“Slimy Sue” by the Sounds, Ltd. featuring Phil Jackson is the kind of odd, non-commercial record of the ’60s garage era that I love.
These lyrics are bizarre, with plenty of humor in the masochism of the second and third verses.
I got me a woman, buddy, she’s got purple hair Ain’t no other woman, buddy, that can compare, that can compare To my girl, true blue, back alley Sue Slimy Sue, yeah, well alright now
When I want some lovin,’ buddy, Sue knows what to do She can kiss so gently, buddy, turns me black and blue My girl, true blue, back alley Sue Slimy Sue, yeah, well alright now
Hit it [guitar break]
When I get in trouble, buddy, with someone tough like you Me, I never worry, buddy, I call on Sue, I call on Sue My girl, black belt, weight lifting, Sue Slimy Sue, yeah, well alright now
Philip W. Jackson wrote this song as well as the flip, “Fly Away”, for Cookie Crumb Music, BMI.
The Sounds, Ltd. recorded at Midwestern Recording Studios at 3140 The Paseo, Kansas City, Missouri. The studio’s own Peak label released the single on P-108 in October 1966. I’d like to know more about the band, who maintain a rough but great sound throughout “Slimy Sue”.
The band was from St. Joseph, Missouri, about 45 miles north of Kansas City. “Fly Away” was the ostensible A-side at the time, a kind of folky almost hippie-sounding song featuring lead vocalist Kathy Helmick.
Midwestern Recorders operated a studio since at least 1952 if not earlier, originally releasing records on the Central label. I assume other garage bands must have used Midwestern but haven’t found evidence of that yet.
I wrote about Alva Starr, who had two interesting garage releases on Golden Records of La., based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This single by the Organized Confusion is the other garage single on that label. It features two good original songs by Bill Richards, “Tell Me Why” b/w “Makes Me Sad”. Production credited to Ebb Tide and Randy Darnell, published by Darn-L. Copyrights for these two songs plus one called “Bad Girl” were registered with the Library of Congress in May 1968.
One of Ebb-Tide ‘s ads in Billboard looking for songs and master tapes.
Interestingly, the band was from the Detroit, Michigan area. Ebb-Tide (Ebb Harrison or Ebb Harris) of Golden Records ran classified ads in Billboard in 1967 and 1968 looking for songs and finished songs. Randy Darnell of “The Darnell Sound” may have seen these ads and responded, or A&R man Bob Balog may have brought the band to Golden.
A promotional photo from the old G45 Central forum shows the band in a tree, and the songs for the single list “Hang On, He’s Not Coming” instead of “Tell Me Why”. Contact info is given both for the label, Golden Records and the production company, Darnell Sound Production, which has an address of 13079 Northline, Southgate, MI, south of downtown Detroit. Darnell and Balog also placed the Liquid-Candy “Hold On-I’m Coming” on Golden.
The Organized Confusion, from left: Joe Grabowski, Mark Bruce (friend of band filling in for Matt Sclafani), Dave Thibert, Bill Richards and Al Consiglio
Update, February 2017:
Joe Grabowski and Al Consiglio sent in the photo of the group standing in front of trees and gave me more info about the band:
Dave Thibert – lead vocals Bill Richards – lead guitar Joe Grabowski- rhythm guitar Matt Sclafani – bass guitar Al Consiglio – drums
In the mid 60’s two Wyandotte friends and neighbors, Al Consiglio and Joe Grabowski joined Al’s cousin Matt Sclafani, living in Southgate, who knew Bill Richards and Dave Thibert. The five put together a play list, rehearsed the tunes and played local venues. Bill wrote the two recorded songs and pursued the necessary contacts to find the recording studio of Randy Darnell at 13079 Northline Road in Southgate, MI and produce the record. The building now is a beauty salon.
The band stayed together for a short time after making the record as the members focused their attention on finishing school, girls, cars and careers (in no particular order). To my knowledge no one was in a band prior to or went on to join other bands after the Organized Confusion.
Venues:
Knights of Columbus – downtown Wyandotte, MI Knights of Columbus – Southgate, MI Southgate Anderson High School – Southgate, MI Davidson Jr High School – Southgate, MI ALSAC Benefit with many other local bands including Little Carl Carlton – River Rouge, MI Lawrence Technological University (Lawrence Institute of Technologies) – Southfield, MI Southgate Shopping Center (in front of Montgomery Ward) – Southgate, MI Aquinas High School – Southgate, MI
Alva Starr ad in Billboard, September 9, 1967Alva Starr was a character in the Tennessee Williams play This Property Is Condemned. Natalie Wood portrayed Alva Starr in the 1966 flim of the same name, with a screenplay written in part by Francis Ford Coppola.
Alva is not a common name now, but you may recall it was phonograph inventor Thomas Edison’s middle name. Alva Starr became the stage name for Alva Snelling, a songwriter and singer from, possibly, Denham Springs, Louisiana, a few miles east of Baton Rouge.
Snelling recorded two singles in August and September 1967 for the Baton Rouge label Golden Records, owned by Ebb-Tide, short for Ebenezer K. Harris.
The first, on Golden 102 is the psychedelic-garage classic “Clock on the Wall”, where Alva intones lyrics like “time has made slaves of us all … the clock ticks away at our destiny … the hands they move with such a pace as to control the lives of the human race” while the band vamps with a monotonous drum beat in the background.
The flip side is the bizarre and cool patriotic ode “Space Race to the Moon” which includes lyrics like “the moon must be free, because that’s the way God meant it to be”. Alva Snelling wrote both songs, published by Sano Pub. Co BMI.
His second single is another fine original “Light of 1000 Years” played with a defter touch than the first, and backed with a cover of Arthur Alexander’s “Anna”. Snelling registered “Light of 1000 Years” with the Library of Congress in March of 1966.
As to who was backing Alva Starr, one commentator on youtube suggests the band was named the Luvrakers. I couldn’t find info on the Luvrakers other than they had a guitarist named Susan Owens probably at a later date than these recordings. However John Herring of the Lost Generation doesn’t recall Susan Owens, but provided me with the names of the Luvrakers:
Rodney White – lead guitar and vocals L.J. DeMaio (DeMiah? – how should this be spelled? – now calls himself L.J. Copas of the Copas Brothers) – rhythm guitar and vocals Alva Snelling – bass and lead vocals Alva’s brother – keyboard David Cook – drums
Alva Starr and Ebb Tide produced both of these singles on “Golden-Records of La.” Golden Records had an address of PO Box 2544 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Both singles were released with gold-colored labels, though some copies of “Light of 1000 Years” have blue labels.
