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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2020 12:58:04 GMT
A rarely seen clip, enjoy!
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Post by eric on Dec 18, 2020 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2020 12:13:22 GMT
Here's my review of 'The Liverpool Sound' DVD which I posted on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B086N4BQGZ/5.0 out of 5 stars DVD of The Year!
When I was researching my book 'Channelling The Beat' (published in 2018), one of the most surprising things I stumbled upon was this long-lost Australian TV special. All I managed to actually view was the grand finale of 'When the Saints Go Marching In', and I didn't dream that the full show would be available on DVD in pristine quality two years later! Both Gene Pitney and Dusty Springfield are backed by The Echoes, and at first the lack of any backing vocalists sounds a little strange. Nevertheless, Gene does a wonderful version of 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance', and Dusty's voice and personality more than compensates throughout her set for any other shortcomings. The Tremeloes (both with and without Brian Poole) were always a great live act, and such is the case here. Interestingly, 'Twist and Shout' is performed at a similar tempo and in the same key as The Beatles' version rather than the faster/lower keyed arrangement of their own UK No. 4 hit, though the highlight for me is 'Swingin' On A Star', with particularly fine harmonies and drumming from the late great Dave Munden. Gerry and The Pacemakers are the only act that mime - why that is I don't know, as they were a very capable live act. Perhaps they weren't happy with the sound during rehearsals? Whatever, they're still good to see. In conclusion, this is a strong candidate for DVD of the year. Buy it while you can, and re-live the magic of The Swinging 60s!
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Post by peterc on Aug 21, 2023 10:44:32 GMT
Hi All, Remember me?! I'm currently writing a book on The Tremeloes! Format will be very similar to my recent book on The Searchers: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CCCVMSWCSeveral ex-band members are assisting me, but I'm still searching for any previously unpublished photos, memorabilia, etc. So if you've taken any photos at concerts etc over the years, please get in touch: peterchecksfieldauthor@gmail.com Thank you, Peter Checksfield (I'm not on social media, but feel free to share this message on facebook, etc!)
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Post by johnt on Aug 21, 2023 15:18:33 GMT
Nice to see you back, Peter.
I've seen the Tremeloes on a number of occasions and I'm sure I'll have some photos and other memorabilia somewhere in the house!
I'll have a look and email them to you later in the week.
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Post by peterc on Aug 21, 2023 15:23:11 GMT
Nice to see you back, Peter. I've seen the Tremeloes on a number of occasions and I'm sure I'll have some photos and other memorabilia somewhere in the house! I'll have a look and email them to you later in the week. Thank you, John!
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Post by Mevrouw Bee on Aug 22, 2023 8:21:52 GMT
Hi All, Remember me?! I'm currently writing a book on The Tremeloes! Format will be very similar to my recent book on The Searchers: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CCCVMSWCSeveral ex-band members are assisting me, but I'm still searching for any previously unpublished photos, memorabilia, etc. So if you've taken any photos at concerts etc over the years, please get in touch: peterchecksfieldauthor@gmail.com Thank you, Peter Checksfield (I'm not on social media, but feel free to share this message on facebook, etc!) Hey Peter! I have absolutely nothing as per usual, but welcome back!
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Post by peterc on Aug 22, 2023 18:44:47 GMT
Thanks Laura! And thank you also to John, for sending some amazing pics & memorabilia.
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Post by gee on Aug 22, 2023 21:32:09 GMT
Here are The Tremeloes - well at least half of the group performing 'Here Comes My Baby' on BBC TV's 'Blue Peter'while Rick and Alan appear otherwise occupied...
