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Wednesday, March 25, 2020

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.





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