Reviews of tasty and obscure hook-filled rock'n' roll releases (Glam, Heavy Bonehead Crunchers, Powerpop, Pop/psych,Garage, Surf, 60s Girl Group Rock)...Plus any quirky musings that tickle my fancy...
I created this blog in order to stimulate interest, share discoveries and encourage people to go out and search for the original vinyl. Hopefully this blog might also encourage labels to actually compile some of this stuff officialy.
Albatross –Tobacco Road/Let It Roll –Gull 22395 -8N (1975 German issue)
Following their tenure with Mooncrest; Albatross jumped ship to Gull and nearly made it with this corking version of Tobacco Road. Albatross enthusiastically update the old chestnut, adding a Can’t Explain riff in a hugely invigorating performance with Maximum Crunching Glam appeal. The B side Let It Roll is a loud rocker, spouting attitude with a protruding cowbell and also fully deserves to be highlighted here in its entirety. Albatross were: John Jones, Malc Player, Danny Balkwill and Terry Keyworth . John Jones then went on to form Fringe Benefit. He is still active today:http://joejonesqed.co.uk/
Creme Soda –Keep It Heavy/And That Is That –Trinity CST-112 (1974 US)
Keep It Heavy is a lovely West Coast Pop/Psych tune very much in the mould of The Grassroots (Let’s Live For Today) with a touch of The Mamas and Papas. Oddly enough though, this is not a 1966 recording, but a stand out track from a Milwaukee band released in 1974! Again you can thank Bomp magazine for highlighting this band at the time, which led to me discovering this pearl. I just love the mix of Guiro, haunting melody with its Psyched-Out lead break (check out The BarracudasOn A Sunday -1981) where I was more than a little inspired by this single...) Creme Soda also released the Punk-o-Billy (I’m) Chewing Gum and an album Tricky Zingers in 1975 that has been bootlegged on vinyl and on CD. The band line-up was Art Hicks, Jim Wilson, Billy Tanon and Ron Jutuman –Any idea what happened to them? Were there any other releases of note from these guys in other incarnations? Hear a full version of Keep It Heavy
Hear a full version of On A Sunday (From The Big Gap)
Gone Tomorrow is a real screamer, kinda like Lee Curtis & The All Stars (Skinnie Minnie) filtered via The Floyd Dakil Combo (Dance Franny Dance) appearing through Freakbeat’s outdoor and landing out of time in 1970 in the same fashion as Mississippi’s Mr. Union Railway Man (see post November 18th 2008). The A side also starts promisingly but is a poppier and more commercial offering. Raymond Froggatt had a band called Monopoly on Polydor, but it’s unlikely that there’s any connection there.
Mothers of Track –Motorcycle Rock/Storm In A Teacup –Monopole S476 (1975 Belgium)
Welcome to the Mutoid world of The Mothers of Track???? Yes, more dorky Belgians albeit this time of the biker persuasion in thick leathers (apart from the accountant geek in the floppy hat).
You want loud Motorbike noises? ROAR...yes, we have them here and with extra siren noises to boot. The track lives up to expectations and is positively imbued with overflowing piston-fuelled power. It’s gritty and dirty like a greaser should be with tasty sharp lead breaks, grunting rhythm guitars and screeching vocals reminding me of the lead vocalist in Catapult. Two of the band went on to form the Belgian Heavy Metal band
Hear a full version of Motorcycle Rock
And now hear a full version of the nifty instrumental B side...
Things Fall Apart –Bye Bye My Rose/Manna –President PT 378 (1972 UK)
Nice N Heavy 3 chorder à la Move’s Do Ya. The Power chords have a cool overloaded metallic clang to them and there is some abundant OTT fuzz lead throughout. The chorus is surprisingly poppy for its surroundings, so you can file it somewhere between Freakbeat/Pop Rock and Crunching Glam. I have no info on these guys...
