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This day-by-day diary of Blossom Toes and B.B. Blunder's live, studio, broadcasting and private activities is the result of two decades of research and interview work by Bruno Ceriotti, but without the significant contributions by other kindred spirits this diary would not have been possible. So, I would like to thank all the people who, in one form or another, contributed to this timeline: Brian Godding (RIP), Colin Martin, Ed Furst, Alan Kensley, Helen Westlake, Klemen Breznikar, Mick Capewell, Christopher Hjort, Glenn Povey, Charles Ulrich, Logan Janzen, Richard Morton Jack, Tony Bacon, Felix Aeppli, Greg Russo, Kevin Cann, Andy Neill, Ross Hannan, Norbert Middendorf, Matt Kent, Richard Morton Jack, Georges Kelaidites, Rob Branigin, Doug Hinman, Richie Unterberger, Kosmo Santon, John H. Warburg, Mike O'Connor, Nick Warburton, Colin Smith, Surrey Advertiser, Melody Maker, Cambridgeshire Times, Salisbury Journal, New Musical Express, Boyfriend, Record Mirror, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Coventry Standard, The Observer Sun, Evening Chronicle, Evening Post News, Kensington Post, Sunday Mercury Sun, Liverpool Echo, Herald Express, The Birmingham Post, Thanet Times and East Kent Pictorial.
1962
Undoubtedly one of the more interesting British psychedelic groups of the late 60's, Blossom Toes emerged from a London based semi-pro rhythm 'n' blues beat group called The Gravediggers. The story begins when a young aspiring guitar player from Kilburn, North London, called Brian Godding (b. Sunday, August 19, 1945, Monmouth, Mounmouthshire, South Wales - d. Saturday, November 25, 2023, London) met another young aspiring guitar player from Dulwich, South East London, called Alan Kensley (b. Alan Douglas Kensley, Sunday, April 21, 1946, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, South East London, and then grew up in Peckham, South East London), when both were doing an engineering apprenticeship at the 'Hilger & Watts' scientific instrument making firm in Highbury and Islington, North London. Brian and Alan started jamming together on their new guitars (Brian on rhythm and Alan on lead) and soon had ideas of forming a group. Some time later, they invited another 'Hilger & Watts' apprentice from somewhere in North London called Brian Belshaw, aka 'Big Bri' (b. Friday, February 25, 1944, Wigan, Greater Manchester - d. Wednesday, February 3, 2016, after a courageous six month battle with lung cancer), to join them on lead vocals. Belshaw's uncle had a greengrocery shop in Soho, central London, with a basement where they boiled the beetroots and an attic room. The trio, which called themselves The Undertakers, started rehearsing in the basement cos it was an awful trek up to the attic with the gear but when it got too cold in the basement along with the smell of boiling beetroots, they moved up to the top floor attic. They used to plug their gear into the landing light of the tailor's downstairs and tape up the delay switch so they got free leccy. Soon they realized they should have a bass in the band, so Brian Belshaw was "persuaded" to get one. Godding and Kensley went on holiday with the latter's parents and when they got back Belshaw had bought a bass and an amp and had learned to play it.
Undoubtedly one of the more interesting British psychedelic groups of the late 60's, Blossom Toes emerged from a London based semi-pro rhythm 'n' blues beat group called The Gravediggers. The story begins when a young aspiring guitar player from Kilburn, North London, called Brian Godding (b. Sunday, August 19, 1945, Monmouth, Mounmouthshire, South Wales - d. Saturday, November 25, 2023, London) met another young aspiring guitar player from Dulwich, South East London, called Alan Kensley (b. Alan Douglas Kensley, Sunday, April 21, 1946, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, South East London, and then grew up in Peckham, South East London), when both were doing an engineering apprenticeship at the 'Hilger & Watts' scientific instrument making firm in Highbury and Islington, North London. Brian and Alan started jamming together on their new guitars (Brian on rhythm and Alan on lead) and soon had ideas of forming a group. Some time later, they invited another 'Hilger & Watts' apprentice from somewhere in North London called Brian Belshaw, aka 'Big Bri' (b. Friday, February 25, 1944, Wigan, Greater Manchester - d. Wednesday, February 3, 2016, after a courageous six month battle with lung cancer), to join them on lead vocals. Belshaw's uncle had a greengrocery shop in Soho, central London, with a basement where they boiled the beetroots and an attic room. The trio, which called themselves The Undertakers, started rehearsing in the basement cos it was an awful trek up to the attic with the gear but when it got too cold in the basement along with the smell of boiling beetroots, they moved up to the top floor attic. They used to plug their gear into the landing light of the tailor's downstairs and tape up the delay switch so they got free leccy. Soon they realized they should have a bass in the band, so Brian Belshaw was "persuaded" to get one. Godding and Kensley went on holiday with the latter's parents and when they got back Belshaw had bought a bass and an amp and had learned to play it.
THE UNDERTAKERS (1962 - 1962/63)
1) Brian Godding rhythm guitar, vocals
2) Alan Kensley lead guitar, vocals
3) Brian Belshaw bass, vocals
1) Brian Godding rhythm guitar, vocals
2) Alan Kensley lead guitar, vocals
3) Brian Belshaw bass, vocals
The Undertakers practicing in the top floor attic in London's Soho, 1962/63 - from left: Brian Godding, Alan Kensley, and Brian Belshaw.
The Undertakers practicing in the top floor attic in London's Soho, 1962/63 - from left: Brian Godding, Alan Kensley, and Brian Belshaw.
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The Undertakers practicing in the top floor attic in London's Soho, 1962/63 - from left: Brian Godding, Alan Kensley, and Brian Belshaw.
The Undertakers practicing in the top floor attic in London's Soho, 1962/63 - from left: Alan Kensley, Brian Belshaw, and Brian Godding.
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1962/63
The Undertakers added Brian Miller on rhythm guitar and an unnamed drummer (the latter "borrowed" from another local band), and changed their name to Tony and The Traitors.
TONY AND THE TRAITORS (1962/63)
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
4) Brian Miller rhythm guitar
5) ? drums
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
4) Brian Miller rhythm guitar
5) ? drums
1962/63: big church hall, Streatham, London Boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth, Greater London
Tony and The Traitors' debut gig (and first ever gig for Godding, Belshaw and Kensley, because they never gigged as The Undertakers). They were playing mainly The Shadows instrumentals at that time. According to Alan Kensley, maybe the band did a maximum of two gigs, but he don't actually remember a second gig so maybe there wasn't one.
1962/63
Brian Miller and the unnamed drummer leave Tony and Traitors, and Godding, Belshaw and Kensley returned to their old name The Undertakers.
THE UNDERTAKERS (1962/63 - JULY 1963)
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
July 1963
The Undertakers finally changed their name to The Gravediggers after a single came out that month by a Liverpool beat group also called The Undertakers (the single was 'Everybody Loves A Lover / Mashed Potatoes', just to be precise).
THE GRAVEDIGGERS #1 (JULY 1963 - AUGUST 1963 (?))
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
The Gravediggers #1, 1963 - from left: Brian Godding and Alan Kensley
August 1963 (?)
Shortly thereafter their name change, The Gravediggers added Fred Love, a drummer from Putney, West London, that joined the band supposedly through a Musician Wanted ad placed by the band at the back of Melody Maker musical newspaper. The band also hired a manager at the time, his name was Don Ross and he was a manager at 'Hilger & Watts'. He had a small Ford van and that was their only source of transport (although not always available).
THE GRAVEDIGGERS #2 (AUGUST 1963 (?) - APRIL 1964)
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
4) Fred Love drums
1) Brian Godding
2) Alan Kensley
3) Brian Belshaw
4) Fred Love drums
1963/64: 2 I's Coffee Bar, 59 Old Compton Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
The Gravediggers were pretty well resident at the legendary 2 I's Coffee Bar, played here two nights a week (Friday and Saturday) for several months, with Screaming Lord Sutch and The Savages who did the same on alternate weeks.
The Gravediggers #2, outside the 2 I's Coffee Bar, London, 1963/64 - from left: Brian Belshaw, Fred Love, Alan Kensley, and Brian Godding
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The Gravediggers #2 inside the 2 I's Coffee Bar, London, 1963/64 - from left: Fred Love, Brian Belshaw (almost hidden), Alan Kensley, and Brian Godding
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1963/64: 'Talent Contest', White Horse Caravan Holiday Park, Selsey, Chichester, West Sussex
Alan Kensley's parents had booked a holiday at the White Horse caravan park and arranged for Brian Godding to come as well. Alan and Brian took their guitars with the intention of just practicing while they were away. Rory Blackwell - the legendary rock and roll pioneer, bandleader of The Blackjacks, singer, songwriter, and world drumbeat endurance champion - was in charge of entertainments at the park and got talking with them. He played drums in the shows and said he would back them if they entered a talent contest. They won it, due in no small part to the fact that Rory was the organiser and chief judge. Rory then suggested that they could entered another talent contest at a rival caravan park up the road, so they did and won that one too! Rory wore sunglasses and a hat so that he wouldn't be recognised but of course everyone knew who he was! Rory was a great guy and a real seasoned pro, and he gave to Brian and Alan a lot of support and advice about showbiz.
