tour programmes

last 2 photos thanks to Sarah Harvey

Smell The Vinyl! Our 35th meet and lots of vinyl, tour programmes and rare slides of Hastings Pier were on display. Tim McDonald arrived with a whole bunch of picture discs and promotional 12” singles from Tina Turner, Lene Lovich and  others and a 12” single of The Beatles Love Me Do. Mick O’Dowd had with him The Sweet In The Mix CD while I brought along vinyl albums from Babe Ruth Amor Caballero, Tasty compilation, Cupid’s Inspiration Yesterday Has Gone and Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits. Jim and Allyson Breeds arrived with an impressive collection of tour programmes and tickets including Chris Rea, Paul Simon Gracelands, Wings In Concert, John Martyn, Queen, Elvis Costello, Hastings Scout Shows plus loads more. Also they had with them some very rare Hasting Pier slides from the 1870’s which people were eager to see on their binocular stereo viewer. I expect some of these will appear on Jim’s popular HAPP Hastings and Area Past and Present Facebook page at some stage. Pete Prescott had with him loads of albums including Nick Drake Five Leaves Left, Wishbone Ash Argus, Humble Pie Performance  Rockin The Fillmore, Montrose, Bad Company Straight Shooter, Cactus One Way or Another and Focus Moving Waves. He also had the album from Johnny Mars ‘Life On Mars’ which featured Ray Fenwick, Pete Shaw, Terry Pack, Colin Fox and others. Brian Wood was asking, does anyone know the whereabouts of drummer ‘Gordon Reid’ who played with him in the band ‘The Flirts’? Lol Cooksey and John Petrie where chatting about early auditions, basic band equipment back in the day and talking about The Springbeats, King Rod and others. Other chat was about Hastings Pier and how to bring in more funds and the suggestion of donation boxes as you enter the pier and a themed wishing well, the great success of Beatles Day, the recent unearthed pier photos of Marc Bolan, The Jazz & Blues Fest in June and the sad news of Ray Elgar’s death. This is just a small bit of what I remember, pleased feel free to add anything I missed.

Jim Breeds… Good to see you and the other SMARTies. It was a good session.

Mick O’Dowd… Great Meet as usual Alan. Nice chat with Tim McDonald. Interesting chap!

Jan Warren… Oh WOW, I sooo wish I could get to your meetings, I have so much to share with you lovely “Hastings Music” people!! 🙂

Pete Prescott… It was great!

Terry Pack… Who brought Johnny Mars along, Alan? Recorded in one session, mostly first takes, with a couple of overdubs (guitars mostly). Not the strongest material but a lot of energy. Johnny needed better songs to show off his great singing.

Pete Prescott…It was me, I hope your well. I thought the performances were great. The songs as well. Standing in line is “slow down” with a different vocal (I remember singing it at a gig with the band in London. Dave Storey said “how does slow down go ?” Ray said quietly “just play standing in line”). There is “need your love so bad,” “do it again” and “Caledonia ” (is that back door man?)
When one of the guys asked if the band would get away with it he was told “it will be fine. It won’t sell enough to be a problem “. I still think it’s a good album.the playing is great and Johnny plays and sings at his best. I do remember the wonderful lyric “standing on a desert island baby. Nothin round me but a lot of sand” brilliant !

Jan Warren… I’ve got “Nice Enough to Eat” and the silver Motown album!!

Jim Breeds… Forgot to show Sarah the Steeleye programme from Congress Theatre with a page about Gryphon who were the support.