Anyone remember the Four Squares group?

Vicki Keall asks…. Reminiscing about various bands, and unfortunately a name gets into your head like a worm and you have to find the answer! Was there a band called Four Square in the sixties and who was in it?

Alan Esdaile… I seem to remember seeing the name Four Squares but maybe confused with a group called The Red Squares which appeared locally a few times. Anyone help?

Mike Vawdrey… Completely irrelevant – so why am I writing this ? – but there used to be a brand of cigarettes and pipe tobacco called Four Square produced (I think) by a Scottish firm called Dobie’s. Might ring a distant bell somewhere

Sir David Calvert-Smith… I was a member of the 4 Squares from 1964 until 1969 when we all went our separate ways. One to be a barrister, one to be an academic, two to be estate agents, one to be a professional musician/singer – classical/ecclesiasatical and pop. The group started with 4 members but soon acquired a fifth – keyboard and harp – but the name stayed. The band was founded at a well-known independent boarding school before I joined it to replace a member who left the school to join the army and to enable the band to fulfil a winter engagement playing afternoons and evenings at a ski resort in Austria. We were judged ‘most promising group’ of 1966 – I think – by the NME (Bert Weedon). The prize was a gig at the Wimbledon Palais……

The Three Degrees White Rock Theatre Hastings 30th June 1985

Mike Waghorne… This must have been not long after the referb because Joseph was on when we were working in the later part of the works

Dave Nattress… A hark back then to the two performances a night days of late 50’s and early 60’s. Still I guess some live bands do two sets. With the exception of Damaris, the later bands I was in sometimes did two sets or half repeated the first anyway! The intermission enabled copious amounts of refreshments to be taken so the second set was a little looser and we all seemed to find 11 on the volume controls on the amps and PA!!

 

Summer Special – Ritz, Smokestack Lightning, DC Disco – Falaise Hall 30th June 1978

supplied by Smokestack Lightning Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/smokestacklightninghastings/

Mike Mitchell… You don’t see an apostrophe at the front of the word phone these days. Oh how standards have slipped

Neil Partrick… Yes and a “disc jockey” too. Great poster.

 

The Dark Man Film – shot in Hastings in 1950’s

shared from Robert Webb   https://www.facebook.com/robert.webb.927543

Robert Webb… Molly Lester (Natasha Parry) runs towards the theatre after seeing the Dark Man after he had murdered the Taxi Driver. Tony found the location. Claremont, Hastings.

Graham Sherrington… Yep I had to walk up those steps with an Evening Argus bike full of The Evening Argus.

Micky Erends… I loved this film, good opening shots of Hastings seafront ( hardly a car in site! ) , Camber Castle ..ending up at Dungeness.

Rumbelows Queens Parade Hastings 1980’s

Tim Harris… Free hats and stickers Now that’s an offer you couldn’t refuse !

Wendy Weaver… I liked Rumbelows. We bought quite a few things from them.

David Wilkinson… Late 70s, we bought our first washing machine from a Rumbelows. Not soon after we were back in the shop and I noticed that our washing machine was now badged as “electronic”. So I accosted the Saturday lad and informed him that we had the previous model and that I had connected it to the gas, not realising, as it wasn’t stated, that it was “electric”. I wanted him to confirm that what I had done was ok. He toddled off to consult someone knowledgeable, and we slipped out. If he ever came back to the shop floor, he didn’t find us !!! Such fun !!!

SMART SOUNDS by Colin Bell. Reviewing Alcatrazz Live Sentence cd/dvd deluxe edition and John Miles – Miles High cd.

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‘LIVE SENTENCE’ Alcatrazz (Deluxe Edition CD/DVD) HNE Records

As regular readers of S.S. will know this is my all time favourite metal band of the 80’s. A coupla months back I brought you their debut album ‘No Parole From Rock and Roll’. As mentioned in that review Alcatrazz were a HUGE success in Japan especially. To capitalise on the albums success they took to the road to promote it and Live Sentence is the result. Recorded in January 1984 in Tokyo the set list includes most of the tracks recorded for NPFR&R, minus annoyingly ‘Jet to Jet’, a personal favourite! However that’s a small niggle. Along with ‘Island in the Sun’, ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour’ ‘General Hospital’, all classics in my view Graham Bonnet treats us to his solo success with ‘Night Games’ and re-visits his sojourn with Rainbow to deliver ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ and ‘All Night Long’ to the evident delight of the audience.
This release comes as 2 discs, disc one audio and disc two a DVD. At last I can dispense with my er bootleg footage! The audio and video quality of the DVD is surprisingly good for its age and stands up well. Like me you can now marvel at the 20 year old prodigy Yngwie Malmsteen in all his glory. And a glorious thing to watch it is! His neo-classical shredding is jaw dropping!
Not since I first saw Hendrix have I ever been so transfixed by a guitarist.
‘Kree Nakoorie/Coming Bach’ is mesmerising, yes he’s over indulgent at times compared to the studio recordings, but hell’s teeth he’s simply amazing even when he’s being arrogantly OTT! He knows he’s a ‘Rising Force’ and I forgive him, if I had his talent I doubt i’d hide my light under a bushel.
To cap it all off there’s three bonus tracks recorded at the Rock Palace in the USA including ‘Too Young To Die-Too Drunk To Live’. They don’t write them like that anymore, more’s the pity! For all Graham Bonnet/Malmsteen fans this is an essential addition to your library. PLAY IT LOUD!

