The Alan Bown Set
Encyclopedia
The Alan Bown Set later known as The Alan Bown! or just Alan Bown, were a British
band of the 1960s and 1970s whose music evolved from jazz
and blues through soul
and rhythm and blues
and ended up as psychedelia
and progressive rock
. The band achieved limited chart success and is best known for the role it played in developing the careers of numerous musicians including Mel Collins
, John Helliwell
, Robert Palmer, Jess Roden
and Dougie Thomson
.
, Berkshire
), a trumpet player, joined The Embers in 1963, when he left the RAF. This group played both American rhythm and blues
and jazz
, and were a very successful live act, playing at venues like The Star-Club, Hamburg
at the same time as The Beatles
. Bown left the group to join the John Barry Seven, who were backing Brenda Lee
, and toured and recorded with the band until it broke up in 1964; Barry having made Bown the leader of the touring band, so he could spend more time composing.
and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
. In 1965 Tony Hatch
signed to them to Pye Records
but their first single "Can’t Let Her Go" / "I’m The One" did not chart. In 1966 Green was replaced by John Helliwell
and shortly after Jess Roden
joined as a vocalist, allowing Bannister to concentrate on keyboards. They appeared on Ready Steady Go and at The Windsor Jazz Festival
and began headlining London’s Marquee Club
.
This line up released 3 singles, none of which charted, although "Emergency 999" later became a Northern Soul
club anthem. The Alan Bown Set and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds were both recorded live and released on a joint album London Swings: Live at the Marquee Club with one side each.
In November 1966 Burgess was replaced by Tony Catchpole and in 1967 the band released "Gonna Fix You Good (Everytime You're Bad)" / "I Really, Really Care" and recorded the soundtrack for Jeu de Massacre a French film featuring Jacques Loussier
. They recorded for the BBCs Rhythm and Blues programme in 1966 and Saturday Club
in 1967.
, They finally released their first full album Outward Bown in 1967 and appeared on Top Gear
. The album included a cover of Dylan's
All Along the Watchtower
, a stage version which "directly inspired Hendrix's
arrangement of the song". In 1968 they performed "We Can Help You" on Top of the Pops
; this was at No 26 in the UK chart but the pressing plant went on strike, so they could not capitalise on the exposure.
In 1969 they changed to Deram Records
where they had a minor hit with "Still as Stone". As with many bands at the time, they recorded cover versions for the BBC
, appearing on the ’’Jimmy Young
Show’’, "The David Symonds Show" and others, as restricted needle time
required "live" performances between the records. Their next album The Alan Bown! had been recorded when Roden left the band. Robert Palmer joined and the vocals were re-recorded by him, before the album's UK release, although the Roden vocals were issued in the US. The band appeared on BBC TVs Disco Two (which became The Old Grey Whistle Test).
In 1970 the band changed labels yet again, this time to Island Records
. They recorded the album Listen, but Palmer promptly left, being replaced by Gordon Neville, who re-recorded the vocals before the album was eventually released. The single "Pyramid" was released before Andy Brown replaced Haldane and Mel Collins
joined on sax. They recorded another album Stretching Out and re-appeared on Disco Two. Bannister left, but was not replaced, then Dougie Thomson
replaced Brown and Derek Griffiths, formerly with The Artwoods
, replaced Catchpole. This line up continued until February 1972. Bown then formed a new band with Dave Lawson (keyboards) Tony Dangerfield (Bass) Frank White (guitar) and Alan Coulter (drums), but after a major tour, Bown finally disbanded the group in July 1972.
Albums
Compilations
This discography was compiled from several sources, but there are a number of inconsistencies.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band of the 1960s and 1970s whose music evolved from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues through soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and rhythm and blues
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...
and ended up as psychedelia
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
. The band achieved limited chart success and is best known for the role it played in developing the careers of numerous musicians including Mel Collins
Mel Collins
Mel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
, John Helliwell
John Helliwell
John Helliwell is an English musician and the saxophonist and occasional keyboardist and woodwind player for the rock band Supertramp...
, Robert Palmer, Jess Roden
Jess Roden
Jess Roden is an English rock singer and guitarist.-Biography:Roden's first band was The Raiders followed by The Shakedown Sound which also included the guitarist, Kevyn Gammond, and keyboard player August Eadon ....
and Dougie Thomson
Dougie Thomson
Douglas Campbell "Dougie" Thomson is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He is best known as the former bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp.-Career:...
.
Formation
Alan Bown (born Alan James Bown, 21 July 1942, SloughSlough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
), a trumpet player, joined The Embers in 1963, when he left the RAF. This group played both American rhythm and blues
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...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and were a very successful live act, playing at venues like The Star-Club, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
at the same time as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Bown left the group to join the John Barry Seven, who were backing Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
, and toured and recorded with the band until it broke up in 1964; Barry having made Bown the leader of the touring band, so he could spend more time composing.