In 1986 Alva’s current band the Luv-Rakers recorded a heavy version of “Clock on the Wall” on Angel Records 1006, b/w “Lost Things and Changes” (written by Susan Owens).
Alva Snellling seems to have died in 1995, but I can’t find confirmation of this.
Other than Alva Starr and an interesting release by a Detroit group, Organized Confusion, most releases on Golden Records were country or soul music. 45 Cat has a nearly complete discography.
Blue label version scan taken from Mojama Records. Tip of the hat to Chaim O’Brien-Blumenthal for finding the Billboard ad at top.
Unusual blue label version of “Light of 1000 Years”
“Nothing Sacred” blends mournful sustained guitar with bright harmony vocals for a captivating song. Unfortunately it was relegated to the B-side of the only release by the Johnnys.
The Johnnys get a mention in an April 22, 1967 article in Billboard as one of the artist contracts transferred to Warner Bros when it purchased the Valiant Records label. Song writer Bodie Chandler is also named in the article. He and Edward McKendry wrote “Nothing Sacred”, and Chandler arranged the song. Chandler had been part of Barry & The Tamerlanes and has an extensive writing catalog.
The ostensible A-side is the more conventional “I Remember” written and arranged by Jack Walker. Both sides were published by Tamerlane Music, BMI
This single had release in July of 1967 on Warner Bros 7057. I can’t find any other mention of the Johnnys or who was in the group. I assume they were from California but that is only a guess. If anyone has more info please contact me.
Here’s a good photo of a band that would be anonymous but luckily the photo was mounted to a backing board which names the band as the Phantoms, and the photographer as Newell Wood of Ulfinian Way in Martinez, CA. It also tells that the photo placed second in the Concord California Club miniprints competition in June of 1966.
Martinez is about 8 miles from Concord, and the band could be from anywhere around the East Bay, Vallejo or Walnut Creek. I’m not aware of any group named the Phantoms from that area, or if they made any recordings.
Lord Douglas and the Serfs were students at Hiram College, about 40 miles Southeast of Cleveland. Producer Howard Russell brought them to Cleveland radio station WSLR to record two originals for their only single on HR Records 606.
Gerald Johnson and Robert Kopp wrote “Your Turn to Cry” which features harmony vocals and a great bass line in the break. Kopp, Alexander and Smith wrote the flip side, “The Way of a Man” which has a catchy chorus and a brief subdued solo that reminds me of something on the Velvet Underground’s third LP.
The band registered “Your Turn to Cry” with the Library of Congress on August 29, 1966 but the single’s release date is approximately February 1967.
Cover of Freddy Mack’s Live album, re-released by Acid Jazz
Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.
Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians. Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.
Thanks to tenor sax player Geoff Driscoll, it’s possible to pin down the line-up for Freddie Mack’s band from about early March 1968 through to around February 1969.
According to Driscoll, drummer Colin Davy left shortly before he joined (later playing with Joe Cocker among many others). The band, he adds, had just returned from playing the Blow Up Club in Munich (from mid-to-late March) which Davy’s replacement Pete Hunt had played.
When Driscoll hooked up with Freddie Mack around early April, the band comprised:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals
Sonny Gibbons – lead vocals
Tony St Clair (Sinclair) – lead guitar
Roy Davies – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Phil Kenzie – tenor saxophone
Dave Potter – tenor saxophone
Geoff Driscoll – tenor saxophone
Dave Coxhill – baritone saxophone
Pete Hunt – drums (took over from Colin Davy in mid-to-late March in time for Munich trip)
Of the new line-up, Pete Hunt came from the Southampton area and had worked with a number of bands, most notably The Quik, The Meddyevils and The Soul Agents.
Tony St Clair, who came from Hackney, had joined Phil Wainman’s band literally a few weeks after they’d played the Christmas/New Year show with Freddie Mack in 1965. He would remain with Wainman’s band as it became The New Generation and backed Jimmy Cliff during 1966. The formation then joined forces with Gary Hamilton and became The Hamilton Movement. When St Clair left in late 1967, it’s reported that he played with Lace.
Phil Kenzie of course had worked with Freddie Mack in 1966 and had gone on to play with Sonny Childe & The TNT, Tuesday’s Children and PP Arnold & TNT in the interim.
Dave Coxhill had played with Tony Knight’s Chessmen and would also spend time with The Cat Soul Packet in late 1967 (and possibly early 1968).
According to the band’s roadie Martin James Lumley, Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott was also a member during this period.
Geoff Driscoll recalls that the new line-up soon returned to the Blow Up Club in Munich via a gig in Belgium and then travelled to Rome to play at the famous Piper Club for three weeks. Some of the band met an RCA record executive who informed the musicians that the label was about to release a single by an actor that was going to be an enormous hit – it was Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park”.
However, after nearly a year of playing with Mack and moaning about not getting paid, the band split from the singer (around February 1969) whereupon they were approached by Dave Hadfield to work as the house band (The Breed) at his Maximum Sound Studio on the Old Kent Road. The Breed backed a few reggae singers on Hadfield’s label before Manfred Mann got involved and lured the horn section away for Manfred Mann Chapter 3.
While Dave Coxhill and Sonny Corbett remained with Manfred Mann Chapter 3, Geoff Driscoll and Phil Kenzie reunited with Roy Davies and Alan Cartwright in Sweet Water Canal. Pete Hunt later worked with The Jess Roden Band among many others.
Selected gigs:
Melody Maker notes in its 2 March issue that the group was playing in Salisbury (not Alex’s Disco unless they replaced the advertised act) and Tony Morgan was taken to hospital with a knife wound.
8 March 1968 – Bradford University, Student Union with The Attack, The Quick Selection and The Collection
15 March 1968 – 400 Club, Torquay, Devon
16 March 1968 – Impsella Club, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire
16 March 1968 – Loughborough University, Loughborough with The Nice (The Pretty Things don’t show)
It was around now that Pete Hunt replaced Colin Davy on drums (not clear if it was before or after the Munich gigs below). Davy would reunite with former member Dave Tedstone in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band in mid-August 1968.
Del Paramor says his group The Warren Davis Monday Band finished at the Blow Up Club in Munich (see Driscoll’s comment above) on 17 March and that Freddie Mack took over. The residency was probably for two weeks, starting on 18 March.
22 March 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (unlikely considering Munich gig)
Norwich newspaper The Eastern Evening News notes that the group is in Germany the week that they are due to play a show on 27 March at the University of East Anglia (which is rearranged for 15 June).
