Jimmy James – lead vocals
Count Prince Miller – lead vocals
Wallace Wilson – lead guitar
Coleson Chen – bass
Carl Noel – keyboards
Carl Griffiths – tenor sax
Rupert Balgobin – percussion
Winston Martin – drums
Born on 13 September 1940 in the United States, Jimmy James moved to Jamaica in the mid-1940s and joined The Vagabonds in 1964 after recording solo singles. The Vagabonds had been formed in 1961 by Count Prince Miller, Coleson Chen and Wallace Wilson with other musicians, who were gradually replaced with the line-up above.
The musicians relocated to London in May 1964 with Chen’s younger brother Phil guesting on second guitar and initially they played at parties and social functions. This formation recorded The Vagabonds LP.
Soon after, Winston Martin left and Rupert Balgobin took over drums and Phil Chen became a permanent member.
Attracting the attention of manager Pete Meaden, who’d discovered The Who, the group landed a month-long residency at the Scene in March 1965. In mid-1965 Coleson Chen returned to Jamaica and his brother Phil moved on to bass.
Selected gigs
20 November 1964 – Kilburn State Ballroom, Kilburn, London with Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers and Dixieland Steel Band (billed as The Jamaican Vagabonds)
18 March 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (billed as The Vagabonds)
30 April 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
9 May 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London with The Spencer Davis Group
18 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
22 May 1965 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire
28 May 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey
31 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
7 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Who
12 June 1965 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks
13 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Woburn Park Hotel, Addlestone, Surrey
14 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Solomon Burke
17 June 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds were featured in an article in the Staines and Egham News (18/6/65, page 10)
19 June 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (billed as The Vagabonds)
21 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
26 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire
28 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
1 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
2 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
5 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Animals
9 July 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey
10 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
12 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
13 July 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London with The Brian Auger Trinity
14 July 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (billed as The Vagabonds)
19 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Manfred Mann
25 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
26 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The VIPs
29 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
31 July 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Under Pete Meaden’s management, the band’s debut single on Columbia, “Shoo Be Doo (You’re Mine)” c/w “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” was released in August 1965 but was not a chart success. They then moved to Piccadilly for seven singles, starting with “I Feel Alright” c/w “I Wanna Be Your Everything” in February 1966.
Despite not cracking the singles’ chart, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds became regulars at the Marquee and built up a huge following on the nationwide club circuit where they were regarded as one of the most dynamic live acts.
Selected gigs
2 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
9 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
12 August 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
13 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey
16 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz and The Boz People
21 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire (Billed as The Vagabonds with Jimmy James and Count Prince Miller)
23 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
27 August 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
30 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs
2 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
6 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Crowd
9 September 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
13 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
17 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
20 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Sidewinders
22 September 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset
23 September 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as Vagabonds)
27 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
1 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
4 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz & The Boz People
6 October 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with Dave Antony’s Moods
11 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Uglys
13 October 1965 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire
14 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
18 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
21 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Action and Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Dave Allen research)
24 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans
25 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs
29 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
1 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo
4 November 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as The Vagabonds)
6 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
8 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Banshees
9 November 1965 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol
15 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Train (Moon’s Train?)
17 November 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset
18 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
22 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
27 November 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire
29 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
4 December 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire with Mike Cotton Sound
6 December 1965 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire wit Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, Goldie (of the Gingerbreads), Shangaans, The Mark Leeman Five and Gary Farr & The T-Bones
10 December 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
12 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
13 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo
15 December 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (billed as The Vagabonds)
19 December 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Blaizes
20 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
Around this time Carl Griffiths returned to Jamaica but later came back to the UK with singer Prince Buster. He also worked with Cat Soul Packet in September-November 1967 before joining The Bees who became The Pyramids. Griffiths later worked with Manfred Mann Chapter 3
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Count Prince Miller – lead vocals
Wallace Wilson – lead guitar
Phil Chen – bass
Carl Noel – keyboards
Rupert Balgobin – drums
Selected gigs
9 January 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
10 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
14 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
15 January 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire
17 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
23 January 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham
24 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
25 January 1966 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol
27 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Drifters
31 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
5 February 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire
6 February 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London (on one occasion they were joined by John Brown’s Bodies, so maybe this date)
8 February 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
12 February 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
14 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
20 February 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
21 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five
19 February 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers and The Blueberries (with “Count Prince Miller”)
26 February 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (with “Count Prince Miller”)
3 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho,central London with The Summer Set
15 March 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)
18 March 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex
20 March 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with Rocky & The Emperors
21 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Boz “And New Group”
26 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Goodtime Band (billed as The Vagabonds)
28 March 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk
30 March 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
31 March 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey
Around this time former Rupert & The Red Devils’ tenor sax player Fred “Nat” Frederick joins. Frederick may be the same Fred who had recently played with John Lee’s Groundhogs.