White Horse Caravan Holiday Park, Selsey, 1963/64 - from left: Alan Kensley, Rory Blackwell, and Brian Godding
1963/64: Strand Palais, 2 North Barrack Road, Walmer, Dover, Kent
The Gravediggers played at the Strand Palais billed as Dusty Springfield's backing group The Echoes to fulfil contracts, cos the "real" Echoes were double booked. Dean Ford was also on the bill and The Gravediggers/Echoes backed him up. The Strand Palais was a dance hall located near the Royal Marine barracks in Deal, and the trainee Marines came down on the first night out after their basic training and the local yobs seemed to think it was a good idea to pick a fight...it wasn't! The band had to have a Police escort out of there that night but it was all very rock and roll! By the way, incidentally, the whole thing was organised by Tom Littlewood, owner of London's 2 I's Coffee Bar. He arranged for The Gravediggers to walk into Selmer's Music Shop, the largest guitar store in London, at 114-116 Charing Cross Road, and take out anything they needed to do the gig. They borrowed Vox AC 30 amplifiers and a Vox PA system.
1963/64: 'Hilger & Watts dance', Hilger & Watts factory dance hall, Camden Town, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
1963/64: Beckenham Tax Office, Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London
1963/64: Regent Sounds Studio, 4 Denmark Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
There was a guy called Don Pike, who was something in the management at 'Hilger & Watts', who used to teach recording techniques at the Regent Sounds Studio. He asked if The Gravediggers would play at the studio so that the trainees could use a live band. He was also a semi professional photographer so in return he would produce publicity photos of them playing. So the band played live and the "session" was photographed and recorded (in some photos you can see an operator on a TV camera but the band was not filmed). Tapes were made but Alan Kensley have absolutely no idea what the songs were or what happened to the tapes, and neither does Brian Godding.
The Gravediggers #2, Regent Sounds Studio, London, 1963/64 - from left: Brian Godding, Alan Kensley, Brian Belshaw, and Fred Love
The Gravediggers #2, Regent Sounds Studio, London, 1963/64 - from left: Brian Godding and Alan Kensley
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The Gravediggers #2, Regent Sounds Studio, London, 1963/64 - from left: Brian Belshaw and Fred Love
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1963/64: The Admiral Napier, 84 Weedington Road, Kentish Town, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
The 'Fabulous' Gravediggers played here four nights a week (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) for several months.
The Gravediggers #2, The Admiral Napier, Kentish Town, 1963/64 - from left: Brian Godding (almost hidden), Alan Kensley, Fred Love, and Brian Belshaw
Friday, December 20, 1963: 'Hilger & Watts Christmas Dance', Hilger & Watts factory dance hall, Camberwell, London Borough of Southwark, Greater London
Tuesday, January 7, 1964: 'The Walls' Beat Contest', Locarno Ballroom, Streatham Hill, Streatham, London Boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth, Greater London
According to Alan Kensley, The Gravediggers won the contest, but Brian Godding remembers that they came second. However, Alan is pretty sure that he's right because he remember phoning his mum immediately after and he wouldn't have done that if they'd come second. The only things that Alan Kensley remember of that night was that all the bands were in a huge communal dressing room and the news came over that Cyril Davies, the legendary harmonica player, had died, putting a slight damper on the atmosphere. There was a revolving stage where several bands could set up and the stage revolved to reveal the next band while taking away the previous one. As the stage was revolving they passed a man turning a huge wheel to make the stage revolve so they were all laughing when they got round to the audience. Somebody from a rival band detuned some of Brian Godding's strings but he spotted it and put it right before they got on. Fred Love put a stick through his snare drum skin right at the end so it didn't affect the performance but he was annoyed because in those days the skins were made from calf skin and expensive. Alan Kensley can't remember what they played but he do remember for some reason that they started with 'Glad All Over' by The Dave Clark Five.
The Gravediggers #2, Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, January 7, 1964 - from left: Brian Godding, Alan Kensley, and Brian Belshaw at the back. Fred Love in front
Saturday, February 15, 1964: 'Rock Night At The Oak', The Honor Oak Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club, Dulwich, London Borough of Southwark, Greater London
The band was mis-billed as 'The Grave Diggers' on the invitation card.
Friday, March 20, 1964: unknown venue, (possibly) Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London
The Gravediggers played somewhere in (possibly) Beckenham the same day The Beatles' latest single 'Can't Buy My Love' was released in the UK. They tried to get a listen but they couldn't so they made up the song and played it that night. It went down a storm because back in the 60's without the benefit of internet nobody at the gig had heard of it either. They only ever played that song once and neither Brian Godding or Alan Kensley can remember anything about it except that it had the words "can't buy my love" in it a lot!
April 1964
The Gravediggers turned pro so Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw left their job at the 'Hilger & Watts'. However, Alan Kensley did not want to give up his job too because he wanted to finish his apprenticeship and have a backup profession, so he reluctantly left the band (he will stay at the 'Hilger & Watts' for another three years and then left with a five year apprenticeship in scientific instrument making and City & Guilds in mechanical engineering under his belt; he then went on to work for the British military on secret communications (codes, ciphers, and cryptographic), then he was a journalist working for the Northern & Shell Group, writing for International Musician & Recording World and What Keyboard? magazines, then he was technical consultant and new equipment reviewer and at the same time he taught recording studio techniques at the London College of Media Arts (London College of Printing), while all the time playing in the evenings semi professionally with a lot of bands). Anyway, The Gravediggers replaced him with a new lead guitar player called Edward 'Eddie' Lynch, formerly of The Cheynes, and Eddy and The Cascades. Supposedly around the same time their manager Don Ross also left The Gravediggers because once the Brian's had left 'Hilger & Watts' the connection between them was severed.
THE GRAVEDIGGERS #3 (APRIL 1964 - 1964)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Fred Love
4) Eddie Lynch lead guitar, vocals, harp
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Fred Love
4) Eddie Lynch lead guitar, vocals, harp
1964
Fred Love left The Gravediggers to get married and was replaced on drums by Colin Martin (b. Sunday, March 18, 1945, Leyton, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Greater London), formerly of The Quantrels. Soon after the band also changed their name to The Ingoes, after a lesser known Chuck Berry song titled 'Ingo' (from the 1958 album 'One Dozen Berrys').
THE GRAVEDIGGERS #4 (1964) / THE INGOES #1 (1964 - 1965)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Eddy Lynch
4) Colin Martin drums
The Gravediggers #4 (Boyfriend, July 18, 1964)
The Ingoes #1, London 1964/65, from left: Colin Martin, Brian Godding, Eddie Lynch, and Brian Belshaw
The Ingoes #1, 1964/65 - from left: Eddie Lynch, Brian Godding, Colin Martin, and Brian Belshaw
The Ingoes #1, 1964/65 - from left: Brian Godding, Eddie Lynch, Brian Belshaw, and Colin Martin
Friday, October 9, 1964: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
The band was misspelled as 'The Ingos' on the ad. Also on the bill: The T-Bones. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Record Mirror (October 10, 1964)
November 1964 (?): unknown venue, Dortmund, Germany
The Ingoes, now a pro band, decided they must get a "real" manager and at the time in London the best manager around was the one and only Mr. Giorgio Gomeskly, who managed The Yardbirds and ran the Craw Daddy R&B Club in Richmond, where The Rolling Stones had launched their career with a residency lasting several months a year before. To cut the long story short, The Ingoes asked Gomelsky to be their manager but he told them to piss off and come back when they'd got theirselves together, so, armed with these words of wisdom, that's what they did! Brian Godding can't recall how, but The Ingoes got a gig in Germany shortly thereafter, in a dance type club in the town of Dortmund. The band played there six night a week, 30 minute sets a night, for three weeks. Half the clientele were British military and the other half were German rockers. These guys like to fight but it soon (thank God) became apparent that they weren't too bothered with The Ingoes, they just hated each other. So the band was relatively safe, at least if they provided played Bill Haley's 'Skinny Minnie' and Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' ad infinitum! For The Ingoes the most educational part of that trip was meeting and hearing the various bands that basically lived and toured in Europe like gypsies playing the army bases and dance halls, these were real Pro’s and it was clear for the first time to all of them, just how much work had to be done to bring the band up to their standard.
December 1964 (?): unknown venues, uknown London boroughs, Greater London
The Ingoes were back in the UK to get more gigs, better equipped than when they left, and ready to face the dragon again, i.e. Giorgio Gomelsky. Gomelsky, however, was still unimpressed, but seeing their despair got his right hand man, Hamish Grimes, to fix them up with a little "educational" work backing the legendary Afro-American bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson II on a few flea pit gigs in south London.
Saturday, December 12, 1964: Crawdaddy, Star Club, Star Hotel, 296 London Road, Broad Green, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London
The Ingoes #1, 1964/65, Crawdaddy, Croydon - from left: Eddie Lynch, Brian Godding, Colin Martin, and Brian Belshaw
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Friday, January 1, 1965: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
Also on the bill: The T-Bones. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm. Giorgio Gomelsky was there that night and he realized what he was missing out on and offered The Ingoes a management deal right away. "Take it or leave it!" Brian Godding seem to remember him saying. Seriously though, Gomelsky took a new interest in the band from then on and they were soon playing in his legendary Craw Daddy R&B clubs in Richmond and Croydon.
