Today, bands can make their own high quality recordings with home equipment or computer, but In the late 50s and early 60s bands did not have access to this type of equipment and had to use private recording studios to make demo discs in order be listened to and get work or a recording contract.
We made two demo discs – the first at Regent Sound and the second at City of London Studios – both in Denmark Street, London. They will have cost us around £50 an hour – quite expensive in those days – so you can guess we kept the number of takes to a minimum.
The first (a version of Ray Charles What’d I Say c/w an instrumental written by Jack) was used to get an agent and the initial Butlins summer season. The second demo – with the track that was to become our first release – ‘You Don’t Love Me Anymore’, c/w an old Coasters number, ‘Searchin’ – was to try to get a recording contract and was passed around the various record labels.
The Philips recordings were made at their studios in Stanhope Place, just behind Marble Arch. The contract was for 3 releases as follows:
May 1963 Philips BF1257
You Don’t Love Me Anymore c/w This Sweet Girl Of Mine
November 1963 Philips BF 1285
What Kind Of Girl Are You c/w Dreamers Funfair
April 1964 Philips BF 1330
Summertime Blues c/w I’m A Hog For You Baby
The Philips contract was not extended, so our Agents arranged for us to record at an independent studio – Strand Records. This resulted in a release on the Karate label in the US (but not in the UK)
March 1965 Karate 45-514
Que Sera Sera c/w How I Cry
Since then, the occasional tracks have found their way onto compilation discs
The Beat Merchants 1963-64 – United Artists (UDM 101/2) UK – 1977
Summertime Blues
British Rock ‘N’ Roll – Saga (Saga RS 3) France – 1999
Summertime Blues
I’m A Hog For You Baby
That British Sound Vol 7 – Blakey Records (BlakeyCD 840) UK – 2007
I’m A Hog For You Baby
Teenagers Forever Vol 3 – Rare Rockin/Toto Records (RRR 1014) Belgium – 2005
How I Cry
TommyKnockers Beat Club Vol 4 – Tommyknockers Records Germany – 2011
You Don’t Love Me Anymore
TommyKnockers Beat Club Vol 13 – Tommyknockers Records Germany – 2012
Dreamers Funfair
TommyKnockers Beat Club Vol 19 – Tommyknockers Records Germany – 2012
Que Sera Sera
Wide Skirts, Drape Coats & Brothel Creepers Vol 6 – Smith & Co Records Holland – 2015
I’m A Hog For You Baby
Frambles Vol 3 ‘Smash Flops’ – Jagga Records (JRCD014) Prague – 2015
All 8 of our released tracks
Beat!Freak! Vol 10 – Particles Records (PARTCD4105) UK – 2019
Que Sera Sera
(Page last updated on 17th January 2021)