3 April 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support
4 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
6 April 1966 – Target Paul’s Row, High Wycombe, Bucks
8 April 1966 – Links R&B Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts with The Fairies (opening night) Melody Maker has The Action as second group
9 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
11 April 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Sonny Childe & The TNT and The Real McCoy
14 April 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire
17 April 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Alan Bown Set
19 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Vibrations
20 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
25 April 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey
28 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
29 April 1966 – York University, York
30 April 1966 – Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
The group releases its third 45, “Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum” c/w “Come To Me Softly”
1 May 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with The News
2 May 1966 – Rag Queen Dance, East Ham Town Hall, East Ham, east London with The Symbols
4 May 1966 – Highbury Technical College, Cosham
5 May 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire
6 May 1966 – Keele University, Keele
7 May 1966 – Manor Lodge, Stockport, Greater Manchester
8 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with The Deakin Lewis Band (billed as The Vagabonds)
9 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk
11 May 1966 – College of Technology, Brighton, West Sussex
12 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Statesides (This is missing from Beat Instrumental unless this was moved to 16th)
13 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
14 May 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
15 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington
16 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
19 May 1966 – Starlight, Crawley, West Sussex
20 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London
21 May 1966 – St Martin’s School of Art, central London
22 May 1966 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry
23 May 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire and Concord Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hants
24 May 1966 – Concorde Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
27 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (possibly with John Brown’s Bodies) Trend & Boyfriend magazine has Links Ballroom, Borehamwood on this date as well
28 May 1966 – Gig in Islington, north London
29 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington
30 May 1966 – Blues Festival, East Dereham, Norfolk with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Sullivan James Band and Sounds Reformed. Beat Instrumental says this was the Tavern Club
3-5 June 1966 – Gigs in Ostend, Belgium
6 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
10 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
11 June 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
12 June 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
13 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
14 June 1966 – St John’s College, Cambridge
15 June 1966 – Blue Flame Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands and Casino Club, Walsall, West Midlands
16 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
17 June 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Bobby Gibson and Group 004
18 June 1966 – Commonwealth Institute, central London
19 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London
20 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
21 June 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)
23 June 1966 – Birdcage, Porthsmouth, Hants
24 June 1966 – Gig in Exeter, Devon (probably university)
25 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
26 June 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
27 June 1966 – Wall City JC, Chester, Cheshire
28 June 1966 – American School, Hilton Hotel, central London
29 June 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire
30 June 1966 – Birmingham University, Birmingham
1 July 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough
2 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Roy C, The League of Gentlemen, The Amboy Dukes and The Ferryboys
4 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
5 July 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
6 July 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
7 July 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
8 July 1966 – Masonic Hall, Hornchurch, east London
9 July 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester
10 July 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
11 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
12 July 1966 – Bristol University, Bristol
14 July 1966 – Bircage, Eastney, Hampshire
16 July 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London
17 July 1966 –White Lion, Edgware, north London
18 July 1966 – Shoreline Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
19 July 1966 – Manor House, north London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
22 July 1966 –Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough
23 July 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
24 July 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington
The band releases its fourth 45 on Piccadilly “This Heart of Mine” c/w “I Don’t Wanna Cry”
29 July 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary Cray, southeast London
2 August 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Move
4 August 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
5 August 1966 – Beat ‘n’ Blues Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Better Days, The Kynd and The Reaction
6 August 1966 – Cadillac Club, Brighton, West Sussex
7 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
11 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
13 August 1966 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court Casino Ballroom, Hampton Court, Middlesex
14 August 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire
17 August 1966 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
18 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol with The Fanatics
21 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham
23 August 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
25 August 1966 – Astoria, Finsbury’s Park, north London with Sonny & Cher, Sharon Tandy & The VIPs
27 August 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London and Lyceum, central London
28 August 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
29 August 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
30 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Clayton Squares
31 August 1966 – Discoblue Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Baritone sax player Milton James, who has previously worked with Hogsnort Rupert, The Olympics and The Dynamics joins
2 September 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Him & Others
3 September 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
5 September 1966 – Wall City Jazz Club, Chester, Cheshire
