Month: July 2017

The Nearly On The Beach Concert 2017 – The Stade Open Space Saturday 29th July and Sunday 30th July 2017

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Saturday 29th July 2017 – Strings, The Rocking Ambassadors, Dead Calm, Local Heroes and The Blues Brothers Show.

Sunday 30th July 2017 – DJ Wendy May, Alibi, Brent Hutchinson Blues, Pete Prescott with The Sgt Pepper Band (photographed) and The Rockit Men.

Pete Prescott…  THE SGT PEPPER BAND is rehearsing this Wed(26th July) at the Marina Fountain pub. Massive thanks to Glenn Hoile for allowing us to use the pub. If you want to watch the fun it starts at 8.00pm. Josephine Claire Hamill, Martin Blackman and I will be joined by guest vocalists Joby Heasmer Mike Raxworthy and Tim Phillips. The band is Tony Gainsborough, Chris Barrett, Phil Gill, Danny Jefferies and Rick Pentecost. We are playing on Sunday at the beach gig at 4.00pm but it would be great to see you at The Fountain tomorrow. Almost like a gig !

Mike Raxworthy…. Re the Beach Concert: URGENT CHANGES!! Saturday: Rhythm Fields just let me down so I’ve managed to get Strings in at the last minute – they’ll be doing a 20 minute set from 2pm…so thanks to those guys for stepping in (for FREE) at the last minute. SUNDAY: Brent Hutchinsons Blues Band – they’ve got a big gig this evening miles and miles away and requested an earlier slot…so they are now starting at 2pm and Alibi will take their the 3.15 pm slot. All I need now is the rain to keep off….remember this year I’ve got a marquee over the bar so in case of showers people have some shelter! Also Sunday morning I’ve got Swing Street on at 10.30 am along with a proper breakfast…bubble and squeak with fried egg on top and baked beans – or a veggie version of that too…OR Old Town Smoked Haddock Kedgeree with rice etc OR Oysters and bubbly…it should be good if it’s dry – so please come and join me for Brekkie sunday morning – gates open at 10am!!! Wish me luck and a dry weekend! Please share if you can…thanks

Alan Esdaile… The Sgt Peppers Band should be on around 4.00pm on Sunday.

 

SMART Coffee meet No. 37 report

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Our 37th meet. Among the newbies were Sue Jones, Mark Harris and David Miller.  Sue was  talking about her memories of seeing Jimi Hendrix at the Isle Of Wight Festival. Mark & David both from The Likely Lads were reminiscing about their bands Beez Neez, Split Image and others. Mick O’Dowd had with him Phil Spector’s Back To Mono cd box set and the local mod compilation album Uppers On The South Down. Geoff Peckham had a very interesting  Beatles book ‘Revolution in The Head’ and was talking about a skiffle band he recently played with called Lonnigans and featured none other than Rod Davis, an original Quarrymen. Pete Prescott arrived with a bundle of albums and some interesting photos of Cliff Richard from the Time musical. He mentioned that Deep Purple’s Ian Paice lived in Hastings at one stage. Andre Martin and Sarah Harvey were looking forward to their shows on Carnival Radio  and Neil Roberts was talking about future gigs for his band Freak Flag.. Phil Gill had his guitar with him and working out some tunes with Roger Carey. I had with me albums of John Miles, Back Street Crawlers, Breaking Glass and Sharks. This is a small bit of what I can remember, anyone who wishes to add anything you were talking about, then please feel free to do so.

Lucy Pappas… One day I’ll get there! Not that I have any memorabilia, it was all thrown out years ago. Hope you had fun x

Mick O’Dowd… Another goodie Alan. Nice to see more newbies being baptised!

Mark Harris… Thanks chaps, enjoyed some good old reminiscing!!

Tony Davis… Sorry to miss it. There next time

Dave Nattress… I will take a Friday afternoon off work one day and get there!! Great to see the cover of the first Sharks album. Excellent album, not a bad track. Saw them do OGWT when they did World Park Junkies and Snakes and Swallowtails. Got it on vinyl and CD along with the second Sharks album, Jab it in Yore Eye, slightly changed line-up, but another really good album. I didn’t know anyone who knew of the Sharks!

