Roogalator (band)
Encyclopedia
Roogalator was a pub rock
band formed in London in 1972, by the US
born guitarist, Danny Adler
.
That same year, Adler had recorded demos with 10cc
's Graham Gouldman
at Strawberry Studios
. Prior to Roogalator, Adler had also played with Smooth Loser, a band formed with BBC DJ Emperor Rosko's
brother, bass guitarist Jeff Pasternak and guitarist Chris Gibbons. Bass guitarist Giorgi Dionisiev and drummer Malcolm Mortimer (GT Moore and the Reggae Guitars), were also members for a time. Mortimer returned to Adler for an early incarnation of Roogalator before leaving to join Ian Dury
in a later incarnation of Kilburn and the High Roads
.
in London
to muted response. Adler, killing time between the Irish C&W circuit and jam sessions with Ginger Baker
's African drummers, spent some time in Paris studying jazz theory. He returned to London to form the second line-up of Roogalator with drummer Bobby Irwin, pianist Steve Beresford, and keyboardist Nick Plytas.
The band recorded a demo which resulted in a booking agency deal. Neither Beresford nor Irwin wanted to take things any further. With their first live shows ahead, Adler and Plytas rebuilt the line-up. Drummer Dave Solomon, a band mate of both Plytas and Beresford in a Motown covers band, replaced Irwin. Irwin, noting the band was still minus a bass guitarist, gave a copy of the Roogalator demo to Paul Riley, a member of the successful pub scene band Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
. Riley joined Roogalator just before their September 1975 debut, and, for a time, it was his fame which attracted the band's first press notices.
They became one of the fixtures on the London pub rock scene of the mid-'70s, at the same time establishing themselves as being very unique among other pub bands on the circuit. Drawing deep from Adler's own experience on the Cincinnati club circuit of the late '60s, Roogalator offered an angular, minimalist funk sound which was utterly at odds with the country, blues, and early rock sounds normally heard on the scene and created a distinctive blueprint for what would become the Britfunk explosion of the early '80s.
In November 1975, the band recorded demos for United Artists Records
and met Robin Scott
, who would become their manager, producer and record label chief. Roogalator continued to soar and gigged through the end of that year and in January 1976 they supported Dr. Feelgood
at the Hammersmith Odeon in London
. The show was by their own consensus a disaster and marked the end of the classic Roogalator line-up. Within weeks, Solomon quit, to be replaced with the returning Bobby Irwin, Paul Riley also departed. With Jeff Watts recruited on bass guitar, Roogalator recorded a John Peel
session on 13 May 1976, and embarked on a European tour. The tour was marred by the band having all their possessions stolen from the van, and both Watts and Irwin departed to reunite with Paul Riley in The Sinceros
, a band the bassist was now managing.
Encouraged by his manager Robin Scott
, Adler recruited a new rhythm section; bass guitarist Julian Scott (brother of Robin) and drummer Justin Hildreth. In early summer '76, Roogalator signed a one-off single deal with Stiff Records
and released "All Aboard" / "Cincinnati Fatback". The band continued gigging relentlessly returning to the BBC for a second John Peel
session on 28 October 1976.
In 1977, the band released another one-off single, "Love And The Single Girl", on Virgin Records
. They declined a recording contract with Virgin who had insisted that they also sign a publishing contract in addition to a recording contract. The band returned to the BBC for a third and final John Peel
session on 16 August 1977.
The band released their debut album, Play It by Ear, in 1977 on manager's Robin Scott
's Do It Records
label, essentially an opportunity to preserve the band's repertoire on vinyl. The album was well-received but suffered poor sales.
The band played at ‘Front Row Festival’, a three-week event at the Hope and Anchor, Islington
in late November and early December 1977. This resulted in the band’s inclusion, alongside the likes of Wilko Johnson
, The Only Ones
, the Saints
, The Stranglers
, X-Ray Spex
, and XTC
, on a hit double album
of recordings from the festival. The Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival
compilation LP (March 1978) reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart
.
When Plytas left, the band opted not to replace him and continued to gig as a trio, releasing in 1978, one more single, "Zero Hero" and demoing a second album. Hildreth was next to quit to be replaced by Nick Monnas (from Stomu Yamashta
band).
Adler, discouraged by the constant changes in the line-up and with feelings that the band had run its course, disbanded Roogalator in July 1978, with many of the songs intended for their second album being reworked for his solo debut, The Danny Adler Story. Roogalator's repertoire has since been re-issued on the Cincinnati Fatback compilation album.
