Pilgrims - Telling Youth... The Truth (1962-67)

Rock; Christianity; guitars; church... in the 21st century these words don't seem odd together. But, in 1961 rock meant "devil music" and church meant "boring". The Pilgrims changed all that. Raise among the world-war bombsites of southeast London, the five "Pilgrims" were part of the first generation to be called "teenagers". The swinging sixties had started and it was not cool to be Christian. These full-blooded teenagers with a love for rock music became christians but opted not to conform. They put faith and rock together and changed christian music for good. The Pilgrims were the first wholly electric Christian rock group and shocked the churches of their day. Later bands broke through into mainstream recording, radio and TV, but The Pilgrims were breaking traditions and taboos. After playing at a church service attended by Princess Margaret the group were condemned on national radio by a Countess (no less!). But The Pilgrims didn't want upper class approval; they spoke to their own generation in a language they understood. The group played in churches, to be sure, but their favourite audiences were in beat clubs and dives where nobody was pretending to be holy. When you listen to The Pilgrims you can sense the rawness and enthusiasm of a newfound faith; nut the music is polished and professional. They put heart and soul into their playing and wanted to be the best. At a 1966 concert in a 2,500-seat auditorium opposite Westminster Abbey they were feted as "not only the best, but also the LOUDEST Christian group". [..]
taken from the liner notes

The Pilgrims have all my sympathy. Except for the lyrics you would'nt believe that they came from the Christian environment. The music leans towards early UK R&B/Beat but with a sound that is closer to american garage bands. Not every track on this CD (LRL 001 / 2004) is a winner but songs like "Hey You", "Thank You Lord" or "There's Something In Your Life" will satisfy every garage-head and lovers of raw and wild Beat. On this occasion I would like to recommend you the highly enjoyable UK Xian Beat compilation on the excellent Roots And Traces: Spurensicherung blogspot.

Tracklist:
- Hey You!
- Thank You Lord
- Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 2
- There's Someone In Your Life
- I Didn't Care
- Think It Over • Version 2
- Wait And See
- Do You Believe In God?
- Heard It All Before
- Any Time Of The Day
- Who's Your Lord?
- I Know I'm Going To Heaven
- He Wants You
- I Don't Need You
- What Are You Doing With Your Life?
- Think Of God's Love
- I Praise The Lord
- Don't You Think It's Time
- Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 1
- I Found A Special Friend
- Think It Over • Version 1

Personnel:
Derrick Phillips (rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABC]
Don Sanders (lead gtr, bs) [ABCD]
Ian Wilkie (drms, vcls) [ABCD]
John Hubbard (bs, vcls) [AB]
Chris King (vcls) [A]
Tony Goodman (vcls, lead gtr, hrmnca) [BCD]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
45's:
1. Heaven's The Place For Me/Think Of God's Love
   (Herald 2416) 1964

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to There's Someone In Your Life

Primitives - Maladjusted (1964-67)

This Northampton-based raw R&B group's 45s are now extremely rare and sought-after. They were originally known as The Cornflakes and also recorded a further 45 as Mal and The Primitives. Musically, comparable to the early Pretty Things, you won't need a second mortgage to get to hear these 45s. They're considered to be such definitive British R&B recordings that they've been heavily compiled and are well worth a spin. They also recorded four acetates for Pye; one of which was the superb Oh Mary, a grinding R&B number. Jimmy Page is also said to have helped out on their second 45, whilst Help Me was also recorded by The Rebounds. In 1965 Mal joined the band and they relocated to Italy as a quartet (at least according to the photo on their 1967 album). Aside from Mal, they comprised Jay Roberts (vcls, gtr) from the original line-up, Pick Withers (drms) and one other. Withers was later in Spring and Dire Straits. He stayed in Italy with The Primitives for three years. Line-up 'B' recorded two singles and the an album Blow-Up (Arc ) 1967. This R'n'B/soul-influenced album has been reissued in the nineties and the re-issue includes both sides of their debut Italian single Yeeeh!.../L'Ombra Di Nessuno (which is Dozier-Holland's Standing In The Shadow Of Love, with Italian lyrics) along with their follow-up Italian 45 Johnny No (Hoyt Axton's Thunder 'n Lightnin') and other cover versions like Stevie Winwood's Gimme Some Lovin', The Strangeloves' Cara Lin, Gina Gina (which is Holland-Doziers' Reach Out I'll Be There), Don Covay's Sookie Sookie, which was later covered by Steppenwolf, Charlie Rich's Mohair Sam and an original penned by Jay Roberts Mister Haertache (which is misspelt like this on the sleeve).
(taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")

"Maladjusted" (Castle CMRCD 051 / 2001) contains their Pye/Piccadilly singles, a demo of "Oh Mary" (this track is reason enough to get that CD), their great french E.P. and the "Blow Up" album that was only released in Italy.