Jan Warren… Hi to Neil Roberts and his band “Freak Flag”, great name, and I was just wondering if you got the name from (the great) Jimi’s lyrics in “If 6 was 9”? – as he mentions a “freak flag”!! – sorry, just wondering

Alan Esdaile… Well spotted Jan. I have not seen them live yet but they do play Hendrix and Cream, so I think you are right.

Jeanette Jones… Sad not to be there Glad it happened, & lots of folk got to enjoy themselves xxx

Iain Cobby… Hi Dave, must meet up with you at the next meeting. I too will take the afternoon off and we can catch up on old Damaris times. Been an interesting year for me.

 

Felix write up & Samisen photos – 29th July 1975

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cutting and photos supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey…..Article about Felix and a preview of their forthcoming gig at The Carlisle, which I remember very well. I was talking to Conan Howard about this very gig at Friday’s SMART meeting and how he had a very lucky escape afterwards.

 

Sarah Harvey…..The Carlisle in 1975 when supporting Felix – Conan (Len) Howard (Bass) , Ralph Lee (Rythm) and  (although not too clear) is Dave Shirley (Lead Guitar). Health permitting there is hope of a reunion over the coming months

60’s Mods in Hastings – New photos?

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This has just been uploaded on You Tube, a few Hastings shots and probably seen most of them before but a couple I don’t recognise?

Colin Fox… I remember it well. The police pushed us onto the beach and we all sat down facing the cliffs above Hastings. All of a sudden, like a cowboy film, a load of rockers appeared in a line on top of the cliff. A big chear went up, and the rockers made their way down to the beach. A few punchups took place, but nothing serious.

Pete Fisher… I remember (aged 9) watching the Mods being marched out of town, wheeling their scooters, from my bedroom window in Fairlight Road…here’s a Pathé clip which most people have probably seen, but some nice shots of Hastings in 1964… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie9mqTafAxo

Colin Fox… It wasn’t as bad as the media made out. As usual a few troublemakers ruined it for the rest. I had several friends who were rockers. There was a bit af banter between us, but no problems.

Mick O’Dowd…  I was ther as well. As Colin says it was hyped up by the press wanting a sensational story. Then a Mod now a Skinhead!

Andre Martin… Oh well it is the 53rd anniversary of the “troubles” so the stories – true and make up will be around for the weekend.

Gerry and the Pacemakers Farewell Tour – White Rock Theatre 3rd February 2018

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Don’t miss what is officially the last chance to see the legend Gerry Marsden before he retires along side his band. Gerry and the Pacemakers burst onto the scene with three consecutive number one hits – How Do You Do It, I Like It and You’ll Never Walk Alone. Now, the iconic band return to Hastings to perform in this special show, alongside special guests The Merseybeats & Steve Ellis of the Love Affair.

More information… https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/Online/tickets-gerry-and-the-pacemakers-hastings-2018

Pat Burgess… We saw them in Toronto a while back, still as good as ever especially Ferry cross the Mersey and You’ll never walk alone

Josie Lawson… When I was 15/16 years at home I had a 4 track tape recorder…I sang on it Gerry and the Pacemakers song You’ll Never Walk Alone..Yep, had a voice in those days…Was my favorite, I just loved the brilliance of the main singer Gerry…
Mind you, I was alone in the dining room of my family home…after, I found out my mother and brother heard me, and that is how I knew my voice was what I wished it to be…at that time I didn’t know that I wouldn’t become a singer, as my father was in his early years, but I did go onto open ‘mic’ my poetry.

Trevor Walker… Brilliant band ! What a good night to look forward to 👍

Andre Martin… Tune into Carnival FM 87.9 or vis The Internet to hear the story behind this single. Best time will be Monday 31st July – 22.00-24.00 or Friday4th August 20.00 – 24.00.