- 1977)
CD - Cincinnati Fatback (Compilation) (Proper Records - 1999)
- 1976)
7" - "Love and the Single Girl" / "I Feel Good (I Got You)" (Virgin Records
- 1977)
7" - "Zero Hero" / "Sweet Mam Kundalini" (Do It Records
- 1978)
Pub rock (UK)
Pub rock was a rock music genre that developed in the mid 1970s in the United Kingdom. A back-to-basics movement, pub rock was a reaction against progressive and glam rock. Although short-lived, pub rock was notable for rejecting stadium venues and for returning live rock to the small pubs and...
band formed in London in 1972, by the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born guitarist, Danny Adler
Danny Adler
Danny Adler is a blues-rock guitarist.After playing with leading Cincinnati musicians, such as Bootsy Collins, Slim Harpo, H-Bomb Ferguson and Albert Washington, in the early 1960s, he went to San Francisco in 1969 to join John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Solomon Burke, and experimental group...
.
That same year, Adler had recorded demos with 10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
's Graham Gouldman
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
at Strawberry Studios
Strawberry Studios
-Formation:The facility was originally called Inner City Studios and located above a music store in the town centre. In early 1968 it was bought by Peter Tattersall, a former road manager for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Tattersall invited Eric Stewart – then lead guitarist and singer of...
. Prior to Roogalator, Adler had also played with Smooth Loser, a band formed with BBC DJ Emperor Rosko's
Emperor Rosko
Mike Pasternak, better known by his stage name of Emperor Rosko is a well known pop radio presenter.Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles DJs Lord Tim Hudson and Wolfman Jack...
brother, bass guitarist Jeff Pasternak and guitarist Chris Gibbons. Bass guitarist Giorgi Dionisiev and drummer Malcolm Mortimer (GT Moore and the Reggae Guitars), were also members for a time. Mortimer returned to Adler for an early incarnation of Roogalator before leaving to join Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
in a later incarnation of Kilburn and the High Roads
Kilburn and the High Roads
Kilburn and the High Roads were a British rock and roll band formed by Ian Dury in 1970, and was the first band formed by Dury. The band released two studio albums and had one compilation, and separated in 1977 when Dury left to form the more prominent band The Blockheads.- History :Dury formed...
.
Career
Roogalator played their first live show in November 1972, at a talent night staged at the Marquee ClubMarquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to muted response. Adler, killing time between the Irish C&W circuit and jam sessions with Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
's African drummers, spent some time in Paris studying jazz theory. He returned to London to form the second line-up of Roogalator with drummer Bobby Irwin, pianist Steve Beresford, and keyboardist Nick Plytas.
The band recorded a demo which resulted in a booking agency deal. Neither Beresford nor Irwin wanted to take things any further. With their first live shows ahead, Adler and Plytas rebuilt the line-up. Drummer Dave Solomon, a band mate of both Plytas and Beresford in a Motown covers band, replaced Irwin. Irwin, noting the band was still minus a bass guitarist, gave a copy of the Roogalator demo to Paul Riley, a member of the successful pub scene band Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of 1975, along with other stalwarts of the same scene, Dr...
. Riley joined Roogalator just before their September 1975 debut, and, for a time, it was his fame which attracted the band's first press notices.
They became one of the fixtures on the London pub rock scene of the mid-'70s, at the same time establishing themselves as being very unique among other pub bands on the circuit. Drawing deep from Adler's own experience on the Cincinnati club circuit of the late '60s, Roogalator offered an angular, minimalist funk sound which was utterly at odds with the country, blues, and early rock sounds normally heard on the scene and created a distinctive blueprint for what would become the Britfunk explosion of the early '80s.
In November 1975, the band recorded demos for United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
and met Robin Scott
Robin Scott
Robin Scott , lead singer and founder of a music project he called M, is a singer originally from the United Kingdom. His career encompasses four decades.-Early life:...
, who would become their manager, producer and record label chief. Roogalator continued to soar and gigged through the end of that year and in January 1976 they supported Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
at the Hammersmith Odeon in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The show was by their own consensus a disaster and marked the end of the classic Roogalator line-up. Within weeks, Solomon quit, to be replaced with the returning Bobby Irwin, Paul Riley also departed. With Jeff Watts recruited on bass guitar, Roogalator recorded a John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session on 13 May 1976, and embarked on a European tour. The tour was marred by the band having all their possessions stolen from the van, and both Watts and Irwin departed to reunite with Paul Riley in The Sinceros
The Sinceros
The Sinceros were a new wave, power pop band from London, England, who recorded two albums for Epic Records, The Sound of Sunbathing and Pet Rock . Both albums were released worldwide and achieved moderate commercial success...
