1960’s

SMART SOUNDS by Colin Bell. Reviewing Jingle Jangle Morning The 1960s U.S. Folk Rock Explosion, Various Artists 3CD

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JINGLE JANGLE MORNING – THE 1960’s US FOLK ROCK EXPLOSION
I’ve been looking forward to this new 3 CD compilation from the excellent Strawberry Records. It delivers exactly what the title says. An odyssey of over 4 hours of wonderful songs kicking off in 1965 with the birth of folk rock exemplified by the opening classic ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ with its famous ‘jingle jangle’ sound of Roger (Jim) McGuinn’s  Rickenbacker guitar which gives this new set its title & a song that inspired 100’s of other bands that followed in The Byrds wake. I’d agree with the accompanying Press Release that this is the most comprehensive collection I’ve yet to see of the genre. Its packed with goodies, classic hits, overlooked obscure gems, rarities & some wonderful covers. The set has also been nicely sequenced. with regard to its running order, illustrating as it does,  early folk rock as it becomes over time more influenced by psychedelia. CD1 kicks off as aforementioned with The Byrds followed by another cornerstone of the whole movement, Bob Dylan, with ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ more big names follow with tracks from Tim Hardin, The Lovin Spoonful, The Mamas & Papas, Judy Collins, Barry McGuire & more. There are early examples of future stars Linda Ronstadt & Grace Slick with their respective bands The Stone Poney’s & The Great Society. Great to also hear forgotten tracks like Sonny Bono with ‘Laugh At Me’ & The Leaves with their spirited take on ‘Hey Joe’. Other notable tracks come from the pre Mamas & Papas band The Mugwumps featuring Cass Elliot & Denny Doherty & We Five with ‘You Were On My Mind’ better known here in the UK by Crispian St Peters hit version. CD2 gets off to a fine start with another classic from Buffalo Springfield & ‘For What Its Worth’. The big names that follow include Richie Havens, Big Brother & the Holding Company. Jefferson Airplane,  Scott McKenzie, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot & more. Notable tracks on this disc come from The Beau Brummels, Jesse Lee Kincaid & The Youngbloods  to name but a few. One of my favourite artistes of the period Bob Lind best known for his hit ‘Elusive Butterfly’ also puts in an appearance with ‘English Afternoon’. Another favourite band I always believed were undervalued are H P Lovecraft, who contribute ‘The Drifter’ as the sound moves closer to the psychedelia I mentioned earlier. Indeed Disc2 closes with what I consider the ‘poster child’ band for psychedelia, Love, with the classic ‘Alone Again Or’ from that greatest of all albums ‘Forever Changes’. Disc3 like Disc2 also starts with Buffalo Springfield & ‘Rock n Roll Woman’. The big names following include, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Dion, Judy Collins, Poco, Tom Paxton & Michael Nesmith amongst others. There are some rare & seldom heard (if at all) tracks from Lamb, The Lemon Drops & Stone Country. As the compilation draws to a close there are entries from the wonderful Melanie with ‘Leftover Wine’ which will please many listeners, including Alan the founder of this site (SMART) whom I know is a big fan of the song. And speaking for myself it couldn’t end on a better note than it does with a track from one of my all-time favourite bands of any genre, not just folk rock, the ever-great Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with what I consider the definitive version of ‘Mr Bojangles’. This is an altogether wonderful collection of gems which provides hours of blissful listening for fans like myself & anyone remotely interested in this golden period. As ever, the compilation includes a magnificent accompanying booklet crammed with information & artwork. Enjoy.
For more information go to https://www.cherryred.co.uk
Til next time….take care….Colin

 

Andy Qunta… My kinda music! Thanks for the review, Colin.

Colin Bell… Cheers Andy!

Will Cornell… It’s GOT to have Jackie DeShannon, please? And which tune? She single handedly invented “Jangle Pop” with her own “When You Walk In the Room” and her close work with both the Byrds and the Searchers.

Colin Bell… Hi Will, I’m afraid there are no tracks by Jackie, who I agree is a valid artist for this genre. However, this may be purely down to Cherry Red (Strawberry Records) being unable to licence any of her work for this compilation

Will Cornell… Yeah she was spread out among quite a few labels, mostly Liberty UA for her best stuff though. Not only kickstarting that Rickenbacker jangly sound, she wrote songs with Eddie Cochran’s girlfriend yielding hits for Brenda Lee and later, herself….A Burt Bacharach interpreter second only to Dionne Warwick….she wrote songs with her UK boyfriend that gave hits to Marianne Faithfull and a few others…oh and that boyfriend, Jimmy Page, later wrote a song for her on his album Led Zeppellin III (“Tangerine”). She also helped usher in New Wave with “Bette Davis Eyes” for Kim Carnes. A heluva resume and most of the R&RHOF voters probably never heard of her. Maybe this label can come up with a box set on her alone. I’ve developed my own collection but a good, well researched and annotated Jackie boxset would be a real treat. PS: If it’s to include “Splendor in the Grass” include the version she did with the Byrds as well as her solo take.

