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Categories: England

The Loose Ends

August 21, 2020 Nick Warburton 5 Comments

Formed in Bexley Heath, Kent in late 1963, The Loose Ends were fronted by singer Alan Marshall (b. 19 February 1944, Karachi, British India, now Sindhi Province, Pakistan) and his bass playing cousin Rick Marshall.

Lead guitarist Ron Spence (b. 23 April 1947, London, England; d. 25 June 1973) was also there from the outset alongside drummer Peter Hetherington and rhythm guitarist John Knox who had been introduced to the band by Spence.

After rehearsing in a scout hut in Bexley Heath and playing some local gigs, keyboard player Roy Davies (b. 3 October 1944, Monmouthshire, southeast Wales; d. 1986), who was working in a music shop on Bexley Heath Broadway, took over from Knox around early 1964.

The group also brought in a drummer from Luton called Rick who was subsequently replaced by Orpington-based drummer Alan “Noddy” Whitehead (b. 24 July 1945, Oswestry, Shropshire). Whitehead had previously worked with singer Crispian St. Peters.

The band became the house band at St Lawrence Church Hall in Catford, southeast London during this period.

The new formation started landing regular gigs at notable local venues like the Bromel Club in Bromley, the Tiger’s Head in Downham and the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill. Crucially, their manager Bryan Mason secured the group a residency at Lewisham’s El Partido, a club that he owned, which helped build their local fan base.

However, around June 1965, Ron Spence departed to join local rivals The Revellos, who were also managed by Bryan Mason.

Ron Spence (second right) with The Carl Douglas Set, 1966. Photo: Ken Baxter

In early 1966, Spence joined The Carl Douglas Set and remained with the Jamaican singer for about six months (recording unreleased material) before hooking up with Bexley, Kent outfit, The Big Wheel, which featured future Clark-Hutchinson member, Andy Clark. The group toured extensively in Switzerland and recorded a rare single there in late 1966 for the Eurex label. During this period, the guitarist started to work under the name Ron Bryer.

The Big Wheel Eurex PS back — Ron Bryer (far right) with Big Wheel, Switzerland, 1966

When The Big Wheel split, Ron Bryer joined Barry Window & The Movements in July 1967 and appeared on a string of singles and two LPs.

Ron Bryer with The Movements, 1967. Photo: Barry Window

Berry Window & The Movements with Ron Bryer (third from left back row). Photo: Barry Window

During 1968, however, he formed The Third Eclipse who changed name to Brainticket and recorded the Krautrock classic Cottonwoodhill album in 1971. Returning to London in the early Seventies, he briefly reunited with Alan Marshall in One but tragically died from a drug overdose on 25 June 1973.

Selected gigs:

13 June 1964 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Hunters

18 June 1964 – Cafe Dansant, Cleethorpes with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders

4 July 1964 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk

18 July 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex

8 August 1964 – The Northfields, Stamford, Lincolnshire

5 September 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex

26 September 1964 – Glenlyn Club, Forest Hill, southeast London (start playing Monday nights)

3 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Paramounts

16 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Birds

12 December 1964 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts

14 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Original All-Stars

19 December 1964 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Maniax

24 December 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Roadrunners

24 December 1964 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

2 January 1965 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Horizons

16 January 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts

22 January 1965 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts

25 January 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

29 January 1965 – Rainbow Club, Acre Hall, Northwood, Middlesex

2 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Pretty Things

13 February 1965 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Trends

18 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

25 February 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

26 February 1965 – Starlite, Greenford, Middlesex with The Birds

3 April 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

10 April 1965 – Ticky Rick Club, Carnival Hall, Basingstoke, Hants (Says direct from 100 Club)

15 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

18 April 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, East Dereham, Norfolk with The Tea Time Four

23 April 1965 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants

24 April 1965 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Defenders

25 April 1965 – Face Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire

29 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

2 May 1965 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Five Dimensions

16 May 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

16 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London

23 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London

27 May 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

28 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London with Ray Sone

4 June 1965 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon with The Buccaneers

6 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

Guitarist Peter Kirtley (b. 26 September 1945, Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham) from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear took Ron Spence’s place. A former member of The Chevrolets and Shorty & Them, Kirtley had appeared on the latter’s lone single, “Pills or Love’s Labour Lost” c/w “Live Laugh Love”, released on Fontana in 1964, and a German-only album, shared with Liverpool group, The Roadrunners, before decamping to London in early 1965.

According to the South East London Mercury newspaper’s 19 February 1965 edition, Kirtley and fellow Jarrow musician, bass player, the late Brian Rowan formed the short-lived Take Six with southeast London musicians, organist Roger Read (ex-Wranglers/Showtimers) and drummer Graham Willard in early 1965.

In February 1966, The Loose Ends landed a semi-residency at the exclusive Mayfair nightclub, the Scotch of St James.

Having inked a deal with Decca Records in late 1965, The Loose Ends cut their debut single, an impressive take on “Send The People Away”, a rare Moody Blues’ track penned by Mike Pinder and Denny Laine, backed with a cover of “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”, which was shipped in July 1966.

That same month, South East London Mercury reported that bass player Dave Collman (b. 13 April 1946, Croydon, Surrey) had taken over from Rick Marshall.

The Loose Ends, circa July 1966. Left to right: Roy Davies, Peter Kirtley, Dave Collman, Alan Marshall and Alan Whitehead. Photo: Peter Kirtley

Selected gigs:

13 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

Photo: Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times

19 June 1965 – Jazz & Blues Festival, Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon’s Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers and The Epitaph Soul Band

20 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

26 June 1965 – Swaffham Assembly Rooms, Swaffham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans

27 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

4 July 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

25 July 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Mode

14 August 1965 – Ticky Rick and Rang-A-Tang Club, Basingstoke, Hants

10-11 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee

11 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee, Sonny Childe and Lou Johnson

13 September 1965 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

14 September 1965 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

15 September 1965 – Cromwellian, south Kensington, west London

16 September 1965 – The Raven, Ladywell, southeast London

17 September 1965 – Beckenham Ballroom, Beckenham, south London

18 September 1965 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

18 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Artwoods (Southeast London Mercury has Lou Johnson)

25 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Guy Darrell

2 October 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with support

2 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Jesse Fuller, The Spectres and Duke Lee

9 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Dave Anthony’s Moods, Duke Lee and Next of Kin

10 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with The Knock-out Squad

16 October 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London

20 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Long, Short & Tall and Duke Lee

23 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Minor Birds and Duke Lee

27 October 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands

30 October 1965 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (possibly their debut Nottingham appearance)

30 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Hamilton & The Movement and Duke Lee

3 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Blues Roots and Duke Lee

11 November 1965 – Hoochie Coochie Club, Wooden Bridge Hotel, Guildford, Surrey

12 November 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

19 November 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire

20 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Guy Darrell, Winds of Change and Duke Lee

27 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Panics and Duke Lee

9 December 1965 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with Sonny Childe and Ad Finitum

11 December 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire

12 December 1965 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (from The Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London)

16 December 1965 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

18 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Frank Sheen Sound and Duke Lee

24 December 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

24 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee and Frank Sheen Sound

3 January 1966 – Gala Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands

3 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer

8 January 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Web

16 January 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Ketas

30 January 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Marvin Lois Enterprise

5 February 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Defenders and The Convoys

13 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Trends

15 February 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Five Proud Walkers

19 February 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

20 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

21 February 1966 – Starting this week, The Loose Ends played the Scotch of St James in Mayfair, central London three times a week. They will continue to play the exclusive nightclub throughout the year.