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Post by gee on Aug 22, 2023 21:46:16 GMT
Right Wheel Left Hammer Sham
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Post by gee on Aug 22, 2023 22:09:22 GMT
A unofficial fans recording of The Tremeloes in Inverness on 21 November 2021 with Chip's two sons Chesney Hawkes on lead vocal, guitar and Jodie Hawkes - is the left handed guitarist Bob Benham ?
not the classic line up but still a decent version of the group
Here Comes My Baby
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Post by gee on Aug 22, 2023 22:23:46 GMT
and the later four piece group with Chesney and Jodie Hawkes in 2022
Chip is apparently still in the group but is not currently touring
they still have fine harmonies
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Post by moorlock2003 on Aug 23, 2023 0:46:25 GMT
The Tremeloes never came to America. There was an ad in the New York Village Voice for The Tremeloes in 1985 or 6 touting their “First ever appearance in the U.S.”. Unfortunately they cancelled the tour. I love the band but they frustrate the hell out of me, due to their recording SO many covers and often not doing particularly good versions. The self-penned “Sing Sorta Swingle” is a favorite of mine, and Brian Poole & The Tremeloes cover of “I Want Candy” is really great in its US remix, where it takes on a more powerful sound, as released by Audio-Fidelity Records. “Uncle Willie” is excellent too. It’s too bad the band never had a hit in the 1970s. Their harmonies were fantastic.
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Post by peterc on Aug 23, 2023 6:02:38 GMT
A unofficial fans recording of The Tremeloes in Inverness on 21 November 2021 with Chip's two sons Chesney Hawkes on lead vocal, guitar and Jodie Hawkes - is the left handed guitarist Bob Benham ? Definitely not Bob Benham, but the bald bassist is Mick Clarke (a Tremeloe for around 3 months in 1966 and later in The Rubettes - he was on The Tremeloes' debut single 'Blessed'), and the youngster on the far right is Chip's grandson/Chesney's son (not a full-time band member). Incidentally, 'The Tremeloes' currently no longer exist - Chip is too ill to tour, and Chesney doesn't want to follow in his dad's footsteps full-time. However, 'The Trems' still tour, featuring 4 members who toured with Dave Munden for years as 'The Tremeloes' (Chip owns The Tremeloes name, so they can't use it!).
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Post by peterc on Aug 23, 2023 6:04:20 GMT
The Tremeloes never came to America. There was an ad in the New York Village Voice for The Tremeloes in 1985 or 6 touting their “First ever appearance in the U.S.”. Unfortunately they cancelled the tour. I love the band but they frustrate the hell out of me, due to their recording SO many covers and often not doing particularly good versions. The self-penned “Sing Sorta Swingle” is a favorite of mine, and Brian Poole & The Tremeloes cover of “I Want Candy” is really great in its US remix, where it takes on a more powerful sound, as released by Audio-Fidelity Records. “Uncle Willie” is excellent too. It’s too bad the band never had a hit in the 1970s. Their harmonies were fantastic. Actually, they did go to America, in the late '60s. Found this: Dave Munden remembers it well: "During 1967 and 1968 we flew to the US, after our hits with 'Here Comes My Baby' (US # 13) and 'Silence Is Golden' (US # 11). But we had somehow run our course. Instead, though, we became the first British band to conquer South America. During March and November, 1968, we became a sensation in Argentina and Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, we appeared in huge stadiums."
