Categories: Atwell, Kentucky, US

The Children on Atwell

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Along a scenic mountain parkway stretch of I-65 heading south, past Bowling Green and just north of the Tennessee border, in a tiny Kentucky town called Mundfordville, in Hart County, tucked on the hill above the moving Green River, a group of teenage boys formed a band in the winter of ’65.

Hearing the happening mid-sixties sounds of the Byrds, the Animals, the Beatles and the Stones, these boys got stars in their eyes and took up instruments, calling themselves December’s Children, named after the cold season upon them.

The members were:

  • Mike ‘Hoot’ Gibson / guitar, vox (Gibson ES 330)
  • Sam Goodman / lead guitar, fuzz ( Fender Telecaster)
  • Clint Nichols / bass (Fender)
  • Mike Rife / drums, vox

Honing their skills and gaining local popularity in Munfordville at the town’s teen club called ‘The Nightmare’ – the group of high school boys shortened their name to ‘The Children’ and  went on to play Hart County ‘courthouse fairs’, gigs in nearby Glasgow and also competed in the State Fair in Louisville about an hour north.

With a solid high school fan base and local support, the community was pushing them to make a record. By 1968, the members were all seniors and would graduate that following summer- all except Sam who was already a few years older and had his own wheels. The band had about 50 cover songs in the pocket, mostly dialed in on current rock radio hits of the day.

Children Atwell PS I Long To See Her

Disappearing to the parent’s basement, Mike and Sam penned two original songs that year and a recording session was appointed at Atwell Studio about an hour and a half’s drive south in Lafayette, Tennessee. The band loaded their gear in Sam’s car and excitedly roared down the road. The resulting session yielded two amazing tracks, done in one take that summer of ’68.


“I Long To See Her” b/w “Lost Soul Seeker In the Rain” was released later that year on the Atwell label and was issued with a simple picture sleeve of the band with a portrait that was made in a small photography studio along the way in Glasgow. It is not known how many copies of the record were pressed. Sources say that Lorne Atwell would often only have 100 run pressings done of the secular groups that came through the door, as Atwell was mostly a gospel/country label. The group never had any other draft or sketch of another original song, but stayed active as the Children until around ’72. Nonetheless, the two sides made for Atwell that summer have forever set them in garage punk unknown history stone.

The Children from the 1969 Hart County High School yearbook
The Children in December 1968, from the 1969 Hart County High School yearbook

Mike Gibson still lives in Mundfordville and continues to write and perform contemporary christian music. Many thanks to him for sharing his memories of the band from which this article was produced and for the photo from the class of ’69 Hart Co. High School yearbook that shows the band in action (Christmas of ’68).

Mike Rife died in Mundfordville in 2011.

The other band members are still residing in Kentucky, and were unable to be contacted for this article.

Extra special thanks to John Freeman, mayor of Mundforville for sharing his memories, sourcing the record and arranging the interview with Hoot.

Lee Bryant and Mike 'Hoot' Gibson

Categories: Country, England, London

Ivan Sinclair & The System Soul Band

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The band in its early days

Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

IVAN SINCLAIR & THE SYSTEM SOUL BAND:

Ivan Sinclair – lead vocals

Mike Piggott – lead guitar/violin

Bob Holt – bass (replaced by Kevin McCarthy)

Jim Hawkins – keyboards

Bill ? – saxophone

Chas Cheetham – saxophone

Mike ‘Shippy’ Shopland – drums

 

The band go ‘psychedelic’ in late 1967. With a photographer making up the numbers in the band’s line-up

18 March 1967 – New Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed As System Soul Band

10 June 1967 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk with Pink Floyd (Mike Piggott memories)

13 June 1967 – Norwich Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk with The Gods (Eastern Evening News)

14 July 1967 – Norwich Industrial Club, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

3 September 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Redditch Indicator)

10 September 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Ghost Riders (Express & Star)

30 September 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with New Generation (Eastern Evening News) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System Soul Band

18 October 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London (Melody Maker)

29 October 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System Band

 

