The Red Coats. Photo from The Memphis Garage Rock Yearbook by Ron Hall. The Red Coats came from Ripley, Tennessee, about 50 miles northeast of Memphis.
Members were:
Bill Gurley – guitar and vocals Tommy Bearid – organ and vocals Johnny Shands – bass and vocals Chris Tucker – drums
Guitarist and vocalist Bill Gurley moved to the Raleigh section of Memphis, but continued in the band despite having to travel to meet them at gigs around the West Tennessee area.
Their debut single for the Orchid of Memphis label in late 1966 featured Bill Gurley’s original song, “You Told a Lie”, which has a guitar intro akin to “Paint It Black”. There’s an effective gloominess throughout, helped by the echo on the vocal harmonies.
The flip was another Gurley original, “I’m Going to Tell You About My Baby”, both songs published by Black Orchid Music BMI.
In early ’67 the Red Coats went to the Stax Studio to record a second single, “Poison Ivy” / “Just Send Her To Me”, which was released as by the Sunday Funnies, a name the band did not use in live performances. I haven’t heard either song but the sound has been described as soul. “Just Send Her To Me” was recorded by another Orchid of Memphis act, The Tight Little Unit, who made it the title track of their album in 1967. The cover of that LP lists Terry Rose from Orchid Records and engineer Allen Worley.
Orchid of Memphis also released a rare Christian LP by Steve Engelhardt, Is It True, recorded at Cardinal Sound in Lexington, Kentucky.
Information from The Memphis Garage Rock Yearbook 1960-1975 by Ron Hall. Thanks to Kip Brown for the single!
The Barracudas, photo from Brown Paper SackThe Barracudas came from Bunkie, Louisiana, a small town south of Alexandria.
Members were:
John Haas – vocals Terry Fontanille – lead guitar Tommy McNabb – bass Alex Haas – drums
The photo above shows a quintet, so I’m not sure who the additional guitarist was.
According to Mark Prellberg’s article in Brown Paper Sack, the band started out as the Pickles and appeared on a Saturday morning TV show broadcast from Alexandria. After a show at a Chevy dealership, KDBX DJs Gene McDaniels and Larry Jorgensen signed them to a management deal. They cut one single in April 1965 at the KDBX studio for release on their managers’ Zundak label.
One side is “Baby Get Lost”, an original by Haas and Fontanille. Guitarist Terry Fontanille provides several excellent hooks with his picking, there’s plenty of background shouting and chirping of the chorus, and even a short drum break.
Clocking in at 1:43, the recording has been called ludicrously sped up, but I’ve played it at various speeds and believe that the pressing is only 1% or 2% fast, which wouldn’t be unusual for the time. One version online pitched down to 2:05 sounded too lethargic and off-key to me. The video below is close to what I feel is the correct speed. Singer John Haas was 15 at the time of recording, which could account for the high-pitched vocals.
The flip is a decent version of Jimmy Reed’s “Honest I Do” though the short guitar and drum break after the harmonica solo is hilarious.
After Alex Haas left for college, John Haas and Tommy McNabb formed Nobody’s Children, with no recordings that I know of. Billy Powell of Jimmy & the Offbeats from Baton Rouge recruited John Haas as vocalist for his new group, John Eric & the Isoceles Popsicles, making one single each for USA and Verve.
As John Eric and the Isosceles Popcicles, they had two pop singles circa 1968, “I’m Not Nice” / “Like Him” on USA Records 913 and “Gonna Change My Mind” (Haas, Amarosa, McRee) / “I Been Trying” on Verve VK-10589.
Zundak Records
The Barracudas was the second release on the Zundak label, Zundak 45-101, with “Baby Get Lost” published by Zundak Publ. Co. BMI and production by Zundak Music Enterprises, Alexandria, Louisiana.
The only other composition I can find published by Zundak is “A Soldier’s Christmas in Viet Nam” by Charles England, copyrighted by Zundak Pub. Co. in October 1966.
Besides the Barracudas, Zundak released an album:
102 – Catahoula Country Time (Ruble Wright)
And six other singles that I know of:
100 – Terry & the Pirates – “Someone Care For Me” / “Stackel-Teez” Feb’65 102 – Rhythm Kings – “Memphis” / “Runaway” 103 – Little Caesar & the Romans – “Don’t Cry No More” / “Night Train” 104 – Jimmy Ingram and Jimmy Williams and the Down Beaters – “I Need You” / “She’s Gone” (both by O.A. Raby) 105 – Betty Simpson – “Weeping Willow” / “What Is Love” 106 – The X-L’s – “Protest Against Protest” / “Blue Blue Feeling” (July 1966)
The X-L’s is a crude kind of garage record, while the Jimmy Ingram is gospel-style soul and the Betty Simpson is pop, with a good soul feeling on the b-side.
Some of the records were recorded at La Louisianne studios in Lafayette, about 90 miles to the southeast of Alexandria in central Louisiana.
Thank you to Max Waller and Teen Beat Mayhem for help with the Zundak discography.
Back row left to right: Alan Marshall, Alan White and Kenny Craddock. Front row, left to right: Peter Kirtley and Brian Rowan. Photo: Peter Kirtley
Alan Marshall – lead vocals
Peter Kirtley – lead guitar
Kenny Craddock – organ
Brian Rowan – bass
Alan White – drums
Happy Magazine was soul/R&B band that was formed during August 1967 by singer Alan Marshall and lead guitarist Peter Kirtley and was managed and produced by former Animals keyboard player/singer Alan Price.
The two musicians have previously played together in Southeast London R&B group, The Loose Ends from around July 1965 to October 1966 when Kirtley departed to join The Alan Price Set.
Alan Marshall meanwhile formed a new version of The Loose Ends, drawing on Croydon, Surrey band, The Subjects, which featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums).
After a short while, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas and bass player Colin Pullen from Kent band, Bob ‘N’ All. Not long after, Roy Manderson was succeeded by another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde.
In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the formation by adding another Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker and the group played regularly at the Playboy Club.
The Loose Ends then landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January but Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Bob ‘N’ All took his place.
During early March 1967, The Loose Ends returned to London and played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy. At one of the venues, Otis Redding spotted Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and invited them to Muscle Shoals to record, and during May/June the singers cut two tracks – “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing”, which were never released. Marshall and Saker then returned to the UK.
