A west London band formed in mid-1966 and not to be confused with David O’List’s short-lived group of the same name who morphed into The Attack, The Soul System were originally called Four Point Five.

Formed by friends at Mellow Lane School in Hayes, the original formation comprised:

Geoff ? – lead vocals

Keith Kendall – lead guitar

John Bartovski – bass/harmony vocals

Rik Jones – organ/harmony vocals (after Bartovski departed)

Dave Horn – tenor sax

Duncan Wilkes – trumpet

Keith Jellows – drums

Kendall had started out with another Mellow Lane School group, Brian & The Fantoms but had left in 1964 to join The First Impressions (aka The Legends). In late 1965/early 1966, he departed to join Four Point Five.

Four Point Five (and later The Soul System) gigged extensively but never released any recordings.

As Four Point Five:

9 August 1967 – Drayton Hall, West Drayton, west London (Uxbridge and West Drayton Chronicle)

The Hillingdon Mirror ran an article and photo in its 15 August 1967 issue, page 2 (see above)

30 August 1967 – Hayes Town Hall, Hayes, west London (Uxbridge and West Drayton Chronicle)

The Hillingdon Mirror ran a photo of the band playing at the Town Hall Park in its 5 September 1967, page 7 (see above)

14 October 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame and The Army (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

Changing name to The Soul System around late 1967/early 1968, former All Night Workers’ baritone sax player Johnny Baker joined the formation in January/February 1969.

The following month John Bartovski left and future Strawbs’ bass player Chas Cronk briefly covered the bass slot until the summer.

Rick Eagles, who’d worked with Keith Kendall in the First Impressions and The Legends during 1964-1965, and had subsequently worked with Tony Knight’s Chessmen and The Good Earth, assumed the bass position until the end of the year.

Just before Eagles’ arrival, however, Dave Horn departed to focus on his ‘A’ Levels. The group line-up remained steady until late 1969 when Baker re-joined The All Night Workers. He subsequently suggested Keith Kendall on lead guitar (who had briefly returned to Brian & The Fantoms in the interim).

Keith Jellows later played with The New Mud and also The Sweet.

Gigs at The Soul System (see comments section for more)

25 January 1969 – Club LaBamba, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Kent & Sussex Courier)

28 January 1969 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Rod Welling and guest group (Bucks Free Press)

Thanks to Keith Kendall, Dave Horn, Keith Jellows and Rick Eagles for information about the band. We’d love to hear from anyone who can add more information.