Mickey Jupp
Encyclopedia
Michael 'Mickey' Jupp is an English
musician
and songwriter
, mainly associated with the Southend
music scene.
Jupp played in several Southend bands after leaving art college in 1962 and was in the R&B
group the Orioles (1963 – late 1965), which included Mo Witham (guitar, vocals) and Bob Clouter (drums), but the band were never recorded.
After a break from music, Jupp formed Legend in 1968, who were signed to Bell Records
. They released an eponymous album Legend, playing a mix of pop, rockabilly and blues rock styles using no electric instruments. The original band: Nigel Dunbar (drums), Chris East (guitar, vocals and harmonica) and Steve Geere (string bass and vocals), who recorded this album with Jupp (guitar, piano and vocals), split soon afterwards, so Jupp assembled a new lineup, with Mo Witham on guitar, John Bobin on bass and Bill Fifield on drums. A recording deal with Vertigo
produced a second album, in 1970, using the same lineup. Confusingly, this album was also called Legend, but is usually referred to as the "Red Boot" album, after the cover picture. Fifield left to join T.Rex (where he was re-named Bill Legend
, after the band he had left, by Marc Bolan
), and was replaced on drums by Bob Clouter who had played with Jupp in The Orioles. This lineup recorded the second Vertigo album Moonshine issued in 1971 (and re-released on CD in 2007), after which the band broke up.
Returning to Southend
, Jupp pursued a low-key existence until the pub-rock revolution (spearheaded by local bands such as Dr. Feelgood
, for whom he wrote the hit single "Down at the Doctors
") created a fresh interest in rock and roll
. He signed to Stiff Records
in 1978, and they initially released a compilation album
of the first three Legend albums, which was also called Legend, giving three albums with this title. This was followed by his first solo album, Juppanese, an album in two different styles. The first half was recorded with Rockpile
and produced
by Nick Lowe
, and is in a simple raw style, whereas the second half, produced by Gary Brooker
of Procol Harum
, is slicker (there was a long-standing connection with Procol Harum; their bassist David Knights
produced the second Legend single).
The follow-up album Long Distance Romancer was produced by Godley and Creme, and has a slick, highly produced, sound, which was generally seen as less successful.
Jupp went on to release a further seven solo albums, some appearing on Swedish and German labels. His songs have been recorded by Rick Nelson
, Elkie Brooks
, The Judds
and Chris Farlowe
, Delbert McClinton
, Nick Lowe
, Dave Edmunds
, Gary Brooker
, The Hamsters
, Dr. Feelgood and The Searchers
.
At one time the Mickey Jupp Band had Joy Sarney
as its vocalist.
In February 2009 the early Legend lineup of Chris East, Mo Witham, John Bobin and Bob Clouter (but NOT Mickey Jupp) self-released a new home-made album, Never Too Old To Rock, featuring a selection of Jupp–East songs written over the previous twenty years.
1969
1971
1972
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1988
1991
1992
2004
2009
2010
Unknown
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, mainly associated with the Southend
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
music scene.
Jupp played in several Southend bands after leaving art college in 1962 and was in the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group the Orioles (1963 – late 1965), which included Mo Witham (guitar, vocals) and Bob Clouter (drums), but the band were never recorded.
After a break from music, Jupp formed Legend in 1968, who were signed to Bell Records
Bell Records
Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 by Arthur Shimkin in New York, the owner of children's record label Golden Records, and initially a unit of Pocket Books, after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny Bell who used the Bell name to issue risque novelty records. A...
. They released an eponymous album Legend, playing a mix of pop, rockabilly and blues rock styles using no electric instruments. The original band: Nigel Dunbar (drums), Chris East (guitar, vocals and harmonica) and Steve Geere (string bass and vocals), who recorded this album with Jupp (guitar, piano and vocals), split soon afterwards, so Jupp assembled a new lineup, with Mo Witham on guitar, John Bobin on bass and Bill Fifield on drums. A recording deal with Vertigo
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
produced a second album, in 1970, using the same lineup. Confusingly, this album was also called Legend, but is usually referred to as the "Red Boot" album, after the cover picture. Fifield left to join T.Rex (where he was re-named Bill Legend
Bill Legend
Bill Legend was the drummer for glam rock band T.Rex during their most successful period....
, after the band he had left, by Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
), and was replaced on drums by Bob Clouter who had played with Jupp in The Orioles. This lineup recorded the second Vertigo album Moonshine issued in 1971 (and re-released on CD in 2007), after which the band broke up.
