Category Archives: Country

Amen Corner gigs 1966-1969

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

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

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

AMEN CORNER

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

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

Andy Fairweather Low  (Lead vocals)

Neil Jones (Lead guitar)

Blue Weaver (Keyboards)

Allan Jones (Saxophone)

Mike Smith (Saxophone)

Clive Taylor (Bass)

Dennis Byron (Drums)

1966

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

 

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

1967

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

 

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright.

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

Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

9 December 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1968

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

 

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

 

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

19 September 1968 – Palais, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

1969

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

 

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

 

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

 

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author

The Jolly Rogers of Fredericksburg, TX

Jolly Rogers Kerrville Daily Times, January 26, 1967
Jolly Rogers, Kerrville Daily Times, January 26, 1967
The Jolly Rogers came from Fredericksburg, Texas, its members were:

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

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

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

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

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

Creation Centurion 45 Sun and StarsThe Creation were from Albuquerque, New Mexico. There were three members in the group: Al O’Donnell on lead and rhythm guitar, his brother Mike O’Donnell on bass, and Ernie Phillips on rhythm guitar. All three contributed lead and harmony vocals.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Creation Centurion 45 The Warmth of LoveOn July 7, 1968, the Hooterville Trolley recorded their own versions of “No Silver Bird” and “The Warmth of Love” at Norman Petty’s recording studio in Clovis with producer Tommy Bee. The Hooterville Trolley and the Creation did not share any band members.

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

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

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

Al O’Donnell:

The Creation was short-lived and we mostly wrote and arranged songs.

Creation Centurion 45 What The Daisies KnowI have been playing guitar since very young. I usually played lead and rhythm on tracks. Mike picked up the bass as a new undertaking at the time we formed the band and became good very quick. Earnie played rhythm. The drummer and keyboard were always hired out and not part of the music development or lyrics.

Q. Who sang on the songs?

In all the songs Earnie, Mike and I sang and/or harmonized.

Q. Did the Creation play live shows? Are there any photos of the group?

Not really and no photos, [we were] just song writers composers and hopeful performers.

A couple of older gentlemen came to us and wanted to make us big. We had a backer and recorded both records that did get lots of airplay in the local area. Several thousand records were distributed.

KQEO Survey, December 16, 1967 Creation Sun And Stars2

KQEO Survey, December 16, 1967 Creation Sun And Stars2
The Creation’s “Sun and Stars” listed in KQEO’s Local Spotlight for December 16, 1967

“The Warmth of Love” was played locally as well, just did not get a local spotlight note.

On “No Silver Bird”, the guitar I was playing used a sound effect pedal and the repeater was adjustable with which I could set the tempo, that was the sound you refer to. Not even sure of what brand all the equipment was … I have had so many.

After several months of air play and not hearing from the guys who were doing the distribution, we went to their office and it was empty. Gone, along with the proceeds from the record shops. Being young and broke we could not pursue.

I never heard the Hooterville Trolley version [before recently]. I was not involved with Hooterville.

“Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling” recorded by the Fortunes and “Signs” recorded by the Canadian group Five Man Electrical band sounded suspiciously like ones we wrote, can’t prove it today as the originals were on Earnie’s machine, gone forever. Both were credited to have been written by others.

Phillips died some time ago.

I am the only one who plays today for fun. I own a Martin 6 and a Seagull 12 with pickups for larger occasions. I have some some originals I have written since then but no real connection to the industry, and just copywriting for the heck of it seems a waste of time knowing the industry.

Al ODonnell, 2018

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

Michael O’Donnell:

Earnie was in sales so he actually found Green [Joe Green, Tenmand Music publisher]. Green had advertised in the paper looking for local talent and Earnie responded after telling us about what he found, at least that is how I remember it.

After we made contact Earnie, Al and myself went and met Green and sang something for him and that is where it started.

I believe the second record, “Warmth of Love” and “No Silver Bird” were recorded in December 1967. I do remember hearing the song on KQEO while I was driving down the street, that is not something you easily forget.

Q. I checked BMI and the Library of Congress lists online but couldn’t find registration of any of your songs. I noticed Phillips was listed as sole writer of “No Silver Bird” on the label. Was that a mistake?

Creation No Silver Bird lyrics
Creation lyrics to “No Silver Bird”

Ernie is no longer with us to speak for his recollection so I can only say I remember that no one could claim individual credit for anything the group did. There was collaboration in the lyrics, music and arrangement by each member for everything recorded. I have included the original note paper lyrics that I wrote down as we all worked together.If you looked at the initial contract for the second record, “Warmth of Love” and “No Silver Bird” you will see all three individuals were credited for writing etc. Not that it makes any difference, the history is just fun.