8 September 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
9 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
10 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London
13 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog
14 September 1966 – Ackys Scene, New Maid’s Head Hotel, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
16 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London
17 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Leicester
18 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
20 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders, The Ferryboys
26 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, south London with Bluesology
27 September 1966 – Churchill Hall, Kenton, north London
1 October 1966 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London
2 October 1966 – Palais Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire
3 October 1966 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
4 October 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
6 October 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
9 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
11 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Episode Six
14 October 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts
15 October 1966 – International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
15 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
Melody Maker says the band went to Belgium to play gigs in Brussels and Ostend on 17 October. Is this possible for one day?
18 October 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks
19 October 1966 – Falcon Hotel, Eltham, southeast London
20 October 1966 – Concorde, Southampton with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
20 October 1966 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, east London
21 October 1966 – The Marquee Show, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Spencer Davis Group, The Move, Wynder K Frog, The Herd and The VIPs
22 October 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire
23 October 1966 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
25 October 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
26 October 1966 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, east London
27 October 1966 – BRC R&B Club, Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire
28 October 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
29 October 1966 – Manchester University, Manchester
29 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester
30 October 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
The band releases its fifth 45 “Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud” c/w “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do”
9 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts
10 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London
12 November 1966 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London
13 November 1966 – Youth Centre, Liverpool
16 November 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hampshire
18 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Summer Set
19 November 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
24 November 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford
26 November 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
27 November 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham
28 November 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
29 November 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
Around this time, the band releases its LP The New Religion
1 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton
2 December 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester
3-4 December 1966 – Maryland Club, Glasgow, Scotland
6 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn
9 December 1966 – Durham University, Durham with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
10 December 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Orlons, The Gates of Eden and The Ebonites
11 December 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
12 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Hip 100
13 December 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
15 December 1966 – School of Art, Guildford, Surrey with The Alan Bown Set
16 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Unchained
17 December 1966 – Disco Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight
20 December 1966 – St Thomas, Brentwood, Essex
22 December 1966 – Southampton Guildhall, Hampshire with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
22 December 1966 – Ricky Tick, Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire
23 December 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Hounslow, west London with The Summer Set
24 December 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
26 December 1966 – Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
27 December 1966 – Corn Exchange, Bristol
31 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Neat Change and The Bunch
The band releases its sixth 45 “I Can’t Get Home to My Baby” c/w “Hungry For Love”
1 January 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
2 January 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire
The Hillingdon Mirror ran an article and photos in its 3 January 1967 issue, page 20
4 January 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soul Sisters with The Tonic and Charades
8 January 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians
Around this time Milton James departs. Baritone sax player Pat Gravende (aka Pat Sandy) replaces him. Also, longstanding member Carl Noel departs and Tom Parker, who has previously played with The Groundhogs, The Mark Leeman Five and Eric Burdon’s New Animals takes his place
The line-up now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Count Prince Miller – lead vocals
Wallace Wilson – lead guitar
Phil Chen – bass
Tom Parker – keyboards
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax
Pat Sandy – baritone sax
Rupert Balgobin – drums
Selected gigs
27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
28 January 1967 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
29 January 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
31 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Syn
3 February 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire
4 February 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
5 February 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts
6 February 1967 – Wall City Club, Chester, Cheshire
7 February 1967 – Manchester University, Manchester with Alan Bown and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
9 February 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
11 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool
17 February 1967 – Gyro Club, Troutbeck Hotel, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
19 February 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
20 February 1967 – Bluesville Club, Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
21 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire
24 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
25 February 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Eyes of Blonde and Ray Bones
