Gonks Go Beat

Gonks Go Beat Taiwan LP

I haven’t been able to afford an original Decca pressing of the soundtrack LP to Gonk’s Go Beat, so I’m making do with this weird Taiwan (I think) issue instead. Condition isn’t the best, so you’ll have to put up with one couple skip and some surface noise. It’s worth any trouble to hear the Graham Bond Organisation’s “Harmonica”. If you watch the film you’ll see Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and even John McLaughlin in that scene besides Bond.

The album is only half good. The first side is almost solid, but the second side is weak, and I’m not going to put all the tracks up here, they’re just not worth your time. There are too many light pop songs by Alan David, Barbara Brown, Perry Ford and Dougie Robinson. The ‘Titan Studio Orchestra’ under Robert Richards transcends ordinary big-band material only on the excellent “Burn Up”.

Lulu and the Luvers have a couple good songs, especially “Choc Ice”.

The Long and the Short’s “Take This Train” is also excellent – that was a band I wanted to know more about and Michael Lynch filled me in:

Bob McKinlay: vocals, guitar
Bob Taylor: bass
Les Saint Stuart: guitar
Gerry Watt: piano
Alan Grindley: drums…and one of the drummers in the big drumming scene.

They were from Ashton and had two minor UK hits (like the 30s or 40s) in 1964: “The Letter” (obviously not the Box Tops song) and “Choc Ice” (the song Lulu does in the film). But they’re probably best know for having Bob McKinlay who later made a name for himself as a British country singer.

The “Drum Battle” is crucial. In the movie there are nine players, (eight of which shown on the cover here), but for some reason this studio recording only seems to credit Alan Grinley, Ronnie Verrell (later drummed as Animal in the Muppets), Andy White (session drummer on “Love Me Do”), and Ronnie Stephenson (pop and jazz drummer). The others were Ginger Baker, Bobby Graham (top UK session drummer), John Kearns (“drummer of the Vaqueros of Lancaster – they had an instrumental single called ‘Echo’ in I think 1964” – Michael Lynch), and Bobby Richards plus one other I don’t have a name for yet. Besides the two groups of four drummers that are facing each other, there’s a ninth in the background in some of the shots in the clip from the film.

I mistakenly thought Arthur Mullard was the ninth drummer, but reader Geoff S. pointed out to me that “he was a comic actor renowned for playing dumb heavies and he is the guy wearing the uniform and white headphones who is giving the orders in this scene”.

Gonks Go Beat Taiwan LP Side ADrum Battle Musical Director for the soundtrack is Mike Leander. I kind of like the country-folk song “Broken Pieces” by Elaine and Derek (written by the film’s director, Robert Hartford-Davis). This duo were twins, Elaine and Derek Thompson.

Overall I liked the movie despite the inane plot. The musical finale at the end was visually cool but sonically disappointing except for the Nashville Teens doing “Poor Boy”.

Gonks Go Beat Taiwan LP back cover

The grand prize...

11 thoughts on “Gonks Go Beat”

  1. I had also never heard of this film. I found a site reviewing the film and to my shock and disbelief a half-dozen reviewers not only proclaimed the film was rubbish, but also the music! And not just the ballads, but most of the great stuff featured here as well. Oh well, I suppose I already knew that taste was an item in limited supply on this benighted planet

  2. Don’t think I’ve ever seen the film – however could turn up late night or mid afternoon in the schedules next week! Just noticed listening to that great Lulu track “Choc Ice” that it’s pretty much the inspiration for George Harrison’s “Savoy Truffle” on the ‘White Album’.

    Found some wonderful stuff already – keep up the good work!

    Brian @ The Vinyl Consultancy

    1. Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker appear with The Graham Bond Organization along with a sexy teenage Lulu with her original group The Luvvers – Historically significant Brit 60s Pop Film & Soundtrack!🇬🇧

  3. Les Saint Stewart is still rocking out!!

    Do you still have that copy of Gonks LP?

    The film is so crazy camp and hilarious, many funny stories behind it.

  4. I am a friend of both Bob mckinlay and Bob taylor they are both well, B0b mck has had health problems but is pretty good now .If you go to lankykats on your computer there is all sorts of info on there and scroll to the wrightington hospital radio you can listen to part one of Bobs interview . hope this is helpfull ,G lythgoe

  5. My brother John Kearns was one of the drummers in this movie. Sadly he passed away on 5 February this year.

  6. Arthur Mullard’s musical credentials are recorded on a cover version with Hylda Baker of “You’re The One That I Want” around 1978. Otherwise a heavy for any comedy opportunity on film and TV.

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