Firebeats & Ingjerd Helén–Klap I Takt/Abraham –EMI X 9074 (1973 Danish issue) As part of my life’s calling to collect every version of Bonnie St. Claire’s Clap Your Hands and Stamp Your Feet released at the time; please find enclosed the Norwegian version. Ingjerd was one of Norway’s most popular artists during the 1970s. Here she is backed by The Firebeats (also known as Firebeats Inc.), who were a popular beat combo during the 60s. Anyhow the Norwegian entry is not a must have, but for completists only. It’s cute rather than killer and is in fact rather anaemic overall, but Pete Koelewijn classic still shines as a great song whatever the setting.
Chalice –In My World/Mr. Won’t You Help Me –Clarion K-5478 (1974 Aus)
Recorded in Manchester’s Strawberry studios, this was the first of three singles the band released on Clarion before a switch to Polydor. In My World (real MOD title that...) is a sterling Powerpop gem heavily indebted to 67’ era Who updated to 1974 in a similar way as the best Raspberries material. Bassist Les Brazil’s vocals are clear as a bell and the driving beat is neatly juxtaposed with some sweet Mellotron...
Neil Scott (guitarist): We recorded and mixed 4 songs in 8 hours during the session at 10 cc’s Strawberry Studios in Stockport ! In My World, the B side, Mr. Won't you Help Me, Ebenezer and There Will Come A Time which was never released. We used a session keyboard player - a girl who played Mellotron on In My World and piano and Mellotron on There Will Come A Time. We were all from Manchester but shortly after the session and back in Perth, we added an Aussie on guitar and keyboards and we bought our own Mellotron! The song writing and overall performance is Purepop all the way and bodes well for the upcoming Chalice compilation on the revamped Zero Hour label. The B side is no slouch either... In My World was later re- recorded for their Overflow LP on Polydor
.........................................Chalice in 1976....................................
But the question remains...how did Chalice end up in Perth?
Neil Scott: We ended up in Perth because our agents in Warrington sent us to London to audition for a guy from Australia who became our manager once we arrived. He actually wanted Mud or Paper Lace but they weren't available, so I suppose we came third!
Jeremiah –Dance Dance Dance/Get Out of My Way –Vogue VB 382 (1974 Belgium)
Jeremiah are another bunch of likely lads from Belgium. OK, they have a slight Mutant Geek look (must be something in the Belgian water supply...Looks like they drank from the same well as The Garnets!), but musically they certainly give Lennart & Dagleth a good run for their money. Dance Dance Dance is a sprightly and vibrant rockin’ Powerpop tune -Duck Stab even noticed a vocal similarity with Chris Stamey...The B side is also a fast-paced melodic tune with monkey-beat chugging to the fore. I would love to know about this bunch, there is at least one other single with Jeremiah as a three piece...or perhaps they just decided to put their best faces forwards on this one?
Zoo hailed from Groningen (The Venice of the North), from the remains of a band called Spring. At first they were known as Groninger Muziek Vereniging (Groningen Music Society), but Zoo had many line-up changes. Most of their songs were written by Eddie Meyer and Bert Veldkamp, but their most well known member was drummer Peter Walrecht who would later on play drums in other bands from the Groningen muic scene like Herman Brood & His Wild Romance, New Adventures and AA & the Doctors. Their music could be described as prog, and they were influenced by The Beatles , Yes and Argent. In 1971 they played as a support act for Argent in Groningen. Later on they played the Paradiso and also did a TV-show. Zoo made 4 singles, of which Walking is the 3rd. Walking was written by Peter du Bois and Peter Bewley who would later gain chart success with Lemming. They also made an LP for CNR in 1973 which contained no less than 6 Beatle covers! Thanks to Jos for the background info!
Thirteen –Girls Aren’t the Same/ Teddy Boy –RCA PB 4501 (1979 Dutch Issue)
Girls Aren’t the Same is a fine Powerpop performance which somehow didn’t gain a release in the UK at the time. The harmonies and guitars are spot on, although the instant melody/hook can become a tad repetitive after a few plays. The B side is the killer in my book. Featuring Ian McKean driving and cutting guitars, Teddy Boy rocks out in fine straight ahead Stones/Streak mode. Ian’s style is pure Rock N Roll and he later also played lead guitar on 2 or 3 tracks of the second Fortunate Sons LP (Karezza) in 1986.