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Post by moorlock2003 on Aug 23, 2023 15:37:10 GMT
The Tremeloes never came to America. There was an ad in the New York Village Voice for The Tremeloes in 1985 or 6 touting their “First ever appearance in the U.S.”. Unfortunately they cancelled the tour. I love the band but they frustrate the hell out of me, due to their recording SO many covers and often not doing particularly good versions. The self-penned “Sing Sorta Swingle” is a favorite of mine, and Brian Poole & The Tremeloes cover of “I Want Candy” is really great in its US remix, where it takes on a more powerful sound, as released by Audio-Fidelity Records. “Uncle Willie” is excellent too. It’s too bad the band never had a hit in the 1970s. Their harmonies were fantastic. Actually, they did go to America, in the late '60s. Found this: Dave Munden remembers it well: "During 1967 and 1968 we flew to the US, after our hits with 'Here Comes My Baby' (US # 13) and 'Silence Is Golden' (US # 11). But we had somehow run our course. Instead, though, we became the first British band to conquer South America. During March and November, 1968, we became a sensation in Argentina and Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, we appeared in huge stadiums."They must have come and gone down South America way quickly then. I know of no TV appearances here at all. Where did they play? I’m not convinced they did any concerts here. They got no coverage in the teen magazines of the time (16 magazine, Tiger Beat, etc) that I know of. If they played here then why would they place an ad in a New York Weekly publication in the mid-80s saying it was their first US tour? The Tremeloes had 4 hits here while the Brian Poole-fronted version of the band only had one charter, Someone Someone which barely made The Top 100 nationally but did go to #5 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Post by peterc on Aug 23, 2023 16:24:18 GMT
Maybe they were low-key promotional visits? Certainly they appeared on the following TV shows:
22-04-67 - ‘The Clay Cole Show’ (WPIX) 17-06-67 - ‘The Clay Cole Show’ (WPIX) 08-07-67 - ‘Upbeat’ (Syndicated) 12-08-67 - ‘The Clay Cole Show’ (WPIX) 19-08-67 - ‘The Hy Lit Show’ (WKBS)
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Post by gee on Aug 23, 2023 21:37:04 GMT
Sorry to hear Chip is too ill to tour - I thought you told me recently Peter that Chip was o.k. but a bit fatigued hence was not a currently touring member ?
I think The Tremeloes biggest problem was similar to The Hollies in that they played in alot of differing styles and had some musical direction problems
for every harder rock guitar led track such as 'Try Me' or country style number such as 'Hello Buddy' there was a comedy track like 'Alley Oop' or a singalong Euro pop song like 'Suddenly You Love Me' etc
like Bobby said 'will the real Hollies please stand up' likewise The Tremeloes had possibly just too wide a musical range to appeal to any set musical audience
the sixties pop songs they were required to perform also held back any serious venturing into album orientated material in concerts
vocally and instrumentally they were very strong (despite losing Rick as the falsetto vocalist), again like The Hollies, but likewise were seen as 'pop lightweights' too much by many snooty so called 'serious' music lovers
while some Beatles fans (including music journalists) never forgave them for apparently 'defeating' the fab four re the Decca contract !
also like The Hollies they had a harder guitar edged style but didn't feature it that much....
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Post by gee on Aug 23, 2023 21:52:43 GMT
on the other hand they do This sixties TV show with Liberace
'Show Me' and 'Feelin' Groovy'
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Post by gee on Aug 23, 2023 22:01:07 GMT
A colour clip here
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Post by gee on Aug 23, 2023 22:36:43 GMT
and a 22 minute concert posting from 1992 with a later line up, minus Chip but still featuring Alan Rick and Dave - with I believe Joe Gillingham and Davy Fryer (?)
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Post by peterc on Aug 24, 2023 7:26:43 GMT
Sorry to hear Chip is too ill to tour - I thought you told me recently Peter that Chip was o.k. but a bit fatigued hence was not a currently touring member ? In 2021, most dates on the autumn 'Sixties Gold' tour featured Chesney Hawkes substituting for his dad. I wrote to his wife Carol (whom I'd corresponded with previously) saying what a great job he'd done though I missed seeing Chip, and she said "He's not doing too good right now". In 2022 they did another 'Sixties Gold' tour, this time featuring Chesney and a few other younger musicians (even Mick Clarke had quit), but since then, nothing, with reports that Chesney didn't want to be a full-time Tremeloe. Meanwhile, Chip's website disappeared a couple of months back, indicating that there is no planned activity for the foreseeable future. Incidentally, since I told Carol that I'm doing a book, correspondence has stopped, and any attempts to contact Rick have also been fruitless: as well as poor health, one suspects that both musicians would be less than keen on the idea of a Tremeloes book after those ridiculous and unproven allegations a few years back - something I have NO interest in writing about, and will NOT be raking up again! Brian Poole has been very generous with his time and archives, as has mid '70s member Aaron Wooley and current 'Trems' drummer/vocalist (and Paper Lace legend) Philip Wright. I'm hoping to interview others in due course.