 

 

Who had a stylophone?

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Jan Warren… Yep, and used to plug it into the amp and play along to some records!! – I’ve heard it’s been re-launched again this year to mark it’s 50th anniversary… I might just buy one?!!

Jim Breeds… I had one of those. Lent it to a friend in the mid-1970s (I’d guess) and never saw it again! Curses.

Jan Warren… Yeah Jim, I know the feeling, mine disappeared in the 70s too! Gggggrrrrr….

Pete Fairless… £20 on Amazon… https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stylophone…/dp/B000SKHSRU

Jim Breeds…  I’d prefer having my original one though

Conan Howard… I had a stylophone in the 70s , I put a 1/4 inch jack socket in the thing and used it through my 100 watt amp and speaker ,through a variety of effects peddles. What fun … Conan

David Miller… Same here – mounted on it’s own mic stand, we called it the Stylothizer…

Jan Warren… Just been looking on Ebay, there are 30 Stylophones for sale, many are original 1970s and some are much cheaper than the £20 that Amazon is asking for a brand new one!! – think I might get one, I prefer the original

 

Rolling Stones – Hastings Pier 18th January 1964

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stones-ticket

Ad supplied by Andy Gunton

Andy Gunton… I was sent this photo by a friend earlier, I think it’s from January 1964? He found it while doing some musical research, not sure where.

Andre Martin… For some reason it’s been printed on red, this was the second visit from the boys in 1964

Alan Esdaile…  The only other thoughts I have is, was it an ad in a What’s On type magazine?

Jill Caine… Awwwww memories!! I woz there.

Mick O’Dowd… This is a colour version of the Observer ad.

Mick Knights… I  do remember that I couldn’t afford the 2/6 entrance!

Martin Richter… rolling who…..?

Jill Caine… I was there. behind the bar until the Stones came and then into the ballroom to see them!!!

Glenn Piper… Pity I was only 7 at the time

Gavin Martin… Long haired layabouts .. They look like gurls. I wouldn’t let my great grandmother anywhere near them

Pauline Lindsay… I was there to and remember it well.

Helen Kingshott… I was there to 

Peter Fairless… Their Decca EP was released the day before, ‘Bye Bye Johnny’ and ‘Money’ on the ‘A ‘ side, ‘Poison Ivy’ and this on the ‘B’ side. One of our favourites…

Terry Haddon… Me as well Pauline,great night

Bob Laurie.. Opened with “King Bee” as I remember! Cycled over from Bexhill in the freezing cold to see!

Robert Andrew Hale… Bob, Thank you for that info, I’m a big Stones fan, brought up in St Leonards, but was only just born in 64, first got to see them in 82… began with “King Bee”? fascinating, do you remember anything else? Thank you again …

Bob Laurie… I only remember that It’s All Over Now was the current single and was impressed by Keith’s waistcoat. He was playing a red semi-acoustic – perhaps an Epiphone.

Lloyd Johnson… I was there…saw them twice on the Pier….they arrived in an Ambulance and ran up the left side of the Pier to the ballroom. I saw them jump out of the ambulance whilst we were queuing to get in….

David Bargioni… Yep, I was there too.

Chris Jones… I interviewed them for the Observer. They were not very pleasant to a young reporter, with the exception of Mick, who was very pleasant.

 

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.