31 March 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (may not have happened if they were still in Germany)
Geoff Driscoll would have joined The Mack Sound around the first week of April.
5 April 1968 – Grand Ballroom, Leicester with Chalky & The Decoys
6 April 1968 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts
9 April 1968 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent
12 April 1968 – Flamingo Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall (listed as 7-piece Mac Sounds)
13 April 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall
14 April 1968 – Flamingo Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall (listed as 15-piece)
15 April 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes (listed as 15-piece)
19 April 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Leicester with Johnny Wollaston and His Band
25 April 1968 – Flying Fox Club, Cottesmore, Rutland with Symbolin and A Mystery Group
It’s probably around late April that the band plays in Belgium on its way to a second residency at the Blow Up Club in Munich.
The group would probably have started its three-week residency at the Piper Club in Rome around 6 May, heading back to the UK around the last week of May.
7 June 1968 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Dual Purpose
8 June 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
9 June 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Jasper Stubbs Gloryland Band
10 June 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Shady Lane
15 June 1968 – East Anglia Rag, University of East Anglia’s Student Union, Norwich, Norfolk (originally booked for 27 March but rearranged as they were in Germany)
16 June 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands
17 June 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Barmy Barry
19 June 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London
25 June 1968 – Droitwich Winter Gardens, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Breakdown
26 June 1968 – Top Rank Birmingham Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
30 June 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, south London
30 June 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Keef Hartley
4 July 1968 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
6 July 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with Soul Express
19 July 1968 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Emotions
20 July 1968 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall (the group may have played gigs in Europe immediately after this date)
Melody Maker‘s 27 July issue, page 20, says that the band is back after a series of continental gigs.
28 July 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London
8 August 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, London
14 August 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall
15 August 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Fire and Sons and Lovers
16 August 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Jamies Jyg Saw
17 August 1968 – New King’s Bay, Herne Bay, Kent
23 August 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham, West Midlands
24 August 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire
25 August 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London
31 August 1968 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
2 September 1968 – Bluesology Festival, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Fleetwood Mac, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Family, The Move and others
7 September 1968 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with The Mood
10 September 1968 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
23 September 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Cleo’s Mood and Systems Five
25 September 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (cancelled due to illness)
26 September 1968 – Blue Pacific, Bristol Hotel, Gloucester
28 September 1968 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey
Around this time, the band was joined by Jamaican singer Owen Grey.
Photo: Melody Maker October 1968
3 October 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, London
5 October 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands with John McFlare Band
6 October 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
6 October 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (this was pushed back to 13 October)
13 October 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (this was pushed back from 6 October and marks the group’s third anniversary)
19 October 1968 – Shrewsbury Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
24 October 1968 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
25 October 1968 – Spinning Wheel Discotheque, Great Hall, Isle o Ely College, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
25 October 1968 – Victoriana, Liverpool (9.30pm) and then Mardi Gras Club, Liverpool (11.30pm)
26 October 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham, West Midlands
30 October 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands
1 November 1968 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End Road, London with Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes, The Web and Black Cat Bones
2 November 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
4-6 November 1968 – Hatchettes Playground, Piccadilly, London
9 November 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Sweetshop
15 November 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with Fascination
16 November 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford
22 November 1968 – Co-op Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire with Legay
13 December 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Gun
14 December 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with Sandy’s People
16 December 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Barmy Barry
21 December 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
By January 1969, the band was starting to be billed as The Freddy Mack Extravaganza.
17-18 January 1969 – Birmingham’s First 1969 Extravaganza, Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Locomotive, The Fantastics, The Flirtations, The Californians, Ivan Chin Steel Band, Liz Christian and The Ebonites
23 January 1969 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with ‘Fat Boy’ Billy Stewart
23 January 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London
27 January 1969 – Shipley Boat, Shipley, Eastwood Nottinghamshire with Fatboy Billy Stewart (this is probably one of the final gigs by the current formation)
Melody Maker‘s 8 March issue notes that Freddie Mack is forming a new 11-piece band to debut on 11 April in Bristol at the New Market Hotel.
GARAGE HANGOVER WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 1969-1970 PERIOD.
I would personally like to thank Geoff Driscoll for helping to piece together this part of the band’s story. Thanks also to Greg Russo and Bruce Welsh.
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW TO ADD/CORRECT INFORMATION
Live gig sources:
During my research on Freddie Mack from 1965-1969, I have found gigs from the sources that include:
The Cornish Guardian, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Sentinel, Melody Maker, Gloucester Citizen, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Lincolnshire Guardian, Birmingham Evening Mail, NME, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, Express & Star, Nottingham Evening Post
Cover of Freddy Mack’s Live album, re-released by Acid Jazz
Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.
Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians. Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.
Thanks to the recollections of former Doc Thomas Group lead guitarist Dave Tedstone, who took over from Stuart Taylor (himself deputising for Ged Peck) the band’s formation included the following when he joined on 5 April 1967:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Derry Wilkie – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Kookie Eaton – lead vocals
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar
Roy Davies – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Dick Morrisey – tenor saxophone
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Dawe – trumpet
Jeff Bridge – tenor saxophone
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Roger Truth – drums
As Tedstone explains, his guitar playing was closer in style to ex-Pirate Mick Green than Ged Peck’s, who Taylor had been covering for.
Tedstone remembers that Dick Morrisey departed during the early half of the year (although he would return in late November). Also, Derry Wilkie left during May or June 1967 to pursue a solo career.
In mid-June Roger Truth announced his decision to move on and auditions were held later that month (see below in gig listing). Two drummers were brought in to replace him.
The first was Terry Stannard, who had previously played with The Pack and The Flowers of Wisdom and would go on to work with White Rabbit, The Mirrors, One and Kokomo among others. The other drummer was Ron Berg, who succeeded him in White Rabbit before playing with Blodwyn Pig.
Mistakenly credited to 1966, it was this formation (minus Derry Wilkie and Dick Morrisey) that appeared on the album, The Fantastic Freddy Mack Show – ‘Live’ at ‘Toft’s Club’ Folkestone. Tedstone says that not many venues at the time had stages that were large enough to accommodate a dual drum set up.
As a result, Terry Stannard played the first set and Ron Berg played the second. On the album, which was cut in mid-July (see the gig listing below but most likely date is 15 July), Stannard appears on side one while Berg is on side two.
Selected gigs:
5 April 1967 – Birmingham gig (marks Dave Tedstone’s debut)
Tedstone says his debut was in Birmingham but I’ve looked in the newspapers and there is no listing. I wonder whether he mistakenly attributed this to Freddie Mack and not Jimmy James & The Vagabonds who he joined in early 1968.