Record Mirror (January 2, 1965)
Early 1965: Crawdaddy, Star Club, Star Hotel, 296 London Road, Broad Green, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London (several dates)
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Wednesday, February 10, 1965: Crawdaddy, Star Club, Star Hotel, 296 London Road, Broad Green, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London
Sunday, February 28, 1965: Crawdaddy, Richmond Athletic Association Grounds, Twickenham Road, Richmond, London Borough of Richmond, Greater London
According to Brian Godding, The Ingoes supported The Yardbirds at their final gig with Eric Clapton at Gomelsky's Crawdaddy club. The audience, who were all faithful Yardbirds' fans, were furious that Eric was leaving, and didn't applaud once during their set (to prove their point). And then when The Ingoes came on they went wild! Godding also remember Clapton being very glum backstage, though he did told Brian how much he liked his guitar case. Brian thanked him and was healed from that moment on.
1965: unknown venue, unknown city, unknown county
The Ingoes played as support act for The Moody Blues.
Monday, March 29, 1965: Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, Kent
Wednesday, May 5, 1965: TA Centre, Andover, Hampshire
Also on the bill: Long John Baldry and The Hoochie Coochie Men.
Tuesday, May 11, 1965: 'Opening Night', Marquet Club, Sandrock Hotel, 152 Upper Shirley Road, Addington Hills (aka Shirley Hills), Upper Shirley, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London
Also on the bill: The Essence. One show, from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
June 1965
Brian Godding and Eddie Lynch struck up a songwriting partnership and they ended up penning a couple of songs, one for Craig Douglas, and another for Michael Crawford. The one they wrote for Douglas, titled 'Find The Girl', was released in the UK this month on Douglas' latest single, 'Around The Corner / Find The Girl' (Fontana TF 580). The single was also released in the US a month later (as TCF-107).
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1965: La Locomotive Club, 90 Boulevard de Clichy, Paris, France
By now Giorgio Gomelsky was tiring of The Ingoes constantly riffling his pockets, his larder and whatever else and decided to banish them to Paris, France, so calling on his French connection, they were set adrift in the English channel one dark and stormy night. You had to have this document called a Carnie which in fact was a precise list of every item you had with you, its value, and an assurance in the form of a bond (money deposited in London) to that value which would be forfeited to the French embassy if one decided to dispose of any of these items for financial gain. In the band case, these items consisted of: two tatty vox AC30s, three totally abused guitars, one horrible Selmer bass amp, a Trixon drum kit, and, of course, the mandatory totally clapped out and illegal ex-post office Commer van. They went from the Marquee Club in London to Dover, Kent and then went by boat to Calais, where they arrived in the early hours of the morning, and where their van was searched for two hours by French customs (probably ex-Gestapo in hiding), who would slowly but surely, riffle through every bloody bit of tat you had with you! After being let go they drove to Paris arriving at about 8.30pm after many mechanical and physical dramas to start their search for their hotel. They were to play in a club called La Locomotive which was bang next door to the famous Moulin Rouge (located at 82 Boulevard de Clichy), and really quite a big venue by their standards at the time with a proper stage and curtains and dressing rooms to boot. La Locomotive was the only rock venue in the city at the time and the band were billed as 'Les Ingoes from the famous Marquee Club in London!' (but of course in French). The Marquee was famous but they most certainly weren't and it was a great surprise and relief to find the French audiences didn't seem to mind as long as they were English and sounded and looked the part, i.e. long hair, jeans and plenty of chunka chunka! At one of their appearances at the Windmill, they were approached by the owner of a night club called Le Bilboquet in St Germaine, in the Latin quarter of Paris, and he wanted The Ingoes to become the resident group at the club and sock it to the Paris Sloanies and the rich and famous of the time! This would mean staying on in Paris which was a hard decision for the band but faced with abject poverty on their return to the UK and the thought of those bloody French customs, they came to the conclusion that, somebody had to do it so it might as well be them! They dutifully informed Gomelsky on the phone and the manager seemed happy (Brian Godding think he said 'thank God'), so they left the bordello in Montmartre, in the north of Paris, and relocated in the south of the city in an equally seedy dump opposite to Bill Bouquet in St Germaine.
1965
The Ingoes left France (where they also lived in a monastery near Grenoble, for awhile) and got back to London for a brief break. There they were told that for the good of the band they should get rid of Eddie Lynch, so he left (Eddy went to play with The Elastic Band (aka Ed E Lynch and The Shakedowns, aka The Fantastic Elastics feat. JC), Rifkin, Mustard, Rifkin IV, Mike Di Leo Group, Mustard Duo (aka Dave 'n' Ed), Washington Irving (aka Irving Washington), Captain Ed (aka Mr. Hook), Sinbad (aka Langdale), Long Vehicle, Trevor Bridge, The Bottle Brothers, and last but not least, he finally goes solo as 'Ed Furst'). Anyway, The Ingoes replaced him with James 'Jim' Cregan (b. Saturday, March 9, 1946, Yeovil, South Somerset) on lead guitar and vocals, formerly of Julian Covey and The Machine, The Muldoons, and The Tornados.
THE INGOES #2 (1965 - MARCH 1967)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Colin Martin
4) Jim Cregan lead guitar, vocals
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Colin Martin
4) Jim Cregan lead guitar, vocals
The Ingoes #2, 1965 - from left: Brian Godding, Colin Martin, Jim Cregan, and Brian Belshaw
The Ingoes #2, 1965/66 - from left: Brian Godding, Jim Cregan, Colin Martin, and Brian Belshaw
The Ingoes #2, Marseille, France, 1966 - from left: Colin Martin, Brian godding, ? (unknown friend), Brian Belsahw, and Jim Cregan
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The Ingoes #2 - from left: Brian Godding, Jim Cregan, Brian Belshaw, and Colin Martin
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Sunday, August 29, 1965: Pontiac, Zeeta House, 200 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London Borough of Wanfsworth, Greater London
November 1965
The Ingoes' debut (and only) single, 'Se Non Mi Aiuti Tu (Help!) / I Don't Want You' (Ricordi International SIR 20.004), was released only in Italy. 'Se Non Mi Aiuti Tu' was a cover of The Beatles' 'Help!' sung in Italian! The single was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky. 'Se Non Mi Aiuti Tu' was recorded with their new lineup with Jim Cregan, while 'I Don't Want You' was recorded with their old lineup with Eddy Lynch (who also co-wrote the song with Brian Godding).
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Saturday, November 27, 1965
According to the today edition of Record Mirror, French film director Roger Vadim offered The Ingoes a unidentified part in his next drama film, La Curée, which was released in June 1966. I believe the band was offered to play some music for the soundtrack, but finally they were replaced by The Arthur Brown Set.
Late 1965/Early 1966: Le Bilboquet, 13 Rue Saint-Benoit, St Germaine, Latin Quarter, Paris, France
The Ingoes returned for a second spell in Paris, where they were booked to play at Le Bilboquet, a very small, very dark, and very expensive jazz night club, with a stage area the size of your average lift surrounded by a small picket fence type thing. It had a small dance floor of about equal size and the rest of the club was taken up with small tables and leather padded chairs where the very rich and sometimes famous would come to pull and be pulled, and the fact that they were deafening them at the same time seemed not to distract them from their pleasure seeking one little bit! In fact The Ingoes became the darlings of these poor, rich but rather sweet, deaf bastards and would find themselves be booked on many occasions to play at their private parties and do’s.
The Ingoes #2 at the Le Bilboquet, Paris, 1966 - from left: Brian Belshaw (hidden), Brian Godding, Jim Cregan, and Colin Martin
Late 1965/Early 1966: Olympia Bruno Coquatrix (aka L'Olympia, aka Olympia Hall, aka Paris Olympia), 28 Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, France
The Ingoes played as backing band of both Chuck Berry and Vince Taylor that night. "We were there to back Vince Taylor, but as Chuck didn't tour with a band in Europe, that night he roped us in," Brian Godding point out. "What a guy! He just strolled on, called the keys and directed us with his guitar neck - up meant go, down meant stop. I remember standing there in utter awe as he duck-walked up and down in front of us, thinking 'That's bloody CHUCK BERRY!' We never saw or heard from the great man again, but what a lesson it was really all about." "Vince Taylor was an amazing bloke too," Brian adds. "At the Olympia, he had four pairs of sunglasses on: he said when we played Trouble, when he got to the line, ‘If you’re looking for trouble,’ he was going to remove the first pair, and so on, removing a pair after each line. All we wanted to do was play, but this guy had a whole psychological plan mapped out!"
Late 1965/Early 1966: unknown cabaret club, unknown city, Morocco, North Africa
Late 1965/Early 1966: unknown ski resort, unknown city, French Alps, France
Friday, February 25, 1966
Brian Godding and Eddy Lynch's song 'It's Gonna Take A Little Time' wrote for Michael Crawford, was released today only in the UK on Crawford's latest single, 'It's Gonna Take A Little Time / Help Me' (UP 1127).
