Categories: England

Edwin Starr’s September-October 1968 British tour

May 11, 2021 Nick Warburton 2 Comments

This was Edwin Starr’s third tour of the year, such was the demand for his music in Britain in the late 1960s.

Little is known about who provided support for the soul legend but it appears that The State Express, who’d backed him on his previous tour, did play some dates on this one (notably the Retford gig at the Broken Wheel Scene on 29 September).

Quite a few of the bookings also list a group called The National Hot House as the singer’s backing band. I’ve not been able to find anything on this group and we’d welcome any information from readers in the comments below.

The Reading Evening Post from 21 December 1968 does list a gig for The National Hot House at St Matthew’s Hall, Southcote and says they are ex-Memphis Gents. It looks like they might have moved on to back London-based black soul outfit The Sound Casters.

Interestingly, an advert in the North Wales Weekly News from 3 October lists a band called The Pure Medicine which it says is playing at the Ritz Ballroom, Rhyl direct from their recent tours with Edwin Starr and Ben E King. It’s not clear if this means The Pure Medicine were the backing band or just happened to be on the same tours.

Melody Maker lists the group quite a bit in the latter half of 1968 and its 7 September 1968 issue has an advert which notes that they are France’s Number One group.

I have found the following gigs and would welcome any further information in the comments below:

10 September 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Terry Reid (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

21 September 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (website: http://www.45worlds.com/live/artist/edwin-starr/uk/3)

21 September 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The National Hot House and Beryl Marsden and Sinbad (Cheshire Observer) Backed by The National Hot House

21 September 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The National Hot House and Benedict Arnold (Crew Chronicle) Backed by The National Hot House

23 September 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon/Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)

24 September 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, central London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)

29 September 1968 – Broken Wheel Scene, Retford, Nottinghamshire (Melody Maker) Backed by The State Express

5 October 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Music Hath Charms and Django’s Castle with The National Hot House (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next) Backed by The National Hot House

5 October 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Eyes of Blond (Cambridgeshire Times) Most likely backed by The National Hot House

6 October 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

7 October 1968 – Pavilion, Bath (website: http://www.45worlds.com/live/artist/edwin-starr/uk/3)

10 October 1968 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex (website: http://www.45worlds.com/live/artist/edwin-starr/uk/3)

10 October 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)

11 October 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The National Hot House and Motovation (Warrington Guardian) Backed by The National Hot House

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

If you can add anything, please leave a comment below.

Categories: England, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey

The Outsiders

May 10, 2021 Nick Warburton 5 Comments

Dutch Mills (real name: Nigel Reevely Mills) (harmonica/vocals)

Mick Wayne (lead guitar/vocals)

Alan Collins (organ)

John Horton (sax/flute)

Mac Mclldowie (bass)

Tim Easton (drums)

Formed sometime in 1962/1963 in the Tolworth area in Surrey, The Outsiders included guitarist Mick Wayne (b. 7 October 1943, Hammersmith, west London; d. 26 June 1995, Michigan, USA), who subsequently played with The Hullabaloos, The Bunch of Fives (with Viv Prince) and The Tickle. Wayne formed Junior’s Eyes in early 1968 and later appeared on David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”.

Collins (b. 22 November 1944, London) and Wayne had met at Kingston School of Art after Wayne had attended Wimbledon Grammar School. Tim Easton (b. 26 August 1943, Tolworth, Surrey) was the original drummer.

Apparently, the band split for a while at Christmas in 1963.

Mick Brill (b. 21 June 1945, Tolworth, Surrey) joined the group in April 1964 after he left The Classics, taking over from McIlldowie. Horton (b. 14 November 1945; d. 25 September 2023) left the same month to join The Original Topics.

Dutch Mills (real name: Nigel Reevely Mills) was close friends with Eric Clapton and had started out with The Dustbowl Refugees.

He adds that Jimmy Page was always around and convinced him to join Bedford band The Authentics sometime in 1964 with whom he recorded a cover of Jackie DeShannon’s “I Don’t Wanna Be Without You”, which was shelved. The Authentics were regulars at the Marquee.