By this point, Peter Kirtley was ready to leave The Alan Price Set to team up with Alan Marshall and around August the pair formed Happy Magazine. Initially, Marshall’s friend Bobby Sass was going to play keyboards but he departed after initial rehearsals.
Kirtley, who was originally from Tyneside and had played with Shorty & Them during the early 1960s, introduced his old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them. He also recruited drummer Alan White, formerly a member of Tyneside outfits, The Bluechips and The Gamblers.
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Kicking off with Alan Price’s excellent “Satisfied Street”, backed with “Beautiful Land” in December 1967, featuring a horn section that may well be Amboy Dukes members Buddy Beadle and Steve Gregory (also ex-Alan Price Set), the label re-issued the track three months later coupled with the Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham soul classic “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man”. During this time, the group also became regulars at Rasputin’s club in Bond Street.
During 1968, Alan Price recruited Alan White for his backing band, and Malcolm Wolffe from West London bands, The Tribe and Dream took over. The band then cut its third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You” (again with horns), coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”. Issued on 14 February 1969, the single should have catapulted the band into the charts.
With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year.
Left to right: Peter Kirtley, Brian Rowan, Kenny Craddock, Malcolm Wolffe and Alan Marshall
Joined by lead guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); his old friend and keyboardist Bobby Sass; bass player Brent Forbes from Salford bands, The Rogues and Sunshine; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album (which featured Peter Kirtley on lead guitar) sank without a trace.
Peter Kirtley, Kenny Craddock and Alan White meanwhile brought in two friends from Newcastle – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.
Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head,” coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.
Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.
Kirtley has also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.
Having fronted new versions of One, Alan Marshall surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.
When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined. However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and pursued a solo career before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall continues to perform in London.
Alan White became a top session player, working with John Lennon and George Harrison among others and later joined Yes, with whom he continues to play.
White’s replacement Malcolm Wolffe meanwhile joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.
Notable gigs:
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2 September 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Erskine T (Birmingham Evening Mail)
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9 September 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Tremeloes (Melody Maker)
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9 September 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Winston G & Heart and Souls (Melody Maker)
13 January 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
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17 February 1968 – Nuneaton Parish Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire with Arnham Bloo (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
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24 February 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
7-9 March 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, central London (Melody Maker)
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7 April 1968 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Yarmouth Mercury)
13 April 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
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15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton with Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)
28 April 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
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8 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Tamca Band and Watson Brown Band (Wrexham Leader)
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19 July 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Easybeats and Rivers Invitation (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
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20 July 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
22 July 1968 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes with Ferris Wheel and Glass Showband (Grimsby Daily Telegraph)
1 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
8 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
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9 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
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10 August 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
7 September 1968 – Rainbow Suite Co-op, Birmingham with The Baron (Birmingham Evening Mail)
11 September 1968 – Summerhill House Hotel, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)
19 September 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
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29 September 1968 – The Tent Club, Swan Hotel, Billingham with The New Blues Revue (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
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19 October 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Earl Preston’s Reflections (Warrington Guardian)
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20 October 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
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26 October 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
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3 November 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The New Formula (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: Redcar Jazz Club/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
3 November 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury) This seems very unlikely unless it was another date
8 November 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
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9 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
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16 November 1968 – Stage Club, Oxford (Oxford Mail)
30 November 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
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22 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Animals, Grapefruit, The Paul Williams Set, Barry St John, Long John Baldy, Kim Davis & The Beginning, Noble Forde and The Tempo Set (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) Original Animals’ reunion gig/Geno Washington was billed but cancelled
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27-28 December 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
3 January 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
19 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Paul Williams Set (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub)
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25 January 1969 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
8 February 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Locomotive and Magazine (Birmingham Evening Mail)
9 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
22 February 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
1 March 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Bedlington, Northumberland (Sunday Sun)
Thanks to Alan Marshall, Peter Kirtley, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Bob Saker and Colin Pullen for helping piece the story together. Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the photos.
The Sands of Time came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and recorded one single on Stearly Records 8167 in August, 1967.
“Come Back Little Girl”, written by Feliciani, has a catchy intro with a distorted treble guitar sound.
The singer breathlessly calls out the lyrics to the flip “When She Crys For Me”, written by Ellis, with more cool buzzing guitar between verses. Bill Hamilton of Hamilton Productions produced the single.
I didn’t know the members’ names or anything much about the band until I heard from Mike Marr:
“Here is the earliest picture of the band, Bill Ellis (top right) and Joe Feliciani (bottom right). The accordionist did not stay very long with the band.”
At the time of this recording I was the bass player in the Sands of Time; the band members were:Joe Feliciani – lead guitar and vocals Bill Ellis – rhythm guitar and vocals John Furterer – drums and vocals Art Bernie – organ Mike Marr – bass
The original band members were all neighborhood friends. Back in the mid to late 60’s everybody wanted to play guitar. We would play in someone’s basement or living room. I guess you could say the band was officially organized by an older man named John Mullins who knew Joe Feliciani’s father.
Sands Of Time at Scanlon Recreation Center, Philadelphia, May or June, 1967
This was a picture [above] of our first playing job. It was at Scanlon Recreation Center in Philadelphia. I think this was taken May or June of 1967.
Art Bernie joined the band a few weeks after this picture was taken and he was from that neighborhood (Kensington) in Philadelphia.
The Sands of Time, circa 1967-8
We were ages fourteen to sixteen at the time of the recording. It was done at a studio in Camden New Jersey that was in a motel on Admiral Wilson Blvd. It was the Oasis Motel and the studio may have been named Palmer Studios.The name Stearly Recordings was chosen because it was the street where our crowd of friends lived and hung out. I don’t remember [producer] Bill Hamilton. It is possible that he knew and dealt with John Mullins who acted as our manager at the time.
That is a Vox bass. Later I bought a White Gibson EB3 (very rare color). I also had a fretless Dan Armstrong (clear body). The band evolved with other members as time went on but no other recordings were ever made.
The Sands of Time, circa 1967-8
These pictures [at right] show Art Bernie the organist but Joe Feliciani was no longer in the band and was replaced by Rick Sutcliff, and Bill Ellis remained for another year.This would have been Fall of 1967 and Winter of 1968. There was more evolution but this was the band at the time of the record recording and soon after.
Mike Marr
This band has no connection to the Sands of Time who recorded Red Light on Sterling Award records out of New York.