11 November 1967 – Northampton Hall, Northampton (Mike Piggott memories)

25 November 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Calgary Stampede (Express & Star)

9 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London with Calgary Stampede and The Scorpions (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System

22 December 1967 – Locarno, Basildon, Essex with The Moody Blues and Marmalade (Southend Standard) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System Soul Band

30 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London with Dr Marigold’s Perscription and Alan Clark Show with Cleo (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The Soul System

Thanks to Mike Piggott for photos and gig lists

Categories: Country, England

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy

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Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

ROBERT PLANT & THE BAND OF JOY:

Robert Plant – lead vocals

Chris Brown – keyboards/vocals

Vernon Pereira – lead guitar/vocals

Lyndon Laney – bass

Pete Robinson – drums

14 April 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

15 April 1967 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

21 April 1967 – Morgue, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book

24 April 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 April 1967 – Casa Fiesta Disco, Crown, Stourport, Worcestershire (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book

 

3 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book

6 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

10 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)

15 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

19 May 1967 – Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (John Combe book)

19 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book

19 May 1967 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book

22 May 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Omen (Express & Star)

27 May 1967 – Hen and Chickens, Langley, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

31 May 1967 – Bilston Town Hall, Bilston, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

 

10 June 1967 – Bilston Town Hall, Bilston, West Midlands with Shooting Stars (Express & Star)

25 June 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Track (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book

 

3 July 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

4 July 1967 – Malvern Hippie Festival, Malvern, Worcestershire (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

16 July 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham, West Midlands (Express & Star)

22 July 1967 – Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with Derek Bruce & His Show Band (Worcester Evening News) Not in Barber’s book

23 July 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Shooting Stars (Express & Star)

29 July 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

30 July 1967 – Gig in Coventry (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy) Final gig by the first version according to Barber.

Pereira, Brown and Robinson formed a rival, second version while Plant put together another line-up together with members from Wolverhampton band, Paper. On 1 October, Pereira’s version had to change name to The Good Egg (Harry Barber)

Robert Plant – lead vocals

John Elston – lead guitar

Dave Evans – rhythm guitar

Pete Bowen – bass

Steve Taylor – drums

6 August 1967 – Tudor Club, Craven Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

12 August 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph) Not in Barber’s book

25 August 1967 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Montanas, The Staffords and Maddening Crowd (Express & Star)

28 August 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Pesky G and Group Therapy (Redditch Indicator) Not in Barber’s book

 

1 September 1967 – Cofton Country Club, Cofton, West Midlands with Virus (Birmingham Evening Mail/Redditch Indicator)

2 September 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham with Delroy Good-Good Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book

Record Mirror from 2 September 1967, page 10 has a picture and story on the band

4 September 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Express & Star)

21 September 1967 – Ringway Club, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

The Birmingham Evening Mail from 18 October 1967, page 3 has a story on Robert Plant

14 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band and Haig and Al Capone (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

19 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Haig and Al Capone (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

22 October 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Candy Stripes (Redditch Indicator) Barber says the group then embarked on a Scottish tour

In early November 1967, Fabulous 208 says Robert Plant offered his group’s services free of charge to the Chinese Charge D’Affairs

Robert Plant – lead vocals

Kevyn Gammond – lead guitar/vocals

Paul Lockey – bass/vocals

Chris Brown – keyboards

Paul Brittle – drums (soon replaced by John Bonham ex-Way of Life)

4 November 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Atlantic Rollers (Cornish Guardian) Not in Barber’s book

8 November 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear (http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/club-agogo-newcastle-2/) Billed as Robert Plant & The Explosion. Not in Barber’s book

15 November 1967 – Blue Horizon, Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)

16 November 1967 – Penny Farthing, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Not in Barber’s book

16 November 1967 – Crystal Ballroom, Stoke, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Not in Barber’s book

19 November 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Cresters (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book) Not in Barber’s book

20 November 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Good Egg (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book

23 November 1967 – Plaza Handworth, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

23 November 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Felice Taylor and The League of Gentlemen (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

24 November1967 – BSA Ballroom, Small Health, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

 