From the 45 Revolutions book:
A Power Pop three-piece formed in 1977 by Mark Ferrick (v/b, who composed the A-side of Dean Wyman’s lone 1978 single, see listing), Jim Ferrick (d) and Ian McKean (gtr), Thirteen never managed to gain press coverage and their lone 7” was released in France, Germany and Holland, but not in the UK. Recorded in summer 1978 with Phil Cordell co-producing, drums on the 7” were played by Mark Ferrick following the death of his brother Jim shortly before the session. Ian McKean resurfaced a few years later with Twenty Flight Rockers and with Balaam & The Angel, a New Wave combo born from the ashes of U.X.B. Note: a different Oxford-based five-piece group also called Thirteen issued a 7” on the Square label in 1980. You can get a copy of the bible here:http://www.hurdygurdy.it/
Jo-Jo Ellis –The Fly/Perdona Mia –Fury Records FY 302 (1972 UK)
The Fly is a bizarre and haunting excursion from none other than Alvin Stardust (Shane Fenton). The overall mood is set by some neo-Rockabilly vocalisations over an acoustic backdrop with some real out of place orchestration (ARP/Mellotron?). This was probably some form of vanity release (this couldn’t have been aimed at the charts!) on a label run by Billy Fury, who didn’t get round to reinvent himself into a Glitter/Stardust type to refresh his career.
The Hammer –Hitchcock’s Lullaby/Doggone –EMI 5C 006-25 046 (1974 NL)
Hitchcock’s Lullaby is quite a departure from Smyle’s (Mark Boon’s previous band) usual fare as the A side comes across like Alistair Riddell’s Space Waltz or The Tigers on Vaseline in maximum horror Camp Glam mode. Their image was the invention of their Manager and my guess is that he got to see a preview of Brian De Palma’s brilliant Phantom of The Paradise (check out the black and white make up worn by The Undead AKA The Juicy Fruits/ Beach Bums in that movie ). He was probably on space yoghurt at the time and his delusional plan to turn the band into a sensation included not even listing the band’s name on the cover or label! File under...god knows what –this is one of the reasons why it is so hard to find this single these days.
Check out the Nederglam site for an interview with Mark Boon and to watch the great videoclip:http://www.nederglam.nl/html/smyle.html The B side is more akin to Mark’s usual Beatles/Pop material, which made a full blown come back on both sides of The Hammer’s next single -The Powerpop classic I’d Do It All Again/Cos I’m in Love.
So I finally got back from my twice-yearly favourite holiday destination. Again much fun was had, but often at the expense of aches and pains that come with the territory: Walking up and down the aisles from 7am to 7pm over two days does take its toll! Sunday is more of a leisurely stroll...Once again I can state that Utrecht is the finest record fair in the world. Here are the finds, neatly categorised for your perusal. Quite a few of these are in fact spares, so expect me to list some of them over the next 1-2 weeks.
BTW, my camera has died, so I have had to use the phone of my camera...Yes, I need a new phone as well...