Today, Elton John is one of rock music’s most revered artists but during the early-mid 1960s he struggled for recognition, learning his trade as Reg Dwight with west London R&B outfit, Bluesology.
Below, I have started to piece together a timeline on this band’s history, including the period after Reg Dwight/Elton John left in March 1968 to start his solo career.
In particular, I need to credit the invaluable work carried out by Keith Hayward, who has written the excellent book, Tin Pan Alley: The Rise of Elton John, for some of this material. He has been a huge help. I have also reference below sources that I have drawn on for live dates.
I would welcome any additions and corrections in the comment box below.
Bluesology was formed in 1962 after Reg Dwight and Stu Brown had played in Pinner, Middlesex group, The Corvettes. The original line up comprised:
Stu Brown – guitar/vocals
Reg Dwight – keyboards/vocals
Geoff Dyson – bass
Mick Inkpen – drums
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2 April 1965 – St Alban’s Church, Northwood, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)
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20 April 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London with The Dae-b-Four (Harrow Weekly Post)
29 April 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London with The Dae-b-Four (Greenford Weekly Post)
Photo: Melody Maker, 8 May 1965. Image may be subject to copyright
Circa April/May 1965 – Reg Dwight’s ‘Come Back Baby’ recorded
6 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post)
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13 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post/Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post)
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27 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London with The CC Riders (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post)
The newspaper stopped advertising after the above date
June 1965: Dyson leaves to join The Mockingbirds
+ Rex Bishop – bass
+ Terry Patterson – saxophone
Circa June 1965 – ‘Times Are Getting Tougher Than Tough’ recorded
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3 June 1965 – Elms Club, South Harrow, northwest London with The Equals (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
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15 June 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)
There is a great article on Bluesology in the Coventry Standard, dated 29 July 1965, page 20
Hillingdon Mirror, 24 August 1965, page 24. Image may be subject to copyright
4 September 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Circa November 1965:
– Terry Patterson – saxophone
+ Pat Higgs – trumpet
+ Dave Murphy – saxophone
3-20 December 1965 – Major Lance tour with Bluesology
3 December 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London and In Place, central London with The Rockhouse Band (Melody Maker) Doesn’t not mention Bluesology
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4 December 1965 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Alex Harvey Mockingbirds (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
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4 December 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Crestas (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
6 December 1965 – Gig in Rochester, Kent (Melody Maker)
7 December 1965 – Birdcage, Southsea, Hants (Melody Maker)
8 December 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
9 December 1965 – Paddington (most likely Cue Club), central London (Melody Maker)
10 December 1965 – Gig in Durham (most likely the university) (Melody Maker)
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11 December 1965 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough (Evening Gazette Middlesbrough)
14 December 1965 – Gig in Harlow, Herts (Melody Maker)
16 December 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
16 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alan Price Set (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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17 December 1965 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with Major Lance and Manchester Playboys and Jonathan Good Tweed (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
17 December 1965 – Gig in Stockport, Greater Manchester (most likely Tabernacle) (Melody Maker)
18 December 1965 – New All-Star Club, 9 Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
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19 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)
19 December 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
20 December 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Melody Maker)
5-19 January 1966 – Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles first tour with Bluesology
5 January 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
6 January 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)
8 January 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Checkpoints (Melody Maker)
9 January 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
11 January 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, West London (Melody Maker)
14 January 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9 Artillery Passage, London, E1 and Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
15 January 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Melody Maker)
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15 January 1966 – Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (according to The Star, the billing also included Fontella Bass, The Stormsville Shakers and The Just 5 x 2. Bluesology were credited as Bluesology Inc and Pattie La Belle was billed as Tattie Rebelle & Her Belles!)
16 January 1966 – Plaza, Birmingham, West Midlands (Handsworth?) (Melody Maker)
19 January 1966 – Dancing Slipper, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham Evening Post) Says Wilson Pickett’s backing group
22 January 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Pinky & The Phellows and The Triads (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
February 1966 – Reg Dwight’s ‘Mr Frantic’ c/w ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’ released
February 1966 – Doris Troy tour with Bluesology
5 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Move (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
7 February 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)
11 February 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)
11 February 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)
13 February 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)
18 February 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge, northwest London with Caribbean Show Band (Melody Maker)
According to an article in the Neath Guardian, dated 11 February 1966, Bluesology Incorporated backed Ben E King on a tour that ran from 18 February through to 6 March 1966.
18 February 1966 – Golders Green Refectory, Golders Green, north London (Melody Maker)
19 February 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, London, E1 with Captain First (Melody Maker)
20-21 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
22 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spencer Davis Group (London Live: Tony Bacon)
26 February 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
March 1966 – Bluesology travels to Hamburg to play Top Ten Club with Linda Laine & The Sinners
3 April 1966 – The Hive Club, Wooden Bridge Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
9 April 1966 – Trinity Hall, Coventry (Coventy Evening Telegraph)
12 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Manfred Mann (London Live: Tony Bacon)
22 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Sands (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Late April/early May 1966: Inkpen leaves
+ Paul Gale – drums
Late April/early May 1966: Bishop departs
+ Freddy Gandy (aka Freddie Wonder) – bass
3 May-circa 21 May 1966 – Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles second UK tour
3 May 1966 – Birdland, London (Melody Maker)
4 May 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
5 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
6 May 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)
7 May 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
9 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
13 May 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gass (Melody Maker)
14 May 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles and The Ram Jam Band ( http://manchestersoul.co.uk/TWheel/1966.html) Manchester Evening News & Chronicle has Alan Bown instead of Bluesology for this gig
17 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Patti La Belle & Her Belles) and The Clayton Squares (London Live: Tony Bacon) (probably with Bluesology backing Patti La Belle)
17 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
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19 May 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with Patti LaBelle & Her Belles and John Williams & Tomorrow’s People (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
21 May 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)
21 May 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire (Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles with Bluesology) and The Ultimates (The Day Before Yesterday: Steve Ingless)
3-19 June – Ink Spots tour
3 June 1966 – RAF West Ruislip, northwest London (Melody Maker)
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4 June 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Ironsides (Bucks Advertiser)
4 June 1966 – US servicemen’s club, Douglas House, Lancaster Gate, west London (Melody Maker)
4 June 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London with Admiral Ken Sound System (Melody Maker)
5 June 1966 – Plaza Ballrooms, Birmingham, West Midlands (Melody Maker)
7 June 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
10 June 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Melody Maker)
10 June 1966 – New All Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London with Admiral Ken Sound System (Melody Maker)
The Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette notes that Bluesology played at the White Hart in Southall, west London during June 1966.