24 February 1966 – Gala Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands

26 February 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

5 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with Tony Knight’s Chessmen

11 March 1966 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London

12 March 1966 – Golden Star Club, Caledonian Road, north London

16 March 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

17 March 1966 – Pontiac, Putney, southwest London

Photo: Either Aldershot News or Camberley News & Bagshot Observer

26 March 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Koobas

29 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action

1 April 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with The Lonely Ones

Photo: most likely Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser

2 April 1966 – St Peter’s Hall, Croydon, south London with The Board Walkers

10 April 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex

10 April 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with The Lonely Ones

11 April 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soundtracks and The Reasons

17 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

29 April 1966 – Links, Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire with support

30 April 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent

1 May 1966 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

14 May 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

18 May 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

20 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Market Hall, St Albans, Herts

26 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Bo Street Runners

27 May 1966 – Queen of Hearts, Queensbury, north London

28 May 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

4 June 1966 – Southeast Jazz Blues Festival, Blackheath, southeast London with Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Roy C and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

5 June 1966 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Tiffany’s Thoughts

6 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

7 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends are one of the three resident bands at the Scotch of St James for the week 11-17 June

12 June 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

13 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

17 June 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester with Five Minus One

18 June 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex

20 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

21 June 1966 – Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London with The Felders Orioles

25 June 1966 – KD Club, Stockton-on-Tees with The Denmen (Says from Scotch of St James)

27 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

According to an article in the Wandsworth Advertiser on 29 July, the band held down a Wednesday residency at the Bromel Club in Bromley during July and besides playing at the Scotch of St James and the Flamingo, The Loose Ends also performed at the Marquee. Apparently, they also opened a game at Charlton Athletic FC.

Barely a month after the band’s debut release, Decca issued a second single on 5 August 1966, once again produced by Noel Walker. Coupling a superb freakbeat version of George Harrison’s “Taxman” with the more R&B flavoured “That’s It”; the second outing should have been a hit but for some reason failed to chart.

However, despite the clutch of great singles, The Loose Ends were unravelling.

Photo: South East London Mercury, mid September 1966

In late September, Alan Whitehead departed, initially to join Cops ‘N’ Robbers. He then spent a month or so playing with southeast London group The Epitaph Soul Band before joining The Attack alongside singer Richard Shirman and guitarist David O’List.

Although he was photographed extensively with the band, Whitehead only appeared on two tracks (“Try It” and “We Don’t Know”) as he had already secured the drummer’s position in Scottish band The Marmalade. Whitehead remained with The Marmalade throughout its most successful years. In an interesting side note, Whitehead says that he auditioned for the group that became Procol Harum in spring 1967.

Selected gigs:

6 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley southeast London

8 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Rufus Thomas

9 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Corvettes

13 July 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley, southeast London with The Good Things

16 July 1966 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

17 July 1966 – Eltham Baths, Eltham, southeast London

18 July 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

20 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London with The Squires

22 July 1966 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants

23 July 1966 – Penthouse, Birmingham with Deep Feeling and Mark V

24 July 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

26 July 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

27 July 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

29 July 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends were one of three resident bands at the Scotch of St James with The VIPs and The Paramounts during the week 30 July – 5 August 1966

20 August 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support

21 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

27 August 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex

28 August 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Sullivan James Band

Photo: Mirabelle, 3 September 1966 issue

3 September 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Yes ‘N’ No

9 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gary Farr & The T-Bones

10 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support

11 September 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

15 September 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

17 September 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (Alan Whitehead’s final gig)

Photo: South East London Mercury, 6 October 1966

Rick Marshall and Alan Whitehead’s departure prompted a wider split. In early-to-mid-October 1966, Peter Kirtley departed and accepted an offer to join The Alan Price Set, working alongside bass player Boots Slade; trumpeter John Walters; sax players Steve Gregory and Clive Burrows (later replaced by Terry Childs); and drummer Roy Mills.

Selected gigs:

2 October 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

5 October 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent

8 October 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (may have been Kirtley’s final gig)

With two of the band’s integral members gone, Alan Marshall joined forces with Croydon band, The Subjects. The south London group featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ) (b. 30 March 1950, London, England); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums).

The Subjects at Bromley Court Hotel, 1966. Left to right: John Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Photo: Alan Griffin.

At the same time, the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas & The Charmers among others.

Mick Patel (second right) with Carl Douglas & The Charmers, late 1965. Photo: Ken Baxter

By late November/early December 1966, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and Bryan Mason recruited bass player Colin Pullen from Kent bands, Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All. Another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde, succeeded Roy Manderson soon afterwards.

The Loose Ends, circa mid-November 1966. Left to right: Roy Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Mick Patel, Phil Lanzon, (front) Alan Marshall, Alan Griffin and John Manderson. Photo: South East London Mercury, 15 December 1966 issue.

Roy Davies and Dave Collman meanwhile appear to have worked in a rival Loose Ends for a few months (although Davies appears to be pictured with Marshall and other groups after the Raven Club gig in early November, see below).

Roy Davies (wearing hat) with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, July 1967.

Roy Davies joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound around February 1967.

Selected gigs:

12 October 1966 – Gravesend R&B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (The Loose Ends played the club’s opening night according to PACE magazine)

15 October 1966 – Bligh’s Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent

15 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

17-18 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

23 October 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

25 October 1966 – Yum YumClub, New Georgian Club, The Gun, Croydon, south London (Dick Dale booking)

28 October 1966 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

29 October 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with The Squeeze, The Original Hermits and The Trap

2 November 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands

2-5 November 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

3 November 1966 – Raven’s Club, Lewisham, southeast London with Lee Hawkins and Coloured Raisins

Photo of The Loose Ends after the Raven Club gig. The photo seems to suggest that Roy Davies (fifth from the right) is still in the band. Photo: South East London Mercury

12 November 1966 – Matlock Ball Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Family

19 November 1966 – Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with guest group

20 November 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the Alan Marshall version of The Loose Ends by bringing in another Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker (b. 28 March 1944, Erith, Kent) and the group landed a residency at the Playboy Club on Park Lane. While there, The Loose Ends entertained the entire England World Cup winning team and their wives.