Tracklist:
- Help Me
- Let Them Tell
- You Said
- How Do You Feel?
- Every Minute Of Every Day [Mal Ryder & The Primitives]
- Pretty Little Face [Mal Ryder & The Primitives]
- Forget It [Mal Ryder & The Spirits]
- Your Friend [Mal Ryder & The Spirits]
- Lonely Room [Mal Ryder]
- Tell Your Friend [Mal Ryder]
- Oh Mary [Demo]
- Oh Mary
- I Don't Feel Myself
- Mr. Heartache
- Tears In My Eyes

[Blow Up-LP / 1967]
- Gimme Some Loving
- L'ombra De Nessuno
- No Response
- Johnny No
- Cara-Lin
- Yeeeeeeh!
- Gira, Gira
- Every Minute Of Every Day
- Mister Heartache
- Ma Beata Te
- Sookie, Sookie
- Mohair Sam
- L'incidente

Personnel [The Primitives]:
Jay Roberts [real name Jeffrey Farthing]
(vcls, gtr, bs) [AB]
Geoff Eaton (lead gtr) [A]
John E. Soul (gtr, hrmnca, keyb'ds) [A]
Roger James (bs) [A]
Mike Wilding (drms) [A]
Mal Ryder [real name Paul Bradley Couling]
(vcls, hrmnca) [B]
Dave Sumner (gtr) [B]
David "Pick" Withers (drms) [B]

Band origin:
Northampton (Northamptonshire) → Italy

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (B) Blow Up (Arc SA 22) 1967

[1. italian release]

45's:
1. (A) Help Me/Let Them Tell (Pye 7N 15721) 1964
2. (A) You Said/How Do You Feel (Pye 7N 15755) 1965
3. (B) Every Minute Of Every Day/Pretty Little Face
   (Pye 7N 15915) 1965
4. (B) Yeeeeeeah!/L'ombra Di Nessuno (Arc AN 4108) 1967
5. (B) L'incidente/Johnny No (Arc AN 4136) 1967

[3. as Mal & The Primitives]
[4. + 5. italian release]

E.P.'s:
1. (B) Oh Mary: Oh Mary/I Don't Feel Myself/
   Mr. Heartache/Tears In My Eyes (Vogue INT 18093) 1966

[1. french release]

---

Personnel [Mal Ryder & The Spirits]:
Mal Ryder [real name Paul Bradley Couling]
(vcls, hrmnca) [AB]
Vode Chequer [real name Bob Wakley] (gtr) [AB]
Tony Merry (bs) [AB]
John "Hands" Hathaway (piano) [A]
Larry Reddington (drms) [A]
Mick Charleton (drms) [B]

Band origin:
Oxford (Oxfordshire)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Cry Baby/Take Over (Decca F 11669) 1963
2. See The Funny Little Clown/Slow Down
   (Vocalion V 9219) 1964
3. Your Friend/Forget It (Piccadilly 7N 35209) 1964
4. Lonely Room/Tell Your Friend (Piccadilly 7N 35234) 1965

[2. + 4. Mal Ryder solo]

---

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to You Said

Dearly Beloved - Rough Diamonds (1963-67)

Forming in 1963 as The Intruders and later known as The Quinstrells they became known as The Dearly Beloved in late '65 and were Tucson's most popular '60s band. Shortly after their name change Dan Gates, a DJ from a local radio station KTKT came along with the tape of a song called Peep Peep Pop Pop. The group were not at all keen at first but eventually he persuaded them to record it at the Audio Sound Recorders Studio in Phoenix and a record deal was negotiated with the New Mexico-based Boyd label. They got the band's name wrong on the label and the 45 was released in 1966 and credited to The Beloved Ones. It was a No. 1 hit in Tucson that year and held the No. 1 position for many weeks on KTKT radio. Consequent upon its success the 45 was leased to Columbia, who at least got the band's name right. With national distribution the 45 almost made Billboard's Top 100. Fuelled by their success the band headed to LA to record an album for Columbia. They recorded twenty songs in all in just three half day sessions! These sessions spawned their next 45. Tom Walker wrote the 'A' side, the flip was the work of The Grodes' leader Manny Freiser. The posthumous Voxx compilation includes some tracks from this session, but Columbia didn't promote the band or release the LP. Around this time Pete Schuyler left the band and was replaced on drums by Rick Mellinger from The Grodes. On a further trip to LA the band were spotted playing with The Leaves by a White Whale rep. and this led to them signing a new record contract (having sued Columbia to get out of their previous one). Larry Cox had to return to Tucson the next day to get married so they left LA at 3 a.m. taking turns with the driving. Eventually they all fell asleep including the driver. Inevitably they crashed and Larry Cox was killed instantly. The rest of the band sustained injuries. To make matters worse Larry's death negated their White Whale contract because it contained a clause stating that the band would have to stay intact. The band tried to keep going but never successfully replaced Larry. The 'A' side of their final 45 was a haunting song written by Larry about death ironically shortly before his own tragic demise. The flip, a punker with a ripping bass line, was a regional hit. Vocalist Jim Perry sang on the 'A' side and Terry Lee took the vocal role on the flip. Arguably this 45 was their finest moment. The Voxx compilation (Voxx 200.018 / 1984) is an excellent guide to their career with full liner notes by Lee Joseph which have been summarised here. It contains all the band's better 45s and some of their unreleased recordings for Columbia.
(taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")