3 December 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

6 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Dorset Evening Echo) Not in Barber’s book

8 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset with The Question Marks (Dorset Evening Echo) Not in Barber’s book

12 December 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

19 December 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, London (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book

24 December 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Nu-2-U (Redditch Indicator) Barber’s book says this was 23 December

26 December 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book

1968:

5-6 January 1968 – Purple Fez Club, Plymouth, Devon (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book

7 January 1968 – Warmingham Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book

20 January 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

26 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

27 January 1968 – Majestic, Wellington, Somerset (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book

29 January 1968 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book

 

2 February 1968 – Westfield Tech College, West Ham, London (Fabulous 208)

3 February 1968 – Paddington Tech College, Paddington, London (Fabulous 208)

8 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Edwin Starr (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) Barber’s book says they played Speakeasy on this day but unlikely

11 February 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)

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

19 February 1968 – Speakeasy, W1, London (Fabulous 208/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies) Barber’s book says they played Marquee this day but unlikely

23 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Tim Rose and Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

26 February 1968 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Express & Star) Barber’s book says this was on 23 February

 

8 March 1968 – Westfield College, Hampstead, London with Tim Rose and Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)

8 March 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

10 March 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

30 March 1968 – Ewell College, Ewell, Surrey with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker) Not in Barber’s book

 

5 April 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book

12 April 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Erskene T Sound Specials (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

12 April 1968 – Back Room Shanty, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

19 April 1968 – Impsella Club, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book

 

17 May 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star)

25 May 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Raid (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday) Not in Barber’s book

28 May 1968 – RAF Sleaford, Lincolnshire (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

29 May 1968 – Acorn Hotel, Erdington, West Midlands with Maddening Crowd (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book

30 May 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)

Robert Plant – lead vocals

John Hill – lead guitar

Mick Strode – bass/vocals

John Bonham – drums

According to Harry Barber’s book, this line-up did a last Scottish tour around early June and then Bonham left to join Tim Rose. A final line-up came together and may be responsible for the gig below (or it could be Plant and Bonham’s version)

Micky Cox – lead guitar/vocals

Paul Lockey – bass/vocals

Chris Brown – keyboards/vocals

Pete Robinson – drums

26 June 1968 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Dorset Evening Echo)

 

Categories: Country, Ealing, England, London

The James Royal Set’s gigs 1966-1968

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Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

1966:

5 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Devil’s Coachmen (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

 

9 April 1966 – Norwich venue, Norwich with The Amboy Dukes (Eastern Evening News)

11 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 April 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Hertfordshire with Johnny Haven & The Just Five (Luton News)

29 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

 

5 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Alan Price Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 July 1966 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire with The Rumours (Andover Advertiser)

16 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Quiet Five and Dave & The Strollers (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

23 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Paul & Barry Ryan, The Action, Rob Storme & The Whispers and The Ferry Boys (Lincolnshire Standard)

29 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

 

8 August 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News)

10 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker)

15 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

20 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Soul Agents (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

 

3 September 1966 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

9 September 1966 – Flamingo, Soho, London with Fadin’ Colours (Melody Maker)

10 September 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

19 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

 

2 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

7 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Manchester’s Playboys (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

21 October 1966 – Flamingo, Soho, London (Melody Maker)

22 October 1966 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage with Associates (Welwyn Times)

 

5 November 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

11 November 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Trendsetters Limited (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

12 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Rockin Berries, The Bo Street Runners and The Charades (Lincolnshire Standard)

19 November 1966 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex and The Ultimate (Melody Maker)

 

10 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Brox & The Blues Train and The Tender Trap (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

27 December 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

1967:

27 January 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Army (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

 

8 February 1967 – Kingsway Theatre, Hadleigh, Essex with Spencer Davis Group, Sounds Incorporated, The Fourmost and The Human Instinct (Essex Chronicle/Southend Standard)

 

21 April 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Catford, Kent (South East London Mercury)

 

4 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Shell (Melody Maker)

 

23 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker)

 

31 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker)

1968:

1-6 April 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)

8-13 April 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)

According to Melody Maker, as soon as the Hatchetts gigs were done, James Royal flew to Italy on 16 April for TV shows

Mick Stewart joined on guitar around this time from Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement

13 May 1968 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with Johnny Cash, June Carter and Carl Perkins & Tennessee 3 (Birmingham Evening Mail)

Categories: Country, Ealing, England, London

James Royal & The Hawks’ gigs 1964-1966

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Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

1964:

30 January 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

 

14 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

21 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

28 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

The 24 September 1964 issue of the Greenford Weekly Post, page 29 has a photo of band

25-26 September 1964 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex (Melody Maker)

 

2-3 October 1964 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex (Melody Maker)

30 October 1964 – Glenlyn Club, Forest Hill, London (Melody Maker)

 

12 November 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

19 November 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

26 November 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

 

3 December 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

1965:

4 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Rockin’ Eccentrics (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette) Possible but not confirmed

 

9 July 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The In Crowd and The Symbols (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

13 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

15 August 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

20 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

28 August 1965 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Reasons (website: http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/)

 

31 October 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

 

11 December 1965 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

1966:

21 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

31 January 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News)

 

14 February 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

 

1 April 1966 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

The group had already started to use the name The James Royal Set for some shows but took on the name more permanently around now

Categories: Ann Arbor, Delaware, Michigan, Ohio, Tortoise

The Continentals and Tortoise Records

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Continentals Tortoise 45 Rufus RastasThe Continentals cut two fratty originals, “Rufus Rastas” / “Donna” on Tortoise Records. I found a copy with an inscription on the “Rufus Rastas” label “First copy to Jim McKee, Oct. 12, 1965 … Joe Doll, President, Tortoise Records”.

I wrote to Mr. Doll and he while he didn’t recall Jim McKee, he replied,

I was president (and janitor, too!) of Tortoise Records. I began college at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio in 1963, then transferred to U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1966 to complete my Electrical Engineering degree.

I most likely met the Continentals when they were entertaining at one of the numerous fraternity/sorority parties in Delaware. Too bad, I have no recollection or documentation of the band members. I do remember the general parameters of the recording session with The Continentals, at the WSLN studios in Delaware, OH, north of Columbus. I also remember thinking at the time that their “Rufus Rastas” made a pretty good side. I don’t think we did a test pressing, so what you found was probably the top copy in the shipment from the pressing factory.

When it was over, they departed with their box of pressings and we had no further contact.

Tortoise Records was named for the very first band on the label, the Turtles, with their “Pungfoo Watusi” from 1964:

“Pungfoo Watusi” was the not-very-carefully-conceived B side of “Pungfoo”. It was the first record I produced.
 
“Pungfoo” originated with me and some fraternity brothers fooling around with a piano, sax, and drum set in the parlor of our fraternity house. We whimsically called ourselves Tuggy and the Turtles. The original title and lyric was “Fungu”. It was a made-up word, but someone thought that meant something bad in another language. One unreleased recording is “Fungu” recorded on cheap equipment in the fraternity house.
 
The record was taped at Fortune Studios in Detroit. I played piano, whistled, and hollered into some sort of trash can. Jim Guiness played saxophone. Our usual drummer, “Tuggy,” could not make it, so we picked up a drummer in Detroit. That’s why the group name is just The Turtles. A couple others assisted with clapping, which I believe we overdubbed. 

I had done some work for the [Fortune] studio the previous summer, and they allowed me to use it without charge. I didn’t do a lot of work there, just came in to help them adjust and maintain their equipment from time to time.
  
Frank Uhle, who took on the project to do a 50th Anniversary re-release of the Beau Biens record, at one time contemplated a vinyl album that would contain some unreleased material. I have about a half hour of covers recorded by the Mark V, a pretty good rock band that played fraternity/sorority parties at Ohio Wesleyan.  I recorded them in the WSLN studios, like the Continentals. There was an outfit called the Crystal Set Radio Band for whom I taped several tunes, originals I believe, in the WCBN studios. Ken Phillips, a U of M student, recorded with a small group a couple of tunes he had written and had them pressed as a demo record.