Selected gigs:

3 December 1966 – Royal Ballroom, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Soul Foundation

Photo: Most likely Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph

24 December 1966 – Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Kru and Size Seven

26 December 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (billed as The New Loose Ends)

January 1967 – New Spot, Gosport, Hampshire (1^st week of January)

6 January 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

15 January 1967 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (billed as The New Loose Ends)

The Loose Ends in Milan, January 1967. Left to right: Bob Saker, Colin King, Mick Patel, roadie on congas, Alan Marshall, Tony Glyde, Colin Pullen and Phil Lanzon. Photo: Colin Pullen/Bob Saker

After rehearsing at the El Partido in Lewisham, and playing a lone gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon in early January 1967, The Loose Ends landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January. Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All took his place.

While playing at the Bang Bang in Milan, the musicians met Georgio Moroder plus Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll at the club.

The Loose Ends at the Bang Bang Club in Milan. Left to right; Tony Glyde, Colin King, Bob Saker, Mick Patel and Colin Pullen. Alan Marshall and Phil Lanzon are not pictured. Photo: Colin Pullen/Bob Saker

In early March, The Loose Ends returned to London and Alan Griffin took over from his replacement Colin King. The new line-up played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy.

While loading out the band’s gear from the Speakeasy one night, Jimi Hendrix and a couple of friends came out and the famous guitarist told Lanzon: “Nice combo man”.

Sometime in late April/early May, Tony Glyde left to join The Fenmen briefly before moving on to Simon K & The Meantimers and his predecessor Roy Manderson returned.

Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Tony Glyde is far right. Photo: Alan Wherry

Around the same time, Mick Patel also left to join The Canadians (with future rock star David Foster) and then joined The Warren Davis Monday Band (with Foster) with whom he appeared on the 45 “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” c/w “Without Fear” before moving to British Columbia in late 1967.

Mick Patel (third left) and David Foster (third right)

During early June, Alan Marshall and Bob Saker flew to the United States to record two tracks at Muscle Shoals with Otis Redding. The soul singer had caught the pair fronting The Loose Ends during the Stax-Volt Tour back in April and impressed by their soulful vocals invited them to record a Fame Studios.

The pair cut covers of “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing” with Redding producing. However, soon after there was a split between Jerry Wexler and Phil Walden and the proposed single was held back. The two singers returned to London that summer to find The Loose Ends had splintered.

Selected gigs:

January-March 1967 – Bang Bang, Milan, Italy (six weeks and billed as Gli Erranti)

8 February 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (This might have been booked but didn’t happen)

11 February 1967 – Ye Ye Club, Milan, Italy (billed as Alan Marshall e Gli Erranti)

25 February 1967 – Bligh’s Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent (probably the band’s first UK gig after returning from Milan if it did happen)

1 March 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent

4 March 1967 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

8 March 1967 – Bromel Club, Downham, southeast London

April 1967 – Scotch of St James and Speakeasy (Otis Redding sees them at one of the venues)

15 April 1967 – The Polytechnic, Central London with The Savoy Brown Blues Band

Cats Pyjamas, 1968. Clockwise from bottom left: Alan Griffin, Kenny Bernard, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and (front) Colin Pullen. Photo: Colin Pullen

With the singers both gone, Colin Pullen, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon and Roy Manderson stuck together and looked for a new front man. Adding singer Kenny Bernard (b. 31 December 1943, Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies), (previously from The Wranglers but at the time a solo artist), they changed name to Cats Pyjamas and made two excellent singles with CBS. The group held down a residency in Madrid in May 1968 and then gigged around London. Lanzon, Griffin and Manderson briefly played with Geno Washington in late 1969-early 1970.

Phil Lanzon later recorded with Grand Prix, toured and recorded with Sweet and has toured and recorded with Uriah Heep since the mid-1980s. He has also recorded solo CDs

When the two recordings were shelved (after Redding’s untimely death), Bob Saker cut a lone single for Polydor and then a string of singles for Parlophone and CBS (as Saker) in 1968 and 1971. In 1972, he reverted to his full name and recorded a series of singles for the York label and an album They’ve Taken Back My Number, which featured Maurice Gibb. He later found success as a voice-over artist.

Happy Magazine, 1968. Alan Marshall (back left). Peter Kirtley (second left). Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the image

Alan Marshall meanwhile reunited with former Loose Ends guitarist Peter Kirtley in Happy Magazine, a soul/R&B outfit that was managed and produced by Alan Price.

Joined by Kirtley’s old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them plus Alan White on drums (who was replaced later by west Londoner Malcolm Wolffe from The Tribe), the band cut material that was split over three singles for Polydor.

Kicking off with Alan Price’s excellent “Satisfied Street”, backed with “Beautiful Land” in December 1967, featuring a horn section that may well be Amboy Dukes members Buddy Beadle and Steve Gregory (also ex-Alan Price Set), the label re-issued the track three months later coupled with the Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham soul classic “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man”.

However, it was possibly the band’s third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You”, coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”, issued on 14 February 1969, that should have catapulted the band into the charts.

One 1969. Left to right: Alan Marshall, Bobby Sass, Kevin Fogerty, Conrad Isidore, Brent Forbes and Norman Leppard

With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year (with Peter Kirtley reportedly playing the lead guitar on some tracks).

Joined by guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); keyboardist Bobby Sass (an early member of Happy Magazine); bass player Brent Forbes; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album sank without a trace.

Peter Kirtley and Kenny Craddock meanwhile brought in three friends from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and future Yes drummer Alan White, who’d been the original drummer in Happy Magazine, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.

Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head”, coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.

Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.

Kirtley also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.

Alan Marshall, meanwhile, surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.

When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up working with a new version of One (with Jackie McAuley) before joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined.

However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and briefly revised One with Ron Bryer before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall, who is now a pastor, continues to busk in Stratford, east London.

Interestingly, Gonzalez’s keyboard player was Roy Davies, Marshall’s former band mate from The Loose Ends. In the intervening years between joining Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound and working with Gonzalez in 1974, Davies had played with The Maximum Breed Band and later The Butts Band with members of The Doors. He later became a prolific session player before passing away in 1986.

The Loose Ends recordings meanwhile have surfaced on numerous Sixties CD compilations, including Deram’s Mod Scene and Freakbeat Scene.

