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Thursday, March 26, 2020

Colin Armstrong - Coventry Singer Songwriter

Colin Armstrong - 
Coventry Singer Songwriter.
By Pete Clemons

Colin Armstrong was one of the Top Coventry singer songwriters, visual artist and bookshop proprietor to come out of Coventry. He was a member of the folk group Music Box with Coventry luthian Rob Armstrong (no relation) who made guitars for Bert Jansch and George Harrison and together they made an album called Songs of Sunshine in 1971.




Remember Armstrong's book shop in Earlsdon, close to the library?. It was a fascinating place. But, of course, it closed several years ago now, due to the then growth of the internet.


Colin Armstrong playing guitar in his Earlsdon bookshop.


A few years ago I had a chat with its proprietor Colin Armstrong. He mentioned that before the shop he had been involved in the construction of the ring road. He worked, for a while, as a shuttering joiner for Gallifords on the section between Pool Meadow and London Road.

Away from work Colin would go to the Holyhead youth centre where he would sing and play his guitar along with Trev and Bob and other musicians. He would sing his own songs also.

Trev Teasdel has thrown some light on that - 
" I used to see Colin play when he was in Music Box. He got in contact in 1973 when we started Hobo and I covered his musical activities in the magazine (see below). Colin performed as a solo artist for the Hobo Workshop gigs, at the Holyhead Youth Centre. Colin was a great advocate for Hobo and Bob and I started jamming with him and attempted to form a trio. Bob Rhodes was the Youth Worker for Coventry Voluntary Services, and had helped us get the Holyhead for Hobo gigs. Charley Anderson and elements of what became Selecter, used the basement at that time along with Neol Davies. Bob and I played guitar but we were no match for Colin! Nonetheless we did some of Colin's song, a few of mine and some rock and pop covers, at the Holyhead and in a warehouse at the Canal Basin,  ultimately the idea of a trio didn't get off the ground!"

He lived, for a while, in a bedsit on Earlsdon Avenue North from the late 1960s into the 1970s. So he had easy access to and played regularly at the City Arms Folk Club. He would do solo slots with his own songs as well as sing and play in various rock and folk bands.

While at the City Arms he clearly remembered seeing Jasper Carrott appear there. He also remembered when Dave Bennett had just starting playing there. 'After one session, there were a few of us in the downstairs bar having a drink and Dave asked us 'Do you think I should carry on playing, am I good enough'. We all gave him a resounding – absolutely, yes indeed!!. And, as we all know, Dave went on to become a stalwart of the Coventry folk scene'.

Colin, who describes his music as 'funky folk', used to play in the Music Box group until they folded during 1972. This band, of course, included Rob Armstrong (no relation).

He then went down to London to try and get some sort of recording contract and sell some of his songs, without any success.

It's fair to say that Colin's musical career was steady but had not been progressing in the way he had hoped. But then during 1973, at the age of 25, there was a whiff of success and a hope that his big break would be coming at last. The top prize was a recording contract with EMI.

The national competition was organised by the Association of Musical Rument Industries and sponsored by the Melody Maker. As well as the EMI recording contract the prize also includes new instruments and equipment.

Colin found himself as the winner of a Midlands area heat of a national folk rock contest. 'Each musician had a 10 minute spot in the heat and I did three of my own songs – 'Country Boy, Country Bound', 'Blues for Glenda' and Heaven and Hell' – all vocals and acoustic guitar' he said. And he was judged the best soloist from acts all over the West Midlands, and he was the only one from his heat to be chosen to go through to the semi finals in May 1973.

As he progressed into the semi finals he said at the time, 'I'm hoping to do really well in the competition and get another chance. It could also bring in a bit more work for me from the local pubs and clubs'. But it wasn't to be as Colin fell at the final hurdle.

Later on, and before the shop, Colin, went to work for an Earlsdon Engineering firm. Another side line was that Colin was also an abstract painter of some note. He had exhibitions in the Minster Gallery in Hearsall Lane, the Kongoni Coffee Bar and a couple of things in the 'reject art exhibition' at the Methodist Central Hall. It was on Colin's suggestion that Trev did an interview with the Minster Gallery for the first edition of Hobo magazine.

