This
well produced 3-CD collection has been compiled by original early sixties Mod,
Robert Nicholls, based upon the sounds he heard in dance halls and clubs and collected in the 1960 to 1963 period. In
fact, all of the recordings here date from the years 1952 to 1962.
In the
extensive 20-page illustrated booklet that accompanies this release, Robert
talks us through going to the Under 21 Night at The Royal in 1960 and 1961 to
hear some “good R&B” along with the other ‘Individualists’ and early Mods,
and quotes some early recollections of the Lyceum in Aldwych from early Mod DJ
Jeff Dexter. Indeed it is the Lyceum ballroom where Robert says he first saw
Mods in significant numbers in autumn 1961.
Each CD
has its own focus and title – CD 1 is ‘Boogie Chillen’ and is predominantly
Blues and R&B focused, featuring the likes of John Lee Hooker, Muddy
Waters, Bo Diddley, Slim Harpo, Clyde McPhatter, Howlin Wolf, Cannonball
Adderley etc. with the occasional surprise inclusion (here, it’s Johnny &
The Hurricanes’ ‘Red River Rock’ and Neil Sedaka’s ‘One Way Ticket’).
Disc 2
is entitled, ‘Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go’ and encompasses the progression
towards Soul via Rosco Gordon’s ‘Just A Little Bit’, James Brown, Ray Charles,
Jimmy Reed’s ‘Big Boss Man’, Bobby Bland, Ike & Tina Turner and The
Impressions etc.
When we
get to the third CD, we are in ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’ mode with Don & Bob’s
‘Good Morning Little Schoolgirl’, Bobby Parker’s ‘Watch Your step’, Chuck
Jackson’s ‘I Keep Forgettin’, Ritchie Barrett’s ‘Some Other Guy’ and Jimmy
Smith’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ amongst others.
Overall,
this is a very interesting musical documentation of the early London Mod scene
from the view of one of its early participants. You will probably be familiar with
much, if not all, of the material collected together on these three discs, but
it has to be remembered how difficult it was to hear, let alone buy, these
records back in 1961/62. And that is what makes this collection of songs and
booklet so interesting to those of us who weren’t there in the early sixties
but who want to get a better idea of what it was really like.
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