The Mod Generation

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Rhythm & Blues Scene

Rob has written a new article for us about his experiences of the Rhythm & Blues scene in London.

http://www.themodgeneration.co.uk/2009/10/rhythm-blues-scene.html

I'm sure you'll be as blown away as I was by the great bands Rob got to see up close and personal in small venues before any of them were famous - the guys who he shared drinks with as well as a dance-floor!

I remain immensely grateful to Robert for sharing his experiences with us and bringing the world of the original mods to life.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 13, 2009 at 11:46
Above is the picture Gasoline Alley that I refer to in my message to April above.

Chris: Although in the late 50's the police and people generally were ignorent of the kind of herbal tobacco that West Indians and Africans smoked openly on the street, by the time of the raids that I talk about, around 1964, they knew quite alright. I believe it was both (a) and (b). I don't want to belabor this aspect, but at that time and increasingly throughout the sixties, black folk were harrassed a lot. I can't tell you how many times I saw the Bob Marley tour bus on the highways, but most of the times it was pulled over and surrounded by police, that was probably early 70s.
Permalink Reply by Graeme Barclay on October 13, 2009 at 12:49
After just finished reading Rob's story parts 1 and 2 have to say what a fascinating inside to the 60s mod scene in London. This will definitely be a book worth purchasing if Rob ever get's it publicized.

Fingers crossed.

Graeme
Permalink Reply by Heather & Mark on October 13, 2009 at 15:50
Once again a fasinating read Rob. Well done sir.

Chris Falowe is indeed Islington born and bred as is my hubby, Mark. We'd often see Chris back in the day, walking in Chapel St market and along the Upper St. He owned a record shop in Islington for a time too and we would go in for a chat sometimes. He is a lovely man and met him a few times when he has turned up and performed at the annual Small Faces Convention. He can still belt out a song with that great voice of his.

I've also got to see Gino Washington and The Ram Jam Band back then and loved the energy force that Geno projected over the crowd. Brilliant performer. Also saw him a couple of years back when he toured with Eddie Floyd. I
got to go backstage and spent 20 minutes or so with Geno, by which time I was worn out by his energy, which
he still has 100% on and off stage. My regret is that I didn't get to meet Mr Floyd but could not fault the man's performance. He still had it at 70 several!

I'm off to The Royal Albert Hall on 25th Oct and will get to see Georgie Fame, who I never saw back in the day.
Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 13, 2009 at 16:15
Thanks Graeme: If I ever get it published ... I'm optimistic, sometime in the future. Meanwhile I am enjoying all this interaction, it's very invigorating. At some time I will be re-writing what I've committed to print already, filling it out and adding details.

Heather and Mark: Wonderful to hear from you again with your fascinating insights. So Mark's an Islington man is he, great, I love those Islington row houses. Yes, Chris Farlowe is blessed with a great voice and kudos to him for continuing to perform. It wouldn't suprise me if his vocals haven't mellowed with time and he could be better than ever. I didn't know he had a record shop in Islington. All Power to Geno Washington, he's made a lot of people happy. I never saw Eddie Floyd but alway's admired his dynamic records.

Enjoy Georgie Fame at the Royal Albert Hall, I know it'll be good. I saw James Brown there once.
Permalink Reply by Heather & Mark on October 14, 2009 at 0:34
Nice to hear from you again too Rob.

Mark's parents and infact another three of his family members, owned houses in College Cross off of the Upper Street.

I'm a couple of years behind you Rob, so was part of the 'second flush' of 60s mods if you like. Geno was one of the first performers I saw live, before that it was The Beatles in 63! Then Lee Dorsey and so it went on from there. One claim to fame, haha, that I have is that I once got to sing along with Percy Sledge, at a little club in Bromley, Kent. I doubt he would remember, but I've never forgotten it lol.

