Located at 3 New Burlington Street, W1, Samantha’s opened in early November 1966.
There is very little information about this important night club so I would welcome any memorabilia and further details about artists that performed here.
1966
London Life magazine’s 10-16 September issue notes that the club was opening during October.
However, the same magazine’s 22-28 October issue reports that the club was opening shortly with James Bond décor and a coffee bar with outdoor patio, indicating that it was early November.
London Life magazine’s 12-18 November issue reports that Samantha’s was open and hosted groups, although no names were listed.
14 December (Wednesday) – Bobby Hebb (Melody Maker and London Life magazine)
1967
I have no entries for this year apart from the one below so would welcome any further information on artists that performed at the central London club.
According to the poster for Gloucester YMCA below, The Official Receivers played at Samantha’s around October-November 1967.
15 December (Friday) – Circus (Stormsville Shakers’ website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)
1968
I have only an incomplete list for this year so would welcome any further information on artists that performed here.
19 March (Tuesday) – Desmond Dekker (Melody Maker)
13 May (Monday) – Toast (Melody Maker)
24 June (Monday) – (Simon K &) The Meantimers (Melody Maker)
18 July (Thursday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
22 July (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
23 July (Tuesday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
29 July (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
1 August (Thursday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
2 August (Friday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)
5 August (Monday) – Tim Rose (New Musical Express)
This might have been 5 July.
9 August (Friday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
11 August (Sunday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
14 August (Wednesday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
22 August (Thursday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
25 August (Sunday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
26 August (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
3 September (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth Melody Maker)
4 September (Wednesday) – Ben E King (New Musical Express)
10 September (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth Melody Maker)
16 September (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth Melody Maker)
18 September (Wednesday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Fabulous 208)
23 September (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth Melody Maker)
1 October (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth Melody Maker)
3 October (Wednesday) – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (Melody Maker)
Freddie Mack’s show was cancelled.
9 October (Wednesday) – Peter Kelly’s Solutions (Time Out)
10 October (Thursday) – Peter Kelly’s Solutions (Time Out)
16 October (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
30 October (Wednesday) – The Show Stoppers (New Musical Express)
1969
Trumpet player Jack Drew, who went on to Sonority, says his group Mr Mo’s Messengers played regularly at Samantha’s in early 1969.
5 February (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)
20 February (Thursday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker)
New Musical Express reports that Ben E King was backed by Chris Shakespeare Globe Show for his February UK tour.
19 March (Wednesday) – Desmond Dekker (Melody Maker)
19 May (Monday) – Inez and Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)
27 May (Tuesday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)
28 May (Wednesday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)
1 August (Friday) – Mr Mo’s Messengers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
2 August (Saturday) – Mr Mo’s Messengers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
3 August (Sunday) – High Tension (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
4 August (Monday) – High Tension (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
5 August (Tuesday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
6 August (Wednesday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
7 August (Thursday) – Orange Rainbow (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
8 August (Friday) – Orange Rainbow (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
9 August (Saturday) – High Tension (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
10 August (Sunday) – Trifle (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
11 August (Monday) – Orange Rainbow (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
12 August (Tuesday) – The Globe Show (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
13 August (Wednesday) – High Tension (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
14 August (Thursday) – Orange Rainbow (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
15 August (Friday) – Mr Mo’s Messengers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
16 August (Saturday) – Mr Mo’s Messengers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
17 August (Sunday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
18 August (Monday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
19 August (Tuesday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
20 August (Wednesday) – The Globe Show (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
21 August (Thursday) – The Smythe Brothers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
22 August (Friday) – The Globe Show (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
23 August (Saturday) – The Globe Show (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
24 August (Sunday) – Trifle (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
25 August (Monday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
26 August (Tuesday) – Orange Rainbow (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
27 August (Wednesday) – High Tension (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
28 August (Thursday) – High Tension (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
29 August (Friday) – Mr Mo’s Messengers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
30 August (Saturday) – Mr Mo’s Messengers (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
31 August (Sunday) – Orange Rainbow (Samantha’s Poster – thanks to Geoff Foster for sharing)
21 September (Sunday) – Sonority (Jack Drew’s gig list)
19 October (Sunday) – Sonority (Del Paramor’s gig list)
20 October (Monday) – Sonority (Bobby Morris’s gig list)
26 October (Sunday) – Sonority (Bobby Morris’s gig list)
28 October (Tuesday) – Sonority (Del Paramor’s gig list)
29 October (Wednesday) – Sonority (Del Paramor’s gig list)
6 November (Thursday) – Sonority (Bobby Morris’s gig list)
9 November (Sunday) – Sonority (Bobby Morris’s gig list)
24 November (Monday) – Sonority (Bobby Morris’s gig list)
Bobby Morris notes that the band turned up but found the gig had been cancelled.