The Dutchies Antilope –Come On Suzy. Absolute cracker, perhaps the best of the 3 singles from this Shocking Blue/Booby Trap related band: Hear it here: http://crazeekids-music.blogspot.com/2009/09/antilope-come-on-suzy-1973.html The Hammer –I’d Do It All Again –Ex Smyle power popper The Hammer –Hitchcock’s Lullaby (YES! -review SOON!) Catapult –Hit The Big Time Catapult –Let Your Hair Hang Down (German pic sleeve) Left Side –Johnny (sounds like 1968 Kinks), B side is more of a bubblegum rocker... Left Side –Confusion in My Mind –late 60s popsike Girlie –Andy –great rocker (German pic sleeve) BZN –Love Me Like A lion –Good rockers BZN –Bad Bad Woman –sounds like a male Suzy Quatro number from 1971! Left Side – (Like A) Locomotion –German pic sleeve Yellow Cat –Angelique –More horridness from the Sissy guys Teenager –Birthday –fun fake TEEN Bubblegum. Dorky sleeve! Cherrie Vangleder-Smith –Goodbye Guitar Man (German pic sleeve) Serpentine –Belinda Tomorrow –Cool BubbleGlam tracks from the Powerful Jim mob Zoo –Walking –Great stomper in German pic sleeve (review soon)
The Brits Smiley –I Know What I Want –Nice Dutch pic sleeve of the Creation related cruncher Bob and Honey Bee –Queenie Rock On -Good Glam Rocker like Arrows James Boys –Up Until Now Vanity Fare –Rock And Roll Is Back. Cabaret-like rockers, but the B sides nearly enters Bay City Roller territory One Hit Wonders –Hey Hey Jump Now (German pic sleeve) of this double sided belter. Tremeloes –Blue Suede Tie (German pic sleeve) Equals –Softy Softly (German pic sleeve) Sisters –There’s A Raver Coming Home (German promo) Firebird –Two Wheels (Ger Pic Sleeve) Zipp –Streak Up And Down. This is in fact Zipper of Can Can fame. Appropriate German pic sleeve! Crush –Today’s A Tomorrow –fine version of the Giorgio number Zappo –Right On/ Rock N Roll Crazy (A and B side switch for this French release) Chris Hodge –Goodbye Sweet Lorraine/ Contact Love –great French pic sleeve Albatross –Tobacco Road –Glam stomping cover with neat German pic sleeve Red Fox –Walking Through The Blue Grass (Cover of the Stavely Makepeace track) Erasmus Chorum –Jungle (pretty wild Glam/Soul crossover) Erasmus Chorum –EP (Chapter One) not in the same league as the above. Esprit De Corps –You’ve Taken Along All That I Can Give You -3rd single from the orchestrated psych/pop phasing merchant Disco Kid –Roller Coaster –German pic sleeve Brother Susan –See My Fingers Fly Squeek –Make Hay When The Sun Shines (Spanish pic sleeve) Roll-ups –Blackmail –Group photo on this German release for the Slowbone guys Mandrake Paddle Steamer - Strange Walking Man (The Bam Caruso gatefold reissue) Sting –Thief of Baghdad –French colour pic sleeve Angel –Good Time Fanny (German pic sleeve) Angel –Little Boy Blue (German pic sleeve) Dan The Banjo Man –Black Magic (German pic sleeve)
The Yanks Ohio Express –Hot Dog –German pic sleeve Derek –Cinnamon –Dutch pic sleeve for this Johnny Cymbal Bubblegummer Wildfire –Here Comes Summer (German pic sleeve) Cracking Glam/Surf number Time Masheen –The Big Black Bird –More extreme madness from the Uge guy Iggy and The Stooges -Tight Pants/Sick of You (Bomp)
The Belgians Garnets –Indian Uprising (Spare) Makes Redbone sound “authentic” Fill’ Mon –Move On (incredible Belgian single –just check that Look! Both tracks are killer. Hear it here: http://crazeekids-music.blogspot.com/2009/05/fill-mon-move-on-197.html
The Germans Funky Family –Part of My Life Funky Family –Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet Big Secret –Samson & Delilah. Not a patch on Ride Captain Ride Teens – Gime Gime Gime .../ROLLERBALL!
The Scandinavians Glenmarks –Big Fat Oranguman –cover of Jungle Jim’s classic! Walkers –Little Kitty one of the gaggle of singles they released. Although it’s form 1974, it’s a horrible pastiche Ska-Reggae number! Mabel –Skateboard Rider –DORKS!!!! NQB –Long Long Weekend –nice German pic sleeve of this killer Runaways/Glam type track
The others... Children of The Morning –Ku Klux Man (Italo/US Groover) Variations –Silver Girl -French Stonesian cracker Variations –Only You Know –French pic sleeve –Good fuzz B side The Memories –What ‘Ya Gonna Tell Your Mama. Outrageous German pic sleeve for this Irish show/Glam band.