I would like to especially thank Alan Marshall, Alan Whitehead, Peter Kirtley, Martin Morrison-Mariner, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Colin Pullen, Bob Saker, Ken Baxter, Tony Charman and Mick Glyde for helping with the story. Thanks also to Vernon Joynson and Bruce Welsh.

This is an extensively updated version of an article that was originally published on the Strange Brew website. I’d like to thank Jason Barnard for all of his help and support over the years.

I have tried to attribute the photos correctly where possible but would welcome any corrections.

The gigs have been sourced largely from Melody Maker plus many local newspapers, including the South East London Mercury, Aldershot News, East Kent Times, Eastern Evening News, Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Harrow Weekly Post, Kent Messenger, Lincolnshire Standard, Lynn News, Maidstone Gazette, Evening Argus, Bristol Evening Post, Newmarket Journal, Nottingham Evening Post, Birmingham Evening Mail, Stamford Mercury, Surrey Advertiser, Harrow Observer, Tunbridge Wells Courier and Yarmouth Mercury among others.

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

Categories: England, London

Cats Pyjamas

April 23, 2017 Nick Warburton 5 Comments

Left to right: Colin Pullen, Roy Manderson, Kenny Bernard, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Thanks to Colin for the image.

Kenny Bernard – lead vocals
Alan Griffin – lead guitar
Colin Pullen – bass
Phil Lanzon – keyboards
Roy Manderson – drums

Hailing from South London Cats Pyjamas released two highly inventive yet extremely rare and collectable 45s for the Direction label during 1968. The quintet’s music bridged psychedelia and progressive rock with hints of soul/R&B and both releases were notable for their top notch production and the superlative musicianship of its players.

Trinidad-born singer Kenny Bernard had first come to prominence with R&B outfit The Wranglers during 1963. Formed around the Lewisham area, the previous year, the group subsequently recorded a lone single for the Pye label, “The Tracker”, which was released in August 1965. Around the same time, the musicians were captured live at the Ad Lib Club in Leicester Square for a rare acetate that years later found its way into the hands of Mark Lamarr. The DJ passed the live tracks to the Acid Jazz label, which released the recordings as the Kenny Bernard & The Wranglers Live ’65 CD in 2011.

When The Wranglers splintered a few months later, Bernard stayed with Pye Records and recorded a cache of stylish R&B/soul-inspired singles during 1966 and 1967, none of which troubled the charts. However, as Bernard noted in his autobiography, You Came Into My Life, he found going solo a daunting experience and missed working with a band on stage.

One night (the most plausible date is sometime in June 1967), the singer was out at the Scotch of St James nightclub in Mayfair with his old friend Pete Gage, former guitarist in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, when he heard that South London group, The Loose Ends, were looking for a singer to front the band.

Originally from Bexley Heath in Kent, The Loose Ends had cut a couple of singles for Decca Records with singer Alan Marshall at the helm before undergoing a major overhaul in October 1966, which left the singer with the name. Marshall’s manager Bryan Mason then linked him with Croydon outfit, The Subjects, who featured guitarist Alan Griffin, keyboard player Phil Lanzon and drummer Roy Manderson.

The Subjects, 1966. Left to right: John Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Thanks to Alan for the image.

Over the next few months, The Loose Ends’ manager also started to bring in musicians from Bexley band, Bob ‘N’ All to replace outgoing musicians. These included new bass player Colin Pullen and second singer Bob Saker. However, shortly before taking up a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan in mid-January 1967, first Roy Manderson and then Alan Griffin dropped out to make way for new recruits. Both, however, kept in touch with Phil Lanzon.

Fast forward to early March and The Loose Ends were back in London, and with Alan Griffin back in the fold, the group performed at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy. Shortly after a gig at the Central London Polytechnic on 15 April, where they opened for The Savoy Brown Blues Band, singers Alan Marshall and Bob Saker took up soul legend Otis Redding’s offer to fly to the US to record at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals.

Left without their two front men, The Loose Ends, who’d brought Roy Manderson back on board after his replacement Tony Glyde had left to join first The Fenmen and then Simon K & The Meantimers, put out feelers for another singer. With Marshall and Saker out of the picture, the musicians also decided to revamp themselves as Cats Pyjamas.

After spending a month or so working up a stage set with Kenny Bernard, Colin Pullen recalls that the group’s debut gig took place at a college in Epsom, Surrey, which quite possibly could have been nearby Ewell Technical College Refectory, a popular local venue for up and coming bands to perform at.

Over the next few months, Cats Pyjamas gigged fairly incessantly, and one of the band’s most notable gigs during this period was an appearance at the Starlight Room at Boston Gliderdrome in September with The Original Drifters. Pullen also recalls playing in Bournemouth’s Winter Gardens during the first few months of the group’s existence.

However, in early December, Cats Pyjamas secured a crucial deal with the Rik Gunnell Agency, which most likely was brokered by their manager Pete Gage, who’d co-written one of the band’s standout songs, “Virginia Water” with Kenny Bernard and had previous dealings with the agency during his time with The Ram Jam Band.

Selected gigs:

According to the Reading Evening Post, 12 August, Kenny Bernard plays at the Bag O’Nails around this time (and this would be with Cats Pyjamas).

13 August 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Geranium Pond (Crawley Advertiser)

30 September 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Original Drifters and The Magic Roundabout (Lincolnshire Standard)

7 October 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

22 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)

4 November 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Scots of St James (Evening Sentinel)

11 November 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Geranium Pond (Bedfordshire Times)

2 December 1967 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend, Essex with John Walker and The Timebox and The Seychells (Southend Standard)

2 December 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire with Tramline (Evening Post: Hemel Hempstead)

8 December 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Wafer Board (Evening Sentinel)

The link-up with the Rik Gunnell Agency brought in steady stream of live work and importantly gave the band a regular spot to shine at the agency’s top Soho club, the Bag O’Nails on Kingley Street. It also led to a recording deal with the Direction label and, that same month, the musicians recorded a superb version of Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector’s “Baby, I Love You”, originally a top 30 US hit for The Ronettes in 1963, at Olympic Studio’s in Barnes.

To this listener’s ears, however, it is the flip, the Pete Gage/Kenny Bernard penned “Virginia Water” that is the more impressive recording. A psych/prog-rock masterpiece, the song, named after the Surrey commuter town, benefits greatly from Mervyn Conn’s excellent production and demonstrates the inventiveness of a band that is only a few months old.