25 February 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester
26 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
27 February 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
2 March 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Gordon Riots
3 March 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
4 March 1967 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, London
5 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
5 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Hubbubs
7 March 1967 – Corn Exchange, Bristol
10 March 1967 – Phillipa Fawcett College, Streatham, London
11 March 1967 – Aquarium, Brighton, West Sussex
12 March 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians
14 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog
15 March 1967 – The Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester with The Drifters
16 March 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
17 March 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham
18 March 1967 – Manchester College, Manchester
19 March 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
20 March 1967 – Assembly Hall, Stafford, Staffordshire
21 March 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire
24 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London
25 March 1967 – Trade Union Hall, Watford, London
25 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire with The Alan Price Set
27 March 1967 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange with Family, Reformation and Rubber Band
28 March 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Bossmen
30 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fab 208 says 29 March)
31 March 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby, Humberside
1 April 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
2 April 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
4 April 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
13 April 1967 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
14 April 1967 – Brighton Arts Festival, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, West Sussex with Paul Jones, The Move, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Mike Stuart Span, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and others
15 April 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
17 April 1967 – Bluesville Club, Ipswich, Suffolk
19 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
20 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
21 April 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
22 April 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London
24 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
26 April 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge
28 April 1967 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
29 April 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with Sons and Lovers
The band releases its seventh 45 on Piccadilly “No Need to Cry” c/w “You Showed Me The Way”
It’s possible that Carl Noel may have returned at this point to briefly replace his successor Tom Parker
5 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The American Vibrations and The Hubbubs
6 May 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Fleur De Lys
7 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
8 May 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
9 May 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
24 May 1967 – Purple Fez Club, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon
25 May 1967 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
25 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog
27 May 1967 – Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Survivors
28 May 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners
29 May 1967 – Boulevard Gardens, Tadcaster, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes, Ellison’s Hog Line, The Screen, The Shotgun Express, Pete Lala Group and others
29 May 1967 – Crystal Bowl, Castleford, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes
1 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
3 June 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
4 June 1967 – The Place, Oldham, Greater Manchester
5 June 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
7 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts
8 June 1967 – Electric Garden, Covent Garden, London (Disc and Music Echo, 27 May issue, says the venue recently opened)
9 June 1967 – Matrix Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (with Mike Cotton Sound and The Big Jump Band?)
10 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
11 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
14 June 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
15 June 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Life
17 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
17 June 1967 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
According to Melody Maker, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds played at The Shoreline in Bognor Regis and Jimmy James collapsed from exhaustion. The Derby gig was called but he was fit to do the Klooks Kleek gig
18 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (cancelled)
20 June 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
22 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
25 June 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Jude Brown Trust
26 June 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
28 June 1967 – Royal Pier, Mecca Ballroom, Southampton, Hampshire
29 June 1967 – Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Wales with The Fortunes
30 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Condors
1 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Steps and Ray Bones
2 July 1967 – Spinning Disc Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
3 July 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Disc & Music Echo has this on 5 July)
3 July 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Bath
4 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Malvern, Worcestershire
7 July 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
7 July 1967 – Victoria Hall, Dunbar, Scotland
8 July 1967 – Market, Carlisle, Cumbria
9 July 1967 – Top 10 Club, Dundee, Scotland
10 July 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland
12 July 1967 – Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen, Scotland
13 July 1967 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland
15 July 1967 – Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Stewart Henry & The Livewires
19 July 1967 – Disco Blue, Ryde, Isle of Wight
20 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
21 July 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
22 July 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
22 July 1967 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent
24 July 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
26 July 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Brighton, West Sussex
On 27 July 1967, Arthur (Art) Regis took over from Carl Noel after playing with Billie Davis & The Quality (and more recently Engelbert Humperdinck). Regis had previously worked with Frederick in Rupert & The Red Devils. He’d also played with Arthur Brown during 1965-1966 and then Freddie Mack in early 1967.