The Happy Ballroom and more. 8th January 1966 by Andre Martin

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Happy New Year to you all, it is now Saturday 8th January 1966. Here in Hastings in the Happy Ballroom – Hastings Pier, after the holiday time we have reverted to nothing much happening in the Ballroom. Bingo and Fishing are the main entertainments available elsewhere on the Pier.
The first visit this year on Friday night to the Ready steady Go Studio in London, had brought together some interesting acts – The Exciters ”A Little Bit of Soap”: The Hollies “I can’t Let Go”: Georgie Fame and The Blue flames, plus Cathy and Keith – if you recall the show had welcomed in the New Year in style last week.
Down the road in St Leonards The Witch Doctor was recovering and this Saturday night would tie up with The Loose Ends and The Web. Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night would be record time and Thursday Night sensation with The “Muscles” Maxted Show, when you look at the advertisement what stand out is 2/- admission and show over by 11.00pm – how things have changed,
Some of you might be interested to see the chart for this week from Radio Caroline – 1 Spencer Davis Group “ Keep on Running” 2 Beatles “We Can Work it Out/Day Tripper” 3 Walker Brothers “My Ship is Coming In” 4Hermans Hermits “A Must to Avoid” 5 Fontella Bass “ Rescue Me” 6 Kinks “To the End of The Day” 7 Peter Sellers “ A Hard Days Night” 8 Four Seasons “ Lets Hang On” 9 Searchers “Take me for What I am Worth” 10 DDDBMT “ You Make it More”
BBC Radio Saturday: 10.00 Saturday Club – Wayne Fontana/Pretty Things/Berries/Overlanders/Bryan Fayer Orchestra and Brian Matthews.12.30pm Thee Jack Jackson Radio Show.4.30 Desmond Carrington Open House. “ Records All Tastes” 6.30pm Jazz Beat –Artwoods, Mike Cotton Sound and George Melley.7.30pm “Home and Away” with the British Forces in Germany, and this week it’s from HQ Honhe Area – including Susan Maughan and Frankie Vaughan. [Ed – The Honhe Garrison and Training Area, which was known to many who have served in BAOR as a major Armoured Training Area actually was handed to the Germany Military on 31 December 2015 after 70 years continues use by the British] 8.15pm George Martin & his Music. 8.45pm, Old Time Music Hall with Sidney Bowman and Benny Lee.
Sunday 10.31am Easy Beat. 12.00noon, 2 Way Family Favourites this week London & Cologne. 1.30pm Al Read Show,2.00pm The Clitheroe Kid, 2.30pm the Joe Brown Show, 3.00pm Semprini Serenade 4.00pm Pick of The Pops, 5.00pm Movie Go Round – this week featuring “Dracula –Prince of Darkness with Christopher Lee. 6.00pm Sing Something Simple and 7.30pm Star Time with Ralph Reader with Max Bygraves, Vera Lynn and The Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
Television – Saturday : 12.45 Grand Stand 5.15pm Juke Box Jury with David Jacobs and guests Catherine Boyle,Paul Jones, Pete Murray & Dee Dee Warwick. 5.50pm Dr Who, 6.15 The Munsters, 6.40 Dixon of Dock Green 8.50pm The Benny Hill Show .
Sunday 9.00am APNA HI GHAR SAMAJHIYE[ Make yourself at Home] – a new programme in Hindustani for the Indian and Pakistani residents in the UK. 5.00pm, Billy Smart Circus. 6.00pm, Sooty. 9.15pm, Dr Findley Casebook.
ATV presented in this schedule the regular “Thank Your Lucky Stars” this week – Jim Dale, Zoot Money, Cilla Black, Eddie Calvert, David and Jonathan, The Mindbenders, Walker brothers and Twinkle.
This was a quiet week, some of the regular programmes have returned after the holiday schedules, but then things were different than today far less time was taken for breaks during the Christmas Period in the 1960s. This was going to be a very busy year in Hastings because of the 900th anniversary celebrations of the Norman Invasion, and this was reflected in some of the entertainments on offer.
Until Next week, all keep warm and take care; the weather from 50 years ago indicated Ice, Snow, Hail and Rain.    Andre Palfrey-Martin ©2016

Congratulations to all who were born in the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s & 70’s from 1029 KOFM

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photo 1029 KOFM

Thanks to Paul Bridgett for finding this. Shared from 1029 KOFM

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s ! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, raw egg products, loads of bacon and processed meat, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes or cancer. Then after that trauma, our baby cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags and we went round the streets on Go-carts made from old pram wheels & bits of wood. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC or Subway. Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn’t open on the weekends, somehow we didn’t starve to death! We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Toffees, Gobstoppers, Bubble Gum and some bangers to blow up frogs with. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren’t overweight because…… WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of old prams and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and dens and played in river beds with matchbox cars. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo Wii, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 999 channels on FOXTEL, no video/dvd films, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms……….WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no Lawsuits from these accidents. Only girls had pierced ears! We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns at Easter time… We were given catapults for our 10th birthdays, We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Mum didn’t have to go to work to help dad make ends meet! RUGBY, NETBALL and CRICKET had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on MERIT Our teachers used to hit us with canes and gym shoes and bully’s always ruled the playground at school. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! Our parents didn’t invent stupid names for their kids like ‘Kiora’ and ‘Blade’ and ‘Ridge’ and ‘Vanilla’ We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good. And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were. ‪https://www.facebook.com/1029KOFM

Alan Esdaile… Excellent.

Vic Whitelaw… Wonderful, and so true!