...........................................
From the Coventry Telegraph c 73 / 74




 From Hobo Magazine


From Hobo issue 1 June 1973) -
"Congrats to Colin Armstrong in reaching the Semi-finals in the Melody Maker National Rock/Folk contest and also to Just Jake, Willow, Naked Light, Just Before Dawn, Bumble and all the other Coventry bands / artists that took part. More on them if poss - later." 


From Hobo Issue 4 (Unpublished version)
"Coventry singer - songwriter COLIN ARMSTRONG, who reached the semi-final in the Melody Maker contest last year, is to enter again this year...Lotza luck Colin..."

Other blogs related to Colin Armstrong 
Hobo - Coventry Folk Scene blog - Colin Armstrong

Hobo - Coventry Folk Scene - Rob Armstrong - No relation but they both played in Music Box. Rob made guitars and also played with Rod Felton in the New Modern Idiot Grunt Band.

Hobo  - Coventry Folk Scene - Music Box

Music Box


Rob Armstrong recalled the days of Music Box in the Coventry Telegraph -

"We called ourselves Music Box, and found quite a following among local folk-music lovers. Songs of Sunshine was our first disc. One of the pieces was composed by Colin and entitled Seaside Sunshine, I had written the title song and there were Scottish songs and a Bob Dylan number. We recorded it on a Saturday afternoon at a house in Cheadle Hulme (Greater Manchester). Rob and Colin, owner of Armstrong's Collectables, in Earlsdon, played as Music Box on the local folk circuit for nearly two years, performing at the Belgrade Studio and Lanchester Arts Festival, as well as several pubs."

MUSIC BOX - SEASIDE SUNSHINE



To hear more of the Music Box album - follow this link to a page about Music Box...






Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Monster Magnet

MONSTER MAGNET
by Pete Clemons

Coventry group, The Return of Monster Magnet, could certainly boast a wide variety of musical influences. The member of this eight piece came from folk, jazz, blues and rock groups. There was even a former Lanchester Polytechnic disc jockey amongst their ranks.

The group started up in 1972 when Paul Hooper, the then 24 year old drummer from Indian Summer, was asked by the Lanchester Polytechnic to put a band together for an end of term dance. He rounded up a few friends and musicians and set to it.

Almost everyone had played with one or another in various bands over the years so the musical and social foundations were already there and merely required building upon.

The band stayed together after the Lanchester booking. Paul said at the time 'At the moment its on a workshop basis and we still do bookings. In the near future we are hoping to go around some local colleges playing for charity. There is just about every influence at work form folk, progressive blues and free form. But no one style is allowed to dominate. Our music is mainly good time rock which people can dance to. We do some of our own material, Delaney and Bonnie, and Steven Stills numbers. And there are even a couple of old Beatles songs'. Paul described the band as rough and ready though, but of course, a very musically competent outfit. 'We're not out to get anything out of it save the pleasure of playing. As long as we cover expenses then we will play'.

Bob Jackson, then also 24, and Paul's band mate in Indian Summer featured on keyboards and vocals in Monster Magnet. And the groups lead and bass guitarists were Steve Cotterill and Roy Butterfield who both also played with Indian Summer during heir early days. Roy also played with the group April.

The line up was completed by Tim James, who played sax and electric piano in Coventry jazz group Ra Ho Tep and Bo Weevils, and who shares in the groups vocal duties. Bill Jackson, no relation to Bob, on vocals and keyboards and also a one time member of April. Mick Smitham on guitar and Tony Fletcher the former Lanchester Polytechnic disc jockey on bongos.

The group had ambition and were working on some new material with a view to putting it all down on tape. And, while playing live, they had been hoping to extend some of their numbers. They were also looking for a couple of girl singers or dancers but they seemed to be scarce mentioned Paul at the time.

Of course this is only a partial history of the group at soon after the time the group formed. Monster Magnet ent on for several years and, like most bands, made several line up changes.