Alan Griffin sets the scene with a sizzling “nosediving” guitar effect, which is soon buried in the rhythm section’s intricate, syncopated bass and percussion lines. The action then cuts back to the guitarist, who interjects with a series of strident riffs, signalling the arrival of Phil Lanzon’s majestic, prog-rock Hammond fills. As the brooding atmosphere threatens to spill over, Kenny Bernard joins the fray with his distinctive, powerful and soulful lead vocals.

The single, when released on 26 January 1968, should have been a massive hit, but instead sank without a trace. Perhaps “Virginia Water” would have fared better had it been promoted as the A-side but then again the band’s unique style, marrying psych-progressive rock with soul influences was probably far too inventive and dare I say it, “ahead of its time” to meet the narrow demands of the pop charts. Needless to say, breaking into top echelons of the charts was practically an impossibility anyway given The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and others’ virtual stranglehold.

Interestingly, “Virginia Water” caught the attention of Scottish progressive-rock band, Writing on The Wall, who later recorded the track under an “unknown” title for their Power of The Picts LP.

Selected gigs:

15 December 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 December 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18 December 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

19 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

22 December 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 December 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 December 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

26 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 December 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29-30 December 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

31 December 1967 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 January 1968 – “Big C”, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 January 1968 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11-12 January 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

13 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gods (Tony Bacon’s Book: London Live)

13-14 January 1968 – Il Grotto, Ilford, Essex (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

15 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 January 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

19 January 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 January 1968 – Margon’s College, King’s Road, Chelsea, southwest London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21 January 1968 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Salisbury Journal)

25-26 January 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 January 1968 – Holborn College of Law, Red Lion Square, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 January 1968 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Deuce Coupe (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

1 February 1968 – RAF Wyton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 February 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 February 1968 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 February 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9-10 February 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

10 February 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Merseys and North Sea Bubble (Southend Standard)

13-15 February 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 February 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 February 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18 February 1968 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Amboy Dukes (Birmingham Evening Mail/Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 February 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 February 1968 – Boat 27, Sibyllas, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 February 1968 – Ceasar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 February 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 March 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

Undeterred by the chart failure of their debut 45, Cats Pyjamas returned to Olympic Studios in Barnes with Mervyn Conn to record a follow up release. According to Rik Gunnell’s agency bookings, the group spent two days recording (4 and 5 March).

Colin Pullen remembers that The Steve Miller Band were recording tracks for Children of The Future in the studio next door and when Cats Pyjamas had finished their session they watched the San Francisco group at work.

During the sessions, Cats Pyjamas recorded two new Kenny Bernard songs, “Camera Man” and “Houses”. Bernard would revisit the pedestrian “Houses” in later years and but here the rest of the band give the song a semi-acoustic treatment complete with progressive organ fills. To this listener’s ears, the track wouldn’t sound out of place on The Small Faces’ Autumn Stone or Family’s Music From a Doll’s House. Far better is the raving Mod/prog cross-over “Camera Man” with its infectious chorus and stomping, driving beat.

Like “Virginia Water”, “Camera Man” demonstrates just how innovative Cats Pyjamas could be in the studio; unfortunately the group’s second outing would follow its predecessor into obscurity. The tragedy is that the group never got the opportunity to cut more material towards an LP.

Selected gigs:

7 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

8 March 1968 – Meridan Youth Club, Royston, Hertfordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9 March 1968 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11-12 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 March 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Friction (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Cambridgeshire Times)

17 March 1968 – King Alfred, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 March 1968 – Central School of Art, Southampton Row, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 March 1968 – Foseco Sports & Social Club, Drayton Manor, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25-27 March 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25-27 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 March 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

30 March 1968 – Twickenham College, Twickenham, west London with Mystie Romance (Melody Maker)

3 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

5 April 1968 – Ministry of Health, Alexander Fleming House, Elephant & Castle, London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 April 1968 – Stax Club, Cirencester, Gloucestershire with The Purple Barrier (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

7 April 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9 April 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

13 April 1968 – White Tiles Disco, Swindon, Wiltshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

14-15 April 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

19-20 April 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21 April 1968 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Yarmouth Mercury)

25 April 1968 – Station Hotel, Selly Oak, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 April 1968 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 April 1968 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with The Happiness (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Express & Star)

27 April 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Birmingham Evening Mail)

28 April 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 April-3 May 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

4 May 1968 – Brave New World, Eastney, Hampshire (Website: http://michaelcooper.org.uk/C/birdcage.htm)

9-10 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 May 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

12 May 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

13 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 May 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18 May 1968 – Dandylion Club, Cross Hands Inn, Brockworth, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen/Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 May 1968 – Yeoman, Stafford, Staffordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21-22 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 May 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

30-31 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

Released on 24 May 1968, “Camera Man” c/w “Houses” was another creative step forward but all was not well within the band. As Bernard later admitted in his autobiography, the singer was increasingly coming to blows with the rest of the group, both musically and personally. A rare high point was a month-long residency at the Stones Club in Madrid during June where Cats Pyjamas took over from Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Selected gigs:

June 1968 – Stones Club, Madrid, Spain (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 July 1968 – Hyde Park Hotel, Debs Ball, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

4 July 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 July 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 July 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

7 July 1968 – King Alfred, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

10 July 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 July 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

12 July 1968 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

13 July 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

14 July 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

15-19 July 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 July 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

26 July 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 July 1968 – Petersfield Town Hall, Petersfield, Hampshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 August 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

4 August 1968 – Beau Brummell Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Scorpions (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Chester Chronicle)

5 August 1968 – Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star) This is missing from Colin’s diary

9 August 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Woking Herald)

10 August 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

12 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 August 1968 – Swan Hotel, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 August 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

24 August 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Ben E King (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25 August 1968 – Excel Bowling Alley, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25 August 1968 – Cellar Club, Hartlepool, County Durham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

30-31 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 September 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 September 1968 – John Gunnell’s Wedding Reception, 55, Jermyn St, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

8 September 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, Oval, south London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11-13 September 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

14 September 1968 – Britannia Club, Nottingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

15 September 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20-21 September 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 September 1968 – Rainbow Suite, Co-op, Birmingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 September 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

4 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 October 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 October 1968 – Kingston College of Art, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18-19 October 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21 October 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

26 October 1968 – White Hart, Acton, west London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 October 1968 – Mercer’s Arms, Swan Lane, Coventry, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28-31 October 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

1-9 November 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

10 November 1968 – Swan Hotel, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) Missing from Colin’s diary

The band late 1968. Left to right: Phil Lanzon, Alan Griffin, Kenny Bernard, Roy Manderson (back) and Colin Pullen. Thanks to Alan for the photo.

Having returned to the UK after working in Madrid for a month during June 1968, tensions between Kenny Bernard and the rest of the band continued to grow and following some final gigs for Rik Gunnell in mid-November, the singer parted ways to resume a solo career.