Joe Doll would become a DJ at WCBN at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he would record the Aftermath and the Beau Biens on Malibu Records. For more info please look at Joe’s website.

Tortoise Records discography:

Tortoise T 64001 – Turtles “Pungfoo” / “Pungfoo Watusi” (both by Joe Doll)

Tortoise T-65001 – Continentals – “Rufus Rastas” / “Donna”

Tortoise T-66003 – Aftermath – “Messing With the Kid” / “Bury My Body” (Campbell, Connelly)

Malibu MB-67001 – Beaubiens (aka Beau Biens) – “Times Passed” (arr. by Salvo & Palazzolo) / “A Man Who’s Lost” (both by Kleene & Tapert, Linnoah Music BMI, produced by Joe Doll)

A special thank you to Joe Doll for his help answering my questions and allowing me to quote him.

Continentals Tortoise 45 Donna

Categories: England, London

Davey Sands & The Essex

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Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

Davey Sands – lead vocals

Howard Alexander (aka Shaffer) – lead guitar

Peter James – bass (replaced by Len Hawkes)

Chris Daryl – keyboards

Ian Barry – drums (replaced by Ian Warner after first single)

1965:

2 October 1965 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London with the Eastsiders (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian)

 

13 November 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Defiants (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

 

31 December 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Lonely Ones (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

1966:

1 January 1966 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex with Curtis & Co and The Mark Four (Essex County Standard)

15 January 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

24 January 1966 – Co-Op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with The Cyclons (Birmingham Evening Mail)

29 January 1966 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich with Yes and No (Eastern Evening News)

 

12 February 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Poor Boys (Maidstone Gazette)

20 February 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Ye Kingwaymen (Eastern Evening News)

 

11 March 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

18 March 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Fenmen and The Fuzz-Bangs (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

19 March 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Original Dyaks (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

26 March 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Clockwork Oranges (Maidstone Gazette)

 

19 April 1966 – Co-Op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with The Cellarmen (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

15 May 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Hi-Jacks (Eastern Evening News)

 

9 July 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

There is a great story and picture on the band in Wellingborough News from 12 August 1966, page 8

13 August 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

15 August 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News)

27 August 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support (Maidstone Gazette)

 

3 September 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

13 September 1966 – Flamingo, Soho, London (Melody Maker)

 

6 November 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

 

3 December 1966 – El Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

16 December 1966 – Dancing Slipper Ballroom, West Bridgeford, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

1967:

7 January 1967 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

29 January 1967 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk (North Norfolk News)

 

1 February 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)

 

4 March 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

11 March 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

17 March 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester with Cryan Shames with Paul and Ritchie (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

19 March 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

31 March 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

 

1 April 1967 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Irvin John Jump Band (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

 

19 May 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Catford, Kent (South East London Mercury)

 

 

Categories: England, Surrey

Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey

1 Comment

According to Christopher Hjort’s excellent “Strange Brew” book, promoters Philip Hayward and John Mansfield opened the old inn Pantiles as a bar and music venue in July 1967 after they gave up their chain of Ricky Tick clubs. The following gigs are taken from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted. I would welcome any additions as it’s difficult to find dates for this venue

1967:

11 August 1967 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book “Strange Brew”)

28 November 1967 – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Christopher Hjort’s book “Strange Brew”)

8 December 1967 – Tuesday’s Children

1968:

2 February 1968 – Ferris Wheel

11 February 1968 – Ferris Wheel

23 February 1968 – The Shevelles

24 February 1968 – The All Night Workers

27 February 1968 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

 

3 March 1968 – Ferris Wheel

12 March 1968 – Ferris Wheel

 

31 May 1968 – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

 

2 June 1968 – The Shevelles

 

9 July 1968 – Ray King Soul Band

 

4 August 1968 – Dave Davani Five

20 August 1968 – Dave Davani Five

1969:

17 June 1969 – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Christopher Hjort’s book “Strange Brew”)

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