It's Beat Time (1964)

[mikeduthie]

I noticed this on the very fabulous Beatles Bible page:


"Ringo Starr judges the National Beat Group Competition
8.00pm, Sunday 27 September 1964 (49 years ago)
Ringo Starr appeared on a judging panel for the final of the National Beat Group Competition on this day at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

Also on the panel were Brian Epstein, Cilla Black, Alan Freeman, The Fourmost’s Billy Hatton, Fabulous magazine’s Betty Hale, and Linda Lewis. The chairman was David Jacobs, and the event was sponsored by the charity Oxfam.

The acts taking part, winners of previous regional heats, were The Southerns, The Connoisseurs, The Starfires, The Apaches, Formula Five, The Down-Beats, The Vibros, The Countdowns, Roy Stuart and the Cyclones, Danny Clarke and the Jaguars, and The Crusades. None achieved notability beyond this night.

The second half of the show, from 9.45-10.35pm, was broadcast live on television by BBC Two under the title It’s Beat Time."

I wonder if there any footage has been uncovered or words written about the contest?

[williammcgregor]

I checked the NME for the week ending 25th September 1964 and it does mention the show and confirms all of your information.

the only other wee bits of information are that Don Moss was master of ceremonies and that the winning group would get auditions for Rediffusion TV's "Ready Steady Go!" and PYE records.

None of the other NME's of the period mention anything else as far as I can see.

cheers
William

[mikeduthie]

Many thanks for your very kind reply William. I'm not sure if you have the ability to search the NMEs by keyword but I have an interest in The Countdowns, Generation X and Wainwrights Gentlemen. The Countdowns featured Steve Priest on bass- he would later go on and join The Sweet (as in 'Are You Ready Steve?' in The Ballroom Blitz) and the latter two bands featured Brian Connolly also of The Sweet - I know they were active on the live scene (Middlesex and London mainly) from about 1963 onwards- if you happen to find anything on either band would you kindly let me know as I am updating a book I penned about them.

[williammcgregor]

Hi Mike,

Sorry for the delay in my reply

I'm busy looking to see if I can find any info for you

As soon as I find anything I'll let you know

cheers
William

[mikeduthie]

That's very kind of you again William- I know it's a fairly big and quite a broad set of parameters but anything would be sincerely appreciated.

[williammcgregor]

I'm getting closer Mike

here's something that might interest you?

it's from the NME dated 3rd August 1968 in the column headed *Potted Pops*

A relatively new group known as the Sweet offers "Slow Motion" (Fontana) which isn't as draggy as the title implies-it has a solid beat, an ear-catching West Coast harmonic sound, and is very commercial.

[mikeduthie]

Wow- that's a bloody fantastic find William- I have never seen a review for The Sweet's debut single, so that is one for the books! I know the band did some radio performances to support it, but it got nowhere. Copies of the single now change hands for upwards of 500 quid! You're a gem William, thanks mate.

[williammcgregor]

Glad you liked the find Mike!

the search goes on

cheers
William

[williammcgregor]

Mike I have found an advert in the Melody Maker dated the 13th June 1964 mentioning a Brian Connell and the Countdowns are they the countdowns you're looking for?

It is definitely down as CONNELL not CONNELLY

it was for a venue called Bedsitter in Holland Park London

[Richard Marple]

Some glam rockers had an interesting history pre-fame, we did mention Noddy Holder's output before Slade started to make the charts just a few days ago.

[mikeduthie]

@ William- re Brian Connell and the Round Sound- close but no cigar thanks William. About 10-15 years ago a CD was released containing 'long-long Brian Connolly' songs. Turns out it was recordings from Brian Connell and the Round Sound- Brian Connolly had no connection whatsoever. A couple of Sweet trainspotters actually tracked Mr Connell down and exposed it for what it was. Mr Connell was not involved and a bit unhappy that his good name had been used in such a way!

@ Richard- yes, a lot of people dismiss The Sweet as lightweight or mere glam, but their pre-Sweet lives, their lives during their years of fame and the post-fame lives are all quite fascinating.

Thanks for your efforts again though William- I know you are the man.

[williammcgregor]

May 28, 2014 0:29:28 GMT mikeduthie said:

@ William- re Brian Connell and the Round Sound- close but no cigar thanks William. About 10-15 years ago a CD was released containing 'long-long Brian Connolly' songs. Turns out it was recordings from Brian Connell and the Round Sound- Brian Connolly had no connection whatsoever. A couple of Sweet trainspotters actually tracked Mr Connell down and exposed it for what it was. Mr Connell was not involved and a bit unhappy that his good name had been used in such a way!

@ Richard- yes, a lot of people dismiss The Sweet as lightweight or mere glam, but their pre-Sweet lives, their lives during their years of fame and the post-fame lives are all quite fascinating.

Thanks for your efforts again though William- I know you are the man.

Hi Mike,

You learn something new on this forum everyday,that's why I like it!

As you can see from the picture from the MM dated 2nd May 1964 it made a mistake with his name it states Brian Cornell and the Countdowns, the MM afterwards called him Connell

so the MM got the bands name wrong? it was the Round Sound instead of the Countdowns?

The MM gig ad mentions The Wainwright Gentlemen is this what you're looking for? or is this another similar named group?




cheers
William

[mikeduthie]

Hi again William- yes, it was definitely Brian Connell and the Round Sound- the ad might be for a similarly named gent and group. BUT the ad is 100% on the money for Wainwright's Gentlemen- obviously a sub-editing error or typo or such in the ad. But an amazing find. I know they had a residency there in '64, and also at Assembly Hall in Walthamstow and the Clay Pigeon in Eascote. You'll also be possibly interested to know that Ian Gillan (late of Deep Purple fame) was singing for Wainwright's, joining about six months after the ad you have found. Brian Connolly didn't join 'til '66, so again a nice little bit of British music history unearthed thanks William. Fantastic.

[williammcgregor]

May 28, 2014 13:30:22 GMT mikeduthie said:

Hi again William- yes, it was definitely Brian Connell and the Round Sound- the ad might be for a similarly named gent and group. BUT the ad is 100% on the money for Wainwright's Gentlemen- obviously a sub-editing error or typo or such in the ad. But an amazing find. I know they had a residency there in '64, and also at Assembly Hall in Walthamstow and the Clay Pigeon in Eascote. You'll also be possibly interested to know that Ian Gillan (late of Deep Purple fame) was singing for Wainwright's, joining about six months after the ad you have found. Brian Connolly didn't join 'til '66, so again a nice little bit of British music history unearthed thanks William. Fantastic.

Hi Mike,

Glad to help!

I heard that Ian Gillan sang for Wainwright's Gentlemen before somewhere, can't remember where? maybe this forum? what a singer he is

meantime I'll see if I can find anything else re Brain Connolly. Re Generation X that's the hard one trying to find anything about them, but I'll keep looking.

cheers
William

[williammcgregor]

Looked up my BBC TV dvd for the 27th September 1964 and unfortunately it only shows BBC1 listings for that day not BBC2

BUT....a friend of mine has given me this information to post...

according to TV Pop Diaries, the Groups were
The Southerners, is this the same The Southerners that Jimmy Page was in?
The Connoisseurs, does anyone on forum know who they were, did any members become part of another group
The Starfires, same
The Apaches, same
Formula Five, same
The Down-Beats, same
The Vibros., same
The Countdowns, same
Ray Stevart & The Cyclones, same
Danny Clarke & The Jaguars, same
The Crusaders, same