I seem to recall that Ernie fronted a larger portion of the money to record the second record (“No Silver Bird”) so I can only assume that this is how he negotiated with the promoter to be repaid.

There were different “tasks” each undertook in the process and Ernie took on the task of getting paperwork processed with the promoter etc.  When I found the paper-work concerning the contracts, I also found uncompleted copy-right paperwork so I suppose that was one task that did not get completed.

When you are very young and naive, things like this attention to detail sort of slips. We were just having fun and trusting the promoters, contracts and each other.

Michael O’Donnell, 2018

——

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

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

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

Creation lyrics to "What The Daisies Know"
Lyrics to “What The Daisies Know”
Creation publishing contract for Sun and Stars
Tenmand Music publishing contract for “Sun and Stars” and “What the Daisies Know” by the Creation

The Chevels on Gass: Pat & Lolly Vegas

Chevels Gass 45 HendersonvilleThe Chevels released only one single that I know of, but it’s a double-sided instrumental winner. It’s not an unknown single, but it is one of many featuring Pat and Lolly Vegas, who deserve a full singles discography of their own.

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

Chevels Gass 45 Hootenanny Ho-DownPat Vegas and E. Engber wrote “Hootenanny Ho-Down”. Engber is actually Elliot Ingber, who played rhythm guitar with the Gamblers of “Moon Dawg!” / “LSD-25” fame, joined the Mothers of Invention and played on Freak Out, started the Fraternity of Man, and joined Captain Beefheart on The Spotlight Kid, among many other credits.

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

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

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

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

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

Members were:

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

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

No, these are not the kind that will bite or harm you. As a matter of fact, they are pretty friendly. It is a name given to a Rock and Roll band from Forbes. Members of the group are: Raymond Lohr, singer and lead guitar; Ernie Lohr, bass guitar; Joe Wirleich, drums; and Barry Boyer, organ. All members of the group are from Forbes, except the manager, Ronnie Eutin, who is from Frielens.

They recently cut their first record with the Bittner Recording Company of Somerset.

The group will suffer a great loss, when Ernie Lohr leaves for the service at the end of March. Ernie has been with the group since it started in 1964.

Buggs Bittner's 45 Please Be TrueBittner’s would release four other singles that I know of, one each by Andy Wynn, Donnie Hunter, Larry LaVigne and Judie Follmar.

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

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

Brook Hall “I Had a Dream” on Target

Brook Hall Target 45 I Had a DreamHere’s a relatively unknown single by female vocalist Brook Hall. The A-side has the solid hippie-psych of “I Had a Dream”, the flip “Coming of the Sun” is a ballad.

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

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

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

The Wanderers on Tri-City Records in Nashville

Wanderers Tri City 45 Sick and Tired

The Wanderers cut this great version of Fats Domino’s 1958 hit, “Sick and Tired”, with catchy lead guitar throughout. The flip is a good version of “There Is Something on Your Mind”.

Tri City Records released this as Tri 5452. The code ZTSB 125453 refers to a custom pressing at Columbia’s Nashville plant, probably in early 1966.

I doubt I will discover who was in the Wanderers, as both sides are versions of r&b hits so there is no song writing credit to trace.

Wanderers Tri City 45 There Is Something on Your Mind

It does seem possible these Wanderers are the same group on a yellow-label 45 pressed by World Wide Records in Nashville, and produced by Tri-City Records, No. 3269. One side has Kenneth Castlemen’s great take on “Match Box”, the other James Stafford with the Wanderers doing “Changing My Mind “.

These artists are supposed to be from Jackson, Tennessee, about 2 hours drive west of Nashville.

World Wide Records is mentioned in Billboard as starting in 1966 and having Carlene Westcott Whaley as sales manager, prior to her starting Consolidated Record Enterprises. World Wide had a studio at 5819 Old Harding Rd in Nashville and seemed to specialize in white gospel records.

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

Image may be subject to copyright. Left to right: Carl Noel, Wallace Wilson, Phil Chen, Jimmy James, Carl Griffiths, Count Prince Miller and Rupert Balgobin. Photo shows line-up in late 1965

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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.

