The Sorrows 1965

 

The Sorrows 1965

by Pete Clemons

I love reading old record reviews. The phrases and the use of words back then does brig a smile to the face. I recently found a few relating to The Sorrows. They cover the first three singles the band released during 1965. The first two records barely dented the UK singles chart. But the third, 'Take a Heart', achieved a degree of success which got the band more nationally known.

1965 was clearly an important year for The Sorrows. The first review, which is more of an overview, introduced the band to the wider listening public. It explains who is who and who plays what. Along with a little bit of background information.

'Send The Sorrows to Coventry and they wont mind at all. It's actually their home town. And incidentally, the five lads have nothing to be sorrowful about, following their debut disc, 'I Don't Wanna Be Free', on Pye Piccadilly. Big sound. Big beat. The quintet have been together only since March 1964. But they were individually with other groups earlier. The mates line up: Philip 'Pip' Whitcher, 21, motor racing fan and future restaurant owner: Philip Packham, bass, 19, young gent who started at 13 with a group, The Vampires: Bruce Finley, drummer, 20, member of a pipe band at 15, former bus conductor: Wez Price, rhythm guitarist, 19, started on banjo at 11, one time aircraft factory worker: Don Maughn, singer, 23, formerly a group manager who stood in one night for the vocalist.....and founder member with Pip of The Sorrows. Don, by the way, say's he'd like to own a 36 bedroomed house with a swimming pool. Agent Drew Harvey really hauled them out of a bad spot in their career, sent them to Germany for a month......then got them their Pye record contract on their return. They swing. Nothing sad about The Sorrows'.


Baby / Teenage Letter:

'A very jerky item, which seems to take ages to get off the ground – at first hearing anyway. But the tempo picks up after about eight bars and routines into a steady beater. At least it's different!. Nice backing'.

Baby......

Teenage Letter.....

I Don't Wanna Be Free / Come With Me

'Good husky lead vocal on a minor rave up. Guitar, strangulated in sound, dominant bass figures, and answering phrases. This is a saleable commodity, though it could get lost in the rush. OK for a fast dance up'.

Take A Heart / We Should Get Along Fine:

'Coventry's Sorrows have come up with a moody, sinister piece dominated by bass guitar and drum figures. The excitement builds and, given the right plugs, this could make it'.


Another review for 'Take a Heart' said........


'The Sorrows inject a compulsive beat into 'Take a Heart'. Drums and bass guitar support the quietly throbbing opening, then in come the twangs. The boys also wrote the forceful unison-vocal, beat-ballad 'We Should Get Along Fine'.


By mid 1966 both Don and Phil had left The Sorrows. The band re-grouped, re-shuffled, brought in Roger Lomas, and headed off to Italy for stadium tours.

I Don't wanna Be Free....

Come With Me....

Take a Heart ...

We Should get Along Fine...