The Coventry Sound Show 1964

The Coventry Sound Show 1964
The Mighty Avengers

by Pete Clemons

It is incredible to think that mid January 2020 will mark 56 years since local band, The Avengers, 'stole the show' during a major Sunday concert at the Coventry Theatre. The band became known as The Mighty Avengers to avoid confusion with a band with a similar name.

Not long before this show, during December 1963, The Avengers had become the first band from the Midlands to play The Cavern Club, Liverpool. Under the stewardship of Harry Flick, they were already on something of a roll.

According to local press Teddy (Kevin) Mahon (rhythm guitar), Tony Campbell (lead guitar and vocal),Mike Linell (lead singer and bass guitar),and 'Biffo' Dave Beech (drummer) were greeted with loud cheers from a largely teenage audience before they began their first number 'I'm a Hog for You Baby'.

The audience continued to shout for The Avengers long after they had finished playing and right up until nationally famous , Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, took their places behind the microphones.

Brian Poole had been the big attraction but the show was really staged to introduce 'The Coventry Sound'. Apart from The Avengers others on the bill included The Sorrows, The Sabres, The Matadors, The Mustangs, The Midnights, Tony Martin and the Echo Four, and Lynne Curtis originally from Wales but then living in Leamington Spa and who also sang with The Mustangs as well as having her own solo slot. Lynne was also being managed by Larry Page.

Coventry trio, The Orchids and who recorded for Decca Records, were supposed to have appeared on the show but were prevented from doing so by a 1933 Act of Parliament – 'The Children and young Persons Act'.

However, they still participated in the show by clapping their hands to the music as they sat in a specially reserved box where they could be seen by the audience.

The whole evening had been arranged by Coventry theatrical agency, Top Variety, and compèred by Alan Field. Musical direction was by S. Calland. A number of record companies also sent representatives to hear our local talent.

Of course, for a lot of these groups, it didn't all end there. Several of them went on to achieve recording contracts. Later on during 1964 The Mighty Avengers released their first single 'Hide Your Pride'. Later on that year, a follow up, 'So Much in Love' was released.

This new song was specially written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and was produced by Stones manager Andrew Oldham. Oldham was now guiding the band and was keeping them busy with dates up and down the country. Soon after its release, disc jockey Bob Wooler, featured the record on his Radio Luxembourg show ensuring it had good visibility and helped ease it into the charts.

Two further Andrew Oldham collaborations, 'When Blue Turns to Grey' and 'Walking Through the Sleepy City' sadly failed to have the same impact on the charts as 'So Much in Love'.

More about the Mighty Avengers from Pete Clemons https://coventrygigs.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-mighty-avengers.html

So Much In Love The Mighty Avengers 1964

Blue Turns to Grey - The Mighty Avengers 1964 (written by the Stones)

The Mighty Avengers - Sometime They Say - 1964

The above is the Rolling Stones original version of Walking through the City which the Mighty Avengers covered. 

The Mighty Avengers - Sir Edward And Lady Jane.

The Mighty Avengers - Hide Your Pride - 1964

The Mighty Avengers - Hey Senorita - 1964

The Mighty Avengers - I'm Lost Without You