The line up now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Count Prince Miller – lead vocals
Wallace Wilson – lead guitar
Phil Chen – bass
Art Regis – keyboards
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax
Pat Sandy – baritone sax
Rupert Balgobin – drums
Selected gigs
27 July 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (presumably Regis’ debut gig)
29 July 1967 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent
5 August 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
12 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
15 August 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
18 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
22 August 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
24 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
26 August 1967 – St George’s Hall, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Catharacts
28 August 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire with Elmer Gantry
28 August 1967 – Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop (Wakefield Express) Missing from Art Regis’ gig list
29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Long John Baldry, Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and Wynder K Frog
1 September 1967 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester
1 September 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester
2 September 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Bread & Butter Band
3 September 1967 – Locarno, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
9 September 1967 – Gigs in Ghent and Lens, Belgium
10 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)
11 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)
15 September 1967 – St Michael’s Hall, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
16 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Friction and Eyes of Blonde
17 September 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts
19 September 1967 – Gig in Malvern, Worcestershire
20 September 1967 – Pavilion, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire
23 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Crew and The Gentle Madness
24 September 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
25 September 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk
26 September 1967 – BBC Overseas Service, Aeolian Hall, London
29 September 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
30 September 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington with the Purple Mist and The Penjants
1 October 1967 – Cosmopolitan, Carlisle, Cumbria
2 October 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
3 October 1967 – BBC Dave Symonds, Saturday Club
5 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Le Gay
6 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
7 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow and McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
8 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow, Scotland
9 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
11 October 1967 – 5th Dimension, Leicester
13 October 1967 – Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire
14 October 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire
14 October 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
15 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire
16 October 1967 – Gig in Norwich (cancelled)
17 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
19 October 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
20 October 1967 – Carnatic Hall, Liverpool
21 October 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
22 October 1967 – Kyrle Hall, Birmingham
24 October 1967 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire
25 October 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
27 October 1967 – University of Surrey, Battersea Park Road, London
28 October 1967 – The Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop
28 October 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
29 October 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands
30 October 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, St Matthew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
3 November 1967 – Gig in York, North Yorkshire
4 November 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
10 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Deadly Nightshades and The System
11 November 1967 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex
12 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, London with The Nice and David McWilliams
13 November 1967 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Amboy Dukes
14 November 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (with Eddie Gray’s resident house band)
17 November 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire with Bleu Kats
18 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester
18 November 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester
19 November 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
20 November 1967 – Bluesville ’67, St Mathew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk
22 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Southampton, Hampshire
23 November 1967 – Locarno, Streatham, London
24 November 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
25 November 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Nature’s Own
26 November 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London with The Living Daylights
27 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Bath
1 December 1967 – Lancaster University, Lancaster
2 December 1967 – Nottingham University, Nottingham
3 December 1967 – New Regis Club, Butlin’s Holiday Camp, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
7 December 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
8 December 1967 – Students’ Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers and Precious Few (Eastern Evening News)
9 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jo Jo Gunn, Reformation and Ray Bones
10 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex
12 December 1967 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (cancelled)
12 December 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham
14 December 1967 – Student’s Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night Timers and Precious Few
15 December 1967 – “Big C”, Farnborough, Hampshire
16 December 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
18 December 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
21 December 1967 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex
22 December 1967 – Manor House (could be London or Ipswich)
23 December 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester
24 December 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Bluecaps
27 December 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
30 December 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire with Peppers Machine
30 December 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester
31 December 1967 – Brave New World, Southsea, Hampshire
4 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
13 January 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Funny Farm
18 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Derby, Derbyshire
19 January 1968 – Students Union, Nottingham Regional College of Technology, Nottingham with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and The Litter
21 January 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
8 February 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
Around this time, Count Prince Miller, Wallace Wilson, Phil Chen and Rupert Balgobin gave notice that they were splitting from the group. Miller and Chen started to form The Counts with former member Carl Noel. The final gig with the old line-up appears to have been 2 March.
Jimmy James kept Art Regis, Fred “Nat” Frederick and Pat Sandy (aka Pat Gravesende) and started to recruit new musicians, billed as The New Vagabonds.