Known for their great acid-punker "Flight 13" this great band is heartly recommended to all garage fans.

Tracklist:
- Every Time It's You • as The Intruders
- Why Me • as The Intruders
- Keep It Moving
- Bonus Track (KTKT Promo 1965)
- Peep Peep Pop Pop
- You Ain't Gonna Do What You Did To Him To Me
- Wait Till The Mornin'
- Iceman (Wild About My Loving)
- Music Revolution
- Strange Feeling
- Take It Easy
- It's All Over
- I've Got A Girl [alt. take] • as The Quinstrells
- I'm Not Coming Back
- Merry Go Round
- Flight 13

Personnel [Dearly Beloved]:
Larry Cox (vcls) [AB]
Tom Walker (gtr, vcls [ABC]
Terry Lee (gtr, vcls [ABC]
Shep Cooke (bs) [ABC]
Pete Schuyler (drms) [A]
Rick Mellinger (drms) [BC]
{Jim Perry (vcls on "Merry Go Round") [C]}
Val Valinto (bs)
Tom Riply (vcls)
Lenny Lopes (drms)

Band origin:
Tucson (Arizona/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. (A) Peep Peep Pop Pop/It Is Better (Boyd 157) 1966
2. (A) Peep Peep Pop Pop/It Is Better
   (Columbia 4-43797) 1966
3. (A) Wait Till The Mornin'/You Ain't Gonna Do
   What You Did With Him To Me (Columbia 4-43959) 1966
4. (C) Merry Go Round/Flight Thirteen
   (Splitsound SSDG-5) 1967

[1. as The Beloved Ones]

---

Personnel [The Intruders/The Quinstrells]:
Larry Cox (vcls)
Tom Walker (gtr, vcls)
Terry Lee (gtr, vcls)
Shep Cooke (bs)
Pete Schuyler (drms)

Band origin:
Tucson (Arizona/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Every Time It's You/Let Me Stay (Gallant no#) 1963
2. Then I'd Know/My Name (Moxie MRC 101) 1964
3. Now She's Gone/Why Me? (Moxie MRC 104) 1964
4. I Got A Girl/Tell Her (Moxie MRC 105) 1965

[1.-3. as The Intruders]
[4. as The Quinstrells]

---

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to The Quinstrells - I've Got A Girl

Listen to Dearly Beloved - Flight 13

Rokes (1964-69)