6 April 1967 – Overseas Visitors Club, west London (This was most likely Earl’s Court)
8 April 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
12 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Cortinas (Says 14-piece band)
14 April 1967 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire
15 April 1967 – Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire
19 April 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Around this time Melody Maker advert says it’s a 10-piece band)
20 April 1967 – Gig in Stafford, Dorset
21 April 1967 – Steering Wheel Club, Dorchester, Dorset
22 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
23 April 1967 – Cromer, Norfolk (most likely the Olympia)
24 April 1967 – BBC recording (according to Melody Maker)
25 April 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
Derry Wilkie left around now or in June. Dick Morrisey most likely left around the same time but returned in late November.
5 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Bohemians
6 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Two of Each and New Jump Band
11 May 1967 – Overseas Visitors Club, west London (most likely Earl’s Court)
12 May 1967 – Kinkotab, Hitchin College of Further Education, Hitchin, Herts with The Triads
13 May 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The En-Devers
13 May 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Executive
14 May 1967 – Garden Club (location not known but most likely Covent Garden, London)
16 May 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
17 May 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
18 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London
19 May 1967 – King Alfred’s College, Winchester, Hampshire
20 May 1967 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton
21 May 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
22 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands
23 May 1967 – Melody Maker says this is a day of rest. However, I’ve found references to gigs in Warrington and also Bournemouth (the latter with The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas and The Pill)
24 May 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Associates
26 May 1967 – Golden Diamond, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
27 May 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
29 May 1967 – Belfry Hotel, Wishaw, West Midlands with The Monopoly and The Exception
30 May 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
31 May 1967 – RANS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
1 June 1967 – RANS Arbroath, Arbroath, Scotland
2 June 1967 – Gig in Hawick, Scotland
3 June 1967 – Gig in Kelso, Scotland
4 June 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria
5-8 June 1967 – Gigs in Paris, France
9 June 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire
10 June 1967 – Jazz & Blues Festival ’67, Norwich, Norfolk with The Small Faces, The Ronnie Scott Quartet, Spencer’s Washboard Kings, The Settlers, Mike Daniels’ Big Band and The Broads City Blueblowers
11 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
11 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
12 June 1967 – Three Horseshoes, Letchworth, Herts
13 June 1967 – Concorde Club, Southampton, Hampshire
14 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
16 June 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester
17 June 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire
18 June 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham
19 June 1967 – Carton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
20 June 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 June 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Blood & Sand
22 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes
23-24 June 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall
Melody Maker reports that Freddie Mack auditioned for a drummer and 74 turned up after he’d advertised in the music paper. This seems the most plausible point at which Roger Truth announces he is leaving.
25 June 1967 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset
26 June 1967 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
26 June 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
27 June 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch
28 June 1967 – De Valance Ballroom, Tenby, Wales
30 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Force Four
Roger Truth left around about now and Terry Stannard and Ron Berg joined.
1 July 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
2 July 1967 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
4 July 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
6 July 1967 – Huntington Youth Centre, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
7 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Hertfordshire with The Shell Shock Show
8 July 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
9 July 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
10 July 1967 – Melody Maker says they are recording
11 July 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
12 July 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
14 July 1967 – Grammar School, Gravesend, Kent
15 July 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (this is the most likely date for the recording of the LP)
16 July 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
18 July 1967 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
19 July 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall
21 July 1967 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon
22 July 1967 – Purple Fez, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon
23 July 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
25 July 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands
27 July 1967 – RAF Witham, Lincolnshire
28 July 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Beachcombers
29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Barry, Glamorgan, Wales
30 July 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
Terry Standard left around about now (most likely to join Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers but then subsequently White Rabbit).
1-2 August 1967 – Gigs in Paris, France
5 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
9 August 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Modesty Blues
10 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Californians
11 August 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall
12 August 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall
14 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
15 August 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (billed as Freddy Mack & The Mack Sound featuring Hon-ey!)
16 August 1967 – Gig in Scotland (needs confirmation)
18 August 1967 – Gay Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Bobby Johnson Big Band
19 August 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
20 August 1967 – Beau Brummel, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire
21 August 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
22 August 1967 – Concorde, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
25 August 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire
26-27 August 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
28 August 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Town Hall, Herts (needs confirmation)
29 August 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
30 August 1967 – Tropicana Club, Croydon, south London
31 August 1967 – Scottish tour commences today and runs until 12 September
1-2 September 1967 – Two Red Shoes, Elgin, Scotland
L-R: Terry Stannard, Alan Cartwright, Roy Davies and Dave Tedstone
8 September 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with The T-Set
9 September 1967 – Civic, Wrexham, Wales with Dynamic Honey and System 5 (not possible considering other Scottish dates)
9 September 1967 – Gig in Aberdeen, Scotland
10 September 1967 – RNAS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
11-12 September 1967 – More gigs in Scotland
13 September 1967 – Travel to Belgium for gigs
17 September 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent with Honey
24 September 1967 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
29 September 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gabb and The Scots of St James
30 September 1967 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Survivors
1 October 1967 – Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire
2 October 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians and Barmy Barry’s Show
4 October 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
6 October 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester
7 October 1967 – Enfield College of Technology, Enfield, north London
8 October 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham
9 October 1967 – Bluesville ‘6 Clubs, St Matthew’s Bath Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
12 October 1967 – Brays Grove Youth Club, Harlow, Essex
13 October 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Pink Floyd and Denis Scott & The Soundsmen
14 October 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
15 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent
16 October 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
17 October 1967 – Concorde, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
18 October 1967 – Travel to Paris, France
19-30 October 1967 – Gigs in Belgium
31 October 1967 – Shenley Green Youth Club, Shenley Green, West Midlands
2 November 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
3 November 1967 – Apex Club, Ashford, Kent
4 November 1967 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
5 November 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Reg Jones Explosion
6 November 1967 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire
7 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
8 November 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire with The Gospel Garden, Delroys Good Good Band and The Disturbance
10 November 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham
10 November 1967 – Digbeth Civic Hall, Digbeth, West Midlands
11 November 1967 – Bradford University, Student Union, Bradford, West Yorkshire
11 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (needs confirmation)
12 November 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby
13 November 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
14 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
15 November 1967 – The Catacombs, Eastbourne, East Sussex
17 November 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Dipps (Gloucester Citizen)
18 November 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales with The Rayners
19 November 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation
20 November 1967 – Bamboo Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester
Around this time, Dick Morrisey rejoins on tenor sax (according to Melody Maker‘s 25 November issue, page 3).
