The New Walker Brothers - CIU Clubs

 

The New Walker Brothers - CIU Clubs

by Pete Clemons

Imagine The Walker Brothers appearing at the Stoke Ex or Billy Fury appearing at the Walsgrave Club. During the 1970s it did happen or at least that was how, particularly with the Walker Brothers, it was advertised.

There was a time when the good and the great of the 1960s had fallen from grace and were playing the CIU (club and institute union) circuit. From Freddie and the Dreamers to the Rockin' Berries it happened to many. Rock music of all types along with Disco were now the dominant forces in popular music.

The popularity of the much loved beat bands and crooners of the 1960s went into sharp decline. That was until the package tours, which began during the late 1980s, would - and continue to do so - put these bands and artists back on the bigger stages once again.

In their heyday, during the early 1970s there were an estimated 4000 to 4500 CIU affiliated clubs with more than 6 million members up and down the country. This kept thousands of entertainers employed. Some professional, some semi-professional.

It was at the Stoke Ex Service Club where the Walker Brothers appeared. But it was not the classic line up of Scott, John and Gary that had appeared at Coventry Theatre around 10 years earlier. This was just John and his New Walker Brothers.

John Walker, born John Maus, formed The New Walker Brothers during 1974. After the 'brothers' glory days he spent a lot of time in the UK and Europe. In truth John never really stopped touring. After the Walkers his recording career never really took off. Until he hit on a surprise hit in Spain. Suddenly he took off to the tavernas and restaurants of that countries rural regions along with a group of female backing singers picked up along the way.

After that moment passed he returned to the UK sometime during 1973 and began to tour the cabaret and seaside circuit with a band he called The New Walker Brothers. The vocalist in this new venture was a former Opportunity Knocks winner called Jimmy Wilson who, despite being no more than around 5 foot 2 inches apparently did a remarkable impersonation of Scott Walker.

It didn't last long however. The New Walkers fell apart during 1974. Later, vocalist Jimmy Wilson, was killed in a freak accident. But the New Walkers were around long enough to perform several times around Coventry. These included appearances at Bedworth Civic Hall, The City Centre Club and the Stoke Ex.

While The New Walker Brothers toured John Walker was getting back in touch with Scott. During the summer of 1974 he had watched the film 'Deadlier than the Male' for where The Walkers had sung the title song. This was the beginning of a successful reunion.

During 1975 an album titled 'No Regrets' was released. The title track was released as a single and hit number 7 in the charts during 1976. As for the group, well after a few live performances, they simply drifted apart again.

 

Reggae Chesford Grange 1969

Reggae Chesford Grange 1969

by Pete Clemons

Of course, the roots of reggae music go back much further, but during the late 60s and early 70s, reggae made a huge impression. Most of the major music magazines were pushing the genre by way of having dedicated pages of their publications devoted to the music. And the music burst into the UK charts by way of Desmond Dekker and the Aces single 'Israelites' hit number 1.

And it didn't stop. Reggae single remained dominant in the charts. A flurry of tunes such as 'Return of Django', 'Long Shot Kick the Bucket', 'Wonderful World Beautiful People', 'It Mek' and others all fared well.

The music itself was undemanding, happy and compulsive. It contained trumpet fanfares and repetitive riffs, turned out by some sophisticated and amazing rhythm sections. Additionally there was some incredibly adventurous organ based improvisations. Youth clubs up and down the country lapped it up and would mix reggae into a set that included the best of the beat and rock music that was around at that time.

A ground breaking tour was arranged for reggae bands, The Pioneers and The Upsetters. Both bands criss crossed the country separately during November and December 1969. The Pioneers were due to begin their tour at The Matrix Ballroom in Coventry but the date was cancelled due to the band not arriving in the UK till slightly later than expected. The Upsetters began their tour at The Junction at Crewe on the same evening The Pioneers eventually got going. Both tours did visit Coventry however. The Pioneers performing at the Chesford Grange on boxing day 1969. The Upsetters played the same venue earlier in the month. Harry J and the Allstars, who had chart success in 1969 with 'The Liquidator', set up a British tour for early 1970.

The peak of the tour was a massive reggae concert in London organised for December 1969. The concert featured Desmond Dekker, The Pioneers, The Upsetters, Max Romeo, Noel and the Fireballs and Pat Kelly. The title of the concert was Reggae, Steady Go and was being used as a benchmark. If successful it would lead to a six week nationwide tour by the same package. All the artists involved had reserved the second half of January and the whole of February 1970 for the venture if it were to materialise.

The London gig however did not get off to the greatest of starts and didn't go down well with the music critics. Only opening act Noel and the Fireballs and The Pioneers came away unscathed. Apparently those two acts outshone the others who were described as 'disasters'. Max Romeo for example was well received but leant heavily on his hit Wet Dream which was 'in danger of becoming his millstone'. Amplification and microphone issues also dogged the evening.

Other extracts on how the concert was reported: 'Noel and the Fireballs energetic performance pleased the audience and earned them much applause. The Pioneers with their three man vocal team, neat routines and slick presentation, generated high temperature excitement to the delight of the screamers and this is exactly what is needed to fill the gap left by the demise of the teenyboppers pop group scene'.

The planned tour for early 1970 called 'The Biggest Reggae Package Tour In The World' doesn't appear to have materialised. However another was organised for later in the year. A television documentary focusing on a reggae festival/concert held at Wembley Stadium in 1970 followed. One of the first ever documentaries about Reggae music. The festival featuring the Pyramids, The Pioneers, Black Faith, Millie, The Maytals and Desmond Dekker. It included interviews with disk jockey Mike Raven and producer Graham Goodall who reviewed the history and the genres development. The documentary was a mixture of concert and audience footage. Several audience members are interviewed on there views of the music.