Yes, The Royal Albert Hall is a great venue eh? The sound is like nowhere else! Saw Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett at gigs there back in the 60s. More recently The Moody Blues-twice there-Who give an absolutely abrilliant live performance. About 4 years back my friend John Hellier put on a remembrance event at The R.A.H for Ronnie Lane. Performers included Paul Weller, Pete Townsend, Midg Ure, Ronnies' band-Slim Chance, Ocean Colour Scene, Sam Brown-daughter of Joe. What a voice she has! A fantastic evening was had by all.

The event on 25th is a charity concert in support of musicians-sorry the name of the charity escapes me-It's billed as a Faces re-union but it's not and can't ever be without Ronnie Lane, God bless him and Rod won't turn up, of that I'm sure! BUT the band will be made up with Bill Wyman's band members, who will also be backing the other guests. Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan and Ron Wood three of The Faces, will be jamming some Faces numbers with Bill and his band. Mick Hucknell, some other guest singers and of course Georgie Fame. Got good seats and I can't wait. :~} Hxx
Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 14, 2009 at 22:53
Gosh, Heather that's some good concert going you've listed. I saw the Beatles in June 1964 at Leyton Super Baths, when they were still being promoted in the south. No seats, we just stood around the stage. I saw them again at Finsbury Park, maybe at the Astoria, again no seats, but it was harder to get near the stage. That may have been in 1965.

I went to the RAH a few time, but it's hard to remember who I saw. I think I saw the Cream there. I know I saw them at the Saville Theatre. I can't remember who else, maybe Ravi Shankar in the Psychedelic days. But I do know I didn't see Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex, or Wilson Pickett. I would have remembered that--I would like to have done--where was I?

Tell me, you talk of "Sam Brown-daughter of Joe. What a voice she has!" Would that be a daughter of Joe Brown and the Bruvvers. If so, what kind of songs does she sing, I don't suppose Cockney songs like her dad? I didn't know he had a daughter at least not a singer.
Permalink Reply by Heather & Mark on October 16, 2009 at 0:51
Cheers Rob. Yep, live music was and remains, my passion. I got to see lots of what, I consider to be, Great performers.

I love soul music and saw Carla Thomas,Nina Simone, Eddie Floyd, Booker T & The MG's, Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley-just 17 and a tiny fella-but oh boy what a voice! and THE Big O. Yes, I was even fortunate to see him when he was over touring in the U.K with a lot of the above artists. That was the Stax-Volt tour. I'll always have that memory to cherish. I totally adore Otis. His backing group The Bar-Kays were tops too. Already mentioned seeing Aretha, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge. The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder from the Tamla family.. The Small Faces, Amen Corner, Roy Orbison, Walker Brothers Cilla Black, Gerry and The Pacemakers and Mark also saw The Who in the early days. Saw some of those artists just once, some twice others three times. Those are the ones I remember off the top of my-very blonde-head lol tonight. I wouldn't trade those times for any other would you?

Seen a few more since those times, including The Who, Barry White, an excellent performer. George Benson,The Stylistics, The Drifters,The Moody Blues, Ron Wood, Mick Jagger-at a 'one off' show Ron put on- called Ron Wood & Fiends haha. Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones and Ron Wood at a gig Mac was doing in London with his current band The Bump Band. THAT was great. There was only about 100 people there and Ron Wood commented to Mac that is was f#cking brilliant, up close and personal, just like the old days. It was too.
Also been to some Paul Weller gigs, seen Amy Winehouse perform with him....ans so it goes on

Yes Sam is the daughter of Joe Brown.. She is a blue-eyed soul and Jazz singer. Very experienced and has worked with some of the best. Check her out if you get chance. I'm sure you will be amazed. Let me know what you think at some point. She even provided some backing vocals on The Small Faces album 78 In The Shade-which was their re-union- release. She was only a kid, but what a start eh? Obviously Ronnie Lane's memorial concert at R.A.H. consisted entirely of his music when he was with The Small Faces, The Faces and Slim Chance. So Sam would have sung some of those numbers. Sorry I can't remember which but I remarked to John Hellier after about her amazing voice and how she did justice to the songs and he said that he knew she would which is why he had asked her to perform.