These included former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band members John Roberts (bass) and Herb Prestidge (drums). Another new recruit was trumpet player Barry Sutton and guitarist Dave Tedstone, who gave notice with his current employer Freddie Mack.
Initially, Art Regis’ old band mate from The Arthur Brown Union, Roy Stacey played bass before John Roberts took over.
17 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (billed as Jimmy James Show)
18 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex
23 February 1968 – Tottenham Royal, Tottenham, London
24 February 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
25 February 1968 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Coconut Mushroom
26 February 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (billed as Jimmy James Show)
29 February 1968 – Streatham Locarno, Streatham, London
1 March 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2 March 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester
The new line up comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar
Art Regis – organ
Roy Stacey – bass (replaced by John Roberts)
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone
Pat Gravesende – tenor and baritone saxophone
Barry Sutton – trumpet
Herb Prestidge – drums
Selected gigs
5 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (debut of new line up according to Regis’ diary) Roy Stacey on bass
6 March 1968 – South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, Hampshire
9 March 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Supernatural
10 March 1968 – Butlins “Regis Club” Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Roy Stacey left to work in a short-lived group with Iain Clark who went on to Cressida in late 1968 and John Roberts joined on bass
13 March 1968 – Mecca Ballroom, Leeds, West Yorkshire
16 March 1968 – Cheshire College of Education, Crewe, Cheshire
17 March 1968 – Lyddon Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
20 March 1968 – Top Rank, Bristol
22 March 1968 – Gig in Addington, London
23 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire
27 March 1968 – Tangerine Club, East Ham, London
28 March 1968 – Marimba, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
29 March 1968 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester
30 March 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)
In early April 1968, the press announces that Count Miller and other former Vagabonds had formed The Counts
5 April 1968 – Die Hallen, Kortrijk, Belgium with Johnny Halliday and The Lemons
6 April 1968 – Eden Ranch, Lens, Belgium
7 April 1968 – L’Omnibus and Le Trident, Paris, France
11 April 1968 – Barn Barbecue Dance, Thurmaston, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Alan Bown, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention, Legay, Sons & Lovers, The Equals, Pesky Gee, Pitiful Souls and Six Across (Regis says this clashes with the following gig)
11 April 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
12 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland
13 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland
14 April 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Dominoes
15 April 1968 – The Barn Barbecue, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Soft Machine, Fleetwood Mac, The Equals, Alan Bown, Fairport Convention, Legay, Pitiful Souls, Sons & Lovers, Six Across, Pesky Gee
19 April 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
20 April 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine (billed as The Jimmy James Show)
21 April 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
22 April 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk
24 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
25 April 1968 – The Pier, Worthing, West Yorkshire
26 April 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Delroy Williams and The Sugar Band, The New Trend and Continuity Big D Show
27 April 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinkley, Leicestershire (Regis has Hackney but this is more likely)
30 April 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
4 May 1968 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Ten Years After and The Precious Few
8 May 1968 – Spa Lounge & Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
10 May 1968 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
11 May 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London
12 May 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham
21 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
24 May 1968 – Manor House (London or Ipswich)
25 May 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with support
26 May 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex
31 May 1968 – White Lion, Edgeware, London
1 June 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Peppermint Creams
3 June 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
7 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Green Ginger (billed as The Jimmy James Show)
8 June 1968 – Winter Gardens, Western Super Mare, Somerset
14 June 1968 – Anson Suite, New Union Building, Bristol
15 June 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
19 June 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts
20 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London
21 June 1968 – College of Education, Leicester
22 June 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)
23 June 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex
28 June 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
29 June 1968 – Newark Rugby Club, Newark, Nottinghamshire
30 June 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The West Coast Promotion
The new formation releases its debut 45, issued on Pye, “Red Red Wine” c/w “Who Could be Loving You?”
Tony Priestland, who has played with Art Regis in Arthur Brown’s band in 1965 briefly joins around about now plus a trumpet player called Don.