Tangerine Dream, Coventry Cathedral - March 2022

 

Tangerine Dream, Coventry Cathedral - March 2022

by Pete Clemons

Given that their latest album, Raum, recently topped the dance charts kind of shows where Tangerine Dream are at today. And Raum is indeed an upbeat album. But what makes the album special is that it also contains arrangements written by their late band leader and visionary Edgar Froese.

And the theme of future and past set the scene for the bands current tour that included a visit to Coventry Cathedral. This coming just over 45 years since they last appeared at the cathedral in 1975. Of course that last visit was by the bands classic line up of Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann and Chris Franke. The Tangerine Dream appearing today are Thorsten Quaeschning, Hoshiko Yamane and Paul Frick.

In the same vein Tangerine Dream have, for this tour, reintroduced the sequencer sound that revolutionised the bands sound of the 1970s.

The unmistakeable sounds of Stratosphere opened the proceeding. Stratosphere was a landmark album in as much that it saw the band take a new musical direction. More melodic and moving away from the 'Berlin School' style.

This was followed by a piece from the album The Sorcerer. The thing for me with Tangerine Dream is I recognise the music without necessarily knowing its title. I have since found out it was titled Betrayal and it was the main theme of the soundtrack. As you would expect recognisable pieces from the latest album Raum were also performed.

The theme of the evening was clearly evident as other highlights included Ricochet widely, but wrongly, thought to have been performed at the last Coventry Cathedral visit and an upbeat version of Phaedra. Phaedra of course was one of the first albums to use sequencer.

Guest guitarist Steve Rothery added a whole new dynamic to what was a quite spectacular finale. He joined the fray for the last two pieces of the main set and his deftness and subtlety on guitars was sublime. Steve also appeared on the encore. And those three pieces totalled well over an hour's work for him.

It was promised that towards the end of every concert a 30+ minute real time composition/improvisation was to be performed - turning every concert on this tour into a unique experience. And for this gig it was the encore piece which was beyond any pre conceived expectations. It was simply mesmerising.

The sound within the cathedral was cavernous and reverberated around the hall. The light show and visuals were spectacular. It was akin to being part of the four ends of mass. And that being the adoration of Tangerine Dream. Especially the more 'traditional' pieces which were exquisite.

For this concert Tangerine Dream were simply attempting to re-stage rather than recreate. Forty five years ago we were given, what I assumed, were improvised pieces of music. This evening it was 15 plus clearly rehearsed pieces. Apart from one, the encore. The 2022 version of the band certainly made the night their own.

Similar to the classic line up of 1975 today's version of Tangerine Dream have certainly cemented their place in folklore with this performance. And this tour will have done no harm in introducing, maybe, lapsed devotees of electronica to the sounds of today's Tangerine Dream as well as reminding listeners of the band just how good that classic era music was.

The Dirt Road Band - Albany Club 5 March 2022

 

The Dirt Road Band  - Albany Club 5 March 2022

Having sold out several weeks ago this was a hugely anticipated gig. Not quite the bands debut gig. Pre pandemic the Dirt Road Band played sporadically under name of Dirt Road Blues Band. But it was their first outing first since dropping the blues moniker. Not that they dropped the blues musically. The overall set was broader in selection than I remember from previous outings. Either way, blues or no blues, this was a powerhouse of a performance.

Individually the core trio need little introduction as they bring with them a wealth of experience. Well over 150 years worth if you combine it all. Not that that counted for much this evening. There was no doubt that these guys appeared to be on a mission. At times it appeared as though they had something to prove to themselves. That they were still able to achieve. A lot of pent up energy and emotion was being unleashed. That mix of drive and enjoyment was almost tangible. It filtered off stage and into the packed audience.

As it happened they had nothing to worry about. Steve Walwyn was frenetic and played with an intensity, Horace Panter, precise and punchy while Ted Duggan was solid and direct. Between them they played a comprehensive set that lasted for an hour and a half. Additionally, there were 20 minutes of encores.

Much has changed since this trio last performed. This topsy turvy world is now on a completely different axis to that it was on the last time DRB performed. But it is not all doom and gloom. One massive positive is the name Bob Jackson. Health wise, Bob has gone through the mill these last few years. Thankfully Bob has come out the other side. More than that, he was actually on stage guesting this evening. And his presence, in particular his soloing added an extra dynamic.

Another guest who has been recently shackled due to the recent events was vocalist Holly Hewitt. Her appearance immediately brought an extra dimension. Holly's distinctive voice added grace, soul and a more jazzy feel to the tunes she contributed to. It was a very classy section.

Regardless of that though, this was a joyous and exciting prospect for those involved. Several of them hadn't performed a whole set live in almost two years. They were once again free to enjoy their passions. For that alone it was so satisfying a performance. In fact Bob mentioned after the gig 'I genuinely didn't know if I could rise to the challenge of a live gig or not. Fortunately it went OK'.

Finally I have to mention Alan Joseph who, behind the scenes, has worked tirelessly. Not only did Alan ensure that this gig was a total success, but he has also been busy scheduling a tour. Immediately after the Albany club event, DRB are preparing to head south for a prestigious gig at the Half Moon in Putney. Further events are also being planned.

For me this was yet another gig. Albeit it an outstanding one. However, for those involved in presenting it, it was clear, it had meant so much more. Things are, at last, beginning to return to normal but it was another startling reminder of what we have missed the last couple of years. But one that, without a shadow of doubt, they came through with flying colours. If their had been any hesitations about it all then it was certainly laid to rest.

Set list included: Laundromat, Leaving Trunk, Chauffeur Blues, Little by Little, Going Down, Watching the River Flow, Rolling and Tumbling, Tulane, If My Baby Quits Me, Been Down So Long, Bullfrog Blues, Route 66, Sell My Monkey.