Circa June 1966:
+ Neil Hubbard – guitar (joins around this time)
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25 June 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Soul Agents and introducing Ian LeRoy and His Spring Collection (Melody Maker/Sheffield Star) Backing Billy (Fat Boy) Stewart
25 June 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester with The Train (Leicester Mercury)
25 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (London Live: Tony Bacon)
3 July 1966 – Rivertboat Club, Salford, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backing Fat Boy Billy Stewart (says by public demand)
8 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The VIPs (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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9 July 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Gates of Eden (Bucks Advertiser) Backing The Orlons
10 July 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald) Backing Rufus Thomas
14 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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15 July 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band (Nottingham Evening Post) Backing Solomon Burke
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21 July 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hampshire (Portsmouth News) Replaced Summer Set
The Kent Messenger‘s 22 July 1966 (Friday) issue, page 12, lists the band appearing at Coronation Hall in Ramsgate today and refers to Freddy Gandy as Freddie Wonder on bass! It says they are off to the South of France in August
Photo: Kent Messenger, 22 July 1966. Image may be subject to copyright
23 July 1966 – Cellar Club, Latin Quarter, Leicester with The Amboy Dukes (Leicester Mercury)
30 July 1966 – The Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands with Raynor’s Secrets (Birmingham Evening Mail)
31 July 1966 – 6th National Jazz and Blues Festival, Windsor, Berkshire with Georgie Fame, The Action, Cream, Dick Morrissey, Stan Tracey, Diane and Nicky, Ernestine Anderson, Alan Brown, Ronnie Scott and Harry South Orchestra (Reading Evening Post)
6 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Agents (London Live: Tony Bacon)
11 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Mid-August-mid-September, Bluesology travels to St Tropez for a month (Papagayos).
17 September 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Broodley Hoo (Nottingham Evening Post)
18 September 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Summer Set (Nottingham Evening Post)
26 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (London Live: Tony Bacon)
7 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gary Farr & The T-Bones (London Live: Tony Bacon)
8 October 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Fix, The Connoisseurs and The Tabs (Warrington Guardian)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 October 1966 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Guests (Kentish Express)
20 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (London Live: Tony Bacon)
21-22 October 1966 – ISOW’s restaurant, Brewer Street, central London (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
28 October 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
29 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Image may be subject to copyright
29 October 1966 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis with Long John Baldry, The Action and David Bowie & The Buzz (Bognor Regis Post/Melody Maker)
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5 November 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
5 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Deadly Nightshade (billed as Long John Baldry – not sure if they have linked up with Baldry yet?) (Crawley Advertiser)
12 November 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
12 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Mid-November 1966:
– Neil Hubbard departs
In mid-late November – Bluesology travel to Sweden for a mini tour where they met The Zombies (see comments)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
17 November 1966 – Gyllene Cirkeln, Stockholm, Sweden with Bernt Rosengren Kvartett (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
19 November 1966 – Gyllene Cirkeln, Stockholm, Sweden Bernt Rosengren Kvartett, Carla Bley and Mike Mantler Quintet (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
20 November 1966 – Nalen, Stockholm, Sweden with Sooner or Later, Few, Crowds, Lynx (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
21 November 1966 – Hit-House, Stockholm, Sweden with The Wizards, The Quints, Guards, Sooner or Later, Tumble Downs (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
22 November 1966 – Gyllene Cirkeln, Stockholm, Sweden (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Late November 1966:
– Paul Gale departs while the band is in Sweden
+ Pete Gavin – drums (ex-Soul Pushers)
1 December 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire (Stafford Newsletter)
Around this time, Bluesology become Long John Baldry’s back-up band
+ Long John Baldry – vocals
+ Alan Walker – vocals (ex-Roadhogs)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 December 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar with The Bluecaps (Billed as Long John Baldry with Alan Walker, Stewart Brown and Bluesology) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
8 December 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hants (Portsmouth News)
Image may be subject to copyright
9 December 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
11 December 1966 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Little Richard and Alan Price Set (Melody Maker)
14 December 1966 – Bolton College of Arts Ball, Rivington Barn, Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester with Mike Stevens & The Big Tickle, The Chasers and The North Side Six (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) (Bolton Evening News)
18 December 1966 – Beau Brummell Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Raynes (The Chronicle)
Image may be subject to copyright
20 December 1966 – Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Alan Price Set (Surrey Advertiser)
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24 December 1966 – White Bicycle, Maple Ballroom, Northampton (billed as Long John Baldry Show plus Bluesology) (Northampton Chronicle)
30 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) with The Good-Goods (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Image may be subject to copyright
31 December 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (billed as Long John Baldry featuring Alan Walker, Stuart Brown & Bluesology) (Gloucestershire Echo/Gloucester Citizen)
1 January 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry (billed as Long John Baldry and His new group Bluesology) (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
7 January 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with Deep Line (billed as Long John Baldry and his fabulous backing group Bluesology with Alan Walker and Stewart A Brown) (Western Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
7 January 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Memphis Blues (billed as Long John Baldry with Alan Walker, Stewart Brown and Bluesology) (Derby Evening Telegraph)
8 January 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as Long John Baldry with Alan Walker, Stewart Brown and Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post)
Circa early January 1967:
– Pat Higgs and Dave Murphy both leave with Higgs joining Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement
+ Marsha Hunt – vocals
+ Elton Dean – saxophone (ex-Soul Pushers)
+ Marc Charig – saxophone (ex-Sidewinders and Sonny Childe & The TNT)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 January 1967 – Gyro Club, Troutbeck Hotel, IIlkley, West Yorkshire (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology) (Yorkshire Evening Post)
31 January 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Long John Baldry) (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 February 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (billed as Long John Baldry Show featuring Alan Walker, Stuart Brown and The Bluesology) (Gloucester Citizen)
10 February 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology) (Leicester Mercury)
Image may be subject to copyright
12 February 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (billed as Long John Baldry plus The Bluesology) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 February 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Soul Concern (North Norfolk News)
19 February 1967 – Oasis, Manchester (billed as Long John Baldry and Bluesology) (Manchester Evening News)
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25 February 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with The Generation (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology featuring Alan Walker and Stuart A Brown) (Western Gazette)