March - April 1966: Le Bus Palladium, 6 Rue Pierre Fontaine, Paris, France
The Ingoes played seven nights a week as resident band in a club called Le Bus Palladium, which was just around the corner from their old haunt, La Locomotive Club. Le Bus Palladium was an old building that was originally used as the turn around point for the long gone Parisian trams, now sort of converted into a very dark and seedy music venue (a bit like the original Roundhouse club in London, but smaller). When the band first moved in, the clientele were, beatniks, hippies, drunks, drug addicts, and ladies of the night. One night, Salvador Dali turned up with his beautiful people and enjoyed himself so much that he became a regular punter. Another night, Sean Connery and his entourage were being told in no uncertain terms to "shove off" as the building was coming apart at the seams! By the way, while they played there one day, French director Pascal Aubier filmed the band for his short film Tenebrae Factae Sunt, a documentary about a typical night at the Bus Palladium.
1966
Film producer Barbet Schroeder asked Giorgio Gomelsky to supervised the soundtrack of La Collectionneuse, a French film directed by Eric Rohmer and released in March 1967. Gomelsky hired his protégés The Ingoes to play much of the music. Brian Belshaw also had an uncredited role as one of starred actress Haydée Politoff's many male friends.
1966
Les Ingoes' debut (and only) extend play, 'Dansez Le Monkiss' (Riviera 231141 M), was released only in France. The disc was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky. The side-A had 'Viens Danser Le Monkiss' that was an original wrote by the band and sung in French!, and Otis Redding's cover of 'Mr. Pitiful' (misspelled as 'Mister Pittyfull' on both the cover and the label). The side-B had Al Dexter's cover of 'Pistol Packing Mama', and Wilson Pickett's cover of 'In The Midnight Hour'.
March 1967
The Ingoes return to London where their manager Giorgio Gomelsky had managed to set up a recording company and record label called Marmalade Music and they were earmarked to become some of the emerging "beautiful people". The plan was to stop performing for a while and get down to writing a new repertoire for theirselves and then take over the world! Colin Martin wasn't ready for the responsibilities that came with such power and abdicated (Brian Godding think he left because he missed his girlfriend and was bored silly with them bunch of Herberts!), and went to play with The Artwoods, and The St Valentine's Day Massacre (he's now working as a radio producer). The band starts looking for a new drummer and after a dismal period of a week or two of auditioning bad drummers, they finally find Kevin Westlake (b. Kevin Patrick Westlake, Wednesday, March 5, 1947, Dublin, County Dublin, Eire - d. Thursday, September 30, 2004), formerly of Little Richard's European tour's backing band, Johnny B Great and The Quotations (The Walker Brothers' backing band), and The Vampires, who out of the blue showed up at the studio where the band rehearsed one day, and thank God, problem solved! The band also changed their name to Blossom Toes (it was a guy who worked for Gomelsky's 'Paragon Publicity' management company that gave this name to the band, for no good reason or no bad one either) and were housed in a flat in Fulham, South West London, by Gomelsky (who also gave them a retainer of £10 a week each to live).
BLOSSOM TOES #1 (MARCH 1967 - NOVEMBER 1967)
1) Brian Godding now also on lead guitar
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan now also on rhythm guitar
4) Kevin Westlake drums, vocals
1) Brian Godding now also on lead guitar
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan now also on rhythm guitar
4) Kevin Westlake drums, vocals
Blossom Toes #1, 1967
Blossom Toes #1, 1967
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Blossom Toes #1, 1967
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March 1967
Brian Godding wrote a song titled 'I Don't Care (Just Take Me There)' for Australian pop singer Normie Rowe, which was released in the UK this month on Rowe's latest single, 'Going Home / I Don't Care (Just Take Me There)' (Polydor 56159). The single was also released in Australia and New Zealand in April and July respectively (as International Sunshine QIK-17-31).
UK version
Australian version
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New Zealand version
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April 1967
Brian Godding wrote a song titled 'I Know You Love Me Not' for his sister-in-law Julie Driscoll, which was released only in the UK this month on Driscoll's latest single, 'I Know You Love Me Not / If You Should Ever Leave Me' (Parlophone R 5588).
1967: 'unknown title', TV Show, unknown city, unknown county, unknown state
According to Brian Godding, Blossom Toes did a collection of TV appearances in Europe with Herman's Hermits.
1967
Blossom Toes, along with Dantalian's Chariot, appeared on the sci-fi movie 'Popdown' directed by Fred Marshall.
1967: Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes are among artists featured at a concert promotion by Marmalade Records at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
Blossom Toes #1, Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 1967 - from left: Brian Godding, Brian Belshaw, Kevin Westlake, and Jim Cregan
Saturday, July 29, 1967: 'Love In Festival', Alexandra Palace (aka 'Ally Pally'), Alexandra Park, Alexandra Palace Way, London Borough of Haringey, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Eric Burdon and The Animals, Pink Floyd, Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and The Trinity, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Creation, Tomorrow, Apostolic Intervention, The Nervous System, Sam Gopal Dream, and Ginger Johnson. Lights by Overhead Lightshow. An all-nighter show from 9:00pm to 9:00am, which was reportedly attended by 10,000 people. According to an eyewitness, Blossom Toes were smashing, even though the power failed on them and they had to finish their set chanting 'Love Us Like We Love You' to a tambourine rather than playing the instruments. Brian Godding, however, recalled that actually the band did not have a power failure, but they just run out of things to play because it was one of their first gigs (if not the first) with the new name and the new lineup, and so they were a little under rehearsed! Godding also remember that the most pleasant and memorable moment for him was upon finally escaping the building early in the morning, and while walking home to his home on the other side of Hampstead Heath, he and his wife Angie (Julie Driscoll's sister) came across to an elderly gentlemen pruning his roses and upon seeing them he cut one and gave it to Angie! (Now that's what Brian called "Flower Power"!).
Blossom Toes #1, Alexandra Palace, London, July 29, 1967
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Sunday, August 13, 1967: '7th National Jazz - Pop - Ballads & Blues Festival', Balloon Meadow, Royal Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire
Blossom Toes played in the marquee in the festival grounds from 7:30pm to 8:15pm. Also on the bill: Chicken Shack, Ten Years After, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, and The Pentangle.
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Melody Maker (July 15, 1967)
Saturday, August 26, 1967: Klubb Filips, Regeringsgatan 27-29, Stockholm, Sweden
The Blossom Toes' performance was recorded and eight songs taken from the show - 'Listen To The Silence', 'Electricity', 'Captain Trips', 'Love Us Like We Love You', 'The Remarkable Saga of the Frozen Dog', 'Woman Mind', Smokestack Lightning', and 'First Love Song' - were released by Sunbeam Records on the posthumous triple-album/double-CD, 'Love Bomb - Live 1967-69' (2009). According to Brian Godding, the band played as resident band here for a week (seven nights). Supposedly singer and harmonica player Gary Farr, formerly of The T-Bones, accompanied the band in Sweden as their sound engineer and lighting technician (he also sat-in with the band onstage sometimes). By the way, there's also a bootleg recording taken from another show (or the same?) of the band at the Klubb Filips, that was released in early 1990s as 'The Psychedelic Sound of Blossom Toes - Live from the "Merry Hassen" Sweden' (please note that the people who put together this album use the same cover and the same title as the Italian version of the band's 1967 debut album, and also wrongly named the name of the venue as 'Merry Hassen' instead of Klubb Filips!!!).
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Friday, October 6, 1967
Blossom Toes' debut single, 'What On Earth / Mrs. Murhpy's Budgerigar / Look At Me I'm You' (Marmalade 598002), was released in the UK. The disc was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky. 'What On Earth' was written by Brian Godding, 'Mrs. Murphy's Budgerigar' was written by Jim Cregan and Kevin Westlake, and 'Look At Me I'm You' was co-written by Brian Godding and Giorgio Gomelsky. The single was also released in Germany that same year, but without 'Look At Me I'm You', and also in Sweden that same year, but without 'Mrs. Murphy's Budgerigar'.
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German front cover
German label
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German label
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Sweden front cover
Sweden label
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Sweden label
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Melody Maker (October 14, 1967)
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Coventry Evening Telegraph (October 10, 1967)
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Thanet Times and East Kent Pictorial (October 10, 1967)
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Saturday, October 14, 1967: Middle Earth, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, City of Westminster and London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Limousine, Dr. K's Blues Band, John Peel, Ultradelic Alchemists, Films, Guest Musicians and Poetry. One show, from 10:30pm till dawn.
Melody Maker (October 14, 1967)
Tuesday, October 24 or Wednesday, October 25, 1967: 'Top Gear', BBC Radio One, Studio 4, BBC Maida Vale Studios, Delaware Road, Maida Vale, City of Westminster, Greater London
DJs John Peel and Pete Drummond present this episode of 'Top Gear' that was produced by Bernie Andrews, and that was aired on Sunday, October 29, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Blossom Toes are heard as one of the main guests together with Cream, Roy Harper, and The Kinks. Two decent-fidelity cuts from this radio broadcast, 'What On Earth' and 'The Remarkable Sage of the Frozen Dog', were released by Sunbeam Records on the posthumous double album/CD, 'Love Bomb - Live 1967-69' (2009).