21-26 November 1967 – Gigs in Scotland (Aberdeen gigs may not have happened)
21 November 1967 – Two Red Shoes, Elgin, Scotland (billed as Freddie Mack & His Road Show) (advert lists 16-piece band) (Source: https://tworedshoes.wordpress.com/)
23 November 1967 – RNAS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
24 November 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with The Brown Heart Federation
25-26 November 1967 – Gigs in Aberdeen, Scotland
25 November 1967 – West Runton Pavilion, West Runton, Norfolk with The Sonics (probably rescheduled to 2 December gig below)
27 November 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
29 November 1967 – Reading Town Hall, Reading, Berkshire with The Beachcombers and Memphis Gents
Ron Berg left around this time and subsequently joined White Rabbit. Colin Davy, who’d worked with Georgie Fame in late 1967 joined.
1 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
2 December 1967– West Runton Pavilion, West Runton, Norfolk
6 December 1967– Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Tramline ’67
7 December 1967 – Medway College of Art, Rochester, Kent
8 December 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire
9 December 1967 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation
10 December 1967 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset
11 December 1967 – St Matthew’s Bath Halls, Ipswich
12 December 1967 – Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire
14 December 1967 – RAF Whitton (assuming this is Whitton, London)
15 December 1967 – Red Spot Club, Whetstone, Leicester with The Changing Scene
16 December 1967 – Night Prowler, Yarmouth, Norfolk with Combined Achievement
17 December 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands
19 December 1967 – Queen’s Hotel, Grays, Essex
22 December 1967– Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
23 December 1967 – St James’ Spectacular, Chesterfield, Derbyshire with Joe Cocker’s Grease Band
26 December 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Smallbrook Ringway, West Midlands with The Fabulous Invaders
29 December 1967– Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
Around early January 1968, the group most likely included the following musicians:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar
Roy Davies – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Dick Morrisey – tenor saxophone (may not have stayed long)
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Dawe – trumpet
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Colin Davy – drums
Selected gigs:
7 January 1968 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with Formula Six
8 January 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
11 January 1968 – Concord, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
12 January 1968 – Exeter University, Exeter, Devon
Melody Maker reports in its 13 January issue, page 13, that a continental tour is planned but does not say when.
13 January 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall
14 January 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
15 January 1968 – Koups Klub, Laker’s Hotel, Redhill, Surrey
19 January 1968 – Gari Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Somethin Else
20 January 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Out of Sight Blues
21 January 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
22 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
23 January 1968 – Gig in Aberystwyth, Wales (The Cambrian Times has no record of any shows in the town this day)
24 January 1968 – Gig in Cardiff, Wales
25 January 1968 – Gig in Epsom, Surrey (possibly Ewell Tech College)
25 January 1968 – Gig in Birmingham, West Midlands
27 January 1968 – Gig in Southport, Lancashire (most likely Floral Hall)
28 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
30 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
31 January 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Lamb Bros and Co
3 February 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
4 February 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria
5 February 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine and Perfurmed Garden
5 February 1968 – Howard Platt Discotheque Show, Jazz and Blues Festival, Norfolk with The Kinks and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
6 February 1968 – Gig in Birmingham, West Midlands
7 February 1968 – Gig in Grays, Essex
9 February 1968 – Gig in Leicester
10 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Informers Plus 2
11 February 1968 – Gig in Manchester
14 February 1968 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Around the start of the second week in February, Freddie Mack advertised for three reed players suggesting he was looking to rebuild the band. Chris Dawe was among the horn players leaving and later joined Swegas.
19 February 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Joe E Young & The Tonicks
23 February 1968 – Birmingham University Students’ Union, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Elmer Gantry & The Velvet Opera
24 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
28 February 1968 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Around this time Dave Tedstone left to join Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and would then reunite (briefly) with Colin Davy in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band in August 1968.
Kenneth Harry also left about now and Sonny Gibbons took over on vocals.
Lead guitarist Gary Boyle, bass player Roger Sutton, keyboard player Ray Deville, drummer Clive Thacker and sax players Dave Quincy and Ian Thomas had backed singer Brian Bentley as Brian Bentley & The Kingsmen during 1962.
In early 1963, the remaining members (minus Quincy and Thomas) became The Five Embers after ditching Brian Bentley and recruiting sax player Ron Foster. Initially, the musicians played under their own name and then in March 1964 started backing Jamaican singer Millie.
Notable gigs as The Five Embers:
22 March 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
24 March 1964 – Café Des Artistes, Fulham, London
Notable gigs with Millie Small:
25 March 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent
28 March 1964 – Café Des Artistes, Fulham, London
29 March 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
31 March 1964 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Bucks
5-11 April 1964 – Cavern, Liverpool
16 May 1964 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Initials
17 May 1964 – Blackpool ABC, Blackpool, Lancashire
18 May 1964 – Scarborough Futurist, Scarborough with others
5 June 1964 – Palace Ballroom, Maryport, Cumbria with The Defenders
16 June 1964 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Soul Agents
27 August 1964 – ABC Theatre, Plymouth, Cornwall with Rolling Stones and others
After splitting with Millie, The Five Embers continued to gig into 1965 before breaking up that spring and at some point backed Barry St John.
In August 1966, Clive Thacker joined Julie Driscol, Brian Auger & The Trinity and was joined two months later by Roger Sutton.
While Thacker remained with Brian Auger and Julie Driscol throughout the late 1960s, Sutton left in May 1967 and played with several groups before briefly joining The Krew in August 1968.
Roger Sutton subsequently played with a number of notable bands, including The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Nucleus, Mark-Almond and Riff Raff.
Gary Boyle initially played with Lulu’s backing band during 1965. Then, in 1966, he worked with Dusty Springfield’s support group, The Echoes before reuniting with Roger Sutton and Clive Thacker in Julie Driscol, Brian Auger and The Trinity in January 1967.
After leaving in November of that year, Boyle subsequently played with Eclection in March 1969 and then returned to Julie Driscol and The Brian Auger Trinity that June.
Ray Deville meanwhile joined The Missing Links in February 1966 and stayed with this band when it took on the name, The All Night Workers in October 1967. He left in January 1968 and is rumoured to have worked with Dusty Springfield. Deville died in 2013.
Please note: this is a very brief overview of the band and its history. Garage Hangover would welcome any additional material and corrections.
Mike Collins’s interviews with Roger Sutton and Gary Boyle were really useful resources. Please see above links to his work.