4 July 1968 – Cornwall Technical College (possibly St Austell) with PP Arnold and Spirit of John Morgan
6 July 1968 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent
7 July 1968 – Douglas House, U.S. Military Social Club, London
12 July 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
13 July 1968 – Gig in Yardley, Birmingham
14 July 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
16 July 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
18 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol
19 July 1968 – Tottenham Royal, London
21 July 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham
23 July 1968 – The Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
25 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire
26 July 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London
27 July 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
28 July 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
At some point (most likely during July), the band recorded four tracks which were later picked up by Acid Jazz for its Lookin’ Good EP: “She’s Looking Good”, “Aunt Dora’s Love Soul Shack”, “Soul Sister, Brown Sugar” and “Why (Must I Be Treated So Bad)”
Regis’ diary has Scottish tour for 29 July-6 August 1968
Dave Tedstone leaves immediately after this tour to work with Geno Washington. His temporary replacement is guitarist John Bedder who has played with The Savages and also Winston G
The line-up now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
John Bedder – lead guitar
Art Regis – organ
John Roberts – bass
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone
Pat Gravesende – baritone saxophone
Tony Priestland – alto saxophone
Barry Sutton – trumpet
Don ? – trumpet?
Herb Prestidge – drums
10 August 1968 – Botley, Oxfordshire
13 August 1968 – BBC Stuart Henry Show (if this is the date the show aired, this might be the tracks described above, later released by Acid Jazz)
15 August 1968 – Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire
16 August 1968 – Plaza, Teignmouth, Devon
16 August 1968 – Plaza, Tynemouth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (very unlikely but advertised)
17 August 1968 – R.A.F. Raven Club, Waddington, Devon
18 August 1968 – Linden Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
24 August 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
29 August 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Echo says 27 August)
30 August 1968 – Candlelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Dave Tedstone returns around about now
31 August 1968 – Gig in Western Super Mare, Somerset (may be Tedstone’s first gig back)
1 September – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands
8 September – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire
9 September – Gig in Bath
12 September – Gig in Worthing, West Sussex
13 September 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
Around this time Art Regis departs and Bill Coleman takes over on organ. Tony Priestland also moves on to join Titus Groan. Another former Ram Jam member, Lionel Kingham comes in on sax
This same month, Pye issues the band’s LP Open Up Your Soul
25 September 1968 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
28 September 1968 – Leascliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent
1 October 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
4 October 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
5 October 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
9 October 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Renaissance Fair
15 October 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
18 October 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
19 October 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Privy Seal
20 October 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Chelfont Line
29 October 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
1 November 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with The Package Deal and Dave the Rave
3 November 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London
8 November 1968 – University of Sussex, Brighton, West Sussex
9 November 1968 – Pavilion, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
10 November 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
12 November 1968 – Kirkcaldy Ice Rink, Kirkcaldy, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession
13 November 1968 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Herd, The Procession and The Emeralds
15 November 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with Brian Marshall Foundation, Haze and Procession
15 November 1968 – Dundee Ice Rink, Dundee, Scotland with The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession
28 November 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
29 November 1968 – Elms Court Hotel, Botley, Oxford with Paper Lemon
30 November 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent
3 December 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
6 December 1968 – Pier Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire
7 December 1968 – Brighton University, Brighton, West Sussex
8 December 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art, northeast London with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Pretty Things
13 December 1968 – John Dalton College, Manchester
14 December 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands
14 December 1968 – Cliff Pavilion, Folkestone, Kent (unlikely)
15 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London
16 December 1968 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire
21 December 1968 – St George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Spring and Tom-E-Tee
In late December Jimmy James dissolves the current formation and puts together a new line up the following month. Phil Chen returns from The Counts and the group also features former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band member, guitarist Pete Gage
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Pete Gage – lead guitar
Bill Coleman – keyboards
Phil Chen – bass
Clive Stephens – saxophone
Barry Sutton – trumpet
+ others
Pete Gage describes the situation as a “pick up band vibe” with various musicians coming and going alongside those listed above. He was also getting tired of the soul scene and started to get into more early jazz fusion so later that year he and Stephens left to form Dada. Chen also departs and Coleman helps Jimmy James revamped the group again
Selected gigs
1 January 1969 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
6 January 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
10-11 January 1969 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
24 January 1969 – Shrewsbury Hotel, Bridgewater, Somerset
25 January 1969 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with Justin Tyme
26 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners
Melody Maker notes that Jimmy James split from their recording manager John Schroeder and will use independent producers from now on. Next is Pete Gage and 45 “Close The Door on My World”.