Keith Wildman… Don’t seem to remember being driven 500 yards to school in a Range Rover either. Had to walk the 3 miles in all weathers and still mucked about with mates on the way.

Mick O’Dowd… Wow ! I couldn’t have put it better myself. An excellent article.

Tony Davis… The story of my childhood. Days when we could play marbles in the gutter because there weren’t cars parked everywhere!

Caz Simpson… My knees were always scuffed, I’ve not seen a scuffed knee for donkeys years!

Alan Esdaile… Didn’t they get scuffed when you were weighed down and carrying speaker cabinets, Caz?

Caz Simpson… Ha! And driving crusty old vans with no brakes Alan.

Geoff Tidley… Many a happy time refixing gocarts good times.

The Happy Ballroom and others 20th March 1965 by Andre Martin.

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Andre Martin…We are getting nearer everyday to Spring and the return of the Sun, its Saturday 20th March 1965 and on Hastings Pier in the Happy Ballroom, we have the Regular Saturday night of togetherness Dancing with onstage The Gordon Rider Dance Orchestra, offering the patrons a wide selection of pop and standards, everything must being going well, as there is no mention of changes in the local paper, leaving just the usual advertisement in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer to tell the world. It is a different age to that of today – no mention of anything to Celebrate St Patricks Night which had passed on the 17th in the week.
Along the prom, at Marine Court The Witch Doctor has an excellent programme for the week, with something for everybody. Saturday night we have a double bill with Christians Crusaders supported by an up and coming London outfit – Steve Marriott’s Moments. This week’s Sunday Club it’s the Barry Cash 5+2, a special met ion is made in the advertisement – the winner of last week’s Sunday Club Cash Draw of £60.00 goes to a Mr Trevor Spears of Hollington! Wednesday night was local band night with The Humperdinck’s. Friday night saw the return of a very popular group at the club –from London – John H Watson & The Hummelflugs. The other nights and Sunday afternoon were well covered by the team of DJs spinning the “latest sounds”
Friday night would have kicked off with the Ready Steady Go from Kingsway, and with Keith & Cathy keeping everything moving along at a great pace, this week’s contributions from – Dave Clark Five “Reeling & a Rockin” ;Martha & The Vandellas “Nowhere to Run” ;Kinks “ Everybody gonna be happy” ; Them – with Van Morrison “Here comes the night” ; The Yardbirds “For your love” ;Dave Berry “Little Things”;also on the show were The Miracles and Bobby Vee. Some excellent sounds that night.
Radio over that weekend had the usual regular shows but offering a good range of music and entertainments – Saturday Club with Brian Matthews this week featured Dave Berry & the Cruisers, Terry Lightfoot Jazz Band, Jeanne Lamb, the Yardbirds, Alex Harvey, John Mark and The Lancastrians. Saturday Swings 2.00pm – The King Brothers, Sheila Buxton, Benny Lea, Unit 4+2, The Billy Duncan Quartet with Bruce Wyndham spinning some “ swinging discs” Brian Matthews was back at 4.00pm with Top Gear and this week with Brian were Del Shannon, Stevie Wonder, the Sorrows and Arthur Greenslade & The Gee Men.
Sunday would bring us Easy Beat – 10.30am – this week Tom Jones, Gerry & Pacemakers, The Johnny Howard Band and the Morgan James Duo, Keith Fordyce in charge and spinning a few hot hits. This week’s Family Favourites “ Noon in London, One pm in Germany” was a three way link up – London, Cologne and Tripoli on the North African Coast – yes those were the days when we have forces stationed all round the world and this weekly link up were very popular. Television over the weekend, had the usual flavour – Saturday with both “Juke Box Jury” [David Jacobs and guests Georgia Brown, Paul Jones, Edmund Purdon plus a.n.o] and “Thank Your Lucky Stars” [Brian Matthews with this week Katie Boyle, guest DJ ??? also Francoise Hardy, the Temptations, Pet Clarke, Cliff Richard, Del Shannon & Janice Nicholls.
Later that Saturday Night on BBC TV from RAI TV Roma the Eurovision Song Contest – our representative was Kathy Kirby with “Belong” David Jacobs was describing the scene for us back in UK – not sure if we managed “non points” perhaps the other judges liked us more back in the 60s. Interesting to see the number of Motown Acts that are appearing on the Radio and Television around this time, which must have been linked with the Motown Review that was playing the theatre at this time. Plus they would have been getting a lot of exposure on the Pirate Stations, where there was not the limitations imposed with needle time and the MU. Back to the present, look out for the musical events that will be taking place at The Hub, White Rock this coming weekend, 27 & 28 March – until next week take good care of yourselves.   Andre Palfrey-Martin © 2015