Dave Martin Group, 1966. Left to right: Dave Martin, John Chinnery, Roger Flavell and Albert Woodward. Photo credit: Roger Flavell
This West London band’s roots can be found in The Dave Martin Group, which was formed around September 1966.
The original formation comprised:
Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals
John Chinnery – guitar/vocals
Roger Flavell – bass/vocals
Albert Woodward – drums
The Dave Martin Group was managed by John Chinnery’s older brother Geoff, who’d played with Mike Forde & The Fortunes in the late 1950s and early 1960s and briefly managed The Tridents (with a young Jeff Beck).
Guitarist John Chinnery had started out in a Hillingdon school band with Richard Walker and John Morgan. Albert Woodward, who attended another local school, completed the group.
Woodward introduced Martin Thomas and Roger Flavell and together with John Chinnery, the quartet began rehearsing at Ickenham Hall near Ruislip, Middlesex.
According to John’s brother Geoff Chinnery’s detailed gig list (complete with earnings for each performance), the new outfit’s debut show appears to have taken place on 28 October 1966 (most likely) at the Fisheries in Harefield, Middlesex. The gig list notes that The Dave Martin Group played at the same venue on 11, 18-19 and 26 November and also 3-4, 11 and 17 December.
The following gigs are then listed (during which period Roger Flavell was briefly replaced on bass while he had his tonsils out. John Chinnery suspects it was his school friend John Morgan, who covered Flavell’s absence).
Dave Martin Group gigs:
21 December 1966 – Ickenham Hall, Ickenham, northwest London
23 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
24 December 1966 – Harefield Football Club, Harefield, northwest London
30 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
31 December 1966 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
6 January 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
7 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
14 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
21 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
24 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
28 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London (Roger Flavell returns after this show)
29 January 1967 – Hesden Hall, Ruislip, northwest London
31 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
4 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
5 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
8-9 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
10 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
11 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
13-16 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
17-18 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
19 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
20-23 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
26 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
27 February-2 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
4 March 1967 – Hanwell Sports Club, Hanwell, west London
5 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
6-9 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
12 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
13 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
Dave Martin Group, 1967. Left to right: Lindsay Bex, Roger Flavell, John Chinnery and Dave Martin. Photo credit: Roger Flavell
At this point, Lindsay Bex replaced Albert Woodward on drums, who later became a percussion lecturer.
Older than the others, Lindsay Bex had worked with Geoff Chinnery in Mike Forde & The Fortunes during the late 1950s and early 1960s. In early 1964, Bex joined Chiswick band, The Tridents (who were managed by Geoff Chinnery). He remained with the group until about September 1964 during which time Jeff Beck joined on lead guitar.
In early 1965, Bex went to Germany for three months with The Redcaps and then played with various scratch bands before returning to Germany in 1966 to play American air bases with The Kathy Sampson Set. When Albert Woodward left suddenly, he accepted the call to join.
Dave Martin Group gigs (continued):
14-16 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
18 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Teddington, west London
20-23 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
24 March 1967 – Blue Coat Boy, Bishopsgate, City of London
25 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Old Kent Road, south London
26 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
27-30 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
31 March 1967 – All Stars Club, Artillery Passage, Liverpool Street, east London (audition)
2 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
3-6 April 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
7 April 1967 – West Dulwich Sports Club, West Dulwich, south London
8 April 1967 – Derwentwater Club, Acton, west London
9 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
15 April 1967 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford
17 April 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Streets, Soho, central London (audition)
22 April 1967 – Saracens Rugby Club, Finchley, north London
23 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
27 April 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London (audition)
30 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
7 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
8 May 1967 – St Moritz Club, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (audition)
13 May 1967 – Rank Xerox private party, Denham, Buckinghamshire
14 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
19 May 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
20 May 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire
27 May 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Five Proud Walkers
28 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
3 June 1967 – Wedding Reception, Tea Rooms, Kenton, northwest London
4 June 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London
8 June 1967 – RAF Northwood
9 June 1967 – Unknown venue, Purfleet, Essex
10 June 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
12-15 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
16 June 1967 – ILI Co, Wembley, west London
17 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
19-23 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
23 June 1967 – UKAEA, Harwell, Oxfordshire with Brian Poole & The Unity
24 June 1967 – Wedding reception, Hendon, north London
26-29 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
30 June 1967 – Greenway School, Uxbridge, west London
During 1967, the band recorded a couple of demos at a studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire comprising Martin Thomas/Roger Flavell co-writes.
Dave Martin Group gigs (continued):
3-6 July 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
8 July 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire
20 July 1967 – Pinn Club, RAF Uxbridge, West London
28 July 1967 – Epsom Youth Club, Epsom, Surrey
29 July 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
5 August 1967 – Thames Boat Trip, Westminster to Teddington
6 August 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
12 August 1967 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire
31 August 1967 – Sword & Wheel Club, RAF Northolt, northwest London
At midnight, immediately after finishing the gig at RAF Northolt near Ruislip, the band had to pack up in order to drive down to Dover to catch the ferry to the continent and only just made the boat by the ‘skin of their teeth’. Having just turned professional, The Dave Martin Group changed its name to The Magic Roundabout and headed to Germany and then Switzerland.
Magic Roundabout in Bad Vilbel. Left to right: Roger Flavell, Dave Martin, John Chinnery and roadie Stuart Cook. Photo credit: Roger Flavell
The Magic Roundabout gigs:
1-30 September 1967 – Ritterkelleer (9 performances) and Western Club (11 performances), Bad Vilbel, Frankfurt, West Germany
1-15 October 1967 – Haus Der Music, Wuppertal, West Germany with The Berkeley Squares (15 performances)
Arriving in Zurich, Switzerland, the band now briefly includes organist Dave Eldredge, a musician from Leicester group The Berkeley Squares, who split up after the shows in Wuppertal. Eldredge remains with the group until mid-November.
16 October-1 November 1967 – ‘Beat Club’, Hotel Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland (17 performances)
3-6 November 1967 – ‘Taverns Bar’, Ingolstadt, West Germany (4 performances) (the band’s final night is cancelled; a fight had broken out the previous night between US servicemen and German police and the club was wrecked. The club is closed for refurbishment and The Magic Roundabout head home to the UK.)
On the band’s return to the UK, organist John Elliott joined after Eldredge left. Geoff Chinnery had convinced the organist to join The Effect but this proved short-lived. Eldredge subsequently joined Pussyfoot.
Elliott had previously played with Ealing band, Magnus Pike with lead guitarist/singer Jerry Smith, bass player Roger Searle and drummer Tony Haslam. Searle and Haslam will later go on to work with The Who’s road crew.