The Rokes achieved much more success in Italy, than they did in their homeland, but their UK 45s are now quite collectable and When The Wind Arises was quite psychedelic. Norman Shapiro was born in London in 1943 and by the time he was seventeen was playing guitar and singing with Rob Storm & The Whispers (who later became Robb Storme Group). Norman then played for a while backing Gene Vincent's Blue Caps, followed by a stint in The Shel Carson Combo in 1961, touring Germany's clubs such as Top Ten Club in Hamburg, and supporting Tony "Colin" Hicks for a two month tour in Italy in 1963, where the band changed their name to "The Cabin Boys". Spotted on tour by their (soon to be) new manager, they were renamed The Rokes and backed the young girl vocalist Rita Pavone before recording a demo for RCA Italiana. This led to the release of "Shake Rattle and Roll" on RCA subsiduary ARC Records, but this failed to create any impact. A second 45 followed after they played at the "Festival Degli Sconosciuti" (Contest For Unknown) in Ariccia (Rome), performing "Un Anima Pura" sung in broken Italian. The song was received favourably, and although it was unsuccesful, it did point the way ahead for the remainder of the bands existence. In 1965 The Rokes began writing original songs and had some hit's: Grazie A Te (aka Clint Ballard Jr.'s I'm Alive) which reached No. 12 and C'e Una Strana Espressione Nei Tuoi Occhi (a version of Jackie DeShannon's When You Walk In The Room) which got to No. 11 in the Italian Charts. They also released their debut album The Rokes. The following year, the band had further success with Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi and E La Pioggia Che Va, both of which remained in the Top 20 for over 25 weeks, and they were also voted second best Beat Group in Italy at "Cantagiro 1966". Another track Piangi Con Me written by Shapiro/Mogul was released in the UK as Let's Live For Today and also covered by The Living Daylights. In the US, The Grassroots also covered the song, where it sold over two million records, although the band never received any money from the song. In 1967 their first entry in the "Festival Di San Remo" Bisogna Saper Perdere was poorly received by the critics, but went to No. 2 in the Italian Charts, and remained in the Top 20 for fourteen weeks. They returned to the festival the next year where they performed Le Opere Di Bartolemo with US group Cowsills, and again the following year where they backed a little girl vocalist Nada with the song "Ma Che Freddo Fa", coming 5th for the journalists and critics. 1970 saw a decline in the groups fortunes, as the public taste changed, and they played their last concert in front of 3,500 people at the "Festival De L'Unità" on the 8th August. The concert was organised by the Communist Party! The Rokes are still remembered fondly in Italy, although they never managed to recreate their success elsewhere. Shel Shapiro has remained active in the music business, as songwriter, producer and manager, and in 1977 founded "Spaghetti Records" in Milan, discovering new talent such as Luca Barbarossa. He now works in TV collaborating with music journalist. Gianni Minà. Mike Shepstone later played with Mick Brill (ex Thane Russal Band) in Pax, whilst Johnny Charlton became an Art expert, and now runs an Art Gallery in Rome. Bobby Posner returned to England and lives in Hastings. Shapiro and Shepstone also released a single in 1966 under the name Les and Kim La Mia Ispirazione/Unchained Melody (ARC 4096).
(taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")

This 2 CD-Set was released by BMG (BMG 74321963432(2) / 2002). This will be my last post for the next 2 weeks. I'm on vacation now.

Tracklist:
[Disc 1]
- Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi
- Un'Anima Pura
- Grazie A Te
- Eravamo Amici
- C'è Una Strana Espressione Nei Tuoi Occhi
- Piangi Con Me
- Spegni Questa Luce
- Bambina
- Summertime
- Quando Eri Con Me
- La Mia Città
- Ma C'è Un Momento Del Giorno
- Bisogna Saper Perdere
- Shake, Rattle And Roll
- Ci Vedremo Domani
- She Asks Of You
- Eccola Di Nuovo
- Cercate Di Abbracciare Tutto Il Mondo Come Noi
- Ascolta Nel Vento

[Disc 2]
- È La Pioggia Che Va
- Ricordo Quando Ero Bambino
- Finchè C'è Musica Mi Tengo Su
- Che Mondo Strano
- Baby Blue
- Le Opere Di Bartolomeo
- Se Io Fossi Povero
- Lascia L'Ultimo Ballo Per Me
- Qui Non C'è Nessuno
- Somewhere
- Io Vivrò Senza Te
- Baby, Come Back (Non C'è Pace Per Me)
- Ma Che Freddo Fa
- 28 Giugno
- Roll Over Beethoven
- Per Te Per Me
- Ombre Blu
- When The Wind Arises (Il Vento)

Personnel:
Norman David [aka Shel Shapiro] (gtr, vcls)
Johnny Charlton (gtr, vcls)
Bobby Posner (bs, vcls)
Mike Roger Shepstone (drms, vcls)

Band origin:
London → Rome (Italy)

Discographie:
Albums [Italy only]:
1. The Rokes (ARC SA 4) 1965
2. The Rokes Vol. 2 (ARC SA 8) 1966
3. Che Mondo Strano (ARC SA 15) 1966
4. The Rokes (ARC ALP 11006) 1968