Returning to Southend
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
, Jupp pursued a low-key existence until the pub-rock revolution (spearheaded by local bands such as Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood (band)
Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in 1971. The band's name derives from a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who is willing to overprescribe drugs. It is also a reference to a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer Willie Perryman called "Dr Feel-Good", which...
, for whom he wrote the hit single "Down at the Doctors
Down at the Doctors
"Down at the Doctors" is a song by the band Dr. Feelgood. The track was recorded in 1978, and appeared on Private Practice, an album by Dr. Feelgood that was released in October that year....
") created a fresh interest in rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. He signed to Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
in 1978, and they initially released a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of the first three Legend albums, which was also called Legend, giving three albums with this title. This was followed by his first solo album, Juppanese, an album in two different styles. The first half was recorded with Rockpile
Rockpile
Rockpile were a British rock and roll group of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave...
and produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, and is in a simple raw style, whereas the second half, produced by Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
of Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
, is slicker (there was a long-standing connection with Procol Harum; their bassist David Knights
David Knights
David Knights was the original bass guitarist in Procol Harum. He played bass on the hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale". He was in the band long enough to play on their first three albums...
produced the second Legend single).
The follow-up album Long Distance Romancer was produced by Godley and Creme, and has a slick, highly produced, sound, which was generally seen as less successful.
Jupp went on to release a further seven solo albums, some appearing on Swedish and German labels. His songs have been recorded by Rick Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
, Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
, The Judds
The Judds
The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country...
and Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
, Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
, Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
, Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker
Gary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
, The Hamsters
The Hamsters
The Hamsters are a band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England.They performed their first live show at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, on 1 April 1987. They initially played in local pubs with no ambitions to take themselves seriously or to turn professional...
, Dr. Feelgood and The Searchers
The Searchers (band)
The Searchers are an English beat group, who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers....
.
At one time the Mickey Jupp Band had Joy Sarney
Joy Sarney
Joy Sarney is an English female pop singer. Sarney is best known for a UK hit single, "Naughty Naughty Naughty", recorded in 1977.-Career:...
as its vocalist.
In February 2009 the early Legend lineup of Chris East, Mo Witham, John Bobin and Bob Clouter (but NOT Mickey Jupp) self-released a new home-made album, Never Too Old To Rock, featuring a selection of Jupp–East songs written over the previous twenty years.
Recordings
Recordings include:1969
- Legend Bell SBLL 115 (re-released 2007 Repertoire Records - REP5066)
1971
- Legend (known as the 'Red Boot' album) Vertigo 6360019
1972
- Moonshine Vertigo 6360063
1977
- "Nature's Radio" Mickey Jupp Cat No : ARIST 136 Format : 7" Single
1978
- Juppanese Mickey Jupp Cat No : SEEZ 10 Format : Album Allmusic [ link]
- Legend Mickey Jupp Cat No : GET 2 Format : Album
1979
- Long Distance Romancer Chrysalis 1261 Format : Album Allmusic [ link]
1980
- Oxford Line LLP 5083 AP Format : Album
- "Rooms In Your Roof" Mickey Jupp Cat No : CHS 2388 Format : 7" Single
1981
- "Don't Talk To Me" Mickey Jupp Cat No : GFR 001 Format : 7" Single
1982
- Some People Can't Dance Mickey Jupp Cat No : AMLH 68535 Format : Album Allmusic [ link]
- "Jogging" Mickey Jupp Cat No : AMS 8222 Format : 7" Single
- "Modern Music" Mickey Jupp Cat No : AMS 8208 Format : 7" Single
1983
- "Boxes and Tins" Mickey Jupp Cat No : AM 145 Format : 7" Single
- Shampoo, Haircut and Shave Mickey Jupp Cat No : AMLH 68559 Format : Album Allmusic [ link]
- "Stormy Sunday Lunchtime" Mickey Jupp Cat No : AM 128 Format : 7" Single
1984
- "Only for Life" Mickey Jupp Cat No : TOWT 55 Format : 12" Single
1988
- "Claggin' On" Mickey Jupp Cat No : WFS 40 Format : 7" Single
- "X" Mickey Jupp Cat No : WF 041C Format : Album Allmusic [ link]
1991
- As The Yeahs Go By Mickey Jupp Cat No : FOAM 2 Format : Album
1992
- Juppanese/Long Distance Romancer Mickey Jupp Cat No : LICD 921188 Format : Compact Disc Set
2004
- Mickey Jupp - Live At The BBC (John Peel sessions and in concerts 1978-9) Hux Records HUX053 Allmusic [ link]
2009
- Never Too Old To Rock : Private release - Format : CD
2010
- Favourites : Gallery Records : MJF 1 - Format : CD
Unknown
- Red Boot re-released – Repertoire Records - REPUK1064.