26 February 1967 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (PACE magazine)
3 March 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
9 March 1967 – New Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (The Star)
12 March 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as Long John Baldry Show featuring Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker with Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post)
17 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Long John Baldry Show and Timebox (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Image may be subject to copyright
19 March 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar with The Panthers (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
24 March 1967 – Sinking Ship Clubland, Stockport, Greater Manchester (billed as Long John Baldry plus Bluesology) with Baron (Manchester Evening News)
25 March 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Silhouettes (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Kentish Express)
26 March 1967 – Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Stuart Brown, Alan Walker and Bluesology) (Staffordshire Newsletter)
3 April 1967 – Feathers, Ealing, Middlesex (billed as Long John Baldry & Bluesology) (Melody Maker)
7 April 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (billed as Long John Baldry and Bluesology) (Leicester Mercury)
8 April 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, North Yorkshire with The Sons of Witch (billed as Long John Baldry and Bluesology) (Hull Daily Mail)
16 April 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, West London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
21 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with Timebox (London Live: Tony Bacon)
22 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (billed as Long John Baldry featuring Alan Walker) (Gloucester Citizen)
24 April 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Express & Star)
2 May 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Long John Baldry) (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)
11 May 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Bluesology) (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)
12 May 1967 – The Cavalier Club, Golders Green, north London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
21 May 1967 – Co-op, Warrington, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Manchester Evening Post)
1 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby ‘for Derby College Students’ Rag Week’ (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Bluesology and Pepper’s Machine) (Derby Evening Telegraph)
5 June 1967 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Waterboard, The Chymes and Wall City Jazzmen (billed as Long John Baldry with Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker and Bluesology) (Chester Chronicle)
9 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldy Show) with C-Jam Blues (London Live: Tony Bacon)
12 June 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show, Bluesology, Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker) (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
17 June 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Soul Concern (billed as The Long John Baldry Show with Alan Walker, Stuart A Brown and Bluesology) (North Norfolk News)
17 June 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology featuring Stewart A Brown and Alan Walker) (Nottingham Evening Post)
1 July 1967 – Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Th Chequers and Boston (billed as Long John Baldry) (Express & Star)
16 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
28 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with The Workshop (Melody Maker)
11 August 1967 – Bluesville ’67, Manor House, north London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
14 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions (Melody Maker)
20 August 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Birmingham Evening Mail)
26 August 1967 – New All Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and Wynder K Frog (Derby Evening Telegraph)
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2 September 1967 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)
3 September 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry, Bluesology, Stewart A Brown, Marsha Hunt and The Scorpions) (Northwich Chronicle)
10 September 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Stuart A Brown and Marsha Hunt and Deuce Coupe) (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
12 September 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Long John Baldry) (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show with Marsha Hunt, Stuart Brown and Bluesology) (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 September 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Bluesology) (Somerset County Gazette)
27 September 1967 – Liverpool College of Building Students’ Union, Grafton Rooms, West Derby, Liverpool with The Fix, The Undertakers and Magic Lanterns (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology) (Liverpool Echo)
8 October 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with Life ‘N’ Soul and Harry Brown Sound with Val (The Chronicle)
19 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with Timebox (London Live: Tony Bacon)
3 November 1967 – G-Ranch Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent (billed as The Long John Baldry Show with Marsha Hunt, Stuart Brown and Bluesology) (Maidstone Gazette)
6 November 1967 – Staffordshire Yeomen, Stafford, Staffordshire (billed as Long John Baldry and Marsha Hunt) (Staffordshire Newsletter)
Early-mid November 1967:
– Stu Brown leaves around this time to record as solo artist
+ Caleb Quaye – lead guitar/vocals
23 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with The Nite People (London Live: Tony Bacon)
14 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham, West Midlands with Skip Bifferty (Express & Star)
16 December 1967 – Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire with Granny Intentions and The Ways & Means (Burnley Express & Burnley News) Does not list Bluesology
4 January 1968 – Tito’s, Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside (billed as Long John Baldry) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
17 February 1968 – Pier Pavilion, Felixstowe, Suffolk with Sheridan Eight (Ipswich Evening Star) Does not list Bluesology
23 February 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry and the Long John Baldry Show and Soul Finger) (Northwich Chronicle)
Image may be subject to copyright
3 March 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Just before Reg Dwight and Caleb Quaye left, Bluesology may have played at the Top Ten in Hamburg again
March/April 1968:
– Reg Dwight and Caleb Quaye leave Bluesology
+ Bernie Holland – guitar (ex-Jam)
(Source: Georgie Fame – There’s Nothing Else To Do. Life and Music: Uli Twelker)
+ Jimmy Horowitz – keyboards (ex-Five Proud Walkers and Robert Hirst & The Big Taste)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 March 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Pandora’s Box, The Sun Trolley and Tommy T & Scrubby (billed as Long John Baldry plus The Bluesology) (Leicester Mercury)
23 March 1968 – Locarno, Derby (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)
26 March 1968 – Mr Smith’s Club, Winsford, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry) with Look Twice (Northwich Chronicle)
1 April 1968 – Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derby with The Screen (billed as Long John Baldry Show: Alan Walker, Stuart Walkers (sic) and Bluesology) (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)
30 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as Long John Baldry (London Live: Tony Bacon)
In late 1968 the group backed The Paper Dolls before splintering.
Image may be subject to copyright
16 November 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Music Hath Charms and Barries Magazine (North Norfolk News) This was The Paper Dolls backed by Bluesology
Huge thanks to Keith Hayward for help with some of the narrative.
The Diplomats came from Wilmington, Delaware, where they recorded their only single at Ken-Del Studios. The A-side is the aptly-named “I’m Sad”, a maudlin original written by Chris Myers and Ed Welch with good guitar picking and harmonies. The flip is a good cover of “Route 66”.
Other than this I know nothing about the band.
Copyright registrations from September, 1966 have their names as Richard C. Myers and Edward P. Welch II.
The Midnight Shift, shortly before they became the Thomas Blood Band. Clockwise from top: Ken Victor, Bob Colone, Ed Jeffries and George Whitfield (aka George Werenka)
Midnight Shift came from Redford Township, Michigan, at the northwest tip of Detroit. Above is the Midnight Shift right before becoming the Thomas Blood Band. The original bass player was Ken Mose (not in photo), the photo shows his replacement, Ken Victor.
