s Nucleus and The Ultimate (Flyer in The Action book In The Lap of the Mods)
Photo: Melody Maker
12 November (Saturday) – The VIPs, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and The Herd (Fabulous 208, Melody Maker and flyer in The Action book In the Lap of the Mods)
Photo: Melody Maker
19 November (Saturday) – The James Royal Set and The Ultimate (Melody Maker) The flyer in The Action book In the Lap of the Mods notes Embers West, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Ultimate
26 November (Saturday) – The Artwoods and The Race (Melody Maker) The flyer in The Action book In the Lap of the Mods notes The Artwoods, Sands and The Herd
The flyer in The Action book In The Lap of the Mods lists the following artists for Saturday shows in December: Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The Action, The Alan Bown Set and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
6 May (Saturday) – The In Crowd and The Errol Bruce Show (flyer at: www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/scrap60/p4scrap60.html) Dave Allen’s research has Herbie Goins & The Night-timers on this date instead of The Errol Bruce Show
20 May (Saturday) – Prince Buster & The All-Stars (Fabulous 208)
28 May (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208)
17 June (Saturday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker) Melody Maker reports that Jimmy James collapses from exhaustion and the next gig in Derby is cancelled
15 July (Saturday) – The Move (Fabulous 208)
During August as Motivation changes to The Penny Peep Show, the group uses the Shoreline to rehearse their new stage act and material.
3 December (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)
Due to the success of earlier British tours, notably the one in October 1966, promoter Roy Tempest brought American soul singer Edwin Starr over for a second British tour in mid-1967.
Led by singer Sol Byron (aka Billy Lochart), Glaswegian soul outfit, The Senate, who’d backed Starr on some of the dates during the October 1966 tour, were brought back to provide backing on many of the dates during this tour.
However, The Senate also backed Garnet Mimms during spring 1967, so other groups helped out with some of the tour dates. We’d be interested to hear from any readers who can provide more information in the comments section below.
It looks like Cool Combination, who’d provided backing on the early 1967 tour, weren’t involved for some reason. However, it does look like The Warren Davis Monday Band did back Edwin Starr on some of these dates.
In mid-1967, The Senate also featured Alex “Ludgie” Ligertwood (aka Alex Jackson) on lead guitar and vocals; Brian Johnson on keyboards; Bill Irving on bass; Bob Mather on sax; Antony Rutherford (aka Tony Mimms) on trumpet; and Tam Frew on drums.
However, later this year, Johnson left to join The House of Orange (The Fantastics’ backing band) and was replaced by Michael Brandon Fraser. Robbie McIntosh took over from Tam Frew on drums and Dave Agnew (aka Mark David) succeeded Sol Byron on lead vocals.
The Senate had just completed a tour with Garnet Mimms before taking up the offer to work with Edwin Starr again.
I’ve found the following dates so far but would welcome any additions:
31 May 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
2 June 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker) Most likely The Senate
3 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby with The Headline News (Derby Evening Telegraph) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
5 June 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Warren Davis Monday Band and The Band of Joy (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
6 June 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The Warren Davis Monday Band (Nottingham Evening Post and website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
8 June 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by Warren Davis Monday Band
9 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
9 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
10 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Manfred Mann, The Warren Davis Monday Band, The Darlings and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard) Most likely with The Warren Davis Monday Band as backing band
10 June 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester (Disc & Music Echo/Leicester Chronicle) Most likely The Senate
11 June 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield (The Star) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
12 June 1967 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey with The Warren Davis Monday Band (Aldershot News) Most likely with The Warren Davis Monday Band as backing band
15 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
18 June 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with The Foundation and Life and Soul (Nantwich Chronicle)
18 June 1967 – Beat Centre Discotheque Club, Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Liverpool Echo)
If you can add anything, please leave a comment below.
The Apostol brothers, Eddie, John, and Paul, formed the Pulsating Heartbeats in their home town of Anchorage Alaska.
The Pulsating Heartbeats were:
Eddie Apostol – guitar, vocals John Apostol (Raphael Apostol) – guitar, vocals Paul Apostol (Raul Apostol) – drums Frank “Skip” Konte – keyboards, vocals
Originally known as simply the Heartbeats, the group rehearsed in Betty Poeschel’s garage, and recorded in Betty’s Record Den.
As the Pulsating Heartbeats they made one very rare record, “Anne” / “Talkin’ Bout You” on Pace Setters Internationale 007 1/2.
John Apostol wrote “Anne” and co-wrote “Talkin’ Bout You” with Eddie. A local DJ, Ron Moore produced. I believe Pacesetters was a booking agency run by Poeschel and Ron Moore. The address on the record was 425 East 5th Avenue in Anchorage.
The group toured throughout Alaska, and also performed at rallies for Mike Gravel’s failed run as Congressman in ’66.
Heartbeats join union to play Mike Gravel’s campaign rally in Fairbanks, July 1966
Skip Konte left the group. He would move all the way to Tampa, Florida, joining the Blues Image in 1967 and co-writing their hit “Ride Captain Ride”.
Emerson Crivillo took Skip’s place on the keyboards. Eddie Apostol was drafted, leaving the band as a trio.
The group played in Hawaii and probably California as well.
In 1967 they went to Leo Kulka’s Golden State Recorders in San Francisco to cut a single as the Hartbeet Band. John and Paul Apostol wrote “Wait ‘Till Then” while “Run Around Kind” is credited to Apostol – Crivell [sic].
The Hartbeet Band single saw release on Golden Gate Records GG-1263 in small quantities, and is very rare now. The labels list Golden Gate’s publishing wing Guard Music Co. but I cannot find copyright registration for either, or for “Anne” / “Talkin’ Bout You”.
Lisa Wheeler found a demo of “Wait ‘Till Then” and wrote about the group for her site Elk Bugles.
The demo lists Pacesetters Custom Recording Studio.
I believe the Heartbeats / Hartbeet Band ended their touring around this time and returned to Anchorage. Eddie Apostol returned from service and the band would continue to play locally.
Most of the above videos above were made by one of the Apostol’s sons, and feature cool photos and info.
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