Month: July 2024

Colin Bell SMART SOUNDS NEWS Can’t Seem To Come Down The American Sounds of 1968 and Don Fardon I’m Alive Anthology cd’s

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Hi all, with apologies, I’m currently unable to bring you the full Smart Sounds reviews that usually occupy this space due to personal issues. However there are 2 new excellent July titles from Cherry Red that I wouldn’t want to pass you by…they are….

Can’t Seem To Come Down – The American Sounds of 1968, Various Artists 3CD Box Set

A splendid romp through 80 tracks of American rock & pop nuggets all released in 1968 as per the title. From the very well known…Love, The Monkees, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, through to names you may have forgotten such as Spirit, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Quicksilver Messenger Service, H P Lovecraft..and on to some gems from obscurity including the baroque rock pop of Debbie Harrys first band Wind In The Willows, this release with its accompanying 48 page informative booklet delivers hours of pleasure for 60’s music lovers like myself.

Don Fardon: I’m Alive – The Don Fardon Anthology 1967-1974, 3CD

With a wealth of never before released material this new, & as far as I’m aware, first really comprehensive anthology of ex Sorrows lead singer Don Fardon is an absolute must for his many fans. Mostly famous for his international hit ‘Indian Reservation’ this 81 track compilation features his other hits and club favourites such as ‘Belfast Boy’ ‘Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ Mod favourite ‘Treat Her Right’ & much more besides, including one of my all time favourite tracks ‘I’m Alive’, a track i wore out playing at my disco gigs back in the day. Here it is now. Enjoy.

For more information go to https://www.cherryred.co.uk

Til next time….take care, stay safe……Colin  

Motorhead and The Count Bishops – Hastings Pier 30th July 1977

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ticket supplied by Eric Cawthraw

autographed poster supplied by Peter Houghton

Tim Bruce….Was my first proper gig too. Before i went my mum warned me to ne careful of loud music . “Yes mum”. Opening act…… Motorhead!

John Laidlaw….Hah! First gig I ever saw – brilliant stuff. So loud I ended up behind the PA stack stage left… it was quieter there.

Andy Gunton….Not wishing to be pedantic. But shouldn’t that be The Count Bishops? I know both bands were on the Chiswick label around that time.

Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason… Yes your right Andy. Should be Count Bishops but I don’t remember seeing them.

Dave Arnold….I roadied at the Hawkwind/Motorhead gig, an amazing night

Ken Copsey….I went to this gig with  Dave Blackman. I think there was only about 50 people there. Pretty certain The Count Bishops didn’t play. The Teenbeats later supported the Count Bishops at The Nashville . I can remember playing on stage and realising Gary  Moore was watching us. Ever so slightly intimidating for a 17 year old!

John Storer…..The Count Bishops definitely played that night and were so good that I went out a couple of days later and bought their first album (which was released on 10″ vinyl). I also seem to remember that Motorhead were exceptionally loud. I don’t remember it being that poorly attended, either, although this was at the time that my musical tastes had diverged from most of my mates who were dismissive of punk and pub-rock. I do recall that I had given all my pre-punk records (a lot) to my sister in exchange for her copy of the Ramones debut album!

Phil Gill… Stallion played an all-nighter at the Lyceum in September 1976, with Stray, Dirty Tricks and Motörhead. For whatever reason, we all shared a large communal dressing room. Lemmy was charming, funny, gregarious, generous and completely down to earth. Great fun, completely rock & roll and above all, the real deal.

Eric Cawthraw… I’ve just found the ticket to this gig in my Motorhead – Motorhead album.  What gets me is that it is made to look hand written and the ticket number definitely is. It looks very civilized – disco, booze and food. Food!? Crisps and peanuts more like – I don’t remember food! For Motorhead it should have been raw meat and Bourbon…..perhaps it was!

John Storer… Another great gig! Eric? Did you miss the canapes they were serving just outside the bar?

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Heinz and The Wild Boys – Witch Doctor St Leonards 29th July 1967

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The New Breed. Supplied by Mark Mackenzie – John Couchman, Peter Anderson, Joseph Black, Mark Mackenzie, Chris Wilson and Roger Fox.

Eddie Larnerd Lane… Heinz great song Just like Eddie

Mark Mackenzie… I was the drummer with The New Breed on that gig and seem to remember that we also did the Witch Doctor in Catford, we worked for Radio Caroline .

