Here are some songs from various north east bands recorded during the period 1963 to 1971. The sound quality on the tracks is variable. Some were locally made demo discs whereas others were recorded for release as commercial singles.
1963
It Might As Well Rain Until September – The Kontors
Love Letters – The Kontors
1964
You Really Got A Hold On Me – The Gamblers
Dimples – Shorty and Them
House Of The Rising Sun – Shorty and Them
Rainbow – The Silver Dollars
1965
On The Outside Looking In – The Caesers
I Won’t Be Round You Anymore – The Chosen Few
Today, Tonight and Tomorrow – The Chosen Few
As Long As I Have You – The Junco Partners
Take This Hammer – The Junco Partners
1966
I Don’t Love You Any More – Graham Bell
Five In The Morning – The Caesers
Tammy – The Elcort
Searchin’ – The Elcort
Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away – Kim D & the Del 5
Just a Fear – The Answers
That’s What You’re Doing To Me – The Answers
What Do You Say About That – Phase 4
1967
Cry Me A River – The Gamblers
On Love – Skip Bifferty
Happy Land – Skip Bifferty
1968
Harry Faversham – Toby Twirl
Toffee Apple Sunday – Toby Twirl
1969
We can Swing Together – Alan Hull
1970
A Change In Louise – The Junco Partners
1971
Pink Pills – Brass Alley
Daylight Child – Lucas Tyson
Hobo Song – Yellow
No Fixed Abode – Spyda
Something Wicked – Spyda
My Friend Yesterday – Spyda
One On The Way – Spyda
Happiness Is A Warm Gun – Spyda
Anything For A Laugh – Brian Short
Here’s a selection of MP3s from three of my own bands – Jazzboard, the Technique and Scallywag.
The three Jazzboard tracks were recorded at MortonSound studios in Newcastle on 27 March 1966. The track “Hear Me Calling Your Name” (a cover of a Graham Bond song) features Nigel Olsson on lead vocals,
The Technique tracks were recorded at Impulse Studios, Wallsend on 18 February 1968. The Scallywag tracks were recorded at Multichord Studios, Sunderland on 21 September 1971.
Feel It – Jazzboard
Here Me Calling – Jazzboard
Neighbour Neighbour – Jazzboard
Bad News – Scallywag
Friends – Scallywag
One Way Love – Technique
Sock It To ‘Em JB – The Technique
Sweet Lorene – The Technique
Currently sitting with Dad (Robert Armstrong – the composer) in Ward 14 at University Hospital Durham playing “Rainbow (make me cry)” by the Silver Dollars, and the B side “If I lost you” just to give him something to remember as he fades. So sad that he wasn’t lucky enough to get the further recognition he deserved for the other songs he tried to get out there into the charts. It’s a tough business but at least he had Rainbow published and gave the Silver Dollars the chance to make it big.
World will be much sadder place without Bob
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