JOHN MILES_miles high_WEB

‘MILES HIGH’ John Miles  (Lemon Recordings)

This is the first time on CD for what was John’s fifth studio album released originally in 1981, at that time it only reached a rather disappointing 96 chart position. Two singles were released from the album in the shape of ‘Turn Yourself Loose’ and ‘Reggae Man’. John is undoubtedly a fine musician, singer and guitarist and indeed a writer having composed the 10 tracks here. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the album, for me however nothing really leaps out at you. Its a polished affair and plays like a soundtrack to an American series of the Eighties (Miami Vice springs to mind) its slick AOR and maybe therin lies the problem for these ears its all a little too bland for my taste. John is without doubt a musicians musician and has contributed his skills to the likes of Joe Cocker, Tina Turner and the great Alan Parson’s project. Overall one for completists of his canon of work methinks, or fans of the Eighties slick pop genre.

For more information go to http://ww.cherryred.co.uk                 colin-head-111x150

Til next time….     Colin

 

Stephen Carson… Hi Colin. Just to let you know Cherry Red are releasing a box set of John Miles albums 1983 – 1993 which includes Play On on CD for the first time. It comes out on July 19 2024.

Launderette, Masons Music trade only, Reynards Toy Shop Queens Road Hastings.

Pauline Richards… Look Reynards

Andrew Clifton… Wasn’t your shop, originally open to the public, then it went mail order?

Alan Esdaile… Yes, had to close the record side of the business as was losing money. We used to sell loads of indie product that the other shops didn’t stock and was a indie chart return shop. By the time Our Price opened, some of the bands had started to make the charts and they were selling the records cheaper then we could buy them. Sad time.

Andrew Clifton… Yes, you had fantastic! collection of records that were on sale. Alan.

Alan Esdaile… Perhaps I made the mistake of not offering tea and coffee to our customers, like The Record Shop did.

Malt Jones… Loved Reynards. Great train set

Alan Esdaile… Reynards, was a very popular shop at the time

Kat Wood… Reynards…owned by Mr & Mrs Fox

Andrew Turner… I used to like visiting Tandy’s which used to be somewhere opposite

Alan Esdaile… Andrew, just down the road.

Angela Mitchell…I remember buying my son’s train set there in the 90’s. It was the shop’s ex display model. Possibly as they were closing down? Can’t remember that.

David Boss… Nick’s Grill on other side of road .Steak and Kidney pie after a night at the Prince Albert

Andrew Clifton… I remember a Country and West shop being in Queens Road.

Alan Esdaile… Andrew, up the road, next door to the old Mason’s 187 shop

Malcolm McDonald… Even had any ELVIS thong …lol

Andrew Clifton… Yes, we had a great choice of record shops. All the big companies like HMV have put the small shops out of business.

Nigel Ford… Huh! Closed again!!!

Andrew Clifton… I went into Reynards a few times.

Toker Tokin… Memories

 

 

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – Aquarius 29th June 1974

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jimmy james

Phillip Earle… Seen Jimmy live on several occasions. Absolute master of showmanship. Voice still as good as when I first saw him in the seventies.

Andre Martin… Great showman to work with had some great gigs over the years, first time I recall was at the Shoreline Club in Bognor Regis many years ago !!

Mick O’Dowd… One of the undiscovered greats. Saw him at Butlins a few years back with Edwin Starr. Magic! Never recognised fully for the talent he has. Check out the album Live At The Marquee with him on one side and the other The Alan Bown Set. Another great band.

Gutsy pop from Missing Persons June 1979

Martin Richter… Chris Sambrook ?? I never knew this – Hi Chris 🙂

Richard Turner… My uncle Chris Turner 🙂

Ken Copsey… I remember that hat! I think that’s the one he was wearing in the picture I have of him in th Teenbeats van. Lovely bloke.

Chris Meachen… Somewhat prophetic article.. Who would have imagined he’d inflict the spice girls on us all..

Harry Randall… Chris Turner sadly missed I used to play with him as a kid in short trousers and then later he played Bass for a while in Footloose!

Mick O’Dowd… Didn’t they feature on the legendary Safari album “Uppers On The South Downs”?

Alan Esdaile… Yes Mick.

Ken Copsey… That’s right Mick. It goes for quite a few bob on eBay due to the legendary South Coast Ska Stars track on it.

Richard Turner… Just looked for that album on eBay not many about

John Breeds… I have happy memories of being in the same band as Chris Turner (pictured). He was on rhythm and I was on bass.

Alan Esdaile… from May 1979….

Jim Breeds… Were they ever found!?