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.
No comments:
Post a Comment