Nigel Ford… My Aunt took my Bruv & I to see either Ferry Cross the Mersey with Gerry & the Pacemakers or a Beatles film at the Gaiety, Queens Road around ’63 (?) and the supporting film starred Heinz, but I can’t remember the title, but vividly remember my Aunt saying afterwards “thank you for introducing me to Heinz”

Alan Esdaile… I think it must be ‘Live It Up’ Nigel. Great clip below, a rather young looking Steve Marriott.

Nigel Ford… Could that be Jet Harris on guitar ? I seem to recognise him? Looking on allmusic.com it seems it was likely Ritchie Blackmore, ‘ knew the face was familiar from somewhere…

Mick O’Dowd… Saw “The Blonde One” in The Tornadoes as Billy Fury’s backing band at The ABC( now ESK) in Cambridge Road.

Heinz contract from 1964 from a welsh valley gig. supplied by Roger Ferris

Mark Mackenzie… I was the drummer with The New Breed , there were two Witch Doctors one in St Leonards and the other in Catford,we did both quite a lot. Radio Caroline booked us for these gigs and others tramping up and down the motorways, great days.

Sus supplied by Paul Edmonds

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Photo © Chris Beaumont. 

Paul Edmonds… The picture is three quarters of Sus….. Paul Edmonds (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Les Norman (lead guitar) and Paul Waite (drums), fourth regular member Jim Kidman (bass guitar) not around that day. Photo taken by Chris Beaumont. Les Norman and Paul Waite ventured on to be half of Planets with Chris Meachen and Min.

John Wilde… Who are these guys?!

Andy Wright… Looks like Eddie’s house….went to several parties there! All good friends when I lived in Hastings, Les and Paul were classmates, and Chris M became a good friend also.

Tracy Birrell… I went to school with Les and went out with him for a while. Anyone know what happened to Les?

Black Horse Folk Club Festival Weekend September 1979

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Nadia Compagnone… Bit too young to remember this event, but lived almost next door to the Black Horse. Great memories and can even remember the phone number!!

Mike Waghorne… I could of well have been there around that time often went there on a saturday night in the early & late 70’s

Chris Pook… I used to work behind the bar in the folk club around that time. Got £6 for a 6 till 2am closing time and then had to collect, wash and dry all the glasses! Eddie was a great guy to work for though.

Alan Wood… Ahh the good old days !!

Marc Bolan & T Rex photos from Hastings Pier 25th July 1975

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marc bolan hastings pier

marc bolan hastings pier 2 

photos by Joe Bowieaddick

Joe Bowieaddick…  Got to see him two more times after Hastings. ’76 Lyceum and ’77 Rainbow…Great concerts. A kind Bolan fan (Peter Barron) living in Hastings found a concert ticket in a boot sale, or something, and he kindly sent it to me knowing that I had lost mine.Glad to share the great memories.

Mick O’Dowd… First time i’ve seen pics from this gig. Never seen any posters though.

Trevor Walker… Marc Bolan was an incredible rock singer and tremendous showman ! Tremendous band

Glenn Piper… I was on spotlight duty for Bolan and roadie duty for Stallion happy days.

Pete Fairless… As you’ll all know, gig photos from the ballroom are very rare.

Chris Meachen…  I was among those viewing from the side of the stage, though don’t recognise myself amongst those in the picture. Think I might have been behind the pa speakers, as I was assisting the teenyboppers overcome by the crush / excitement into the quiet area at the side of the stage..

John Wilde…  I was SO there.

Phil Gill… I think it might be you in the wings first left, with me looking over your left shoulder. I was definitely at that side for Bolan, either in a huddle with the band on the floor or taking occasional forays side stage to watch people being dragged out of the front row so they didn’t get crushed.

Jan Warren… Oh Yeahhhhhhhhh, Marc Bolan my teenage dream, love him and his music forever!!

Alan Esdaile… The track I love is Cosmic Dancer.

Clifford Rose… Great song – would have been a fitting tribute if they had released the song as a single soon after he died.

Phil Gill… I scaled the photo up – I think it might be you John Wilde in the wings first left, with me looking over your left shoulder. I was definitely at that side for Bolan, either in a huddle with the band on the floor or taking occasional forays side stage to watch people being dragged out of the front row so they didn’t get crushed.

Dot Mountford… I saw Mark Bolan play on the Pier, he was my heart throb at the time…

Yvonne Cleland… I was there too! xx

Nick Webb… I still have my original ticket for this gig

Ian Cramp… I was about 3 rows from the front centre of the stage a 17 year old kid and I loved it

John Warner… Marc used to drink in my pub, the Halfway House in Barnes. He was killed just a few hundred yards away.