............................
From Hobo Magazine 1973 - 74

Line up: Bob Jackson (keyboards),
Tim James - sax, harmonica, keyboard
Mick Smitham - Guitar
Ron Lawrence - Bass
Roy Butterfield - Bass
Paul Hooper - Drums
Tony Fletcher - congas
Phil Street - congas

From Hobo

MONSTER MAGNET c1973 

 COVENTRY SUPERGROUP
"Coventry's Supergroup of the 70's. A loosely formed group of Coventry musicians, fresh from touring or out a band or otherwise up for playing. Consists of ex members of Indian Summer / April / Ra Ho Tep and more. Mostly play in the Golden Cross."

FROM HOBO ISSUE 3 FEB 1974

MONSTER MAGNET
"Musicians from a selection of Coventry bands, past and present, have formed a local 'Super Group' calling themselves MONSTER MAGNET. The band, which first hatched at the beginning of 73, has a loose line up of about 9 musicians and only do selected gigs, owing to the size of the band and the cost of keeping such a band on the road. It also depends on the availability of the musicians involved as some are currently with other bands. It also gives musicians who are in between bands a chance to play whilst out of work. The line up (although this varies) consists of such 'devastating musicians' as Mick Smithem, Phil Street, Tim James, Paul Hooper, Col Williams, Steve Cotterill, Bill Jackson (Ex April lead singer) , Bob Jackson (no relation), Roy Butterfield, Ron Lawrence (Ex April bassist and later with Sniff and the Tears), Dave Pennycock and Little Jimmy Osmond and all! A cool band full of top Coventry musicians".


Tim James says on the Rex Brough site
"Monster Magnet [1972-1975 ish] comprised a variable number (5-15) of musos from other bands who shared a love of early US rock, soul & blues and would play with the band if other commitments allowed. Played "covers" by Johnny Winter, Stevie Wonder (early stuff), Steely Dan etc and played all over the country. I have a very blurred memory of this band but do remember Paul Hooper on drums, Ron Lawrence on bass (sometimes), Roy Butterfield on bass (other times), Mick Smitham on guitar, Bill Jackson on piano and depressing songs (which we always found an excuse not to play), Bob Jackson on organ, Tony Fletcher on congas, Phil Street on congas, and anybody else that came "along on the night." 

From Phil Randall Feb 2016 -
" Trev, worth noting that Monster Magnet were playing till at least 1976/7 as I wasn’t in the area till 1974 and used to work with Phil Street at Nuneaton Council.

Also,if you know anyone who knows where Phil is now, some of his old friends are trying to track him down
Cheers Phil Randall"






A Band Called George


A BAND CALLED GEORGE
By Pete Clemons

Photo from Coventry Telegraph c 1973

The Bell Record Company became a real hit machine for the first few years of the 1970s. With artists such as Showaddywaddy, Tony Orlando and Dawn and David Cassidy and the Partridge Family on their books, it was quite rare not to see them represented in the singles chart.

So the Coventry based group A Band Called George were incredibly confident about the prospects of their first ever single released on Bell during August 1973.

'For such a relatively new band, everything's gone like a dream so far' said the five piece groups manager Craig Ward. 'We have a contract with Bell for the next three years. And they have promised to give the single a push. And, being on Bell, its bound to get a lot of airplay'. Craig continued 'We are wildly confident about the whole thing. We have got everything going for us'.
The single which should have put A Band Called George firmly on the map was called 'N.C.B. Man'. It was written by the groups lead vocalist and guitarist, Bob Young, who came from Leamington Spa. 'Its a little bit of mickey taking of the miners, their work and their attitudes to it' mentioned Craig. 'It praises them up in one verse and puts them down in another'. Bob's father used to be a miner so he did know something about their life.

A Band Called George was formed late 1972 when five lads Bob Young, Colin Young (Bass), Nick Trevisick (Drums) and Baz Andruzko (Accordion) came together after a number of years playing in other local bands. They turned professional in May 1973 and recorded a tape with the hope of being signed up by a record company. 'I took it round half a dozen publishers in London' said Craig at the time. 'Everyone seemed impressed though no one offered us what we wanted'. So he then went to see an old friend, Lionel Conway, chief executive at Island Records. Lionel liked it and took it to Dick Leahy the general manager of Bell Records. He was just knocked out with the tape and offered us a three year contract. Craig described the music as 'good time, nice and light and humorous. There are influences of Lindisfarne, Mungo Jerry and Stackridge in there. We write all our own music and we are a highly original band. And we must be one of the very few groups in the country who use an accordion. On stage the group cover a variety of styles from rock to reggae. Its all light hearted with a fair amount of stage antics. Baz will dress up in some gaudy red white and blue check trousers or something. He is about 18 stone and makes the most of it'.

