Review by Jason Barnard
Released on Cherry Red on 27 April, the new 6 CD set FAB GEAR, is a definitive slice of the British beat boom, drawing predominately from the archives of Pye Records and sister label Piccadilly.
Building on where Castle Music’s cult Beat Beat Beat series left off over a decade ago this set focuses on the time when the 60s truly swung. Before the psychedelics took over was the sound of innocence, pop, R’n’B, and Beatles inspired beat. Bringing in Pye and a few selections from the other major labels enables us to hear chart toppers such The Kinks, The Moody Blues, The Searchers and The Tremeloes alongside rarer cuts from independent labels including Ember, President and Oak.
The 180 tracks are presented chronologically giving the listener a chance to hear the 60s develop. Great examples include disc one’s breathless r’n’b 1964 rocker ‘I’m Leaving You’ by Jimmy Royal And The Hawks which highlight the initial flush of beat whilst the second disc showcases a jazzier harmony sound through The Riot Squad’s 1965 b-side ‘Not A Great Talker’. The Sorrow’s ‘Take A Heart’ 1965 hit single brings in a harder edged sound, now categorised as freakbeat into disc 3.
The next platter focuses on the bulk of 1966 with some gorgeous singles – in particular The Fingers’ string laden Ray Davies cover ‘I Go To Sleep’, album in a two minute single harmony-jazz-freakbeat monster – The Time’s ‘Take A Bit Of Notice’; and The Chevrons’ harmony-pop of ‘Its My Problem’ showing even cult acts could keep pace with the Fab Four in those heady times.
Disc 5 closes 1966 and brings us to the end of beat in 1967. Taking us there are Marmalade’s ornate harmony laden ‘It’s All Leading Up To Saturday Night’, The Thoughts ‘All Night Stand’ (the period when Sir Ray Davies’ off cuts where better than most groups a-sides) and Katch 22’s similarly incessant pop harmony hooks of ‘Making My Mind Up.’
Along the way, the extensively researched sleeve notes give a new insight into the groups of this period including members who later found huge success. We get to read and hear Deep Purple organist Jon Lord’s tenure The Artwoods, Lemmy’s Blackpool band The Rocking Vickers, pre-Deep Purple group Episode Six, the teen incarnation of David Bowie and Steve Howe’s pre-Tomorrow band The In Crowd.
Disc 6 contains recordings not issued at the time, including many never been heard before. The Changing Times’ 1965 unreleased acetate ‘Louie Louie’ was recorded as it should be – by teens barely out of school, and should be an essential addition to the canon of British rock scene. Joe Meek’s distinctive production is showcased on Glenda Collins’ ‘Run To Me’, notable by a great vocal performance.
Of the closing section, Jeff Christie’s Outer Limits song ‘Any Day Now’ highlight the moment where soul and harmony start to bleed into psychedelia marking the end of this definitive set.
FAB GEAR is available to pre-order now on Cherry Red:
www.cherryred.co.uk/product/fab-gear-british-beat-explosion-aftershocks
This is an awesome collection. My Dad was actually in the band mentioned in this article; The Changing TImes, on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. They are still friends to this day and I myself spent all of my 20’s in a British rock band, long live rock’n’roll!