Image may be subject to copyright

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”

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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”

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

11 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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”

Image may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

 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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, France, May 1967. Photo © Odile Noël (www.odilenoel.com)

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

The band in France, May 1967. Photo © Odile Noël (www.odilenoel.com)

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

11 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London

14 June 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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 – 5th 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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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)

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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’ diaryRoy Stacey on bass

6 March 1968 – South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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)

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

29 October 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

14 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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

Photo may be subject to copyright

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.

 

The Riders of the Mark and John Hill

Riders of the Mark 20th Century Fox 45 Gotta Find Somebody

In November 1967 a single by the Riders of the Mark came out on 20th Century Fox Records 45-6694. One side is the very accessible “Gotta Find Somebody”; the flip is the wild two minutes of “The Electronic Insides and Metal Complexion That Make Up Herr Doktor Krieg”.

Teen Beat Mayhem lists locations of Moorestown, New Jersey which is east of Philadelphia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, over an hour’s drive to the west. 


Riders of the Mark 20th Century Fox 45 The Electronic Insides and Metal Complexion that Make Up Herr Dokter KriegThe Riders of the Mark may have been a real group, but the credits on their 20th Century Fox single don’t support that idea, and instead point to John Hill, Don Cochrane and their associates.

John Hill wrote “Gotta Find Somebody”; John Hill and Don Cochrane wrote “The Electronic Insides and Metal Complexion That Make Up Herr Doktor Krieg”. Blackwood Music published both songs, and the Blackwood connection features in the lead for news items on the recording in Cash Box and Record World. Tony Luis and John Hill produced both sides, and Hill arranged “… Herr Doktor Krieg”.

Riders of the Mark Record World 1967 November 4
Record World, November 4, 1967

John Hill and Don Cochrane composed “Love, Love, Love, Love, Love” for the Nite People, also done by Wool, and John Hill released it under his own name on a Columbia 45 backed with “I’m a Bear”.

Hill produced and played guitar on Margo Guryan’s 1968 LP Take a Picture, and produced the sessions that would be released as Susan Christie’s Paint a Lady. Studio musicians included Kirk Hamilton on bass and Jim Valerio on drums. These were done at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios, but since that studio opened in 1968, I have to assume the Riders of the Mark single was recorded elsewhere.

In 2009, Finders Keepers Records released some of his 1970 sessions at Sigma Sound as John Hill’s 6 Moons of Jupiter.

John Hill Riders of the Mark Cash Box 1967 December 2
Cash Box, December 2, 1967

The Nite Liters “Set Me Free”

Nite Liters Photo
The Nite Liters horn section at D’Arcy studio, from left: George Resto, Harrel Baker and Danny Kelly.

Don Faulk and Harrel Baker wrote the A-side of the Nite Liters excellent single on Sounds International 631, “Set Me Free”. D’Arcy Sounds Studios‘ publishing company Twenty Grand Music belatedly registered copyright on over 20 songs including “Set Me Free” on April 3, 1968. Since this seems to be the earliest release on Sounds International, the single likely dates a year or two earlier.

Danny Kelly of the Nite Liters wrote to me about the group and sent the photo seen above:

I did play trumpet with the Nite Liters along with George Resto and Harrel Baker on sax and also rhythm guitar. Bobby Schnell on drums, Joe Fromel on keyboards and vocals, Donnie Faulk on bass and vocals, and Steve Keith on lead guitar filled out the rest of the band.

We all went to Hampton High School. Danny and the Del Notes went to Newport News High School which was a real rivalry in every sense.

We recorded an original titled “Set Me Free” and covered “The Harlem Shuffle” in D’Arcy Studio around the time Danny and the Del Notes did their record. We were both on the Sounds International label. Our 45 aired locally on AM and played on a few juke boxes. We only had 500 copies made.

Before George and I were recruited into the band, the Nite Liters played in the battle of the bands at the Peninsula Auditorium.

I remember playing with Dennis and the Times at the Peppermint Beach Club in Virginia Beach. The best times were when we were the house band at the Hullabaloo Club in Newport News, Va. We even tried getting into some psychedelic music there. That was really crazy.

There were other good times like when a couple of members including myself went down to North Carolina to get a dj Russ Spooner to play a demo tape on the air. We recorded that also at D’Arcy studio.

As of right now, we’re all still alive and kicking. Steve, Bobby and myself are the only ones still in the area. George and Joe are up in northern Va., Donnie’s somewhere out west and Harrel is music director with a group in Hawaii. He was a surfer back when we were at Hampton High School. I’m retired from the USPS.

Danny Kelly, March 2019