, a band the bassist was now managing.
Encouraged by his manager Robin Scott
Robin Scott
Robin Scott , lead singer and founder of a music project he called M, is a singer originally from the United Kingdom. His career encompasses four decades.-Early life:...
, Adler recruited a new rhythm section; bass guitarist Julian Scott (brother of Robin) and drummer Justin Hildreth. In early summer '76, Roogalator signed a one-off single deal with 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....
and released "All Aboard" / "Cincinnati Fatback". The band continued gigging relentlessly returning to the BBC for a second John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session on 28 October 1976.
In 1977, the band released another one-off single, "Love And The Single Girl", on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. They declined a recording contract with Virgin who had insisted that they also sign a publishing contract in addition to a recording contract. The band returned to the BBC for a third and final John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session on 16 August 1977.
The band released their debut album, Play It by Ear, in 1977 on manager's Robin Scott
Robin Scott
Robin Scott , lead singer and founder of a music project he called M, is a singer originally from the United Kingdom. His career encompasses four decades.-Early life:...
's Do It Records
Do It Records
Do It Records was an independent record label in London. It is best known for having been an early label of Adam and the Ants, releasing their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox in November 1979 as well as singles Zerox in June 1979 and...
label, essentially an opportunity to preserve the band's repertoire on vinyl. The album was well-received but suffered poor sales.
The band played at ‘Front Row Festival’, a three-week event at the Hope and Anchor, Islington
Hope and Anchor, Islington
The Hope and Anchor is a public house on Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. During the mid-1970s it was one of the first pubs to embrace the emergent, but brief, phenomenon of pub rock...
in late November and early December 1977. This resulted in the band’s inclusion, alongside the likes of Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson is an English guitarist and songwriter, particularly associated with the UK rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s.-Career:...
, The Only Ones
The Only Ones
The Only Ones are an English rock band. They were initially active in the late 1970s and were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the musical territory in between punk, power pop and hard rock, with noticeable influences from psychedelia...
, the Saints
The Saints (band)
The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...
, The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
, X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex were an English punk band from London that formed in 1976.During their first incarnation , X-Ray Spex were “deliberate underachievers” and only managed to release five singles and one album...
, and XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
, on a hit double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
of recordings from the festival. The Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival
Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival
Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival is a hit double-LP of live recordings taken from various bands – mainly Power pop, Pub rock, Punk, and New wave groups - that played the Front Row Festival at Hope and Anchor, Islington between Tuesday 22 November and Thursday 15 December 1977...
compilation LP (March 1978) reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
When Plytas left, the band opted not to replace him and continued to gig as a trio, releasing in 1978, one more single, "Zero Hero" and demoing a second album. Hildreth was next to quit to be replaced by Nick Monnas (from Stomu Yamashta
Stomu Yamashta
Stomu Yamashta Stomu Yamashta Stomu Yamashta (born is a Japanese percussionist, keyboardist and composer. He is sometimes credited as Stomu Yamash'ta. His father was the band director Kiyoharu Yamashita (1907–1991)....
band).
Adler, discouraged by the constant changes in the line-up and with feelings that the band had run its course, disbanded Roogalator in July 1978, with many of the songs intended for their second album being reworked for his solo debut, The Danny Adler Story. Roogalator's repertoire has since been re-issued on the Cincinnati Fatback compilation album.
Albums
LP - Play It By Ear (Do It RecordsDo It Records
Do It Records was an independent record label in London. It is best known for having been an early label of Adam and the Ants, releasing their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox in November 1979 as well as singles Zerox in June 1979 and...
- 1977)
CD - Cincinnati Fatback (Compilation) (Proper Records - 1999)
Singles
7" - "All Aboard" / "Cincinnati Fatback" (Stiff RecordsStiff 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....
- 1976)
7" - "Love and the Single Girl" / "I Feel Good (I Got You)" (Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
- 1977)
7" - "Zero Hero" / "Sweet Mam Kundalini" (Do It Records
Do It Records
Do It Records was an independent record label in London. It is best known for having been an early label of Adam and the Ants, releasing their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox in November 1979 as well as singles Zerox in June 1979 and...
- 1978)