45's [Italy]:
 1. Shake Rattle and Roll/Quando Eri Con Me
    (ARC 4013) 1964
 2. Un'Anima Pura/She Asks For You (ARC 4021) 1964
 3. C'e Una Strana Espressione Nei Tuoi Occhi/
    Ci Vedremo Domani (ARC 4046) 1965
 4. Grazie A Te/La Mia Città (ARC 4067) 1965
 5. Ascolta Nel Vento/Il Primo Sintomo (ARC 4075) 1966
 6. Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi/Piangi Con Me (ARC 4081) 1966
 7. E La Pioggia Che Va/Finche c'e Musica Mi Tengo Su
    (ARC 4100) 1966
 8. Ride On/Che Mondo Strano (ARC - Juke Box Only) 1966
 9. Bisogna Saper Perdere/Non Far Finta Di No
    (ARC 4109) 1967
10. Eccola Di Nuovo/Ricordo Quando Ero Bambino
    (ARC 4122) 1967
11. Cercate Di Abbracciare Tutto Il Mondo Come Noi/
    Regency Sue (ARC 4137) 1967
12. Le Opere di Bartolomeo/Siamo Sotto Il Sole
    (ARC 4142) 1968
13. Lascia L'Ultimo Ballo Per Me/Io Vivrò Senza Te
    (ARC 4152) 1968
14. Qui non c'e Nessuno/La Luna Bianca La Notte Nera
    (ARC 4156) 1968
15. Baby Come Back/Hello Come Stai (ARC 4169) 1968
16. Ma Che Freddo Fa/Per Te Per Me (ARC 4172) 1969
17. 28 Giugno/Mary (ARC 4182) 1969
18. Ombre Blu/Sempre Giorno (ARC 4194) 1969

45's [UK]:
1. Let's Live For Today/Ride On (RCA RCA 1587) 1967
2. Hold My Hand/Regency Sue (RCA RCA 1646) 1967
3. When The Wind Arises/The Works Of Bartholemew
   (RCA RCA 1694) 1968

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Grazie A Te

Listen to Finchè C'è Musica Mi Tengo Su

Rockin' Ramrods - The Best Of The Rockin' Ramrods (1963-71)

This Boston band made nine 45's in total (two singles were released under the monicker GTO's). Their music was pretty much in the beat vein like the early Beatles. This CD (Big Beat CDWIKD 151 / 1995) contains most of their 7-inches, some unreleased material and adds the best songs of their soft-psychedelic album they have made as Puff in 1968. Too bad that their most garage song "She Lied" was not represented here (you can find the track on Pebbles Vol. 8).

Tracklist:
- Jungle Call
- I Wanna Be Your Man
- I'll Be On My Way
- Don't Fool With Fu Manchu • as The GTO's
- Tears Melt The Stones • as The GTO's
- Play It!
- Bright Lit Blue Skies
- Mr. Wind
- Can't You See
- Mary Mary
- Flowers In My Mind

[as Puff / (1968)]
- Vacuum
- Trees
- Rainy Day
- Looking In My Window
- Who Do You Think You Are?
- Of Not Being Able To Sleep
- Dead Thoughts Of Alfred
- I Sure Need You
- When I Wake Up In The Morning
- Go With You
- Changes

[previously unreleased / (1971)]
- My Vision Has Cleared
- I Don't Want To I Will
- Troubles

Personnel:
[Rockin' Ramrods]
Bill Linnane (lead gtr) [A]
Vin Campisi (rhythm gtr) [ABCD]
Ronn Campisi (bs) [ABCD]
Bob Henderson (drms, perc) [ABCD]
Scott Curtis (keyb'ds) [B]
Lenny Carelli (lead gtr ) [C]
Glenn Jordan (gtr, keyb'ds) [D]
Danny McBride (gtr, keyb'ds) [D]
Stu Kassner (drms) [D]

Discographie:
45's:
1. Jungle Call/Indian Giver (Explosive F 101/2) 1963
2. She Lied/The Girl Can't Help It (Bon-Bon 1315) 1964
3. I Wanna Be Your Man/I'll Be On My Way
   (Plymouth 2961/2) 1964
4. Wild About You/Cry In My Room (Southern Sound 205) 1965
5. Don't Fool With Fu Manchu/Tears Melt The Stones
   (Claridge 301) 1965
6. She Rides With Me/Rudy Vadoo (Claridge 312) 1966
7. Play It/Got My Mojo Working (Claridge 317) 1966
8. Bright Lit Blue Skies/Mr. Wind (Plymouth 2963/4) 1966
9. Flowers In My Mind/Mary, Mary (Plymouth 2965/6) 1966

[5. + 6. as The GTO's]

Personnel:
[Puff]
Vin Campisi (lead gtr)
David-Allen Ryan (bs, vcls)
Jim Mandell (piano, organ, flute, vcls)
Bob Henderson (drms, vcls)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Puff (MGM SE-4622) 1968

45's:
1. Looking In My Window/Rainy Day (MGM 14040) 1968

Band origin:
Boston (Massachusetts/US)

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Bright Lit Blue Skies

Listen to Vacuum