Mills moved to Canada in 1966/1967 and worked with folk singer Vicky Taylor and later Jesse Winchester and Willie Dunn before moving back to the UK in 1990.

With Mills gone, The Outsiders recorded a lone 45 for Decca Records – “Keep On Doing It” c/w “Songs We Sang Last Summer”, which was released on 20 August 1965. Both sides were written by session player Jimmy Page with Mick Wayne. Page also produced the sessions for the single.

Brill says The Outsiders started doing sessions for Immediate Records in 1965, which is where he and Collins met singer Doug Gibbons, a singer from Shepherd’s Bush. Gibbons subsequently changed his name to Thane Russal.

Interestingly, Doug Gibbons and The Outsiders were billed to play at the Top Twenty in Bridgwater, Somerset on 5 July 1965.

To clear up one confusion, Mick Wayne was from the Kingston upon Thames area not Hull as is often falsely reported. Brill says that when Wayne joined The Hullabaloos he had to dye his hair blond.

Together with new drummer Pete Huish and new guitarist Bob Johnson, Thane Russal, Mick Brill and Alan Collins recorded “Security” as Thane Russall & Three.

Brill adds that when the single was released, it was rumoured that Jimmy Page had played on the recording to try and drum up some interest in the single’s release.

However, he explains that it was Bob Johnson. The solo on the recording was achieved by Huish hitting the neck of Johnson’s guitar with a drumstick.

Johnson, who joined in 1966 after Wayne had moved on to The Hullabaloos, departed when Thane Russal & Three landed a contract to travel to Italy in June 1966 and later joined Steeleye Span.

The remaining members added Martin Fisher from local band The Cavedwellers and decamped to Rome. You can read about the band’s career in Italy here at this excellent site.

A massive thank you to Mick Brill and Alan Collins for providing background notes and band photo. Thanks also to Dutch Mills for further information.

Thanks to David Else for helping with some of the research and providing additional material.

John Warburg provided this link with more information: www.45cat.com/record/f12213

Categories: England, London

The Cast

May 9, 2021 Nick Warburton 1 Comment

Photo: Terry Gore. The band outside the Greenford Hotel

Ian Stalker (lead vocals)

John Gater (lead guitar)

Terry Gore (bass/vocals)

Terry Toothill (keyboards/vocals)

John Warwick (drums)

After The Trekkers split up in early 1965, Terry Gore, Terry Toothill and John Warwick stuck together and formed The Cast.

Photo: Harrow Weekly Post. Photo may be subject to copyright

According to the Harrow Weekly Post, the group played at Acre Hall in Northwood, Middlesex on 9 April 1965.

The Evening Tribune lists the band playing at the Co-op Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire on 1 October 1965.

Photo: Evening Tribune. Photo may be subject to copyright

The band signed with the Bob Druce Agency and played in the circuit of clubs that the agency ran, most notably the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill and the Goldhawk Social Club in Shepherd’s Bush where on one occasion, the band opened for The Who on 3 December 1965. The Cast also played here on 31 December 1965.

Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright

During 1967, the band changed name to Tangerine Peel.

Many thanks to Terry Gore for providing the information. If you can add to this, please leave a comment below

South East London Mercury, September 1966. Photo may be subject to copyright

Categories: England, Surrey

The Classics

May 8, 2021 Nick Warburton 1 Comment

Drummer Eddie Patterson says that he played regularly with this band from September 1961 through to April 1962.

According to an advert publicising the Grand Final of The Surbiton Borough News’ Rock & Rhythm Group Competition, which was held at Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 27 April 1962 (see below), The Classics line-up at the time comprised:

Headley Leate (lead vocals)

Dave Atkey (lead guitar)

John Kent (rhythm guitar)

Keith Sutton (bass)

Ken Bright (sax)

Eddie Patterson (drums)

Eddie Patterson (b. 16 April 1942, Epsom, Surrey) says that The Classics came joint second with The Presidents with 249 points, with The Electrons winning the competition with 262 points.

Thanks to Malcolm Penn from The Electrons for the photo

After the competition, Patterson left to join The Presidents, with whom he remained until July 1965. He then toured with The End briefly before hanging up his drumsticks and taking up a permanent job in December of that year. He says that Keith Sutton also played with Del Grant & The Roamers.