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Post by Mevrouw Bee on Aug 24, 2023 8:52:15 GMT
Sorry to hear Chip is too ill to tour - I thought you told me recently Peter that Chip was o.k. but a bit fatigued hence was not a currently touring member ? In 2021, most dates on the autumn 'Sixties Gold' tour featured Chesney Hawkes substituting for his dad. I wrote to his wife Carol (whom I'd corresponded with previously) saying what a great job he'd done though I missed seeing Chip, and she said "He's not doing too good right now". In 2022 they did another 'Sixties Gold' tour, this time featuring Chesney and a few other younger musicians (even Mick Clarke had quit), but since then, nothing, with reports that Chesney didn't want to be a full-time Tremeloe. Meanwhile, Chip's website disappeared a couple of months back, indicating that there is no planned activity for the foreseeable future. Incidentally, since I told Carol that I'm doing a book, correspondence has stopped, and any attempts to contact Rick have also been fruitless: as well as poor health, one suspects that both musicians would be less than keen on the idea of a Tremeloes book after those ridiculous and unproven allegations a few years back - something I have NO interest in writing about, and will NOT be raking up again! Brian Poole has been very generous with his time and archives, as has mid '70s member Aaron Wooley and current 'Trems' drummer/vocalist (and Paper Lace legend) Philip Wright. I'm hoping to interview others in due course. Wouldn't sweat it too much (and you're not from the sounds of it) but Malc managed well without much input from the Hollies with Riding the Carousel.
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Post by peterc on Aug 24, 2023 9:08:28 GMT
Exactly. It would be a nice bonus, but not essential. I guess I struck lucky with The Searchers book, in that Mike Pender was enthusiastic and helpful (and contributed a great foreword), and both Frank Allen and to a lesser extent John McNally read through an early draft and pointed out factual errors (the one thing Mike and Frank very much disagree on is the make of guitar used on 'When You Walk In The Room'!). Amazing considering the acrimony between them.
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Post by cameron on Aug 24, 2023 11:11:54 GMT
I think the Tremeloes' biggest issue - by their own admission - was a combination of their egos and lack of management. They would dive head-first into new projects without necessarily considering the repercussions to their career at home, ultimately stagnating in their native UK and refusing to release 'Yellow River' as their own single in 1970.
They finished 1967 as one of the most successful British groups of the year, but failed to build on that. They'd released the superb 'Here Comes The Tremeloes' LP in May 1967, complete with an early version of 'Even The Bad Times Are Good' closing Side Two. It was an interesting mix of pop R&B numbers and some psychedelia which was arguably a bit ahead of its time. From here, they progressed into the infamous energetic re-recording of 'Even The Bad Times Are Good', followed by a very successful change in direction to 'Silence Is Golden'. But then they sort of messed up their direction a bit with the strange 'Be Mine' single. They'd end the year more or less on a high with their second studio album 'Alan Dave Rick And Chip' in December 1967. It was a bit less energetic than the first album, but with a suitably psyche-tinged cover. It was more of a Beatle-esque take on psychedelia, with stories of characters and places a-la 'Penny Lane'. It works overall, but isn't their strongest LP. An amalgamation of the two albums called 'Even The Bad Times Are Good/Silence Is Golden' was released in the US in October 1967.
They did actually progress down the route of psychedelia in 1968, not that the public knew much of this as much of it was relegated to B-sides, album tracks and left in the vaults. They started the year with 'Suddenly You Love Me' in January, which was slightly out of tune with the times, but still successful nonetheless. Things cooled off for the 'Helule Helule' single in May 1968. This is where the Tremeloes' career seems to splinter. There would be two US albums in 1968, 'Suddenly You Love Me' from April and 'World Explosion' in July. Interestingly, virtually none of the 'World Explosion' material would be released in the UK, but would in parts of Europe. This cabaret-esque album is really a poor selection of 1950s rock and roll covers for the most part, with the 'Helule Helule' single thrown in. I think had it have been released in the UK, it would have ended their career there and then! The only track worth the price of admission is their absolutely fantastic cover of 'Ain't Nothing But A House Party' which really shows off the full scale of the Tremeloes' talents from their falsetto backing vocals to Dave Munden's screaming lead vocals to Rick Westwood's shinging jangling guitar. It's a real highlight of those sessions.