Primitive Man –Animal Love/Major Barmy From The Army –Decca F13188 (1971 UK) C.C.S –Brother/ Primitive Love RAK Replay RR7 (1973 UK)
Animal Love is a silly but highly enjoyable entry in the simian sub Glam/Psych category. It pounds and grunts in sublime heavy fashion. Basically it’s the missing link (get it?) between Hot LegsNeanderthal Man and C.C.S.’s Primitive Love. In fact the Darwinian progression is so neat, I just had to post the C.C.S. track as well –enjoy those devilish jungle horns over the mother of all primitive stomps. Animal Love has the best grunts (and sheep noises!), but Primitive Love might be heavier and adds a more focussed bouncing gold medallion dimension to the proceedings. Hear a full version of Animal Love
The Yummies –Patty Cake/Hippie Lady –Sunflower SUN 103 (1970 US) As recounted in the seminal book Bubblegum Music Is The Naked Truth (Feral House), the sole single by The Yummies was the creation of one Les Fradkin who played all the instruments on both sides. The regular release in fact switched sides, with the Garage Bo Diddley beat of Hippie Lady taking precedence as the potential hit. However Patty Cake is a fantastic example of the perfect Bubblegum tune. It has it all from the mother of all hooks, the incessant hand claps, Farfisa organ and wonderful anglophile vocals which predate the Glam era (think Milk & Cookies on steroids). Patty Cake is the perfect tune with an exemplary all round performance which will plant a big grin to your face...
J.C. Livingstone –Oh Oh Angelina/ Hello Johnny –Polydor 2040133 (1974 German issue) J.C. released quite a few singles mainly in a Euro Oompa Pop style, the exception being the killer pounding Mama Was A Steamroller Lady and this B side. Written by Rod and Eva McQueen, who as Muff were behind the Crunchy Glamsters Sexy Sexy Lady and Do The Hand Jive. In fact Hello Johnny is the ancestor of the skewered but jumpy Discotheque King which was the B side of Do The Hand Jive appearing with new lyrics and those strange on-beat hand claps (http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2007/05/muff-discotheque-king.html) I believe that J.C. Livingstone was originally from South Africa and I wonder if J.C. Livingstone was in fact Rod McQueen...any confirmation on this?
Brian Wells –Paper Party/Just A Summer High –Spark SRL1082 (1972 UK) Coming across like Brett Smiley fusioned with Russell Mael sporting some Al Stewart inflections; Paper Party finds Brian backed by what sounds like an amalgamation of CockneyRebel and Sweet thus showcasing a severe case of lack of direction, although the results form a Pop/Glam concoction in its purest form...Paper Party has the beat and tempo but the surprising inclusion of a sustained fiddle adds another layer of puzzlement to the proceedings. An obscure misfit of a single; but good fun to be enjoyed by all.
Jon Symon –Silver Star Part 1/ Silver Star Part 2 –BASF 0612441-4 (1975 Ger)British squaddie makes good! Following deployment with Her Majesty’s armed forces in Germany, Jon Symon AKA Rasputin set himself up as a one man band playing across Germany and Austria. Following the Sweet Eliza and Mighty Quinn singles as Jon Symon’s One Man Band (BASF) he released this grungy yet gleaming Proto Punk/Glam scorcher. Probably featuring a full band (or does he play all the instruments himself?) the guitars roar and squeal à la Thunders during the break and ably counter-balance any of the gloss conveyed by the backing vocals. Jon Symon appears to still be playing in clubs these days; in fact there’s a pretty mean one-man rendition of Mona on Youtube. Apart from rockin’ out, the man seems to also have a penchant for the esoteric and dressing up in pirate gear...
Hear a full version of Silver Star
Update (from the horse's mouth) -Thanks Jon! Quite a stellar cast...