The band were not particularly well known in the Coventry area due to there not being a lot of places, for a band like that ot play at that time. And it was hoped that the single would change all that. And if you are wondering, the bands peculiar name came after they were going through the usual stages of trying to come up with a name. Someone just suggested it and it simply stuck.

YouTube below of NCB Man by A Band Called George Bell Label 1973


And Jack Tar.


More on the Hobo site Coventry Folk Club Scene here

What the press said - 
Coventry Telegraph




FROM HOBO MAGAZINE



Issue 2 August 1973

A BAND CALLED GEORGE

"Released their first single on the 24th August entitled NCB MAN, which is out on the Bell label. their music, which is self composed, is in similar vain to that of Lindisfarne. The members of the band hail from both Coventry and Leamington. They are Bob Young on lead vocals and guitar. Colin Young on bass; Roger Prince on guitar;Nicky Trevisick on drums and Baz Andruszko on accordion. Not forgetting Ricky and Dave the trusty roadies!). (both Ex Indian Summer roadies). ...

Another entry in the same issue....

Whilst on the subject of Indian Summer, the roadies from that long lost Coventry group are now with a Leamington based group. Their name is A Band Called George and their music in the vain of Lindisfarne. Their line up consists of an accordion / bass guitar / 2 guitars with Coventry's Nicky Trevisick on drums. All members contribute to vocals and they have a single released on July 27th called NCB MAN for Bell Records."

Hobo - Late News - Issue 2 August 1973
A BAND CALLED GEORGE


"Released their first single on the 24th August entitled NCB MAN, which is out on the Bell label. their music,



which is self composed, is in similar vain to that of Lindisfarne. The members of the band hail from both Coventry and Leamington. They are Bob Young on lead vocals and guitar. Colin Young on bass; Roger Prince on guitar;Nicky Trevisick on drums and Baz Andruszko on accordion. Not forgetting Ricky and Dave the trusty roadies!). (both Ex Indian Summer roadies). ...

Another entry in the same issue....

Whilst on the subject of Indian Summer, the roadies from that long lost Coventry group are now with a Leamington based group. Their name is A Band Called George and their music in the vain of Lindisfarne. Their line up consists of an accordion / bass guitar / 2 guitars with Coventry's Nicky Trevisick on drums. All members contribute to vocals and they have a single released on July 27th called NCB MAN for Bell Records."


Hobo - Late News - Issue 2 August 1973
Baz Andruszko, the accordionist with A BAND CALLED GEORGE has left the group. A replacement is being sought.
(Ed's note - I think Baz left to join a reformed Dando Shaft to provide the soundtrack for a play - You Must Be Joking (on the history of the car industry in Coventry) at the Belgrade Theatre. Rod Felton also joined Dando on this occasion.

Hobo

Issue 3 Unpublished Version - C January 1974

NCB MAN - NO AIRPLAY

NCB MAN, released on the Bell Label by A Band Called George has not been selected for air play on the Beeb, despite it being a highly commercial song, hailed by discos. The reason however is not owing to the lyrics erupting the Mary Whitehouse or the pulsing beat inciting couples to copulate in bus queues, but is, I'm told, the fate of 90% of the singles that are submitted to the BBC. So everyone bombarded the Beeb with requests for it!

The band have ceased live gigs for the time being, coming together for recording only. Bob Young is writing and producing at Snitterfield Recording studios. Rog has written and recorded a solo single for release on Bell called World War 1. Nick has joined Smack! and Baz is joining Dando Shaft.


Issue 4 (Unpublished Version scheduled for May 1974)

SHADES OF NIGHT - have split up and also WILLOW. Joe Reynolds and Willow's other saxophonist are to join a reformed version of A Band Called George.