Cats Pyjamas stuck together a bit longer but sometime in 1969 Colin Pullen left. Around November of that year, remaining members Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon and Roy Manderson joined Geno Washington and worked as his Ram Jam Band until the spring of 1970. Griffin remained with the singer when he put together a new version that year.

Phil Lanzon, however, maintained the greatest profile over the succeeding years, later working with Grand Prix, Chris Spedding and Sweet among others before joining Uriah Heep in 1986 with whom he continues to play.

Huge thanks to Colin Pullen (who kindly shared the Rik Gunnell Agency booking list), Alan Griffin and Phil Lanzon for providing information about the band.

Categories: Country, England, London

Happy Magazine

December 4, 2015 Nick Warburton 4 Comments

Back row left to right: Alan Marshall, Alan White and Kenny Craddock. Front row, left to right: Peter Kirtley and Brian Rowan. Photo: Peter Kirtley

Alan Marshall – lead vocals

Peter Kirtley – lead guitar

Kenny Craddock – organ

Brian Rowan – bass

Alan White – drums

Happy Magazine was soul/R&B band that was formed during August 1967 by singer Alan Marshall and lead guitarist Peter Kirtley and was managed and produced by former Animals keyboard player/singer Alan Price.

The two musicians have previously played together in Southeast London R&B group, The Loose Ends from around July 1965 to October 1966 when Kirtley departed to join The Alan Price Set.

Alan Marshall meanwhile formed a new version of The Loose Ends, drawing on Croydon, Surrey band, The Subjects, which featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums).

After a short while, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas and bass player Colin Pullen from Kent band, Bob ‘N’ All. Not long after, Roy Manderson was succeeded by another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde.

In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the formation by adding another Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker and the group played regularly at the Playboy Club.

The Loose Ends then landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January but Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Bob ‘N’ All took his place.

During early March 1967, The Loose Ends returned to London and played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy. At one of the venues, Otis Redding spotted Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and invited them to Muscle Shoals to record, and during May/June the singers cut two tracks – “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing”, which were never released. Marshall and Saker then returned to the UK.

By this point, Peter Kirtley was ready to leave The Alan Price Set to team up with Alan Marshall and around August the pair formed Happy Magazine. Initially, Marshall’s friend Bobby Sass was going to play keyboards but he departed after initial rehearsals.

Kirtley, who was originally from Tyneside and had played with Shorty & Them during the early 1960s, introduced his old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them. He also recruited drummer Alan White, formerly a member of Tyneside outfits, The Bluechips and The Gamblers.

During 1968, Alan Price recruited Alan White for his backing band, and Malcolm Wolffe from West London bands, The Tribe and Dream took over. The band then cut its third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You” (again with horns), coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”. Issued on 14 February 1969, the single should have catapulted the band into the charts.

With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year.

Peter Kirtley Brian Rowan Kenny Craddock Malcolm Wolffe Alan Marshall — Left to right: Peter Kirtley, Brian Rowan, Kenny Craddock, Malcolm Wolffe and Alan Marshall

Joined by lead guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); his old friend and keyboardist Bobby Sass; bass player Brent Forbes from Salford bands, The Rogues and Sunshine; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album (which featured Peter Kirtley on lead guitar) sank without a trace.

Peter Kirtley, Kenny Craddock and Alan White meanwhile brought in two friends from Newcastle – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.

Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head,” coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.

Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.

Kirtley has also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.

Having fronted new versions of One, Alan Marshall surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.

When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined. However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and pursued a solo career before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall continues to perform in London.

Alan White became a top session player, working with John Lennon and George Harrison among others and later joined Yes, with whom he continues to play.

White’s replacement Malcolm Wolffe meanwhile joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

Notable gigs:

2 September 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Erskine T (Birmingham Evening Mail)

9 September 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Tremeloes (Melody Maker)

9 September 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Winston G & Heart and Souls (Melody Maker)

22 September 1967 – Darling Club, Maidenhead, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

23 September 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

23 October 1967 – Foseco Sports & Social Club, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Tamworth Herald)

4 November 1967 – G-Ranch, Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Gazette)

19 November 1967 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

13 January 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

17 February 1968 – Nuneaton Parish Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire with Arnham Bloo (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

24 February 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

7-9 March 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, central London (Melody Maker)

7 April 1968 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Yarmouth Mercury)

13 April 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton with Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)

28 April 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

8 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Tamca Band and Watson Brown Band (Wrexham Leader)

19 July 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Easybeats and Rivers Invitation (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

20 July 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

22 July 1968 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes with Ferris Wheel and Glass Showband (Grimsby Daily Telegraph)

1 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

8 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)

9 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

10 August 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

19 August 1968 – Bluesville ’68, Manor Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star)

2 September 1968 – Bluesville ’68, Manor Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star)

7 September 1968 – Rainbow Suite Co-op, Birmingham with The Baron (Birmingham Evening Mail)

11 September 1968 – Summerhill House Hotel, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)

19 September 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

29 September 1968 – The Tent Club, Swan Hotel, Billingham with The New Blues Revue (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

19 October 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Earl Preston’s Reflections (Warrington Guardian)

20 October 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)

26 October 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

3 November 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The New Formula (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: Redcar Jazz Club/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

3 November 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury) This seems very unlikely unless it was another date

8 November 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

9 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

16 November 1968 – Stage Club, Oxford (Oxford Mail)

30 November 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

22 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Animals, Grapefruit, The Paul Williams Set, Barry St John, Long John Baldy, Kim Davis & The Beginning, Noble Forde and The Tempo Set (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) Original Animals’ reunion gig/Geno Washington was billed but cancelled

27-28 December 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

3 January 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

19 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Paul Williams Set (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub)

25 January 1969 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

8 February 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Locomotive and Magazine (Birmingham Evening Mail)

9 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

22 February 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

1 March 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Bedlington, Northumberland (Sunday Sun)

Thanks to Alan Marshall, Peter Kirtley, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Bob Saker and Colin Pullen for helping piece the story together. Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the photos.

Please contact the author at Warchive@aol.com with further information/corrections

Categories: England

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band 1968-1970

September 11, 2014 Nick Warburton 19 Comments

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(August 1968)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
Dave Greenslade – organ
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar, vocals
Peter Carney – bass, vocals
Lionel ‘Rocky’ Kingham – tenor saxophone
Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone
Pat Higgs – trumpet
Colin Davey – drums

During May 1968 Geno Washington went to Madrid on his own and played at the Stones Club with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Back in the UK, during mid-August, he fired guitarist John Culley and trumpet player Pat Higgs while drummer Hans Herbert went into hospital for a hernia operation. Washington then put together a new formation around the surviving members.