In 1963, The Classics (with a revised formation) entered the competition for a second time, billed as Dave Curtis & The Classics. John Kent and Keith Bright were still members.

However, in February 1964, Dave Atkey, who appears to have been the only member to remain throughout the band’s entire career, assumed lead vocal duties and put together an entirely new version, comprising:

Dave Atkey (vocals)

Len Neldrett (lead guitar)

Nicky Graham (organ)

Mick Brill (bass)

Malcolm Penn (drums)

Len Neldrett and Mick Brill (b. 21 June 1945, Tolworth, Surrey) joined from The Gremlins and Nicky Graham (b. January 1945, Durban, South Africa; 3 February 2024) and Malcolm Penn came in from Dene Lincoln & The Topics.

Neldrett remembers that the new line-up’s debut performance was in Guildford, Surrey, opening for Tommy Bruce. When the curtain opened, he recalls original members John Kent and Keith Bright were there and hadn’t been told that Atkey had formed a new version!

However, the new formation was short-lived and in April 1964, Mick Brill departed to join The Outsiders.

With Dave Atkey resuming bass duties, the remaining members brought in sax players John Horton (b. 14 November 1945, Surbiton, Surrey; d. 25 September 2023) from The Outsiders and Bernie Greenwood and became The Original Topics.

In November 1964, the musicians were joined by singer Dickie Pride (b. 21 October 1941, Thornton Heath, Surrey; d. 26 March 1969).

A huge thanks to Malcolm Penn, Eddie Patterson and Mick Brill for providing the background notes and photos for The Classics.

Thanks to John Warburg for some further details

Categories: England, Surrey

The Gremlins

May 5, 2021 Nick Warburton Leave a comment

Howard (Len) Neldrett (lead guitar)

Tony Carter (rhythm guitar)

Mick Brill (bass)

Phil Webster (drums)

Formed by pupils from Surbiton County Grammar in Surrey in 1961, The Gremlins were an instrumentals band that played Shadows and Ventures’ covers.

Mick Brill (b. 21 June 1945, Tolworth, Surrey) says that the group didn’t have a singer, but an advert publicising the Grand Final of The Surbiton Borough News’ Rock & Rhythm Group Competition lists Dave Burton as the band’s vocalist (see below).

The competition, which was won by rival band The Electrons, was held at Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 27 April 1962 and also featured The Classics.

In February 1964, Neldrett and Brill both departed to join a new version of The Classics.

Many thanks to Mick Brill and Len Neldrett for the information on the band and thanks to Mick Brill for the group photo.

Categories: Iowa, Sears Recording Studios (Omaha), Sioux City

The Last Chapter “It’s Only When I’m Lonely”

May 5, 2021 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Last Chapter came from Sioux City, Iowa, and would evolve into a group called Freight. In late 1969 the Last Chapter cut their only record, released on Skip Records 2758.

“It’s Only When I’m Lonely” has a crunching rhythm, a great bridge and stinging guitar solo. “Words For You” features acoustic and electric guitar and a catchy vocal melody. It was the A-side of the single.

Russ Gill wrote both songs, and the Sears Pub credit indicates they were cut at Sears Recording Studios in Omaha.

The first mention of the Last Chapter that I can find comes from the Sioux City Sunday Journal from August 3, 1969, mentioning the band came in second place at the River-Cade Festival of Bands after being together only two weeks.

Members of the Last Chapter at this point were:

Russell Gill
Bob Werkmeister
Dave Schultz
Dave Wenberg

Russell Gill had been in the Restrictions.

The winner of the festival was the Cellophane Spectacle from LeMars, who had also won the year before. Members of that group were Randy Hoyt, Jack Toth, Jim Weiler, Al Schrank, Timothy Hauff, Tom Ross, Mark Moeller, Fred Juhl and Jim Luense. The Cellophane Spectacle cut one single at Sears Recording in Omaha for release on Spectacular SR61968, “It’s Not Unusual” / “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”. Another is mentioned but I haven’t seen it yet: “Going Back to Miami” / “Exodus”.