Things continue to fall apart in 1968 as the Tremeloes try to take over the world - one single per country at a time. There would be unique recordings sent to Germany, Israel and Argentina in late 1968. But their success in South America did begin to build during this era. At home in the UK, 'My Little Lady' was released in September and followed in November by 'I Shall Be Released', which seemed to do nothing at all anywhere in the world despite being a sympathetic arrangement. The following March would follow up with 'Hello World' which was a pretty good effort but they'd crush that momentum by issuing 'Once On A Sunday Morning' in June 1969. By this point, they'd already recorded their career highlight 'Call Me Number One', but lacked the confidence to release it. It eventually came out in October 1969, spearheaded by Alan Blakley's idiotic comment to the press that their "old music was music for morons". I don't think they ever recovered from that in the UK.
By late 1969, it had been over 18 months since the Tremeloes had released an LP in the UK, so 'Live In Cabaret' was hastily recorded. If you ignore the poor cover, concept and some of the stage patter, it's actually a document of one of the tightest live pop groups of the era. It's stunning that the sound was created by just four guys on stage. It really is a great recording, though it has been notoriously difficult to get hold of until the Cherry Red boxset from a couple of years ago.
Straight off the back of this, they recorded the superb Italian film soundtrack 'May Morning', which wouldn't get released until the turn of the 21st century to little fanfare. There was also a superb compilation called 'What A State I'm In - the Pop Psyche Sessions' in 2003 which culled together the best of the Tremeloes' harder-edged material, which would lean heavily on their 1969/70 output. By this time, they'd got the bit between their teeth and following the success of 'Call Me Number One' across Europe, would progress musically in the studio. Despite this, they chose to release the completely rubbish 'Heartbreak Motel' as a single in February 1970. It would be Chip Hawkes that was the self-confessed Elvis nut, and these 1950s-style rock and roll pieces would consistently appear in the Tremeloes' recording career.
In April 1970, they'd get given a true lifeline with the single 'Yellow River', which was so well performed by the Tremeloes that when they rejected it, the Tremeloes' backing track was given a new weaker lead vocal by songwriter Jeff Christie and became one of the best-selling singles of the year across the world. The Tremeloes were quick to try and cash in on it by performing it on TV at the time, even recording a Spanish version called 'No Comprendes' in August of that year, but it was to no real avail, the horse had bolted.
They finished 1970 with their final album for CBS entitled 'Master' in November. It's a mixture of re-worked 'May Morning' era material and their 1970 singles. Overall, it's definitely the Tremeloes' best album, but it's still not quite there. Allegedly, CBS were fed up of them making decisions, so released the unfinished LP without the Tremeloes' knowledge while they were on tour. I say this "allegedly" because there's little evidence on the album itself of it being unfinished, but Chip Hawkes and Dave Munden once spoke about it in an interview and claimed that they'd wanted to put orchestrations on it. Actually, I think it stands up very well without anything extra.
That was kind of it for the band in the UK in terms of commercial success. They'd finally nurture Chip Hawkes' love for Elvis and the Tremeloes' instrumental and vocal talents for the single 'Blue Suede Tie' in 1972, but they'd never enjoy the same commercial success that they'd enjoyed in 1967-1970. They had some great albums in the 1970s, mostly issued on the DJM label, including 'Shiner' in 1974, but they made no impact on the charts in the UK. Its such a shame really as they were truly a very talented band. I think neglecting their native UK audience to chase success internationally cost them in the long run, with hindsight they should have kept focus on the UK and just distributed those recordings worldwide as every other artist in the industry had done before and since!
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