Guitarist Dave Tedstone had a long pedigree, having worked with Herefordshire bands, Lee Starr & The Astrals and The Doc Thomas Group before joining Freddy Mack in London in April 1967. By early 1968, he was playing with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds with original Ram Jam members John Roberts and Herb Prestidge. Colin Davey had played drums with Tedstone in Freddy Mack’s band in 1967 and had also briefly played with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede before that.

Original sax player Buddy Beadle returned after working with The Amboy Dukes, who’d shared the bill with The Ram Jam Band on numerous occasions.

The new line up recorded a three-hour BBC Radio 1 session at Maida Vale in late August. With Greenslade taking the lead as musical director, the group (with a session bass player) cut five tracks, including the old blues staple, “Rock Me Baby”, a cover of The Rolling Stones’ recent single “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” plus “Hi Heel Sneakers” and “Holdin’ On (With Both Hands)”, which were later picked up by collectors’ label Acid Jazz for a compilation EP.

Producer John Schroeder, however, was not happy with the new direction and with a live album lined up for August the new line up proved to be short-lived. Gigs were few and far between and while all of this was going on, Dave Greenslade began rehearsing with his new band, Colosseum.

Selected gigs (NME lists the following as the ones that Dave Tedstone line-up played):

10 August 1968 – Brighton Festival, Brighton, West Sussex

12 August 1968 – Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hants

15 August 1968 – Locarno, Bristol, Avon

16 August 1968 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Emotions

17 August 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

23-24 August 1968 – Scene Two Discotheque, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

27 August 1968 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn, Wales with The Informers (this is missing from NME list above so may be another month)

30 August 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Toast (this may have been done by next line up)

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(August 1968-September 1968)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar
Dave Greenslade – organ
Peter Carney – bass, vocals
Lionel ‘Rocky’ Kingham – tenor saxophone
Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone
Hans Herbert – drums

In the last week of August, Dave Tedstone left to re-join Jimmy James & The Vagabonds. He later contributed recording sessions for Cartoone’s second album and then joined Tom Jones’s band, The Squires. In 1970, Tedstone joined Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers, reuniting with Buddy Beadle. The group cut an unreleased album at Trident Studios. John Culley resumed the guitar spot.

Colin Davey also departed at this point to join Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Hans Herbert returned. However, Buddy Beadle remained; Pat Higgs did not return.

The revised line up cut a lone single, “Bring It To Me Baby” c/w “I Can’t Let You Go” (Pye 7N 17649), which was released in November 1968.

Selected gigs:

31 August 1968 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent

1 September 1968 – Bank Holiday Bluesology Festival, Chateau Impney, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire with The Move, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie Mack, Chris Farlowe, Wynder K Frogg, Family and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

1 September 1968 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire

1 September 1968 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham

2 September 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

7 September 1968 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with The Soul Difference

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(September 1968-December 1968)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar
Keith O’Connell – organ
Peter Carney – bass, vocals
Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone
Steve Gregory – tenor saxophone
Rod Baby – trumpet
Hans Herbert – drums

In early September, Dave Greenslade formally departed to play with his new band, Colosseum. Longstanding member Lionel Kingham also departed and later worked with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds before doing sessions for Henry McCullough and Geoff Muldaur among others.

With Greenslade gone, the band recruited Manchester musician, Keith O’Connell, who’d played with local groups The Raging Storms and Glass Menagerie.

Beadle recommended his former band mate from The Amboy Dukes, Steve Gregory, who’d played with The Alan Price Set before that. The band also added trumpet player Rod Baby.

Selected gigs:

13 September 1968 – Mayfair, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Idle Race

14 September 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire

27 September 1968 – Church Elm, Discotheque, Dagenham, London with supporting group (advertised by seems unlikely considering Falkirk gig below)

27 September 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with The Brian Marshall Foundation and Absolute (Herbert recalls that Geno got laryngitis during one of the Scottish tours and he had to cover lead vocals from the drum kit)

28 September 1968 – Ayr Ice Rink, Ayr, Scotland with Vanity Fayre and supporting groups

29 September 1968 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with The Shadettes (also played Maryland Ballroom, Glasgow around this time)

30 September 1968 – The Beach, Aberdeen, Scotland

4 October 1968 – Top Rank, Leicester

7 October 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

11 October 1968 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester

12 October 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire

15 October 1968 – Top Rank, High Wycombe, Bucks

17 October 1968 – RAF Hollyhead, Anglesey

18 October 1968 – Bridge Place Country Club, Bridge near Canterbury, Kent

19 October 1968 – The College, Chester, Cheshire

21 October 1968 – Top Rank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Mid-October 1968 – HM Wormswood Scrubs, London

October-November 1968 – Piper Club, Rome, Italy (also gigs in Turin)

2 November 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with Jigsaw

2 November 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

15 November 1968 – Romanos, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Sands

16 November 1968 – New Arcadia, Bray, Republic of Ireland with The Trixons

22 November 1968 – Leicester College of Education, Leicester

23 November 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Apricot Brande

25 November 1968 –Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales

28 November 1968 – Top Rank, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear

6 December 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear

12 December 1968 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions, Mr Poobah’s Chicago Line, Georgia Quintet

20-21 December 1968 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

22 December 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands

24 December 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with Ruby James & The Trifle and The Purple Dream

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(December 1968-April 1969)

Hans Herbert did not stay long on his return. After leaving Geno Washington he worked with country-rock bands Jamie’s People and Lincoln Park Inn among others.

Malcolm Wolffe, who’d previously played with The Tribe and then Happy Magazine took his place.

Selected gigs:

4 January 1969 – Whitchurch Town Hall, Whitchurch, Wales with Shady Lane and The Antrix (Saturday)

17 January 1969 – Central Pier, Morecombe, Lancashire

18 January 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire

20 January 1969 – St Matthew’s Hall, Ipswich

25 January 1969 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire

25 January 1969 – Gaeity Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire

26 January 1969 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

29 January 1969 – Oldham College of Further Education, Oldham, Lancashire

30 January 1969 – Riverton Barn, Bolton, Lancashire

31 January 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear with Cupid’s Inspiration

2-10 February 1969 – Showboat Variety Club, Middlesbrough

12 February 1969 – Top Rank Ballroom, Cardiff, Wales

13 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

15 February 1969 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

23 February 1969 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with Alan Jordan & The KB Showband

3 March 1969 – Ice Rink, Liverpool

5 March 1969 – Winter Gardens, Morecombe, Lancashire

7 March 1969 – College Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

8 March 1969 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

12 March 1969 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside

14 March 1969 – Public Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire

15 March 1969 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire

16 March 1969 – Pop World ’69, Empire Pool, Wembley, Middlesex with Fleetwood Mac, Amen Corner, The Move, The Gun, Barry Ryan and others

21 March 1969 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London

23 March 1969 – Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, London

5 April 1969 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with Alan Jordan & The KB Showband and The Shadettes

7 April 1969 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Revolver

18 April 1969 – Kinema Ballroom, Stranraer, Scotland with Systems Go Most likely date for John Culley’s final gig

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(April 1969-September 1969)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
Keith Field – lead guitar, vocals
Keith O’Connell – organ
Peter Carney – bass, vocals
Buddy Beadle – baritone saxophone
Steve Gregory – tenor saxophone
Malcolm Wolffe – drums

John Culley departed after a Scottish tour in March-April 1969, playing his final gig in Stranraer (see above). After working in the Ivory Coast with The Crazy Fingers, he joined Cressida in 1970 and later played with Black Widow. Rod Baby departed at the same time.

