Samantha’s Club – New Burlington Street. What clubs and venues do you remember in London? Tiffanys Club and Gullivers People chat.

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All images supplied by Colin Bell

Colin Bell… I was looking for something in my archives (I must organise them one day!) and came across this. I was struck by the artwork and how creative it was then. Samantha’s was in a basement off Regent Street and I was introduced to it on a night out with Clem (from the Foundations) and Jimmy James, from memory  it was around late 1969 early 1970. A great place with soul bands appearing and the D.J. ‘booth’ was the body of an E Type Jag (very swinging sixties). Drinks 2/6d! You could get well pissed for a coupla quid! I was lucky enough at that time to have the use of a mate’s flat in Berwick Street Soho, ideally placed to go to all the great clubs. Many hours spent at the Marquee, Whisky-a-go-go, the Flamingo, Middle Earth and Hatchetts in Piccadilly, a great club over 3 floors with a chill out bar level, a restaurant with a glass wall overlooking the ‘disco’ floor. I’d be interested to hear any memories of this period from other Smart members? Great times and great memories…………..

Alan Esdaile… Happy days in Wardour Street at The Marquee. Also the Speakeasy. Also remember auditioning bands at Tiffanys nightclub in Shaftesbury Avenue and a club in Piccadilly with the disco on the top floor, mirrored lift and the club had records stuck to the wall. 100 club, Roxy, Ronnie Scotts etc.

Peter Fairless… Went to some dodgy, some good clubs in London. Some were very dodgy but very good! Can’t remember all the names but most of those listed above.

Steve Gage… My mate Ray was a bouncer at Samanthas where are you now mate??? 🙂

Mick O’Dowd… Went to The Q Club in Paddington after seeing James Brown at The Rainbow in the 70’s I think. JB turned up after we got there and jammed with the band. Awesome!

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Lazybones Disco Harold Place Hastings with James Casner

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 poster from:  Danny Rickaby

Simon Falla… That’s the poster I designed for our opening run in 1976 (mostly hand drawn – no PhotoShop in ’76)! Punters not allowed to go up to the bar in those days, hence waitress service. I joined the Queens Hotel mid-Dec ’75 after the management closed ‘Bonitas’ due too the high levels of violence. I got the amazing brief to create a new-look disco that’d be classy and less trouble…..mmm. Was given the services of the hotel carpenter and electrician and a budget of (I think) £2000 – seemed like a fortune at the time. Opened as Lazybones the following March after a big (but fairly amateur) makeover. This included stripping crappy carpets out of the then defunct Alexandria Hotel and laying them on the newly constructed raised seating tiers we made. We also made our own ‘sound to light’ setup – very jazzy in 1976! And we built the raided DJ enclosure with a commanding view over the 1930’s ballroom dance floor. The name was inspired by the font in the headline of the poster – lazybones. I can never hear Go Now by the Moody Blues without thinking of Jim Hobbs’ (James Casner) final track of the night and the cleaning lights going on. Blimey – brings back great memories. Who else remembers it? Anyone out there reading this work there with me in ’76/77?

Claire Triance… I have this poster was a gr8 club, they used to have go go dancers, used go there around 1976 to 77, was underage actually met my x husband there and he was there with you that night august 77 Danny Rickerby

Tich Turner’s Roaring 80’s – Rare Recording

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Supplied by Martyn Baker… Photgraphed by Fin Costello.
(Original lineup). Pete (Thommo) Thompson took over drumming when Kevin Hoad left the band. — with Wesley Magoogan,  Tich Turner, Keff McCulloch, Martyn Baker and Pete Thompson.

This is by “The Roaring 80’s”, and produced by Tony Visconti. It was recorded at his Dean St. Soho studio “Good Earth” by Kit Woolvern and Tony Visconti in 1978, Written by singer/songwriter Tich Turner, musical arrangements by our band, The Roaring 80’s. Recorded live in the studio, with a small invited audience of close friends. No edits or overdubs.
Vocal – Tich Turner
Guitar, Piano & B/Vs – Keff McCulloch
Guitar – Andy (Dimarzio) Smith
Alto Sax & B/V’s – Wesley Magoogan
Drums – Pete (Thommo) Thompson
Bass – Martyn Baker

‘Keep You In My Heart’ & ‘Stickin To The Outside’ (seque)

Wesley Magoogan… Seems like a lifetime ago !

Glen Piper… That’s because it was a lifetime ago Wes.

Damon Smith… A good blast from the past. Many happy hours at the Etchingham Arms. They should have made it big.

Andy Caine… Andy Smith on guitar too! Great player!!

Pete Prescott… I remember those days

Andy Qunta… Fun band!

Penguin Cinema – bank holiday films May 1975

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Jim Breeds… Good grief, I think I went with some mates to see both of those in one sitting! But I’ll not be admitting that in public!

Patrick Lewis… 1970’s ‘Ladism’ at its height as purveyed by the British cinema industry.

Josie Lawson… Was that Penguin bingo hall once ? My dad retired from the Observer 1964 then did some bingo work in the Penguin.I lived in Hove then. I then in Hove did some casual bingo work over there in Ladbrokes bingo hall, actually went into doing some bingo calling during the breaks….

Jane Hartley… My mum used to go to bingo there too.

Matt Thomas… Confessions of a Window Cleaner was the first rented video I saw on old betamax recorder hired from the Rediffusion shop in Queens Rd

Alan Esdaile… I do remember Jill Gascoine in Confessions of a Pop Performer.

Martin Richter… cert X – “for all the family” ???

Dennis Torrance… How many I wonder look 👀 over their shoulders before entry to this cinema showing lol

Martin Richter… the Orion was similar – x-rated or kung-fu

Michael Wilson… Went to see a James Bond Double Bill at the Penguin.