Friday, November 17 - Wednesday, November 22, 1967: 'Teenage Fair', Industrial Exhibition Hall, Svenska Mässan (aka Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre), Mässans Gata/Korsvägen 412, Göteborg, Sweden
This was one of the first teens fairs in Europe after a model from the United States and was organized by Ted Aspudd, Liz Korallus and Justus Korallus. The exhibition showed fashion, music, interior design, cars and leisure activities. It was held in the industrial hall at the Swedish fair, comprising 219 Swedish and foreign companies and ended with a big pop festival with bands like Traffic, Blossom toes, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Paul Jones, Tom & Mick & Maniacs, Jerry Williams, Vanguards, Young Ideas, Jade Hexogram, May Flowers, Lucas (with Janne Lucas), Thom McJohn, and others. The fair drew a large audience but also resulted in a lot of protests because of its commercial character.
Friday, November 24, 1967
Blossom Toes' debut album, 'We Are Ever So Clean' (Marmalade 607001 (Mono) / 608001 (Stereo)), was released in the UK. The album was also released in Italy in 1967 (with a different cover and with the different title of 'The Psychedelic Sound Of Blossom Toes'), and in Germany in 1968. The album was re-issued on vinyl format in 2006 (Italy), and 2007 (UK), and on CD format in 1992 (Japan), 2006 (Japan), 2007 (UK), 2010 (Japan), and unknown year (Canada; with the same cover of the Italian version of the album, and with the title of 'The Psychedelic Sound Of Blossom Toes Vol.I: We Are Ever So Clean'). The backing of much of the album was recorded by an orchestra and session men (for example in 'The Remarkable Saga Of The Frozen Dog' the bass wasn't played by Brian Belshaw but by legendary guitarist Vic Briggs of Eric Burdon and The Animals). The album was recorded "live" (no overdubs) at the Chappell Sound Studio, 50 New Bond Street, central London, with a 4-track machine. Giorgio Gomelsky was the producer, and John Timperley was the sound engineer. Curiously, on the back cover the band members were listed with nicknames: 'Big Brian Knows As Scarlet', 'Little Brian Known as Wellington', 'jim Known As Bartholomew', and 'Kevin Known As Plod'.
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Italian version
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Record Mirror (December 2, 1967)
Melody Maker (December 9, 1967)
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New Musical Express (November 25, 1967)
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November 1967
Kevin Westlake left Blossom Toes to pursue a solo career (and also a sessionman career) and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Poli Palmer (b. John Michael Palmer, Tuesday, May 25, 1943, Evesham, Worchestershire, West Midlands), formerly of Deep Feeling, and The Hellions.
BLOSSOM TOES #2 (NOVEMBER 1967 - OCTOBER 1968)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan
4) Poli Palmer drums, flute, vibes, harp, mellotron, percussion, vocals, piano
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan
4) Poli Palmer drums, flute, vibes, harp, mellotron, percussion, vocals, piano
Blossom Toes #2
Blossom Toes #2
Saturday, December 2, 1967: Middle Earth, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, City of Westminster and London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Deviants, Famous Cure, D.J. Jeff Dexter, plus lights, films, and events. One "all-nighter" show, from 10:00pm to dawn.
Melody Maker (December 2, 1967)
Thursday, December 7, 1967: ‘Naked Lunch - Annual Arts Ball,’ Ballroom, Leofric Hotel, Broadgate, Coventry, Warwickshire
C.C.A. (Coventry College of Art) Students’ Association presents their annual arts ball (discotheque and buffet) at Leofric Ballroom tonight from 8pm to 2am. The ball theme is held under the intriguing title the ‘Naked Lunch’ with a view to arousing a bit more interest than they had in recent years. As usual, the ball is a fancy dress affair. Also on the bill: Moody Blues, Coloured Raisins, East Side Protection.
Coventry Evening Telegraph (November 24, 1967)
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Coventry Evenng Telegraph (December 7, 1967)
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1968: unknown recording studio, in or around London
Blossom Toes backed up singer Gordon Jackson, formerly of The Deep Feeling with Poli Palmer, on the recording of his song 'Blues For Whitley', which remained unissued until March 2009 when it was finally included in The Deep Feeling's anthology album, 'Pretty Colours' (Sunbeam Records SBRLP5062).
Sunday, January 14, 1968: Frank Freeman Dancing Club, 5 Mill Street, Kidderminster, Wyre Forest District, Worcestershire
One show, from 7:15pm to 10:30pm.
Friday, January 26, 1968: convention room, Hotel Martinez, 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band (who didn't have any equipment so they borrowed all the Toes' equipment mainly thanks to Magic Band's roadie that was Toes' former drummer Kevin Westlake!), Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Fairport Convention.
Saturday, January 27, 1968: 'L.S.E. Dance', London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, Aldwych, City of Westminster, Greater London
Also on the bill: Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation. One show, started at 8:00pm.
Melody Maker (January 27, 1968)
Saturday, February 10, 1968: 'Bouton Rouge', 2° Chaine Couleur de l'ORTF, Maison De La Radio, 116 Avenue du Président Kennedy, Paris, France
Blossom Toes performed 'Listen To The Silence', 'Mister Watchmaker', and 'The Remarkable Sage Of Forzen Dog', on this French television pop music show which was hosted by Pierre Lattès and that was broadcasted all-live every Saturday at 6:15pm. Also appeared: Johnny Hallyday, Cream.
Friday, February 23, 1968: Middle Earth, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, City of Westminster and London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Fairport Convention, Tyrannosaurus Rex. One show, from 10:30pm till dawn.
Melody Maker (February 17, 1968)
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Friday, March 8, 1968
Blossom Toes' second single, 'I'll Be You Baby Tonight / Love Is' (Marmalade 598009), was released in the UK. The disc was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky. 'I'll Be You Baby Tonighy' was a Bob Dylan cover, while 'Love Is' was an original written by Brian Godding. The single was also released in France that same year with a picture sleeve.
Melody Maker (March 2, 1968)
acetate
French version (front cover)
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French version (back cover)
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Wednesday, March 13, 1968: 'Benefit Ball', Middle Earth, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, City of Westminster and London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Fairport Convention, Action, Pretty Things, Track, D.J. Jeff Dexter. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Wednesday, March 13, 1968: 'Benefit Ball', Middle Earth, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, City of Westminster and London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Fairport Convention, Action, Pretty Things, Track, D.J. Jeff Dexter. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Melody Maker (March 16, 1968)
Tuesday, March 26, 1968: 'Top Gear', BBC Radio One, Studio One, BBC Studios, 201 Piccadilly, St. James's, City of Westminster, Greater London (filmed date)
Blossom Toes performed 'Love Is' and maybe other unknown songs, during their appearance on Top Gear, a famous radio show hosted by deejay John Peel and produced by Bernie Andrews. This episode was aired on Sunday, March 31, from 2:00p to 4:00pm. Also appeared: The End, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Honeybus, Tim Rose.
April 1968
Brian Godding played a bit of mellotron at the end of Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger And The Trinity's 'This Wheel's Of Fire', that was released as single this month in the UK.
Tuesday, April 23, 1968: 'Marmalade Record Show', Olympia Bruno Coquatrix (aka L'Olympia, aka Olympia Hall, aka Paris Olympia), 28 Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, France
Also on the bill: Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and The Trinity, Chris Barber Band, Lion and The Fish.
Saturday, April 27, 1968: '8th Annual Golden Rose of Montreux Television Festival', Main Room, Casino Barrière de Montreux, Rue du Théâtre 9, Montreux, Switzerland
The Golden Rose Festival (Rose d'Or) draws the best of the year's new entertainment and television programming. It also boasts the most important business rendezvous platform for the onscreen entertainment community from all over the world and it's goal has always been to reward originality, quality and creativity in entertainment programming. Launched in 1961, this event, held annually in Montreux, was organized by the Swiss televison 'Télévision Suisse Romande' (TSR). During the late 1960s and early 1970s, in order to entertain their guest in the evening, different music concerts and galas were organized either in the Casino or in the Pavilion buildings. This year gala was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky and Horst Schmolzi, under the auspices of Philips and Polydor Records. Blossom Toes were among the guests along with Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll & the Trinity, The Who (cancelled), Fairport Convention, Sharon Tandy and the Fleur De Lys, Lion and The Fish, and Kaleidoscope. The festival was filmed and aired live across the Britain in a special edition Dee Time, a BBC 1 television show hosted by Simon Dee.
Tuesday, May 7, 1968: 'Pop Musica Festival - Primo Festival Internazionale in Europa di Musica Pop (aka First European International Pop Festival)', Piper Club, Via Tagliamento 9, quartiere Trieste, Rome, Italy (Blossom Toes cancelled)
The four-day festival (May 4-7) was a farce due to a number of factors, the biggest of which is the mysterious absence of ticket-paying fans. The first three days were held at the huge Palazzo dello Sport that had a capacity of 30,000 seats, but when the venue was near empty for the third day running, today's festivities were moved to the small Piper Club, the most famous Italian's discoteque of the 60s. The Blossom Toes are set to play on the fourth and last day together with The Byrds, Family, Nice, Soft Machine, and I Camaleonti, although the final bill is changed around as groups cancel (including Blossom Toes) and schedules overrun. So this Tuesday night ends up with only The Grapefruit, Family, and The Byrds.