Members were:
George Werenka (stage name George Whitfield) – vocals Ed Pianasac (stage name Ed Jeffries) – guitar and vocals Ken Mose, replaced by Ken Victor – bass and vocals Bob Colone – drums and vocals
Their first release was “She’s Gone Far Away” b/w “Never Gonna Stop Lovin’ You”, both written by Ed Jeffreys and recorded sometime in late 1966.
The A-side is a gentle kind of love song while the flip has a harder sound with droning guitar and Bob Colane pounding the drums.
The band refined their sound for the next single in ’67, creating two beautiful melancholy compositions using acoustic guitar for rhythm.
“Every Day Without You”, written by Jeffries and Fazzio, is the more upbeat of the two, with excellent harmonies and hooks.
“Just Another Day”, written by Jeffries and Colone, is gentler and sadder, featuring a beautiful San Francisco-influenced electric solo.
They recorded both singles at M-S-I Recording Company in Livonia (next door to Redford). The band’s manager Bud Fazzio produced both singles.
I don’t know of other groups that used M-S-I Recording, I suspect it was the band’s own rehearsal or studio space.
Midnight Shift changed into the Thomas Blood Band, who played at the nearby Grande Ballroom and continues with different lineups to the present day.
Bob Lelli of the Thomas Blood Band sent in the photo at top and wrote to me:
Bob Colone, Ed Jeffries and Ken Victor started Thomas Blood Band playing at the Grande with the Turtles, T-Rex, Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart and more. Bob Colone came out front from drums, they got another drummer and he was lead vocalist until his drowning in 1973. At the time in negotiation for a recording contract with London Records and more. Thomas Blood still plays today. We are doing the 50th Grande Ballroom Anniversary Concert with the Yardbirds and more on Oct 8th, 2016.
Thank you to Kim for the photos below (can anyone help ID the members on these?)
http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/thomasblood.html Some photos of the members of Thomas Blood Band can be seen at Motor City Music Archives.
The Midnight Shift early photo with fifth member. Please help with IDs on this photo.The Midnight Shift on Swingin’ Time, with unidentified female, George Whitfield to her left. Please help with IDs on this photo.The Midnight Shift – or had they become Thomas Blood by this time? Please help with IDs on this photo.
The Shadows came from Hazelwood, North Carolina, a small town about 30 miles west of Asheville. Members included Dennis Robbins and Ken James.
The band traveled 150 miles east to Charlotte to record at Arthur Smith Studios, releasing their single on Switch Records in April, 1966. “Tell Me” is a good original by Robbins and James, a tight performance with an excellent guitar break. The flip is a version of Brubeck’s “Take Five” that gives the guitarist more room to stretch out. Switch seems to have been their own label, I haven’t seen anything else on it.
Two months later the band drove 280 miles in the other direction, west to Nashville, where they recorded another original, “She’s Like That” for release on Zeke Clements’ Gold Standard Records. “Tell Me” was reused for the flip side, though without all the heavy echo on the original Switch version. I believe it is the same take of the song, not a re-recording, and I prefer it without the echo.
Dennis Robbins and Kenneth James copyrighted both songs with Clements’ Blazon Music Co, BMI on June 21, 1966.
Gold Standard released over 200 singles during the ’60s. There are a handful of garage or teen-beat records, which I’ll list below, though some of them I haven’t heard and I’m not positive they fit here. While some artists were local to Nashville, it wasn’t unusual for Gold Standard to feature artists from around the country. The Cavemen came from Birmingham, Alabama and had an earlier single as J.C. & Cavemen. The Incidentals were from Montgomery, Alabama.
112 – The Cavemen (vocal by J.C. Raynor) – “Just One You For Me” (Hoyt Johnson) / “Tell Her One More Time For Me”
114 – The Incidentals – “Baby Shake” / “Till the Ending of Time” (both songs by James Segrest and Herbert Phelps, released Dec. ’64)
155 – The Coachmen (vocal by Tommy Burnett) – “I’ll Never Leave You” / “Possibility”
174 – Steve Stephens – “Lonely Me” (Ricky Ryan) / ‘When You Grow Tired Of Him”
204 – Ricky Ryan & Jerry Lee McKee – “My Baby’s Coming Home” / “Ask Me Baby”
209 – The Vee-Jay’s (lead singer Bill Boone) – “Give Your Heart to Me” (Ray D’ahrouge”) / ?
237 – Ronny Williams – “Move Up a Little Closer” (James Hendrix, Elijah & Geraldine Murray) / Larry Williams – “When You Grow Tired of Him”
262 – Five Emprees – “Little Miss Sad” / “Nobody Cares” (1967, re-recording with horns of their Freeport single from 1965)
286 – Paper Menagerie – “Left Up To You” (E. Macon) / “Love Again” (E. Macon & B.G. Gillespie) both pub. by Junellin Music BMI, prod. by Dick Sell Anyone have a photo of the Shadows? I’d like to know more about the Shadows or any of these other groups, especially the Paper Menagerie..
Del Paramor – tenor sax (ex-Warren Davis Monday Band)
Jack Drew – trumpet
Roy Peen – drums
This soul R&B outfit was formed in early 1968 and played until early 1971 when Sketto Rich and Roy Peen left. Johnny Wright was succeeded by Dennis Brown during this period as well.
Bobby Morris joined around April 1968 and rehearsed with the band throughout May and June at the Railway Tavern, Plumstead.
Morris’s first gig with the band took place on 3 August 1968 at the Aurora Hotel in Gillingham, opening for Unit 4+2. The musicians also played regularly at the Harrow Inn in Abbey Wood.
Jack Drew very kindly provided this 1969 list which does miss out quite a few from the period
Sketto Rich & Sonority also began to play further afield. Morris recalls playing at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon on two occasions – 9 August 1969 with The Red Squares and 27 December 1969 with Spectrum. He also remembers playing at Queen Mary’s College in Mile End Road with Clarence “Frogman” Henry on 18 October 1969.
Del Coverley joined briefly in 1971 as new lead singer alongside incoming drummer Pete Mole (also ex-Warren Davis Monday Band) and they became Brass Lungs, performing jazz rock similar in style to Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears in Soho clubs.
When Coverley departed, the musicians linked with Freddie Mack and played their debut show at the Thomas A Beckett Pub on the Old Kent Road in London.
However, as the band started picking up more regular work, the line-up became increasingly fluid with only Brian Morris and Don Shepherd staying the course.