Magic Roundabout’s new line up comprised:
Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals
John Chinnery – lead guitar/vocals
John Elliott – organ/vocals
Roger Flavell – bass/vocals
Lindsay Bex – drums
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
17 November 1967 – Women’s teachers’ training college (location not known)
18 November 1967 – Young Conservative’s Club, Twickenham, west London
25 November 1967 – YMCA, Baldock, Hertfordshire
4-7 December 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
8 December 1967 – Guild Hall, Ilford, east London
9 December 1967 – The Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
15 December 1967 – Gillettes, Great West Road, west London with Fortunes and Episode Six
16 December 1967 – RAF Feltwell
23 December 1967 – Rugby Club, Upton Park, Slough, Berkshire
26 December 1967 – Halfway House, Dunstable, Hertfordshire
31 December 1967 – Sword & Wheel Club, RAF Northolt, northwest London
1-4 January 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
5 January 1968 – Youth Club, West Drayton, west London
6 January 1968 – Baker’s Row Club, Cardiff (Bex’s bass drums falls off the roof rack on the way)
12 January 1968 – USAF Woodbridge, Suffolk
13 January 1968 – Hanwell Community Centre, Hanwell, west London
20 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London
24-25 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London
26 January 1968 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London
27 January 1968 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
30 January 1968 – BBC Maida Vale (audition)
31 January-1 February 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London
Magic Roundabout, spring 1968. Left to right: Miki Anthony, Lindsay Bex, John Elliott, John Chinnery and Roger Flavell. Photo credit: Roger Flavell
2 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
3 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Halstead, Braintree, Essex
10 February 1968 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire
12-15 February 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
16 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
17 February 1968 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire
21 February 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle Upon Tyne
29 February 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1 March 1968 – County Ballroom, Carlisle, Cumbria
2 March 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
3 March 1968 – Woodhouse WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
8 March 1968 – RAF Club, Tredegar, Wales
9 March 1968 – Howard Winstone Club, Merthyr, Wales
10 March 1968 – Beech Grove, Pengham, Wales
13 March 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester
14 March 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
15 March 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
18 March 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire
24 March 1968 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire
25-27 March 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
29 March 1968 – Brighton Tech College, Brighton, West Sussex
After the above gig, singer Michael Derrick (aka Miki Anthony) took over from Martin Thomas and brought his own manager with him (which would see the band split with Geoff Chinnery).
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
20 April 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
21 April 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Sandbach, Cheshire
26 April 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire
27 April 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
28 April 1968 – The Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset
29 April-2 May 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
3 May 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
4 May 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire
5 May 1968 – Woodhill, WMC, Normanton, West Yorkshire
11 May 1968 – Bradford University with Jeff Beck Group
17 May 1968 – Board of Trade, Eastcote, northwest London
18 May 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester with Fleetwood Mac
19 May 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Sandbach, Cheshire
23 May 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
24-25 May 1968 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington
26 May 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire
30 May 1968 – Kimbleworth Park Social Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
31 May 1968 – 270 Discotheque, Barnsley, West Yorkshire
Sometime around this time, the group recorded a cover of The Bee Gees’ “I Am The World”, which is never released.
Magic Roundabout, 1968. Left to right: Roger Flavell, John Elliott, John Chinnery, Miki Anthony and Lindsay Bex. Photo credit: Roger Flavell
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
1 June 1968 – Manchester University
8 June 1968 – The Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset
14 June 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
15 June 1968 – Alexander Hall, Halifax, South Yorkshire with Jackson Union
20 June 1968 – Kimbleworth Park Social Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
21 June 1968 – Woodhill, WMC, Normanton, West Yorkshire
22 June 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire
24-27 June 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
28 June 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
29 June 1968 – University of Aston, Birmingham
30 June 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1 July 1968 – Wilbeck Country Club, Hatfield, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2 July 1968 – Top Ranke Suite, Southampton, Hants
5 July 1968 – Cossack Club, Sir James Altham School, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire
6 July 1968 – Bellpunch, Uxbridge, west London
14 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
18 July 1968 – Cossack Club, Sir James Altham School, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire
19 July 1968 – Victoria & Bull, Dartford, Kent
20 July 1968 – Bourne School, Ruislip Manor, northwest London
25 July 1968 – Oasis Club, RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
26 July 1968 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex
28 July 1968 – A Train, Hayes, west London
29 July-1 August 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
2 August 1968 – Harrow Inn, Woolwich, south London
3 August 1968 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire
10 August 1968 – Airman’s Club, USAF, West Ruislip, northwest London
11 August 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex
16 August 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire
17 August 1968 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
18 August 1968 – Manor House, near Skipton, North Yorkshire
20 August 1968 – Almonbury WMC, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
21 August 1968 – Ponderose, Barnsley, West Yorkshire
22 August 1968 – Blue Bell, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
24 August 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire
30 August 1968 – RAF Whitton, Whitton, west London
Michael Derrick’s manager informed the band that he would take the singer away unless he can assume sole management and the musicians begrudgingly agreed as Geoff Chinnery had been managing them from the outset. Soon afterwards, Lindsay Bex and John Elliott both departed following the RAF Whitton gig, which (ironically) Chinnery believes was the band’s best performance to date.
Two weeks later, it was clear that the group’s career had ground to a halt and the band broke up. While Chinnery briefly abandoned a musical career and returned to work in insurance, Flavell subsequently joined Grand Union, the backing band for US soul act, Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon in 1969.
In late 1970, Flavell briefly played with Geno Washington before working with Tony Hazzard/Richard Barnes, Judd, Kris Ife and The Tommy Hunt Band. In the early Seventies, Flavell joined Christie and then went on to Johnny Wakelin & The Kinshasha Band, The Lonnie Donegan Band and The David Byron Band.
Miki Anthony meanwhile established a highly successful solo career.
John Chinnery and drummer Roger Willis, who have known each other since childhood and are Arsenal FC fans, decided to reform The Magic Roundabout around February 1969 with John Elliott, who has been working in a bank since the band’s break up in September 1968.
The Kool, 1967, featuring Ray Brown (far left). Photo credit: Ray Brown
Ray Brown, who had previously played with Jeff Curtis & The Flames and The Kool agreed to join after his next band, Champagne appeared on the same bill as The Magic Roundabout.
Ray Brown (centre) with Champagne in 1968. Photo credit: Ray Brown
Lead guitarist Ian Hollands, who had previously played with Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Legends answered an advert in the music press and completed the new formation.
