As the first female Motown artist to tour Britain, singer Mary Wells had been invited by The Beatles to join them for a nationwide tour from 9 October to 10 November 1964 alongside The Rustiks, Michael Haslam, Bob Bain, The Remo Four and Tommy Quickly.

For what was Wells’s first British tour, she was backed by Sounds Incorporated, who comprised John St John (lead guitar); Wes Hunter (bass); Barrie Cameron (organ/baritone sax); Alan “Boots” Holmes (baritone sax/tenor sax); “Major” Griff West (tenor sax/flute); and Tony Newman (drums).

In March 1967, Wells returned for her second (but first headlining) British tour and was backed by Scottish band O’Hara’s Playboys featuring John O’Hara (vocals/sax); Peter Green (tenor sax); Pete Campbell (lead guitar); Bobby Campbell (keyboards/guitar/vocals); Bill Mathieson (bass); and Davy McHarg (drums).

Judging by an article in Melody Maker, she was originally due in January 1967.

The following list is incomplete but includes: 

30 March 1967 – Locarno, Bristol with The Playboys (Bristol Evening Post)

1 April 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

2 April 1967 – Top Rank Astoria Ballroom, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

4 April 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with guest group (Bucks Free Press)

7 April 1967 – Gaiety Grimsby, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire with John O’Hara’s Playboys (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

8 April 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with supporting band, The Sect, The Group and The Steel Band (Lincolnshire Echo)

9 April 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with O’Hara’s Playboys and Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Runcorn Guardian)

9 April 1967 – 7 Club, Wyle Co-op, Shrewsbury with support group (Shropshire Journal)

13 April 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Playboys (Melody Maker)

14 April 1967 – Marine Ballroom, Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with Five of a Kind and MBQ (Morecambe Visitor)

15 April 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Apex R&B All Stars and Night Train (Melody Maker/California Ballroom website)

15 April 1967 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)

20 April 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Post)

21 April 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

22 April 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with Sonny Childe & The TNT (Leicester Mercury)

22 April 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Fireflies (Cambridgeshire Times)

23 April 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with The Gods (Melody Maker)

It was another two years before Mary Wells returned to Britain for her second solo British tour. On this one she appears to have been backed, at least on some gigs, by Glasgow band, Sir Percy Quintet who comprised Ian Wright (vocals); Jim Fraser (guitar/vocals); John Thompson (guitar/vocals); Colin Wright (bass/vocals); and Ray Gibson (drums).

The following list is incomplete but includes the following. I think some of the Melody Maker gigs listed in the image below may be slightly off. 

2 May 1969 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Clam (Melody Maker)

2 May 1969 – White Lion, Edgware, north London (Melody Maker)

3 May 1969 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Cleveland Fox Soul Band (Evening Sentinel)

3 May 1969 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Familiarity Breeds (Liverpool Echo)

8 May 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard) The Flirtations attended this

9 May 1969 – Annabel, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Echo)

12 May 1969 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Sir Percy Quintet (Birmingham Evening Mail)

13 May 1969 – Stockton Fiesta, Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside (Northern Echo)

13 May 1969 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

15 May 1969 – Crystal Ballroom, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

15 May 1969 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Soul Show and Second City Road Show (Birmingham Evening Mail) This advert says she was backed by Soul Show

16 May 1969 – Victoriana, Mardi Gras Club, Liverpool with The Acropolis and Action Lion with Billy Butler (Liverpool Echo)

18 May 1969 – Brit-Brit, Trent Bridge, Nottingham with The Klan (Nottingham Evening Post)

18 May 1969 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)

Nearly a year later Mary Wells was back in Britain for her third solo tour. It’s not clear, however, who backed her on this one.

It is also quite possible that this was a fake Mary Wells brought over by Roy Tempest.

The following list is incomplete but includes: 

21 March 1970 – Oakengates Town Hall, Oakengates, Shropshire with The Powerhouse Soul Band (North Shropshire Journal)

30 March 1970 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands (Walsall Observer)

We’d welcome any recollections in the comments section below. We would particularly like to hear about the songs performed and any other standouts.