Musicians that joined throughout 1971-1973 included:
Johnny Orlando – lead vocals
Dave Newman – drums (ex-Sounds Incorporated and The Fenmen)
Ray Lewis – bass (ex-Barbette and Memphis Mail)
Dave Roffey – lead guitar (ex-Barbette and Lee Hawkins)
Mel Day – lead vocals (ex-Orange Rainbow)
Roy Edwards – trumpet (ex-Johnny Jackson & The Band Wagon, J J Jackson, Del Vikings, Otis Redding, The Temptations)
Mick Eve – tenor sax (ex-Georgie Fame, Alan Price, Zoot Money)
Eddie Thornton – trumpet (ex-Georgie Fame)
Buddy Bownes – trumpet (ex-Roy Orbison)
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Huge thanks to Brian Morris for providing the band information.
Please email me at Warchive@aol.com if you can add or correct any information.
Photo: Mid Sussex Times. Gig on 22 not 23 May 1969
The Meantimers, 29 May 1966. Left to right: Bill Pitt, Mick Armes, Kenny Simon, Rick Thomas and Paul Hewson. Photo: Michael Armes
West London six-piece horn band Simon K & The Meantimers recorded a Hammond-drenched dance-floor classic called “Bring Your Love Back (To Me)”, which was coupled with “You Know I Do” for a UK single on the B&C label in November 1969.
Fronted by current Hot Chocolate lead singer Kenny Simon, The Meantimers had originally formed around mid-1964 in West Hampstead before linking with Simon.
Managed by Arthur Armes, father of the band’s drummer Michael, the original Meantimers also comprised lead guitarist Rick Thomas, classically trained organist Bill Pitt, bass player Warwick Rose and an Irish rhythm guitarist called Tony, who also handled lead vocals (sometimes with the group’s roadie Mick Eagan).
According to Michael Armes, his father turned the basement of his shop on Belsize Road in Kilburn into a rehearsal and recording room. It may well have been here that Simon cut some demos with West London band, The Tribe, including future Sweet guitarist Frank Torpey, that were picked up by Arthur Armes.
Former Overlanders’ bass player Paul Hewson had already taken over from Warwick Rose, who’d moved on to join The Soul Survivors, an early incarnation of The Love Affair, sometime before Kenny Simon joined on vocals.
It is not clear when Kenny Simon joined The Meantimers but he was definitely on-board by May 1966. Initially, they continued to be billed as The Meantimers but in early 1967 starting going out as Simon K & The Meantimers.
Selected gigs:
20 May 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)
30 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The New Jump Band and Rey Anton & The Profam (billed as The Meantimers)
9 July 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Keith Powell Billie Davis Soul Package
30 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Creation
1 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers) Says direct from the Pontiac, Putney, London
7 August 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)
15 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)
Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express
21 August 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)
27 August 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Graham Bond Organization (billed as The Meantimers)
31 August 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Falling Leaves (billed as The Meantimers)
24 September 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Clockwork Shots
9 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)
14 October 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex with support (billed as The Meantimers)
30 October 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Ian & Danny Eves and The Reformation (billed as The Meantimers)
3 November 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex
5 November 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Ironsides
Photo: Melody Maker
9 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)
13 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)
21 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)
26 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The 13th Floor (billed as The Meantimers)
Michael Armes, 1966/1967
A bass player called Terry briefly took over from Hewson in early 1967 but soon left to work in the West End as a scenery mover. Around the same time, former Quiet Five drummer Ray Hailey succeeded Michael Armes.
Selected gigs:
1 January 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)
6 January 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)
14 January 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)
19 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)
21 January 1967 – Winter Gardens, Banbury with Phase III (billed as The Meantimers)
Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express
22 January 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)
29 January 1967 – Embassy Club, Colchester, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation (billed as The Meantimers)
11 February 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Unloved (billed as The Meantimers)
19 February 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Neat Change
23 February 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Tender Trap (billed as The Meantimers)
26 February 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)
11 March 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks (billed as Simon Dee & The Meantimers)
12 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, Essex with Pussyfoot (billed as The Meantimers)
1 April 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Sales Collection (billed as The Meantimers)
7 April 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)
9 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Rick and Us (billed as The Meantimers)
11 April 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (billed as The Meantimers)
12 April 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
16 April 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)
22 April 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)
28 April 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with The Groove (billed as The Meantimers)
6 May 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The Strangers (billed as The Meantimers)
12 May 1967 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks (billed as Simon Kay)
13 May 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Just Friends, The Fugitives and The Martells
17 May 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
20 May 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (Billed as Simon K & The Meantimers)
21 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)
The Meantimers, May 1966. Photo: Michael Armes
However, the changes did not end there and in early-to-mid-1967 an entirely new line up came together, starting with lead guitarist George Teo.
Originally, from Singapore, Teo had migrated to the UK in the early 1960s with friends Sam Young on bass and brothers Andrew and John Gwee on guitar and drums respectively and formed The Etceteras. After two singles on the Oriole label in 1964, Teo next joined the Ying Tongs before hooking up with The Meantimers.
Also on board were siblings, bass player Mick Glyde and drummer Tony Glyde (brothers of Major Glyde, the lead sax player from Sounds Incorporated) and sax players Brent Carter, Alan Wherry and Ken Hendy, who was later replaced by former Cliff Bennett Rebel Rousers’ baritone sax player Sid Phillips in late 1967/early 1968.
Tony Glyde had previously worked with Southeast London bands, Bob ‘N’ All, The Loose Ends and Bern Elliott’s former group, The Fenmen while Alan Wherry had come from The Richard Henry Sensation (with David O’List) and Harlem Shuffle (with Alan Shacklock). Brent Carter had also been a member of Harlem Shuffle.
Wherry remembers that the group also had a keyboard player but it wasn’t Bill Pitt. Mick Glyde confirms that the keyboard player’s name was Terry Vandenburgh. Vanenburgh however had left before Sid Phillips joined in late 1967/early 1968 and the group recruited a Russian Hammond organist.
Wherry left in early 1968 and later moved in to publishing, as director of Corgi, Penguin and then as co-founder of Bloomsbury in London in 1986.
The remaining members stayed until about late spring/early summer 1968, during which time former Quiet Five drummer Roger “Tex” Marsh took over the drum stool from Tony Glyde.
Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Left to right: George Teo, Brent Carter (shades), Mick Glyde, Kenny Simon, Alan Wherry, Terry Vandenburgh, Tony Glyde. Ken Hendy is not pictured. Photo: Alan Wherry
Selected gigs:
3 June 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Groove
4 June 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)
6-7 June 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
10 June 1967 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Berkshire (Meantimers)
24 June 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)
1 July 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
2 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)
22 July 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Poor Boys Soul Band
29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk with The Blueprints (billed as The Meantimers)
5 August 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
6 August 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)
9 August 1967 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend, Kent
11 August 1967 – Windmill Club, Upminster, east London
20 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
25 August 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)
Photo: Eastern Evening News
2 September 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
8 September 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Photo: Ipswich Evening Star
9 September 1967 – Framlingham Assembly Hall, Framlingham, Suffolk with The Wild Oats
Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express
17 September 1967 – Sunday’s Flower Scene, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire with Jeanette and Abee
23 September 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
24 September 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express
28 September 1967 – Wexham Lea Youth Club, Slough, Berkshir with Rick Marston
7 October 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
8 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
10 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
22 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
28 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
29 October 1967 – Embassy, Colchester, Essex
4 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
10 November 1967 – Kennet School, Thatcham, Berkshire with The Roosters
11 November 1967 – Casino, Leicester
12 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
19 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
26 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
28 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
2 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
3 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
10 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
17 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
24 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
31 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
20 January 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
21 January 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Huckle Bucks (billed as The Meantimers)
27 January 1968 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire
13 February 1968 – Public Hall, Witham, Essex
17 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
24 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
14 April 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Foursome
20 April 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire
27 April 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
11 May 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire
25 May 1968 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with Mr Lucifer (billed as The Meantimers)
1 June 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire
8 June 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
14 June 1968 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent
21 June 1968 – Victoria Ball, Dartford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)
22 June 1968 – Gig in Brighton, West Sussex (billed as The Meantimers)
23 June 1968 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)
24 June 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)
6 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
13 July 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Trax
2 August 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as Meantimers)
3 August 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex (billed as Meantimers)
4 August 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Oval, south London (billed as Meantimers)
6-7 August 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (billed as Meantimers)
24 August 1968 – Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London
31 August 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Rocky Rivers
14 September 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
21 September 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
28 September 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Faux Pas
29 September 1968 – Silver End Hotel, near Witham, Essex
By the autumn of 1968, Kenny Simon had reshuffled the pack, bringing in Marsh’s former band mate from The Quiet Five, Roger McKew on lead guitar. Sid Phillips had already left by this point to go on to Redwind and his place was taken by Tony Hall, whose CV including Peter’s Faces, Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Rupert’s Spoon.
The new formation then comprised:
Kenny Simon – lead vocals
Roger McKew – lead guitar
Tony Hall – saxophone
Brent Carter – saxophone
Mick Glyde – bass
Roger ‘Tex’ Marsh – drums
The new-look formation resumed gigging. In March 1969, Brian Johnston from The Fantastics’ backing band, The House of Orange joined on Hammond organ. Two months later, however, Mick Glyde left and was replaced by another bass player.
Later that year, original keyboard player Bill Pitt returned to take over from Johnston. Simon also added Irish trumpet player Ron Carthy, who’d previously worked with The Blue Aces and Wynder K Frog (among others) to the six-piece line up that came together in time to cut the group’s lone ‘45 in November 1969.
In March 1970, however, Brent Carter and Tony Hall also departed at this point and joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.
When the band finally splintered in the early 1970s, Pitt ended up working with Espirit de Corps, while Carthy joined Gonzales and also did a multitude of sessions for artists like Freddie King, Slade and Suzi Quatro.
Selected gigs:
5 October 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Cuby & The Blizzards
18 October 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with Amen Corner and Plagel Cadence
19 October 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford with Granny’s Intentions
19 October 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Showstoppers
26 October 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire
16 November 1968 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
17 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London
23 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London
30 November 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
8 December 1968 – Embassy Suite, Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with The Outcasts
10 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with Olaf Groups Kneed
14 December 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bedford with Luther Morgan & JD with The Red Russo
21 December 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
22 December 1968 – Le Metro, Birmingham
28 December 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
29 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, west London
5 January 1969 – Embassy Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with Peach Umbrella
11 January 1969 – Savoy Club, Catford, southeast London
18 January 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
1 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
16 February 1969 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London
22 February 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jon James & The Swamp and The Western Kind
14 March 1969 – Maxi Scene, Angel Hotel, Godalming, Surrey
22 March 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
4 April 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
12 April 1969 – John D’Milton’s Discotheque, Birmingham
19 April 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet
20 April 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
26 April 1969 – Savoy Room, Catford, southeast London with Lee Hawkins
2 May 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Consortium and Octopus
17 May 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
22 May 1969 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
6 June 1969 – Chelmsford City Stadium, Chelmsford, Essex
7 June 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
14 June 1969 – Il Rondo, Leicester
28 June 1969 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London
6 July 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
11 July 1969 – The Crown, Marlow, Bucks
26 July 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
28 July 1969 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newsbury, Berkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers
30 July 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
2 August 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet
4 August 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Original Principals, The Headline News and Wall City Jazzmen
5-6 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London
9 August 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London
17-19 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London
23 August 1969 – Trocadero Ballroom, Hamilton, Scotland (Wishaw Press says that the band are straight from a continental tour)
25 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London
31 August 1969 – Up The Junction, Crewe, Cheshire with Scotch Corner
6 September 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
7 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham
19 September 1969 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with J J Jackson & The Greatest Little Soul Band in The Land and The Ray King Soul Band
4 October 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London
8 October 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
11 October 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
20 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Freedom Train, Pendulum and The Wall City Jazzmen
25 October 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Lovin’ Spoonful
8 November 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
21 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
23 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham
25 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
29 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
7 December 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
13 December 1969 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Acoustics
31 December 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
7 February 1970 – Cloud 9, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Many thanks to Kenny Simon, Michael Armes, Tony Hall, Alan Wherry, Ken Hendy, Sid Phillips, Mick Glyde and Bruce Welsh for their help. Thank you Michael Armes and Alan Wherry for the photos.
Very little is known about the personnel in Simon K & The Meantimers. The author would be interested to hear from anyone that can provide more detail on the group for a future, updated version. Please email the author, Nick Warburton at Warchive@aol.com
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