The third-place band was the Instant Blues Machine, “led by Richard Samore backed by Alan Vellinga, Charlie Larimor, Norm Reitsma, Harry Kantrovich and John Wimmer”.

Other bands were the Evolution, Wind, and the Purple Haze.

On June 24, 1970, the Last Chapter participated in a concert for 2,000 at Grandview Park, emceed by KSJC DJ Rick Anthony. The Sioux City Journal ran a couple articles on the concert, noting Jim Wentworth was from Laurel, Nebraska, 44 miles west of Sioux City. The first article quoted both Russell Gill and Jim Wentworth, and noted “A contract is pending between The Last Chapter and a Nashville, Tenn., recording company.”

The local bands were Fox, Evolution and the Last Chapter. A review titled “Young, Old Concur: First Rock Festival ‘Beautiful'” gave the names of the groups and their members:

The Last Chapter consisted of Russell Gill, Dave Schultz, Dave Wenberg, and Jim Wentworth replacing Bob Werkmeister.

Members of the Evolution were Chuck Pope, John Young, Ralph Goldheim, Neil Rollison, Dan Weigel and Kim Treiber.

The Fox included Steve Lewis, John Bartle and Russell Bizzett.

Freight – a band with three members of the Last Chapter. Article from August 15, 1971

Gill and Wentworth are mentioned again as organizers of the July 1971 “People’s Music Forum” at the Grandview Park bandshell. That concert included the London Bridge, Big Toe, Bittersweet, Stonewell, Freight, Fat Cat, Sinn, Dr. John Cook, and Prairie (formerly Danny and the Velaires), with folk music by Glen Reitsma and Ted Falk.

Finally in August, 1971 the Journal ran a photo of Gill and Wentworth’s band, now called Freight, with members Jim Wentworth, Mike Yandrich, Russell Gill and Dave Schultz. Other bands included Fat Cat, Sinn, and Bitter Sweet.

Anyone have photos of the Last Chapter?

Categories: IGL, IGL (Iowa Great Lakes Recording), Iowa, Sioux City

The Restrictions from Sioux City, IA

May 5, 2021 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Restrictions came from Sioux City and cut one single on IGL 147, “Down on the Corner” / “She’s Gone Away” in September, 1967. Russell Gill wrote “Down on the Corner” and co-wrote “She’s Gone Away” with Rob Molden.

The Restrictions members were:

Russell Gill
Rob Molden
Donald Pinney
Dave Mettleton
George Lauresen

The Sioux City Journal ran a notice about the August, 1967 River-Cade Festival of Music band competition, and listed the members of the top three groups.

The winner of the competition was the Shags, who would receive a session at Sears Recording Studio in Omaha. Russell Gill of the Restrictions wrote the song that would be the top side of the Shags’ single, “You’re a Loser”.

The Restrictions would cut their own record, traveling the hundred miles northeast to IGL Recording Studios in Milford, Iowa. I actually haven’t heard “She’s Gone Away” yet.

Russell Gill would go on to form the Last Chapter in 1969.

The other finalist was the Psychedelic Hangmen, with members Jame Polimeni, Phil Polimeni, Dave Stokes, Larry Means, and Stanley Sawienski. I’m not sure if they ever recorded.

Anyone have a photo of any of these bands?

Categories: Iowa, Sears Recording Studios (Omaha), Sioux City

The Shags from Sioux City, IA

May 5, 2021 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Shags featured in the Sioux City Journal, Nov. 21, 1967

The Shags came from Sioux City, Iowa. In August, 1967 they won a battle-of-the-bands at the River-Cade festival, beating out the Restrictions and the Psychedelic Hangmen. Their prize was a session at Sears Recording Studios in Omaha, Nebraska, 100 miles to the south.

Members of the Shags were:

Larry Schlines – guitar
Mark Renfro – organ
Roger Tryon – saxophone
John Primm – bass
Tom Renfro – drums

The second pressing of the Shags 45, with the title misspelled

At Sears they cut “You’re a Loser” / “Crying” for release on Rocky SR103167 in November, 1967. “Crying” is the Roy Orbison song.