Melody Maker (February 10, 1968)
Melody Maker (March 9, 1968)
Saturday, May 11, 1968: 'L.S.E. Dance', London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, Aldwych, City of Westminster, Greater London
Also on the bill: Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. One show, started at 8:00pm.
Melody Maker (May 11, 1968)
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Wednesday, May 15, 1968: The Elbow Room, 146 High Street, Aston, City of Birmingham, West Midlands
Friday, May 24, 1968: Middle Earth, 43 King Street, Covent Garden, City of Westminster and London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Musica Elettronica Viva, Tangerine Slyde, Poets, Events, Jeff Dexter. One show, from 10:30pm till dawn.
Melody Maker (May 25, 1968)
Sunday, June 2, 1968: ‘Two-Day Barn Barbeque Concert and Dance,’ cavernous barn, Benwick Road, Whittlesley, near Peterborough, Fenland, Cambridgeshire
Rivonia Promotions, the company behind a similar barbecue happening on April 15, stage this two-day festival on June 2 and 3. The Sunday programme (runs between 5:00pm and 11:00pm) is headlined by Donovan, followed by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Fairport Convention, and Blossom Toes. According to the Evening Telegraph newspaper (June 3), between 2,000 and 3,000 teenagers flock to the biggest pop show the Peterborough area has ever seen!
Melody Maker (May 11, 1968)
Evening Post News (May 31, 1968)
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Melody Maker (May 25, 1968)
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Wednesday, June 5, 1968: Hampstead Country Club, 210a Haverstock Hill, opposite Belsize Park Odeon, Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
One show, from 8:15pm to 11:30pm
Melody Maker (June 1, 1968)
Friday, June 21, 1968: 'Midsummer Night's Dream', University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Bradford University puts on a '1968 New Universities Festival' this weekend with a programme encompassing jazz, folk, and blues, plus seminars. Blossom Toes are booked to play the Friday-night dance with Fleetwood Mac, The Hedgehoppers Anonymous, and The (English) Amboy Dukes.
Saturday, July 6, 1968: The Square Circle (Lyric), Dinnington, Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, South Yorkshire
One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Wednesday, August 7, 1968: dance hall, Eel Pie Island Hotel, Eel Pie Island, River Thames at Twickenham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London
Also on the bill: Spice, Jeff Dexter. One show, from 8:00pm to 12 midnight.
Melody Maker (July 27, 1968)
Saturday, August 24, 1968: Factory, Gas Street off Broad Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire
Saturday, August 24 - Sunday, August 25, 1968: Middle Earth, New Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Traffic, The Incredible String Band, Pretty Things, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Family, Fairport Convention, Free, Hurdy Gurdy, Deviants, Blonde On Blonde, and 'the first full-length showing of Magical Mystery Tour', The Beatles' latest movie.
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Melody Maker (August 17, 1968)
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Friday, September 6, 1968: Middle Earth, New Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, and Terry Reid. Lights by Glenn McKay's Head-Lights. Two shows, 7:30pm and 2:30pm. Approximately 2,500 people were in attendance for both shows.
Melody Maker (September 7, 1968)
Sunday, September 8, 1968: Peterlee Jazz and Folk Club, Argus Butterfly pub, York Road, Peterlee, Durham County
Saturday, September 21, 1968: The Magic Village, Cromford Court off Market Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester
Also on the bill: Gary Farr with Andy Leigh.
Melody Maker (September 7, 1968)
Sunday, September 22, 1968: Mothers, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, Warwickshire
Also on the bill: Gary Farr and Andy Leigh. One show, from 8:00pm till late.
Melody Maker (September 7, 1968)
Melody Maker (September 21, 1968)
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Sunday Mercury Sun (September 22, 1968)
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Tuesday, September 24, 1968: Fishmongers Arms, 287 High Road, Wood Green, London Borough of Haringey, Greater London
Melody Maker (September 21, 1968)
Saturday, September 28, 1968: 'Internationale Essener Songtage', Grugahalle, Essen, West Germany
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with The Mothers Of Invention, Tim Buckley, Franz Josef Degenhardt, Julie Felix, Olympic, Soul Caravan, Amon Duul, St. Gile's System, Time Is Now. Lights by Leisure Society. One show, from 8:30pm till dawn.
Friday, October 4, 1968
Blossom Toes' third single, 'Postcard / Every Ones Leaving Me Now' (Marmalade 598012), was released in the UK. 'Postcard' was a tightly crafted psych pop song written by Brian Godding, while 'Every Ones Leaving Me Now' was written and sung by Poli Palmer and shows them playing on the jazzy side. The single was also released in France that same year with a picture sleeve, and in Germany also that same year and with a picture sleeve, but only as promo.
Record Mirror (October 5, 1968)
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German promo front cover
Friday, October 4, 1968: 'Freshers Ball', University College, Gower Street, Bloomsbury, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Julie Driscoll and The Brian Auger Trinity, The Cortinas. Lights by Proteus Light Show. The show was presented by Southbank Artistes in conjunction with the Ents. Committee.
Saturday, October 5, 1968: Middle Earth, Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with The Who, and Fox. One show, from 10:30pm to dawn.
Melody Maker (October 5, 1968)
October 1968
Poli Palmer left Blossom Toes (he will play with Ian Matthews' Southern Comfort, Bakerloo, Eclection, and Family) and was replaced by drummer Barry Reeves, aka 'Bazzo' (b. Barry Roy Reeves, Saturday, July 15, 1944, Birmingham, West Midlands - d. Saturday, February 6, 2010, of pneumonia), formerly of Ferris Wheel, Emile Ford and The Checkmates, and Johnny Whitehouse and The Congressmen.
BLOSSOM TOES #3 (OCTOBER 1968 - DECEMBER ??, 1969)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan
4) Barry Reeves drums, percussion
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan
4) Barry Reeves drums, percussion
Blossom Toes #3
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Blossom Toes #3
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Wednesday, October 16, 1968: Richmond Athletic Association Grounds, Twickenham Road, Richmond, London Borough of Richmond, Greater London
One show, from 7:30pm to 1100pm.
Melody Maker (October 12, 1968)
October 2?, 1968: 'Top Gear', BBC Radio One, Studio 4, BBC Maida Vale Studios, Delaware Road, Maida Vale, City of Westminster, Greater London
DJ John Peel presents this episode of 'Top Gear' that was produced by Bernie Andrews, and that was aired on Sunday, October 27, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity also appeared on the show.
Saturday, October 26, 1968: Portland Hall (?), Regent Street Polytechnic, Little Titchfield Street, Oxford Circus Tube Station, City of Westminster, Greater London
Also on the bill: Julie Driscoll and The Brian Auger Trinity. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm.
Melody Maker (October 26, 1968)
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Monday, October 28, 1968: Brittania Rowing Club, Trent Side North, West Bridgford, Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire
November 1, 1968: Queen Mary College, Mile End Road, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Fairport Convention, The Web, and others.
Wednesday, November 20, 1968: Toby Jug, 1 Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Greater London
Friday, November 22, 1968: Factory, Gas Street off Broad Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire
Saturday, November 23, 1968: 'Soul Verses Blues Night', The Gaiety Ballroom, High Street, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
Also on the bill: Ellisons Hogline Featuring: Nelson Fletcher.
Saturday, November 30, 1968: Victoria Ballroom, 31 Knifesmithgate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Sunday, December 1, 1968: Peterlee Jazz Club, Argus Butterfly (pub), York Road, Peterlee, County Durham
The show, which lasted from 7:00pm (or 7:30pm) to 10:30pm, was promoted by Forward North Promotions. Also on the bill: New Dawn Soul Band.
Saturday, December 7, 1968: Alex Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Also on the bill: D.J. Mr. Kazoon. One show, from 8:00pm to 11:45pm.
Monday, December 9, 1968: 'Radio 1 Club', BBC Radio One, BBC Paris Theatre, Lower Regent Street, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes recorded a live audience radio show presented by David Symonds, that was broadcast at midday.
Sunday, December 15, 1968: Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Swan Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire
The show was presented by H.C.B. Enterprises. Also on the bill: D.J. Chris Ryde.
Coventry Evening Telegraph (December 13, 1968)
Tuesday, December 17, 1968: Guildford Technical Institute, Stoke Road, Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey
Also on the bill: The Action, Different Shades of Blue.
1969: Advision Studios, 23 Gosfield Street or 83 New Bond Street, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes backed up Julie Driscoll on 'Break Out', a song arranged by Julie and the band themselves, and produced by Giorgio Gomelsky, that was included in Driscoll's first solo album, '1969' (Reprise 2383 077), released in 1971. Driscoll's brother-in-law Brian Godding also backed her on another two songs from that album, 'Lullaby' and 'I Nearly Forgot - But I Want Back'.
1969
Brian Belshaw played bass as sessionman on Gary Farr's debut solo album, 'Take Something With You' (Marmalade 608013). He played on two songs, 'Don't Know Why You Bother Child', and 'Take Something With You'.
