Timebox (band)
Encyclopedia
Timebox, formed in October 1965, in Southport
, Lancashire
, was a 1960s psychedelic pop
band
, that developed from a complicated ancestry.
(born Peter John Halsall, 14 March 1949, Southport; died 29 March 1992, Madrid
, Spain
); pianist, organist Chris Holmes (born Christopher Noel Holmes, 12 September 1945, Cleethorpes
, Lincolnshire
); and lead guitar and vocalist Kevan Fogarty (born 20 July 1944, Southport); joined with bassist Clive Griffths (born 16 May 1945, Southport) and drummer Jeff Dean.
The band turned professional and went to London
in October 1966. They were soon working on package tours with The Kinks
, The Small Faces
, Tommy Quickly
, and Lou Christie
, as well as having a residency at the Whiskey A Go Go. They then added the US
singer Richard Henry, and the band changed their name to Timebox, an American
term for a prison cell
. Signed to Piccadilly Records in February 1967, their debut single
, "I'll Always Love You" b/w "Save Your Soul", produced
by John Schroeder, was released.
Following this, Henry returned to the United States
; and Jeff Dean contracted tuberculosis
to be replaced by Andy Petre (born Andrew Charles Malcolm Glywn Petre). That April, the instrumental
single "Soul Sauce" b/w "I Wish I Could Jerk Like My Uncle Cyril" was released. Mike Patto
then joined the band, and took on a prominent role as vocalist and songwriter. When Petre quit, the drum stool was filled by John Halsey
(born 23 February 1945, Highgate
, North London
).
They recorded two singles for Piccadilly, before signing to Deram
in 1967. They recorded five singles for Deram between 1967 and 1969, and appeared on BBC
shows such as Noise at Nine, Stuart Henry on Sunday and Jimmy Young. Their only UK Singles Chart
entry was with their cover version
of The Four Seasons' track, Beggin'
", which peaked at #38 in July 1968. After their last single failed in 1970, Chris Holmes left (he later joined Babe Ruth
), and the remaining members Patto, Halsey, Halsall and Griffths continued under the name Patto
.
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, was a 1960s psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop is a psychedelic musical style inspired by the sounds of psychedelic folk and psychedelic rock, but applied to a pop music setting...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, that developed from a complicated ancestry.
Career
The Take 5 formed in 1965 in Southport, when vibraphone player (later guitarist) Ollie HalsallOllie Halsall
Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
(born Peter John Halsall, 14 March 1949, Southport; died 29 March 1992, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
); pianist, organist Chris Holmes (born Christopher Noel Holmes, 12 September 1945, Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
); and lead guitar and vocalist Kevan Fogarty (born 20 July 1944, Southport); joined with bassist Clive Griffths (born 16 May 1945, Southport) and drummer Jeff Dean.
The band turned professional and went to 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...
in October 1966. They were soon working on package tours with The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, The Small Faces
The Small Faces
The Small Faces were an English rock and roll band from East London, heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues. The group was founded in 1965 by members Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, although by 1966 Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan as the band's...
, Tommy Quickly
Tommy Quickly
Tommy Quickly was a Liverpool rock and roll singer in the early 1960s. He was a later signing of artist manager Brian Epstein, whose biggest act was The Beatles....
, and Lou Christie
Lou Christie
Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco , known professionally as Lou Christie, is an American singer-songwriter best known for three separate strings of pop hits in the 1960s , including his 1966 smash, "Lightnin' Strikes" and his incredible 3 octave vocal range.-Biography:Sacco was born in Glenwillard,...
, as well as having a residency at the Whiskey A Go Go. They then added the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Richard Henry, and the band changed their name to Timebox, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
term for a prison cell
Prison cell
A prison cell or holding cell or lock-up is a small room in a prison, or police station where a prisoner is held.Prison cells are usually about 6 by 8 feet in size with steel or brick walls and one solid or barred door that locks from the outside. Many modern prison cells are pre-cast. Solid doors...
. Signed to Piccadilly Records in February 1967, their debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "I'll Always Love You" b/w "Save Your Soul", 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 John Schroeder, was released.
Following this, Henry returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; and Jeff Dean contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
to be replaced by Andy Petre (born Andrew Charles Malcolm Glywn Petre). That April, the instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
single "Soul Sauce" b/w "I Wish I Could Jerk Like My Uncle Cyril" was released. Mike Patto
Mike Patto
Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:...
then joined the band, and took on a prominent role as vocalist and songwriter. When Petre quit, the drum stool was filled by John Halsey
John Halsey (musician)
John Halsey is a rock drummer, best known for his appearance as "Barry" in The Rutles, leading to his playing with Neil Innes's band Fatso and appearing in the film All You Need is Cash ....
(born 23 February 1945, Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
).
They recorded two singles for Piccadilly, before signing to Deram
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...
in 1967. They recorded five singles for Deram between 1967 and 1969, and appeared on 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...
shows such as Noise at Nine, Stuart Henry on Sunday and Jimmy Young. Their only UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
entry was with their cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Four Seasons' track, Beggin'
Beggin'
"Beggin" is the title of a song composed by Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina and popularized by The Four Seasons in 1967. In 2007, the song received new popularity when it was remixed by the French DJ Pilooski and then covered by the Norwegian hip-hop band Madcon...
", which peaked at #38 in July 1968. After their last single failed in 1970, Chris Holmes left (he later joined Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth (band)
Babe Ruth are a rock music group, primarily active through the 1970s, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. Their characteristically 'heavy' sound is marked by powerful vocals from Janita Haan and full arrangements by Alan Shacklock...
), and the remaining members Patto, Halsey, Halsall and Griffths continued under the name Patto
Patto
Patto was a progressive jazz-rock band formed in England in 1970 by vocalist Mike Patto with a lineup taken from Timebox consisting of vocalist Patto, drummer John Halsey, guitarist and vibraphone player Ollie Halsall and bassist Clive Griffiths....
.
Singles
- "I Will Always Love You" b/w "Save Your Love" (1967, Piccadilly)
- "Soul Sauce" b/w "I Wish I Could Jerk Like My Uncle Cyril" (1967, Piccadilly)
- "Don't Make Promises" b/w "Walking Through the Streets of My Mind" (1967, Deram)
- "Beggin'Beggin'"Beggin" is the title of a song composed by Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina and popularized by The Four Seasons in 1967. In 2007, the song received new popularity when it was remixed by the French DJ Pilooski and then covered by the Norwegian hip-hop band Madcon...
"* b/w "A Woman That's Waiting" (1968, Deram) - "Girl Don't Make Me Wait" b/w "Gone Is the Sad Man" (1968, Deram)
- "You Better Run" (45) - (1968, Deram)
- "Baked Jam Roll in Your Eye" b/w "Poor Little Heartbreaker" - (1969, Deram)
- "Yellow Van" b/w "You've Got the Chance" - (1969, Deram)
Albums
- The Original Moose on the Loose - (1976, Cosmos)
- The Deram Anthology - (1998, Deram) (compilation albumCompilation albumA 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...
)