Guitarist Keith Field, formerly with The Blue Aces, and, more significantly, Ferris Wheel, took over from John Culley after cutting a solo single, “The Day That War Broke Out” c/w “Stop! Thief” for Polydor in September 1968.

The new line up recorded a lone single, “My Little Chickadee” c/w “Seven Eleven” (Pye 7N 17745), which was released in June 1969.

Selected gigs:

April 1969 – Gigs in Netherlands (according to Billboard)

25 April 1969 – White Lion, Edgware, London

26 April 1969 – Winning Post Hotel, Twickenham, London

20 May 1969 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire with The Idle Race, The Honeybus, Clouds and others

23 May 1969 – Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester

24 May 1969 – The Pavilion, Buxton, Derbyshire

26 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez & Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

30 May 1969 – Newmarket Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset

31 May 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Tract and Virgin Hearse

June 1969 – Scottish tour (includes gigs with Jo Jo Gunne and Three Dog Night)

13 June 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Sweet and Pedestrian Crossing

6 July 1969 – Citation Hotel, Perth, Scotland

6 July 1969 – Grand Hall, Kilmarnock, Scotland

8 July 1969 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon

11 July 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

13 July 1969 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Canterbury Tales

19 July 1969 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with supporting acts

19 July 1969 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (unlikely if Guildford date took place unless one is incorrect)

21 July 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Roundabout with Wild Duncan and Syrian Blue

27 July 1969 – Start week at Fiesta, Stockton

August 1969 – Short tour of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland (around now)

5 August 1969 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon

9 August 1969 – Three-day Swedish tour starts (advertised in music press)

29 August 1969 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Zoo

1 September 1969 – Pop and Blues Festival, Pennycross Sports Stadium, Plymouth, Devon with Fleetwood Mac, The Move, Dave Amboy, Rod Mason Jass Band and The Nashville Teens

12 September 1969 – Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay with supporting group

20 September 1969 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Shy Limbs

The Coventry Evening Telegraph’s 29 September issue notes that Geno Washington has split from the group. The band were due to appear at Chesford Grange, Kenilworth tonight and were replaced by The Drifters.

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(October 1969-November 1970)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
Alan Griffin – lead guitar, vocals
Tom Duffy – bass, vocals
Winston ???? – keyboards
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Brent Scott Carter – tenor saxophone
Frank Charlton – trumpet
Larry ???? – drums

The Ram Jam Band split with Washington after working at the Neago Club in Majorca in October 1969.

Beadle and Gregory would go on to play a multitude of sessions with artists as diverse as Ginger Baker’s Airforce, Babe Ruth, Bell & Arc, Chicken Shack, Andy Fairweather-Low, Alan Hull, Otis Spann, Suzi Quatro, Freddie King and Lindisfarne. They also became members of Gonzalez and recorded a string of albums in the 1970s.

NME announced in the week ending 4 October 1969 that Geno Washington had split from The Ram Jam Band and returned to The United States. Fabulous 208 magazine mentioned in its 25 October issue that the group had split in the same week as Amen Corner and The Marbles.

The singer duly returned from the United States this month and put together an entirely new version of The Ram Jam Band.

Tom Duffy came from Newcastle and had previously played with The Sect. The group’s new drummer was another American, from California. Alan Griffin had previously played with Croydon, south London band, The Subjects.

Londoners Tony Hall and Brent Scott Carter both came in from Simon K & The Meantimers. Tony Hall had a long pedigree having previously worked with West London outfits, Peter Nelson & The Travellers, Peter’s Faces, Wainwright’s Gentlemen, The Flowerpot Men and Rupert’s Spoon.

Selected gigs:

1 November 1969 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with BZN and Heaven

29 November 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire

21 December 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham

24 December 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Candy Choir

29 January 1970 – Crescendo Club, Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay

5 February 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Sonic Invaders

6 March 1970 – Carousel, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Derrick & Sounds

28 March 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands

4 April 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

1 May 1970 – Flamingo, Ballymena, Northern Ireland

2 May 1970 – Romanos, Belfast, Northern Ireland

24 July 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Tension

14 August 1970 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon

2 October 1970 – Fresher’s Ball, Liverpool Polytechnic Guild of Students, Liverpool with Stack Waddy

8 November 1970 – Up the Junction, Crewe, Cheshire

13 November 1970 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland

14 December 1970 – Wall City, Chester, Cheshire with Satisfaction with Mike Cotton, Wall City Jazzmen

Around December 1970, Tom Duffy left and went on to record with Arc and Bell & Arc before playing and recording with Lindisfarne. Frank Charlton also left and later recorded with The Avant Gardeners.

Roger Flavell joined on bass after working with Grand Union (Bandwagon’s backing band) and Judd. Further personnel changes took place in early 1971 before the musicians broke away from Geno Washington.

Flavell subsequently played with The Tommy Hunt Band and recorded with The Byron Band among others. Brent Scott Carter later appeared on an album by Babe Ruth while Tony Hall did sessions for Dana Gillespie among others.

Selected gigs:

26 December 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

Sources include: Melody Maker, NME, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Fabulous 208, Kent Herald, Wrexham Leader, Berkhamsted Gazette, Birmingham Evening Mail, Southend Standard, Time Out, New Ross Standard, Wicklow People, Aberdeen Evening Express, Belfast Telegraph, Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Wells Journal, Liverpool Echo, Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, Cheshire Observer, Wigtownshire Free Press & Galloway Advertiser.

Huge thanks to Peter Carney, John Culley, Dave Tedstone and Tony Hall for helping with line ups.

www.rockpopmem.com
www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/
http://www.lankybeat.com/The%20Impnelson.html
http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/
http://www.kinemagigz.com/1969.htm

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. To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

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