1970
20 January (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)
23 June (Tuesday) – Mirrors (Melody Maker)
19 October (Monday) – Kiss (Melody Maker)
1971
8 January (Friday) – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare’s gig diary – confirmed by Geoff Coxon)
6 April (Tuesday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
11 May (Tuesday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
27 May (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
17 June (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
9 August (Monday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
10 August (Tuesday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
11 August (Wednesday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
This club was my scene , especially the E-Type where the DJ played ; if anyone wants to reminisce….I’m up for it!
I was the dj at this time
Hi Dave. Hope you are well. Remember you and Noel R.I.P. Two top deejays x
Do you remember Gil and Alex?
I don’t remember Noel it’s a long time ago
Dj there 68 to 73 approx
Don’t forget the swings for the girls while they sipped their drinks
Great club, went there many times and you could park outside in those days as well
Wow yes lived the swings at the bar Lenny Bloom the owner was sweet on me and the manager John Michelle ,I danced the night away to music played from the white Jag E type actually had one myself , champagne and swinging by the bar heaven ,we used to come from the Playboy club weekly those were the best days swinging London ,
My mum Sheila and my dad Lucio (italian) worked at samantha around 67/68, does anyone know them?
Hello Claudio,
Back in the sixties (1966-67), I was studying in London and was a regular at Samantha’s together with my friend Mario (Mexican). Vodka with lime was our favourite drink.
I have known both your mother (fairly tall and slim) and your father (balding) as well as the occasional waiter Igor. Jean-Pierre (Belgian) was the manager, Corran (my then girlfriend) for some time was the deejay (sitting in the E-type Jaguar) and Andy was running the food bar behind the dance floor.
There was also an occasional waitress who, as a publicity stunt for the opening reception of a ladies’ boutique in Carnaby Street (on the corner of Ganton Street) called “Birdcage”, I remember seeing in a sexy outfit inside a huge birdcage hanging five metres up against the front of the building. She made front-page news. Further down the street there was a lingerie boutique called “Lady Jane” with live models in the window who caused such a stir that traffic literally stopped still as crowds gathered to see this new phenomenon, until the police arrived to chase them away. In those days, that was a real scandal. Just like when the BBC refused to play The Rolling Stones’ 1967 hit record “Let’s spend the night together” until they made a special version for the BBC titled “Let’s spend some time together”.
Who knows, maybe your parents remember me, hopefully they do. I can still see exactly how they both looked like back in the day. I even remember that your mother always wore a stylish short apron where she kept her change. Please tell them I have fond memories of them.
Best wishes,
Paul
Hi Paul dj 68 to73 JP left with the dj that’s when I started
Hello Dave,
Didn’t Jean-Pierre move to “La Poubelle” in Greek Street (same crowd as in “Le Kilt”, also in Greek Street but close to Soho Square) after he left Samantha’s ? I reckon that must have been when it opened in 1968.
Happy days ! 🙂
Worked dj in Samantha’s from about 68 to 72 looking for few old friends Gill and Alex would be nice to hear from them my number is 07774103139
Number no longer used
My email davepauled1@yahoo.com
Loved this club. I used to work next door at the Pub (was actually a restaurant) as a waitress. Around 1972, after work we would go next door to Samantha’s and party all night, then go to the after hour clubs on Jeremyn Street or Ronnie Scott. Great times. Saw Rod Stewart and David Bowie there one night. There was a DJ there called Fitz then he went to work at Tramps. Oh to relive my youth!😉
Remember Fitz he was my relief dj yes he went to work at Tramps when it opened
I remember Fitz. What happened to him, id love yo know. We frequented Samantha’s 73 to 78. It was the only club my friends and I went to. We went that often we didn’t even have to Q 😁. Brilliant times. ❤️
Hi, thanks for putting this page up, and thank you all the other people for leaving comments, which are fascinating, especially the DJs. I was into soul and R&B music in the 1960s. I worked round the corner from Samanthas at AMF in Old Burlington Street in 1965 and 1966 – I was a tenpin bowler and bowling instructor – https://www.flickr.com/photos/anotherphotograph/2805499016 . I would go down to Samantha’s most weeks to dance, smoke and drink, either Bacardi and coke, or sometimes whisky. I still carried on going to Samantha’s when I changed jobs, just about every week. I met my first ‘true love’ at Samantha’s at the end of 1969. She was American and I left London to be with her in New York. Samantha’s is close to my heart 🙂
Was dj 1968 to 1973 approx
I remember deejays Dave Smith & Noel – Ray the Geordie bouncer – Tracy & her sister on reception.