It's amazing what gets "dug up" here in Internet!!! I wanted to make a few comments (if you're interested in getting Info from the "horses mouth" - one horse at least) *LOL*
I composed the number and played the Guitars (Rhythm and if I remember rightly) the rather simple solo! on the A Side. The Instrumental solo on the "B" side was Frank Dietz - a then very well known German musician. The Bass was played by none other than Georgia Moroder, who owned the studio where it was recorded (Arabella in Munich). The drummer was my manager Cliff Koch.
During the recording of it, I lost my voice and asked for a couple of days off to get it back! - This couldn't be granted 'cause the Rolling stones had booked the studio to produce "Goats head soup", so I had to come back 2 weeks later to finish silver star. This was really bad news, 'cause Munich is about 6 hours at the fastest from Hannover, where I live. When I arrived the second time I finished the vocals and was helped with the Refrains (shubedoos!!!) by Donna Summer - who lived upstairs in the Arabella House. I was produced in those days by Pete Bellotte (Giorgios business partner) Later they both emigrated to Hollywood and wrote and recorded the music for the Fritz Lang silent film "Metropolis" and Giorgia also wrote the music for "Flash dance". I carried on playing with my one-man-band in Germany until 2012 and I have my "First-night" with my new Band in a pub near Hannover on the 4th May. I hope to be Playing Silver star 'cause all my friends want me to re-record it!!! and found it to be a bit too simple, but I like it again now ;-)
Chalice –Ebenezer/After The Goldrush –Clarion K 5626 (1974 Aus) Chalice were based in Perth but were formed by a bunch of Mancunian exiles who released three singles on the Clarion label before moving on to Polydor where they released the Overflow LP and another 3 singles. They plied their trade primarily as a cover band, but based on Ebenezer, they could pen a mighty tune and perform it with gusto. Ebenezer is a prime example of PowerpopBoogie featuring slide guitar over a poppy yet rocking centre. If anyone has spares of their other two Clarion singles, please let me know as a trading opportunity wouldbe most welcome. The B side is a non consequential cover of the Neil Young tune.
The Alison Marklew Band –Midnight Rider (Ride On)/Tumbledown –Pinnacle P8412 (1975 UK) Reminiscent of Punchin’ Judy or Slack Alice; Midnight Rider rides along in rampant fashion. It has wonderful lyrics full of obvious double entendres, which position it perfectly into a non PC mid 70s mould. I couldn’t find any information on the band, but could there be a connection to The Kim Marklew Band? -They seem to be of the right age group...Anyhow, whoever they were - the beat thuds, the hands clap, the guitars roar... so all in all it’s a perfect Junkshop Glamster. Strap yourself onto this baby and enjoy the ride!
Brownsville Station –That’s Fine/Same –WB 7501 Promo (1971 US) That’s fine is a great raucous post 1st album single-only track from these Boy Room Smokers. Arranged by ex System leader Bob Seger; the track conveys a snarly Michigan Garage Punk feel -just check out those lo-fi cavernous drums that propel the cool double lead vocal performance (is that Bob Seger “duetting ” here)? The track and performance really reminds me of Steppenwolf’s Who Needs Ya from the previous year due to the vocal tradeoffs and similar chug/ melodic verse structure. It’s easy to forget just how great Brownsville Station could be and this single provides ample evidence that it is worth venturing beyond their classic Yeah! LP from 1973.
Micky Moonshine –Baby Blue/Baby Blue (instrumental) –Decca F13616 (1975 UK)
Originally released as the B side of the Northern collectable Name It You Got It (Decca F 13555), this issue is more of interest here as it also offers up a fun instrumental version as the B side. Micky Moonshine was in fact Scottish Beach Boy aficionado/artist Chris Rainbow and Baby Blue fits nicely within the Rock ‘N’Roll Revival/Glam crossover stylee (think Carl Simmons/ Mike Douglas with a sprinkling of Alvin Stardust). It’s has nice loud guitars and slide, a thumping beat along with a determined sounding lead vocal.