1 February 1969 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
4 February 1969 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
6 February 1969 – Locarno, Portsmouth, Hampshire
8 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
13 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
15 February 1969 – New Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, West Midlands
16 February 1969 – Belle Vue, Manchester
17 February 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Lemon Cartoon and Cleo’s Mood
22 February 1969 – Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset
The band releases the 45 “Open the Door” c/w “Why” on Pye
6 April 1969 – Sherwood rooms, Nottingham with Marv Johnson & The Bandwagon
12 April 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
15 April 1969 – Revolution, central London
27 April 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with White Rabbit
3 May 1969 – Kennington College, south London
26 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
2 June 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Rubber Soul Band and Wall City Jazzmen
7 June 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Rainbow Folly and The Connection
14 July 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
18 July 1969 – Devizes Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire with Tom Browne and Green Ice
20 July 1969 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Clyde McPhatter
Pip Williams joins on lead guitar around late July from The Fantastics’ backing band The House of Orange. From his recollections, it looks like some of the musicians who had played with Jimmy James in 1968 returned
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Pip Williams – lead guitar
Bill Coleman – keyboards
John Roberts – bass
Barry Sutton – trumpet
Lionel Kingham – tenor sax
Herb Prestidge – drums
Williams doesn’t remember many gigs but does recall playing at the Club Saint Hilaire de La Mer in St Maxime in the south of France during the summer, which lasted about a week. He also remembers that former member Count Prince Miller stepped in as MC a few times. The group later split from Jimmy James to back Jimmy Ruffin.
Selected gigs
6 August 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
6 September 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Attic Express and Paper Lemon
14 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham
21 September 1969 – Caribbean Music Festival, Empire Pool, Wembley, London with Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker, Maxi Romeo, Jackie Edwards, Count Prince Miller, Joyce Bond, Root and Jenny Jackson, Black Velvet, Derek Morgan, The Mohawks, Pat Kelly and The Skatalites
2 October 1969 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band
25 October 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Ritual
27 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Petrus, Golliwog and Wall City Jazzmen
31 October 1969 – Flamingo Entertainment Centre, Hereford
8 November 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Village Green Road Show
9 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham
23 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
24 December 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Freddie Mac Show and Lloyd Williams Soul Caravan
3 January 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Dandelion Replaced Spooky Tooth
In early 1970, James completely revised the group line-up as the following:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Chris Garefield – lead guitar
Alan Kirk – keyboards
Alan Wood – bass
Russell Courtney – drums
Selected gigs
2 March 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands
14 May 1970 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London
23 May 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
31 May 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
4 July 1970 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London
28 July 1970 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham with Major Lance, J J Jackson & Dilemma, The Fantastic Honey and Darling & The Purple Bloom
9 August 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
10 October 1970 – Madison Club, Torquay, Devon
24 December 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Fantastics and Carl Edwards Roadshow
Art Regis helped greatly by sharing his diary dates. Thanks also to Pete Gage, Pip Williams, Dave Tedstone, Phil Chen and Roy Stacey. Big thanks to David Else for his help with chronology of the early years and fact checking
Sources include:
Aldershot News, Beat Instrumental, Maidstone Gazette, East Kent Times & Mail, Nuneaton Evening Tribune, Fabulous 208 Magazine, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Argus (Brighton), Bournemouth Evening Echo, Gloucestershire Echo, Melody Maker, Leicester Mercury, Southern Evening Echo, Northwich Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Newham, West & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express, Yorkshire Evening Post, Eastern Evening News, Evening Star (Ipswich), Bucks Free Press (High Wycombe), Dundee Evening Telegraph, Folkestone & Hythe Gazette, Essex Chronicle, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Portsmouth News, Retford Times, The Star, the Dorset Evening Echo, the Express & Star, Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. Western Gazette, Derbyshire Times, Wakefield Express, Dave Allen provided Birdcage gigs for Southsea and Eastney.