It must have done well locally, as the band repressed the record on Jo-Jo Records 101 in February 1968, though the A-side was mistitled “Your a Loser”, and the publishing switched from Sears Pub. to Lightswitch Music.

Interestingly, Russell Gill of the Restrictions wrote “You’re a Loser”. I’d like to know how the Shags came to cut his song.

The Restrictions cut their own record in September, 1967, traveling a similar distance to Milford to cut it at IGL Recording Studios.

Categories: CEI, Havre de Grace, Maryland

The Runabouts from Havre de Grace, MD “Way of Life” & “All Is All”

May 4, 2021 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

The Runabouts, photo taken November 17, 1967

The Runabouts came from Havre de Grace, Maryland, about 40 miles northeast of Baltimore. The two sides of their single have very different sounds. “Way of Life” is fast-paced with horn arrangements. I’m partial to the slow, moody flip, “All Is All”.

The Runabouts formed in 1966 and expanded into an octet by the time they broke up in 1968.

Members included:

Jim Skrivanek – guitar
Joe Pascuzzi – guitar
Dennis Trimble – keyboards

Don Laye
Lew Rothlisberger
Mike Lynch
Ed Kelly
Tom Vincenti

The Baltimore Sun gave a short history of the group when the Runabouts had a reunion on May 19, 2012:

The Runabouts was originally formed by Havre de Grace area high school students as a five-piece guitar, bass and drum combo in 1966. The Runabouts played local teen dances at venues such as Teen Town at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fiddler’s Green at the old Bainbridge Naval Training Center.
After a couple of lineup changes and the addition of horn, sax and keyboard players, the eight-piece version of the Runabouts was active in 1967 and 1968 playing local dances and events and even cutting one 45 rpm record: “Way of Life,” written by guitarist Jim Skrivanek, backed by “All in All,” written by guitarist Joe Pascuzzi and keyboardist Dennis Trimble, on the independent CEI label out of Ohio.
With graduation, military service and work commitments taking members to far flung locations, the band split up after two years but then got back together for a successful reunion concert in Havre de Grace in 2006.

Robert T. Brown came from Fremont, Ohio, where he had a recording studio, releasing records on his Courier label. From 1966 to 1968 he was in the Army, stationed in Aberdeen. He continued to record bands, changing the name of the label to CEI Records.

Released on CEI Records CE127, the code RI2521 indicates Recordings, Incorporated in Baltimore pressed the single, published through Bro-Nik. Nashville Matrix did the plating.

The Runabouts had a website that is long defunct, but parts of it are available on the Wayback Machine, where I found the photo at top.

Info on CEI Records from Buckeye Beat.

Categories: California, Hollywood

Hex “You Cry and I’ll Laugh” on Hexx

May 4, 2021 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

“You Cry and I’ll Laugh” / “Doubt” by Hex was recorded in 1967 but only existed on acetate until someone pressed it to vinyl on Hexx HR-101. The vinyl is dark brown, translucent when held to light. The U-37756 in the dead wax indicates it was done in by United Record Pressing in 1995.

Both sides are fine hard rock, with some crushing lead guitar.

The band would be a complete mystery but luckily Preston Fong wrote a comment on Youtube:

This was recorded by our high school band (Hollywood High School). I think we recorded this as a demo for Dot Records. We did one other demo called “A Drop of Color” and another song on the flip side. I was the lead singer, George “Fidel” Bell on lead guitar and vocals … Mike Levy on drums, Mark Lewis (Rain – Beatles Tribute Band) on organ. Don’t remember who played bass on this … We were going to be developed by Dot Records at the time with producer Ray Ruff. The company opted to record the group “Colors” something like that and we didn’t want to wait around to be developed by them.

Another person commented with the list of members: Fidel Bell (guitar, vocals), Mark Lewis (organ), Lee Imes (bass), Mike Levy (drums), and Oden Fong (lead vocals). Also that the band either had no name, or “their real name is Unknown (not Hex). Hex was the name of the album, and Hexx was the name of the record company.”

I’d like to know more about the band, and how the record eventually saw release.

Garage Hangover