Boots –You Better Run/A to D –Young Blood YB 1018 (1970 UK)
Another sterling Mike Berry production! The single came about as the publishing company Sparta Florida owned the rights to the Young Rascals number, but the song had to be released commercially in order for the publisher to retain ownership. Mike Berry was a big Young Rascals fan and had placed How Can I Be Sure with Dusty Springfield. The band on the session were The Gregorian Chant(s) from Coventry where Mike discovered Ning and Fresh Maggots (round the corner in Nuneanton)
MB: “The name Boots came from talking with Chris Welch (Melody Maker). We were thinking up stupid names for bands and the name Boots stuck in my mind...”
Note these Boots were NOT the Boots who released a couple of singles on CBS in ’68.
It’s a cracking version of The Young Rascals classic, with some blistering lead guitar; over-saturated much in the same way as on Machine by Ning. It’s an all round rousing performance with a great lead vocal. The band composition A to D (not the Small Faces track...or was that E to D?) is a brooding underground number again with some strong but less fuzzy guitar. The talking clock is a fun touch. The tracks were probably recorded at RG Jones or Radio Luxembourg.
Hear a full version of You Better Run
Hear a full version of A to D
David Bown from The Boots (Gregorian Chant), sent in his memories and these cool shots...Thanks Dave!
Gregorian Chant just before the recording of You Better Run left to right:
Don Wright - lead Guiar, Paul White - Drummer, Terry Bown – Bass Guitar & David Bown lead vocals.
We were a young bunch of very enthusiastic semi pro musicians writing our own songs, playing pubs and clubs striving to make a career in music. We met Mike Berry and he arranged for us to record the Young Rascals “you better run” in the Luxembourg studio behind the Hilton Hotel. After the release of our record, ( which incidentally was the YOUNG BLOOD labels follow up to Indian Reservation by Don Fardon , Don was also from Coventry) we wanted to make music a full time career. Unfortunately at the time Paul our drummer decided he didn’t want to go pro but stay as an accountant, at which he has been very successful to this day. So brother Terry, Don Wright & I had to find a new drummer, we firstly found a power house of a drummer from Birmingham Les Fortnam, a really well accomplished drummer (ex Bob Cats of Blue Peter 1966 fame) Les played very much in a John Bonham style and could really lay down a solid beat. Les was a great drummer, he stayed with us a few months however due to a number of things, Mike B being one of them he sadly left the band. Les was replaced by a very young more technical Steve Palmer (young brother of Carl Palmer of ELP fame) at the same time we drifted away from Mike B and started writing and performing more of our own material and less covers. With help from John Tully “Inter City Artists” we started getting some good gigs, we changed the band’s name to Children, a bit soft this, so soon after the band’s name was changed again to Canyon. We played some great gigs around the country, supported a lot of top rock bands and were offered a few deals however nothing was ever taken up and after 18mths we split and all went our separate ways. Don went to teachers training college, Steve joined a band called Heaven and has had a good career in music, I went back into engineering and didn’t join a band again for two yrs, the only one of the original Gregorian Chant “BOOTS” band who made a career in music as a pro was my brother Terry, he played in numerous groups both in the U.K., Germany etc and eventually lived and worked in and around the Los Angeles USA area for over 20 years
Don, Paul and I did get together again 5 years after the original band split, be it semi pro working discos and clubs in a covers band - “Dave and the Sun” Ha! what a name, this band evolved into “JOKER” and with all new members I had another short spell full time, a covers band I enjoyed being in immensely. By the late 70’s other than Terry the three of us were playing very little and by the early eighties we had lost touch completely.
Canyon left to right :
Terry Bown, Don Wright, Steve Palmer, David Bown - Taken on the Mott the Hoople Tour 1972
When I look back it was a shame the original band didn’t stay together and an even bigger shame that Canyon split, Don, Steve and Terry were and are three of the finest musicians I have ever seen, let alone worked with, we wrote some great songs together and its a real shame that we have no record of what we did.. Another guy I really enjoyed working with was the bass player in JOKER Rob McKenzie, he was also a great singer, when Joker split he wanted us to form a vocal duo, I wasn’t up for it at the time, I regret very much not having done that.
I suppose there are 1000’s of stories very similar to this one, I hope like me that the guys in those bands had as good a time as I did.