Reformation
Bown then formed The Alan Bown Set in c May 1965, initially with three former members of The John Barry Seven:- Jeff Bannister (lead vocals and organ) (born Jeffrey Bannister, 7 January 1943), Dave Green (sax, clarinet and flute) and Stan Haldane (bass) together with Pete Burgess (guitar) and Vic Sweeney (drums). They played American R&B and soul and played the same club circuit as Georgie Fame and the Blue FlamesGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames were a noted British rhythm and blues/soul/jazz/ska/pop group of the 1960s. They had been the backing band for Billy Fury but, after being dismissed at the end of 1961, their pianist Georgie Fame took over as vocalist and they went on to enjoy great...
and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers were a 1960s British rhythm and blues, soul and beat group who had two Top 10 hits with "One Way Love" and "Got to Get You into My Life" ....
. In 1965 Tony Hatch
Tony Hatch
Anthony Peter "Tony" Hatch is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer.-Early life and early career:...
signed to them to Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
but their first single "Can’t Let Her Go" / "I’m The One" did not chart. In 1966 Green was replaced by John Helliwell
John Helliwell
John Helliwell is an English musician and the saxophonist and occasional keyboardist and woodwind player for the rock band Supertramp...
and shortly after Jess Roden
Jess Roden
Jess Roden is an English rock singer and guitarist.-Biography:Roden's first band was The Raiders followed by The Shakedown Sound which also included the guitarist, Kevyn Gammond, and keyboard player August Eadon ....
joined as a vocalist, allowing Bannister to concentrate on keyboards. They appeared on Ready Steady Go and at The Windsor Jazz Festival
National Jazz and Blues Festival
The National Jazz and Blues Festival was the precursor to the Reading Rock Festival and was the brainchild of Harold Pendleton, the manager of the prestigious Marquee Club in Soho....
and began headlining London’s Marquee Club
Marquee 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....
.
This line up released 3 singles, none of which charted, although "Emergency 999" later became a Northern Soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
club anthem. The Alan Bown Set and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds were both recorded live and released on a joint album London Swings: Live at the Marquee Club with one side each.
In November 1966 Burgess was replaced by Tony Catchpole and in 1967 the band released "Gonna Fix You Good (Everytime You're Bad)" / "I Really, Really Care" and recorded the soundtrack for Jeu de Massacre a French film featuring Jacques Loussier
Jacques Loussier
Jacques Loussier is a French pianist and composer. He is well-known for his jazz interpretations in trio formation of many of Johann Sebastian Bach's works, such as the Goldberg Variations.-Early life and education :...
. They recorded for the BBCs Rhythm and Blues programme in 1966 and Saturday Club
Saturday Club
Prime Television's Saturday Club is a morning children's program, filmed in their Australian Capital Territory studios.Hosted by Prime Possum and Madelaine Collignon, The program is packaged around popular Disney Cartoons airing at 9am on Saturday Mornings...
in 1967.
The Alan Bown!
When the band’s Pye Records contract expired in 1967, Bown reformed the band as “The Alan Bown!” a psychedelic band on Verve RecordsVerve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, They finally released their first full album Outward Bown in 1967 and appeared on Top Gear
Top Gear (radio show)
Top Gear was originally a short-lived pop music show on the BBC Light Programme in the mid-1960s.- Origin and format :It was one of the Corporation's few attempts to compete with the pirate radio stations and Radio Luxembourg, who had attracted large audiences of young British pop music listeners...
. The album included a cover of Dylan's
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
All Along the Watchtower
All Along the Watchtower
"All Along the Watchtower" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song, which has been included on most of Dylan's greatest hits compilations, initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Over the past 35 years, he has performed it in concert more...
, a stage version which "directly inspired Hendrix's
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
arrangement of the song". In 1968 they performed "We Can Help You" on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
; this was at No 26 in the UK chart but the pressing plant went on strike, so they could not capitalise on the exposure.
In 1969 they changed to Deram Records
Deram Records
Deram Records was a subsidiary record label established in 1966 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. At this time U.K. Decca was a completely different company than the Decca label in the United States, which was then owned by MCA Inc. Deram recordings were also distributed in the U.S. through...
where they had a minor hit with "Still as Stone". As with many bands at the time, they recorded cover versions for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, appearing on the ’’Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young (disc jockey)
Sir Jimmy Young CBE was a British singer, disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:...
Show’’, "The David Symonds Show" and others, as restricted needle time
Needle time
Needle time was created in the United Kingdom by the Musicians' Union and Phonographic Performance Limited, in order to restrict the amount of recorded music that could be transmitted by British Broadcasting Corporation during the course of any 24-hour period. Until 1967 the BBC was allowed to...
required "live" performances between the records. Their next album The Alan Bown! had been recorded when Roden left the band. Robert Palmer joined and the vocals were re-recorded by him, before the album's UK release, although the Roden vocals were issued in the US. The band appeared on BBC TVs Disco Two (which became The Old Grey Whistle Test).