Glenn Piper… I was operating one of the follow spots for this gig

Mick O’Dowd… Me to the right of Dino.

photo Peter Houghton

Deborah Loads… I was at this fantastic concert. I remember there was a lot of tousling to get to the front. I got Davy’s drumstick after the concert as he threw it out of the car window as he and Marc drove away from the pier!

Chris Meachen…The only occasion I ever saw the bouncers scared. When they opened the gates to check the tickets, the surge of teenage girls swept them aside, with one of them thrust into the glass of the doors requiring hospital attention. I watched from the side of the stage, as we had to organise a recovery area as some young fans fainted in the crush at the front of the stage & had to be pulled out. Quite a memorable night..

John Wilde… It was a fabulous night.

Danielz… My wife Caron went to every gig in 1975, 1976, and 1977 (including the ‘77 warmups in France). She met Marc lots of times and had photos taken with him. This gig was of course just one that she attended on the tour. She also went to ‘Get it Together’, Wimbledon ‘76 (she’s filmed on the outro), and met Marc outside The Marc Shows, etc etc etc. Am I jealous – just a bit!!

The Trading Post Castle Street Hastings

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photo: Leigh Kennedy

David Martin… I remember when Terry Ransome owned it

Alan Esdaile… Dave, so do I remember Terry. Always nice and helpful. He built the first lot of disco gear for Colin Bell.

Teresa Mary Ann  Mercer… David, my uncle was Terry Ransom

Lee Twigge… The Trading Post….70s/80s version of Aldis. All sorts of crap you never knew you needed

Harry Randall… the Indian shop near Warrior Square was Priti Novelties,I think. The other two shops – the Trading Post and Malcolm Mitchell’s – were both great shops that I loved but neither liked kids in there. I was always being told not to touch anything

Peter Houghton… Harry, I loved shopping in the Indian Shop

Richard J Porter… Howard Bates, wasn’t it? South East Computers and the cake shop across the road. The upstairs over those shops were his too

Judy Atkinson… Richard, yes, it was his wife that ran the Trading Post. My husband used to work for South East Computers

Bill Boydell… One of the best shops in Hastings was Butlers Emporium at the end of George Street. The range of goods they sold was outstanding.

Reid McDuffie… LOVED The Trading Post

Phil Thornton… Reid, likewise !

Roger Simmonds… Loved the trading post !

Tim Moose Bruce… The other Trading Post that sold the electronic stuff was one of my favourite shops. They sold electronic kits by an Italian company called Amtron. Built my first stereo from these kits when I was at school. ( 1974). Got a pair of Grundig twin cone speakers from them and built the cabs at school woodworking lessons with acoustic wadding from a shop in Bexhill that did Kef speaker kits. Great times.

Angela Frances Gardner… A great shop to get anything!

Toker Tokin… Great place to shop

Sharon Sellens… in the 70s my Dad told us that if you couldn’t get what you were looking for in the Trading Post or Butler’s Emporium then it probably didn’t exist! Mum added Mozeley’s & Vale Hardware to that list xx

Nigel Ford… bought many odd tools & DIY items there over the years, also camouflage jacket & trousers, hence why you don’t often see me…..

Chris Fitzgerald… Can anyone remember the name of the cafe that was next to the Cafe Royale. It became the Kingfisher. I worked there washing up during school holidays in 1981.

Eileen O’Toole… Anyone remember Austin’s China and glass shop along there

Nick Prince… I am pleased to say the the Cafe Royale still exists in name and still has it’s Steak Pie and 3 Veg on it’s menu.

Candy Clark… So miss trading post. Brilliant shop. Still got tins that I use. Quality

Will Edmunds… I worked there in the late 70’s

Tony Hughes… I would love looking for bargains in this shop, brilliant

 

 

Marc Bolan photo from Hastings Pier 25th July 1975 part 2 from David Frasi

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photo © David Frasi

All supplied by David Frasi

Alan Esdaile… Is that a drum stick in the photo?

Perri Ann Haste… Such a great evening

Peter Houghton… That’s a great picture! And what a great night I met Both Marc and Gloria and Marc’s Band and they signed stuff for me

Mike Waghorne… The day of my 23rd birthday

Phil Thornton… A most memorable evening – met Marc and the support band were great IMO

Phil Gill… Yup, cracking support band. I believe they went on to play at Reading Festival the following year.

John Coleman… I was there!