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Friday, January 3, 1969: ‘The Discotheque,’ ITV Granada Television
The rock ‘n’ roll singer Billy J. Kramer hosted this 30-minute television show which was aired every Friday from 5:20 to 5:50pm. In this episode, regulars ‘Disc Dolly’ Dianne Graves, and The Four Spots invited you to meet Blossom Toes. The Chants, Truly Smith, Kiki Dee, and Geno Washington.
Saturday, January 25, 1969: Van Dyke, Exmouth Road, Plymouth, Devon
D. Jacobs was the compere.
Friday, January 31, 1969: Chislehurst Caves, Caveside Close, Old Hill, Chislehurst, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London
Wednesday, February 19, 1969: I.C.I. Fibres Club, Pontypool,Torfaen, Gwent, South Wales
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Groundhogs, and Caravan.
Friday, February 21, 1969: Top Rank, Watford, Hertfordshire
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Family.
Sunday, March 2, 1969: Peterlee Jazz Club, Argus Butterfly (pub), York Road, Peterlee, County Durham
Also on the bill: Sweet Wine. The show lasted from 7pm to 10:30pm.
Thursday, March 6, 1969: ‘Rag Ball,’ unknown location, Coventry Technical College campus, 53 Butts Road, Coventry, Warwickshire
The ‘Rag Ball’ was one of the events held during Coventry Technical College’s Rag Week which started on Friday, February 28 and ended on Friday, March 7. The Rag was in aid of three charities, the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, the Coventry Association for the Deaf, and a local home for physically handicapped children. Also on the bill: Julie Driscoll and The Brian Auger Trinity, The Deviants, The Pretty Things.
Wednesday, March 19, 1969: University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, Hampshire
Friday, March 21, 1969: Locarno Ballroom, Newcastle Road, Sunderland, County Durham
Also on the bill: Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Gin House, Animal Farm.
Evening Chronicle (March 17, 1969)
Thursday, March 27, 1969: Hampstead Country Club, 210a Haverstock Hill, opposite Belsize Park Odeon, Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Friday, April 4, 1969
Blossom Toes' fourth single, 'Peace Loving Man / Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head' (Marmalade 598014), was released in the UK. The single was also released in Germany that same month with a picture sleeve. 'Peace Loving Man' was an original written by Brian Godding, while 'Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head' was a Ritchie Havens cover. 'Peace Loving Man' was recorded a year before with the old lineup with still Poli Palmer on drums (although the new drummer Barry Reeves can be also heard on the song because he overdubbed congas). Julie Driscoll sang (uncredited) on 'Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head', which also featured famous folk-rock singer and songwriter Shawn Phillips (mis-credited as 'Sean Phillips') on 12-string acoustic guitar and sitar.
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German front cover
German label
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German label
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Tuesday, April 15, 1969: Klooks Kleek Club, Railway Hotel, 100 West End Lane, West Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: John Thomas Blues Band, D.J. Pat B.
April 2?, 1969: Kensington Town Hall, Kensington High Street, Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London
Blossom Toes appeared at a concert in aid of the Biafra Relief and Rehabilitation organisation at Kensington Town Hall. The organisers had to turn away over a hundred people from the door, and takings for the evening amounted to well over £500. One of the high spots of the evening was Noel Harrison’s appearance with guitar and backing musicians, singing some of his own simple folk songs. Also appeared Julie Felix which gave one of her best public performances for a long time, showing that she much prefers small audiences. Christopher Logue, poet and Private Eye satirist, recited a lenghty love-poem, and Blossom Toes provided one of the evening’s highlights with their heavy, wailing anti-war song, according to the Kensington Post newspaper review of the show (May 2). The concert also featured Teddy Brown, the Eclection, the Flamma Sherman Sisters as well as a brief fashion show.
Sunday, May 11, 1969: Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Swan Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire
A Baccurat Presentation.
Coventry Evening Telegraph (May 8, 1969)
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Coventry Evening Telegraph (May 9, 1969)
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Saturday, May 17, 1969: Enfield College of Technology, High Street, Ponders End, London Borough of Enfield, Greater London
Also on the bill: Jon Hiseman's Colosseum.
Sunday, May 18, 1969: Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, Westminster, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Procol Harum, Yes, Soft Machine, and Third Ear Band.
Saturday, May 24, 1969: University College, Gower Street, Bloomsbury, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Sunday, May 25, 1969: 'Benefit for the Fairport Convention', Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Pink Floyd, Pretty Things, Family, Eclection, The Deviants, Mick Fleetwood, Mimi & Mouse, Jack Moore, and DJ John Peel. This was a hastily arranged benefit show to help pay for the care of members of Fairport Convention who were injured in a serious accident on the M1 in which drummer Martin Lamble and a female passenger, Gene Franklin, were killed. However, the show was a far from peaceful event marred by crowd violence.
Monday, June 2, 1969: The Granary, Welsh Back, Bristol
Monday, June 9, 1969: 'Cambridge Midsummer Pop Festival', Midsummer Common, central Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
A four-day (June 8-11) open-air free festival organised by The Cambridge Arts Lab with the co-operation of the Cambridge Corporation. Blossom Toes were on the bill (playing from 7:15pm to 8:00pm) along with Mighty Baby (previously Action), Jason Crest, 1984, Klan, Story Brook, and White Unicorn. DJ John Peel was the master of cerimonies.
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Thursday, June 12, 1969: Alex Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Friday, June 20, 1969: Fishmongers Arms, 287 High Road, Wood Green, London Borough of Haringey, Greater London
Also on the bill: Reflection.
Saturday, June 21, 1969: Clouds Circus, Denbigh Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Barclay James Harvest, Black Cat Bones, and DJ Pete Drummond. Lights by Solar Prism Light Show. One show, from 2:30pm to 12:30am.
Monday, June 23, 1969: Friars, New Friarage Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
One show, started at 7:30pm. Lights by Optic Nerve. Head Sound by Andy Dunkley. Beer & Spirits by Square Circle.
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Friday, July 18, 1969: Mothers, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands
Friday, July 25, 1969: Van Dyke, Exmouth Road, Plymouth, Devon
Sunday, July 27, 1969: 'Implosion', Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Steam Hammer, Quintessence, High Tide, and DJ Jeff Dexter.
August 1969
Blossom Toes' second and last album, 'If Only For A Moment' (Marmalade 608010), was released only in the UK. The album was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky with the assistance of singer Reggie King. The sound engineer was Eddie 'Top Boost' Offord. The album was re-issued on vinyl format in 2006 (Italy), and 2007 (UK), and on CD format in 1992 (Japan), 2006 (Japan), 2007 (UK), 2010 (Japan), and unknown year (Canada; with the same cover of the Italian version of the debut album, and with the different title of 'The Psychedelic Sound Of Blossom Toes Vol.II: If Only For A Moment').
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Saturday, August 2, 1969: Village Blues Club, Dagenham Roundhouse, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Greater London
Monday, August 4, 1969: Resurrection Club, Barnet, London Borough of Barnet, Greater London
Friday, August 8, 1969: '9th Nationl Jazz, Pop, Ballads & Blues Festival', Arena, Plumpton Racecourse, Plumpton, near Lewes, East Sussex
Blossom Toes (playing from 8:30pm to 9:15pm) were on the bill along with The Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, and Keith Tippett Jazz Group.
Blossom Toes #3, '9th National Jazz, Pop, Ballads & Blues Festival', August 8, 1969 - from left: Brian Godding, Brian Belshaw, Barry Reeves, and Jim Cregan
New Musical Express (July 12, 1969)
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Friday, August 8, 1969: 'Midnight Court', Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, Westminster, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Caravan, Elmer Gantry, Dry Ice, and D.J. Andy Dunkley. Lights by Crab Nebula Lights. One "all-nighter" show from midnight to dawn.
Tuesday, August 12, 1969: Klooks Kleek Club, Railway Hotel, 100 West End Lane, West Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Friday, August 15, 1969: Fishmongers Arms, 287 High Road, Wood Green, London Borough of Haringey, Greater London
Sunday, August 24, 1969: '5th Annual Bilzen Jazz and Pop Festival' (aka 'Jazz Bilzen'), Bilzen, Limburg, Belgium
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with The Move, Life, and Humble Pie. Blossom Toes' performance was filmed by Belgian TV 'BRT', and a video footage of them doing 'Stargazer' appeared on a bootleg video tape, 'Bilzen Jazz And Pop Festival 1969'. The band performance was also recorded and two songs taken from show, 'Indian Summer' and 'Stargazer', were released by Sunbeam Records on the posthumous double album/CD, 'Love Bomb - Live 1967-69' (2009).
Blossom Toes #3, Bilzen, August 24, 1969
August ??, 1969: 'Top Gear', BBC Radio One, Studio 4, BBC Maida Vale Studios, Delaware Road, Maida Vale, City of Westminster, Greater London
DJ John Peel presents this episode of 'Top Gear' that was produced by Bernie Andrews, and that was aired on Sunday, September 7, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. King Crimson, and The Strawbs also appeared on the show.
Saturday, September 13, 1969: Smetana Hall, Municipal House, Náměstí Republiky 1090, Staré Město, Prague, Czechoslovakia
The Observer Sun (September 14, 1969)
Monday, September 22, 1969: Friars, New Friarage Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Lights by Optic Nerve. Head Sound by Andy Dunkley.