SMART SOUNDS by Colin Bell reviewing The Two Faces Of Fame – The Complete 1967 Recordings by Georgie Fame (2Cd Deluxe Edition)

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THE TWO FACES OF FAME -THE COMPLETE 1967 RECORDINGS  Georgie Fame (2CD Deluxe Edition)

Co-incidentally it was only the other week elsewhere on the site we Smarties were discussing our favourite year in music, which in mine, Alan’s and several others was….1967..and into my letterbox drops this new 2CD set for review.

Why does this concentrate on just 1 year in Georgies long and illustrious career? Simply because it was the year he switched record companies and signed with CBS, a label that had a different approach to how it would promote Georgie. ‘ The Two Faces’ refers to the fact the album consisted of ‘live’ recordings from the Festival Hall and studio recordings and that his music meant different things to different people. Having of course scored two previous huge hits with the pop/r’n’b singles ‘Yeah Yeah’ and ‘Getaway’ casual listeners would probably just think of him as another blue eyed soul/pop singer. But avid fans were only too aware of his main drive which was fusing jazz, swing, r’n’b and soul in his own unique way and with his awesome mastery of his Hammond. A consummate musician he had been playing all the top London clubs like The Flamingo etc for years and numbered The Beatles amongst his fans and peers. He was/is also blessed with a warm vocal style which is instantly recognisable. This deluxe 2cd set is an expanded edition of the original album release with both stereo and mono mixes and a plethora of bonus and some unreleased tracks. The exhaustive liner notes tell the story of this period excellently, its a complicated one! However the mix of material is far ranging and encompasses all the previous elements previously mentioned from the blues of ‘Bluesology’ to the jazz/swing of ‘Green back Dollar Bill’ (a great track!) to the (bonus) old soul standard ‘Knock on Wood’. Now those with good memories will also recall this was also the year of his third big chart hit (included here) ‘The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde’. Space doesn’t permit a long foray into this, however TBOB&C sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the other tracks, lets just say the aforementioned CBS had a vision not shared by Georgie! Personally I also have always had an aversion to it as well! Of course these days fusing jazz with pop is all the rage and paradoxically that makes Georgie as relevant now as he was all those years ago, not that it bothers him one jot I imagine. He’s been making superb classy music for over 5 decades. Ive had the pleasure of working with him twice, solo and when he teemed up with Alan Price (see elsewhere on the SMART pages for that). Ive also seen him playing on at least 3 occasions with Van the Man.

A genuine affable and nice guy he is too. I have to be honest and say I generally shy away from ‘jazz’ its a genre ive never really go into, but Georgies style and fusion makes for a great listen and I have enjoyed listening to this album tremendously. Die hard fans will welcome and treasure this set without a doubt, and more casual listeners like myself will find much to reward listening. Its certainly given me a new perspective or should that be a retrospective view of his art.

For more information go to https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-two-faces-of-fame-the-complete-1967-recordings/

Til next time………. Colin 

Colin Fox… I still love the sound of Hammond organ through a Leslie speaker.

Andy Qunta… Can’t argue with that, Colin!

Colin Searle… Got that gorgeous warm sound

Old Grey Whistle Test LP – who’s got this? Any memories of the Old Grey Whistle Test?

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Andy Qunta… This was a really excellent show! Bands playing live! Whispering Bob Harris adding intelligent comments. The good old days! 😉

Peter Thomson… Not the album but I do have a DVD box set. Astonishing catalogue when viewed back to back.

Pete Prescott… I watched the first one with my mother. Not sure she was as impressed asI was ha ha ! I think it was 1971.
The first song up was “warming up the band ” by Head Hands and Feet. I tried to never miss out each week.
I remember watching Claire Hamill on it. Great show. Andy Q and Wesley were on it with Hazel O’Connor I think.

Andy Qunta… Yes, we were on with Hazel towards the end of 1980 I think. Great experience!

Chris Barrett… I see Claire Hamill was on it on it 4/4/1972. Can you remember what you sang?

Mark Randall… Every New Years Eve special/compilation, they ALWAYS played SteelyDdan’s ‘Reelin’ in ..” and soddin’ LS’s Freebird. Every year!!!!