Oh and Mark just told me to add, just as a point of interest, his cousin was bass guitarist in Mungo Jerry,He was the long-haired John Lennon type member of the group.

Also try to get along and support young blood groups that we know of ,or discover, whenever we can. Talk to Steve about The Shoestrung, a group we all saw in Brighton over August Bank Holiday. Superb.
Ok, so here endeth my waffle for tonight.

Hxx
Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 19, 2009 at 0:27
Enjoyed your last waffle, as you say you love soul music. You are the consummate soul music fan. Interesting information, Arthur Conley was only seventeen! I didn’t know that. I saw Stevie Wonder in 1964 in Finsbury Park along with the Miracles, Supremes, Temptations, Marvelettes, Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye, Contours, et al, but he was know as “Little Stevie Wonder” then, I even got his (and many others) autograph, although Stevie was aided by an assistant who guided his hand.

I think the Bar-Kays were essentially the MG’s with horns added, or was that the Mar-Keys?

I regret I never saw Nina Simone live. I have several of her albums but the live ones are the best. She responds well to an audience. Her "Live at the Town Hall" is my favorite, it has the best version of “Black is the colour of my true love’s hair” that I’ve heard. I know she had a few hits, “I put a Spell on You,” “Don't Let me be Misunderstood,” “I got Life,” but at that time I always felt her jazzy, bluesy side was neglected by the radio (and TV). It was the same with other great female singers, Miriam Makeba, Joni Mitchell and I suspect more recently, Joan Armatrading, who were similarly neglected, though I am distanced by space and time.

Thank for the info on Sam Brown, that’s a nice surprise and I will watch out for her. We live and learn.
Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 25, 2009 at 2:45
Algie: I’ve been out of town, and it’s only now I’m catching up. Unfortunately, my ol’ tank at home is not up to playing videos so I will have to wait until I get on another computer before I can view it. From your description and Chris’s endorsement, I am really looking forward to seeing it!
Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 26, 2009 at 0:16
Chris; Algie: Still waiting to view the video, meanwhile I can say that ska came later for Mods than R&B and in my own case my collection of ska records never rivaled my R&B collection, but I had "O Carolina" and the other tracks I've mentioned. As I said, Jamaican DJs scratched out the labels so I heard the greatest records without being able to buy them. But youv'e got the right names Coxsone Dodd, Derick Morgan, etc.

However some had great collections, I briefly dated a brown eyed mod girl who had an apartment in Blackheath and she had the largest and greatest collection of Blue Beat you can imagine.

I didn't come fully on board until Brince Buster's "Al Capone, and then Rocksteady emerged followed by embryonic reggae. such as early URoy: "Ace From Outer Space" for e.g. and "Chalice in the Palace," also "That's My Number" by the Maytals I think, or the seminal "Fire Corner" album in 1969 which I still have on cassette. Rico Rodriguez and Laurel Aitkin both lived in London and I became friends with Rico. He was a JA trombone player who carried on the tradition of Dan Drummond. Rico's "The Lion Talks" is great as is Laurel Aitkin's "Suffering Still."
Permalink Reply by Chris Cameron on October 26, 2009 at 12:35
I am the same as you Robert, in that my collection of original 60s Soul and R&B is far greater in terms of quantity thn my ska stuff. I do still have some brilliant original ska records such as Al Capone by Prince Busters All Stars on the Blue Beat label, Rinky Dink by Roland Alphonso & the Studio 1 Orchestra on the Ska Beat label, My Darling by Buster All Stars on Blue Beat, and my own favourite King of Kings by Jimmy Cliff on the Stateside label from 1964.
Permalink Reply by Robert Nicholls, Ph.D. on October 26, 2009 at 19:26
Algie: I've finally viewed the video and it is great! Yes, that's the Ska dance for sure. A good healthy workout! The one he calls basic step #3 is the one that most resembles the Milk the Cow dance, with the arms pumping up and down in front of the body as I described it in an earlier comment.

Do you have any information about the video, like where it was recorded and what year? I believe I see "Bryon Lee" on the banner above the stage. Good for you in locating it and posting it.

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