In 1970 the band changed labels yet again, this time to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. They recorded the album Listen, but Palmer promptly left, being replaced by Gordon Neville, who re-recorded the vocals before the album was eventually released. The single "Pyramid" was released before Andy Brown replaced Haldane and Mel Collins
Mel Collins
Mel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
joined on sax. They recorded another album Stretching Out and re-appeared on Disco Two. Bannister left, but was not replaced, then Dougie Thomson
Dougie Thomson
Douglas Campbell "Dougie" Thomson is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He is best known as the former bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp.-Career:...
replaced Brown and Derek Griffiths, formerly with The Artwoods
The Artwoods
The Artwoods were an English rock band who formed in 1963 and were professionally active between 1964 and 1967. They were a popular live attraction, rivalling groups such as the Animals, although, despite releasing a clutch of singles and an album, their record sales never reflected this...
, replaced Catchpole. This line up continued until February 1972. Bown then formed a new band with Dave Lawson (keyboards) Tony Dangerfield (Bass) Frank White (guitar) and Alan Coulter (drums), but after a major tour, Bown finally disbanded the group in July 1972.
Subsequent careers
- Alan Bown joined Jonesy, and then became an A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
manager with CBS RecordsCBS RecordsCBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. - Jeff Bannister joined Jess Roden’s band Bronco and then joined A Band Called OA Band Called OA Band Called O were a band from Jersey, Channel Islands. Originally known as "The Parlour Band", playing progressive rock, they renamed to "A Band Called O" for two albums on CBS/Epic and later to "The O Band" for a further albums with UA...
- Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
worked with King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, Alexis KornerAlexis KornerAlexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
and numerous other bands. - John HelliwellJohn HelliwellJohn Helliwell is an English musician and the saxophonist and occasional keyboardist and woodwind player for the rock band Supertramp...
later played with SupertrampSupertrampSupertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music... - Gordon Neville later joined Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's band, and worked with Rick WakemanRick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes... - Robert Palmer joined Dada, shortly before they evolved into Vinegar JoeVinegar Joe (band)Vinegar Joe were a British R&B band. They issued three albums on Island Records, but were best known for their live shows and launching the solo careers of Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer.-History:...
- Jess RodenJess RodenJess Roden is an English rock singer and guitarist.-Biography:Roden's first band was The Raiders followed by The Shakedown Sound which also included the guitarist, Kevyn Gammond, and keyboard player August Eadon ....
formed his own band BroncoBronco UKBronco were an English rock/country band signed to Island & Polydor Records 1969-1973.-History:Formed August 1969 by Jess Roden following his split from The Alan Bown Set, Bronco were signed to Island Records and released two albums 'Country Home' and 'Ace of Sunlight'... - Vic Sweeney worked with Kevin CoyneKevin CoyneKevin Coyne was a musician, singer, composer, film-maker, and a writer of lyrics, stories and poems. The former "anti-star" was born on 27 January 1944 in Derby, UK, and died in his adopted home of Nuremberg, Germany, on 2 December 2004....
- Dougie ThomsonDougie ThomsonDouglas Campbell "Dougie" Thomson is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He is best known as the former bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp.-Career:...
joined Supertramp
Discography
Singles- "Can’t Let Her Go" / "I’m the One" (1966) Pye
- "Baby Don’t Push Me" / "Everything’s Gonna Be Alright" (1966) Pye
- "Headline News" / "Mister Pleasure" (1966) Pye
- "Gonna Fix You Good (Everytime You're Bad)" / "I Really, Really Care" (1967) Pye
- "Jeu De Massacre" (1967) Disques Vogue
- "We Can Help You" / "Magic Handkerchief" (1967) Music Factory
- "Toyland" / "Technicolour Dream" (1967) MGM
- "Story Book" / "Little Lesley" (1968) MGM
- "Still As Stone" / "Wrong Idea" (1969) Deram
- "Gypsy Girl" / "All I Can" (1969) Deram
- "Pyramid" / "Crash Landing" (1971) Island
- "Rockford Files" /"I Don’t Know" (1975) CBS
Albums
- London Swings: Live at the Marquee Club (1966) Pye (1 side) (1994) Castle (CD)
- Outward Bown (1967) Music Factory
- Second Album (1968) MGM
- The Alan Bown (1969) Deram
- Listen (1970) Island
- Stretching Out (1971) Island
Compilations
- Kick Me Out (1985) See for Miles
- Emergency 999 (2002) Sequel
This discography was compiled from several sources, but there are a number of inconsistencies.