The new Magic Roundabout formation now comprised:
Ian Hollands – lead guitar/vocals
John Chinnery – rhythm guitar/vocals
John Elliott – organ/vocals
Ray Brown – bass/vocals
Roger Willis – drums/vocals
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
9 May 1969 – Harefield Youth Club, Harefield, northwest London
17 May 1969 – R&B Club, Feltham, Middlesex
18 May 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
23 May 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London
31 May 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex
6 June 1969 – Salvatorian College, Wealdstone, northwest London
7 June 1969 – White Hart, Tottenham, north London
13 June 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London
21 June 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
27 June 1969 – Woodford Youth Club, St Barnabos School
28 June 1969 – St Annes School, Hanwell, west London
3 July 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire
4 July 1969 – Pinkwell Youth Centre, Hayes, west London
6 July 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London
12 July 1969 – Bourne School, Ruislip Manor, northwest London
13 July 1969 – the Cherry Tree, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
18 July 1969 – King’s Head Disco, Harrow, northwest London
19 July 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex
26 July 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
1 August 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London
2 August 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
7 August 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Watford, Hertfordshire
15 August 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
16 August 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
22 August 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
23 August 1969 – Spa Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
24 August 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London
30 August 1969 – Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk
31 August 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
26 September 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
27 September 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire
28 September 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
3 October 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
4 October 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
10 October 1969 – Grange Youth Centre, Hayes, west London
11 October 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
24 October 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
25 October 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
1 November 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
2 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
7 November 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
8 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
9 November 1969 – Hunter’s Club, Horn Hotel, Braintree, Essex
14 November 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, Essex
21 November 1969 – Kettering WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire
28 November 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
5 December 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
6 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
7 December 1969 – Headstone Hotel, North Harrow, northwest London
11 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
12 December 1969 – Harefield Youth Club, Harefield, northwest London
13 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
19 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
Magic Roundabout in 1969. Left to right: Ian Hollands, Ray Brown, John Chinnery and John Elliott. Photo credit: Ray Brown
2 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London (Hollands ill)
8 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London (Hollands ill)
16 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
17 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
23 January 1970 – El Grotto Disco, Ilford, east London
24 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
30 January 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
7 February 1970 – Gillettes, Isleworth, Middlesex
8 February 1970 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London
12 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
13 February 1970 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
14 February 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
20 February 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
22 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
24 February 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
27 February 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
6 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
7 March 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton
12 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
14 March 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
20 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
21 March 1970 – Airmen’s Mess, USAF Wethersfield
26 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
28 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
Ray Brown (left) and Roger Willis on stage with Magic Roundabout. Photo credit: Ray Brown
3 April 1970 – AYA USAF West Ruislip, northwest London
4 April 1970 – Andromeda Club, Colchester, Essex
10 April 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
11 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
16 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
18 April 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
19 April 1970 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
24 April 1970 – West Ham College, West Ham, east London
2 May 1970 – Airmen’s Club, USAF Mildenhall
9 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
14 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
26 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
29 May 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
30 May 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe
1 June 1970 – King’s Head, Edmonton, north London (audition)
The band auditioned for the John Edwards Agency (most likely the above date), performing three songs, including a cover of The Moody Blues’ “Ride My See-Saw”.
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
4 June 1970 – Galaxy Club, RAF Northwood, northwest London
6 June 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
13 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
18 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
19 June 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
20 June 1970 – Braintree College, Braintree, Essex
26 June 1970 – Oases Club, RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
1 July 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe
3 July 1970 – Beaconsfield Youth Club
4 July 1970 – Airmen’s Annexe, USAF Upper Hayford
9 July 1970 – Angelique, King’s Road, southwest London
10 July 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
11 July 1970 – North Park, WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire
15 July 1970 – Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip, northwest London
16 July 1970 – RAF High Wycombe
24 July 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton
25 July 1970 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
31 July 1970 – The Pheasantry, King’s Road, southwest London
PLEASE NOTE: There are some missing gigs from this list. John Chinnery believes that the group played until at least November 1970.
Sometime in 1970, the new line up got the opportunity to record two tracks at Abbey Road, which are never released. One is a cover of a song called “Everything Under The Sun”. The other is an early cover of Neil Diamond’s “Red, Red Wine”.
Around October 1970, John Elliott was invited to sing lead on a backing track – the Findon, Shelley, Hazelwood and Hammond collaboration, “Dark Side of the Moon”. Incidentally, Elton John had earlier cut a version.
Not long after, the rest of the band was brought into the studio and recorded an instrumental track composed by Ian Hollands. For some reason, Ray Brown was not available and former member Roger Flavell, who named the track “Black Boots”, provided bass. However, the song was later credited to producers Ben Findon and Pete Shelley.
Tragically, the band’s career then came to a dramatic halt after returning from a gig in Bedford around late October/early November 1970. Stopping off at Toddington Services on the M1, the band’s roadies went into the service station to get some food and someone broke into the van and stole much of the band’s equipment. Only John Chinnery was insured!
All of the remaining the gigs were cancelled but The Magic Roundabout did play its final gig on 31 December 1970 on borrowed gear because the money (£100) was too good to give up.
In the meantime, Findon and Shelley brought John Elliott back into the studio to add more vocals to “Dark Side of the Moon”.
With the band no longer active and unable to use The Magic Roundabout name, the producers released the single on Decca in May 1971 under The Outer Limits name.
Ian Hollands later played with a group called Mobius. Ray Brown briefly played with a harmony group from Tooting from January-February1971 before joining Easy Virtue and then Crackers.
Roger Willis meanwhile joined Capability Brown in 1972. After several albums, Willis and two other band members joined Christie, which featured original Magic Roundabout bass player Roger Flavell in the group.
Willis later played with a number of groups, including Crazy Kat, before reuniting with Ray Brown in Crackers.
In recent years, John Chinnery, Roger Flavell, John Elliott and Lindsey Bex have held four reunions.
A huge thanks to John Chinnery and Lindsay Bex for providing the gig lists (from Geoff Chinnery) and to Roger Flavell, John Chinnery, Lindsey Bex, John Elliott, Ray Brown and Ian Hollands for helping with the group’s history. Thank you Roger Flavell, Lindsay Bex and Ray Brown for photos.
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
“Slimy Sue” by the Sounds, Ltd. featuring Phil Jackson is the kind of odd, non-commercial record of the ’60s garage era that I love.
15 March 1968 – 400 Club, Torquay, Devon
Mistakenly credited to 1966, it was this formation (minus Derry Wilkie and Dick Morrisey) that appeared on the album, 