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Tuesday, September 23, 1969: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Mike Hart and Business.
Sunday, September 28, 1969: Farx Club, The Northcote Arms, Northcote Avenue off Southall Broadway (Uxbridge Road), Southall, London Borough of Ealing, Greater London
Also on the bill: Jade.
October 1969
Blossom Toes' fifth single, 'New Day / Love Bomb' (Marmalade 598022), was scheduled to be released in the UK this month, but it was withdrawn. The disc was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky. A white label test pressing with hand written labels appeared on Ebay on September 2008.
Friday, October 3, 1969: Locarno Ballroom, Newcastle Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Renaissance.
Saturday, October 4, 1969: The Magic Village, Cromford Court off Market Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester
Blossom Toes played an "all-nighter" show from 7:00pm to 7:00am.
Wednesday, October 8, 1969: Mothers, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands
Monday, October 13, 1969: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Big Finger. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Saturday, October 18, 1969: London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Eclection, and Third Ear Band.
Sunday, October 19, 1969: University College, Gower Street, Bloomsbury, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Circus, and Occasional World Ensemble.
Sunday, October 26, 1969: 'Festival Actuel', Amougies, Mont-de-l'Enclus, Province de Hainaut, Région wallonne, Belgium
Blossom Toes were on the bill in the 'Pop Music' section along with Nice, Caravan, Daevid Allen, Martin Circus, Cruciferius, Blues Convention, Doc Dail, Frogeaters, Indescritible Chaos Rampant, Ame Son, Triangle, and We Free. The great late Frank Zappa was the master of cerimonies of the festival and he also jammed on guitar with every acts, including Blossom Toes, of course (you can heard him on 'Grooving Part.1')! This massive five-day festival was originally intended to be held in St. Cloud, Paris, as the 'First Continental Festival', but the French police refused to grant the event a license, as did the authorities in Pelouses de Reuilly, Vincennes, when the organizers, BYG Actuel (a French subsidiary of BYG Records), tried to relocate it there. They were left with little option but to move it out of France altogether, to the tiny Belgian village of Amougies. Parts of the festival were reportedly broadcast on Europe 1 radio. Two documentary films were also made of the festival, directed by Gérome Laperrousaz, entitled European Music Revolution and Music Power, and these were released on the French cinema circuit in June 1970. Blossom Toes' performance was recorded and two songs taken from the show, 'Peace Loving Man' and 'Grooving (Part. 1-3)', were released by Sunbeam Records on the posthumous double album/CD, 'Love Bomb - Live 1967-69' (2009).
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Monday, October 27, 1969: Star Club, Star Hotel, London Road, Croydon, London Borough of Croydon, Greater London (Blossom Toes cancelled)
Also on the bill: Stray, D.J. Keith Pemberton, plus Light Show.
Melody Maker (October 1969)
Saturday, November 8, 1969: Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, Albertopolis, South Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London
Sunday, November 9, 1969: Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames, London Borough of Kingston, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Brian Auger, and Aardvark.
Friday, November 14, 1969: Newcastle City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Also on the bill: Family, Yes. One show, started at 8pm.
Evening Chronicle (November 7, 1969)
Evening Chronicle (November 11, 1969)
Saturday, November 22, 1969: Mothers, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Renaissance.
Sunday, November 23, 1969: Crowne Plaza Marlow Hotel, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Tuesday, November 25, 1969: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Grail. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Tuesday, December 9, 1969: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Rare Bird. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Thursday, December 11, 1969: Thomas Bennett Community College, Ashdown Drive, Crawley, West Sussex
Saturday, December 13, 1969: Watford Technical College, Hempstead Road, Watford, Hertfordshire
Blossom Toes were on the bill along with Gracious. Lights by Optic Nerve Lights. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm.
December ??, 1969: University of Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol
Blossom Toes rolled their Volkswagen van on the way home from a gig at the University of Bristol and, although nobody was seriously hurt (thank God), that put the band off the road for a while. Their friend Brian Auger was so cut up he gave them £200 (which was a lot of money in those days) to go away for two weeks to think about what they were doing. It was during those two weeks that Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw just decided that they'd had enough, so they left and the band split up. Jim Cregan went off to Italy to live with folksinger Shawn Phillips before returned in London to play with Stud, Family, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and Rod Stewart band. Barry Reeves went off to Germany and joined the James Last Orchestra, with whom he still plays.
Sunday, December 28, 1969: Farx Club, The Northcote Arms, Northcote Avenue off Southall Broadway (Uxbridge Road), Southall, London Borough of Ealing, Greater London
Tuesday, December 30, 1969
Blossom Toes' fifth and last single, 'Listen To Silence / Love Bomb' (Ricordi International SIR -MA 20110), was released only in Italy. The disc was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky with the assistance of singer Reggie King. 'Listen To Silence' was written by Jim Cregan, while 'Love Bomb' was written by Brian Godding.
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January 1970
Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw, along with jazz pianist and composer Keith Tippett (b. Keith Graham Tippets, Monday, August 25, 1947, Bristol) and drummer Barry Jenkins (b. Colin Ernest Jenkins, Friday, December 22, 1944, Leicester, Leicestershire) formerly of Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Animals, and The Nashville Teens, backed up famous singer Julie 'Jools' Driscoll (b. Thursday, June 8, 1947, London) for a few low keys gigs under the name of 'Julie Driscoll & Friends'. Julie Driscoll was a former member of Brian Auger and The Trinity, and The Steam Packet, and also a former The Yardbirds' fan club secretary.
JULIE DRISCOLL & FRIENDS (JANUARY 1970 - MARCH 1970)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belsahw
3) Julie 'Jools' Driscoll vocals, acoustic guitar
4) Barry Jenkins drums
5) Keith Tippett keyboards
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belsahw
3) Julie 'Jools' Driscoll vocals, acoustic guitar
4) Barry Jenkins drums
5) Keith Tippett keyboards
Friday, February 27, 1970: 'Implosion', Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
The most publicised gigs of Julie Driscoll & Friends was a special 'Implosion' show at the Roundhouse, part organised by their old friend Peter Swales. Swales, a mate of Kevin Westlake and a Blossies fan, had worked with the Marmalade Records team but had moved on to work with The Rolling Stones organisation and in the process, managed to blag a load of money from them to set up his three own companies, Sahara Music (publishing), Sahara Records (recording), and Sahara Management, primarily to handle a Leicester-based rock band he managed called Gypsy. The highlight of the Roundhouse gig was a version of Brian Godding’s anthem, 'New Day', on which the band was backed by a huge choir, made up primarily of school kids, that Swales had put together. Also on the bill: Gypsy, The Combined Forces Universal Network with The Paranoid State Choir, Bronco, DJ Jeff Dexter.
Friday, February 27, 1970: 'Implosion', Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
The most publicised gigs of Julie Driscoll & Friends was a special 'Implosion' show at the Roundhouse, part organised by their old friend Peter Swales. Swales, a mate of Kevin Westlake and a Blossies fan, had worked with the Marmalade Records team but had moved on to work with The Rolling Stones organisation and in the process, managed to blag a load of money from them to set up his three own companies, Sahara Music (publishing), Sahara Records (recording), and Sahara Management, primarily to handle a Leicester-based rock band he managed called Gypsy. The highlight of the Roundhouse gig was a version of Brian Godding’s anthem, 'New Day', on which the band was backed by a huge choir, made up primarily of school kids, that Swales had put together. Also on the bill: Gypsy, The Combined Forces Universal Network with The Paranoid State Choir, Bronco, DJ Jeff Dexter.
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Julie Driscoll & Friends, Roundhouse, London, 1970 - from left: Brian Godding, Brian Belshaw, Keith Tippett, Barry Jenkins, and Julie Driscoll
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Roundhouse, February 27, 1970 - from left: Jeff Dexter, Brian Belshaw, and Brian Godding
March 1970: Advision Studios, 23 Gosfield Street, City of Westminster, Greater London
Shortly after the above mentioned gig, and under the auspices of Sahara Records, Brian Godding, Brian Belshaw, Barry Jenkins and Julie Driscoll went into Advision Studios and recut 'New Day' with guest musicians Brian Auger on piano and Mick Taylor on bottleneck guitar, plus a cast of thousands known as The Combines Forces Universal Network with The Paranoid State Choir. Peter Swales was under the impression (which he still believes to be true) that this was the first session of what would have led eventually to a Brian Godding solo album. Brian however is quite fervent that this was not the case and that it (and any subsequent recordings) were band efforts – whoever happened to be in it – and in any case he never, ever wanted to do a solo album.
March 1970: Olympic Studios, 117 Church Road, Barnes, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London
Brian Godding, Brian Belshaw and Kevin Westlake reformed Blossom Toes under the new name of B.B. Blunder. The opportunity to get back together again was courtesy of Peter Swales, who invited them at the Olympic Studios to make an album for his Sahara Records and hence B.B. Blunder were born. The name came along well into the recording when they did some sessions at the Island Records, Notting Hill, central London, where sound engineer Chris Kimsey, after a particularly fruitless session, scribbled on a tape-box: "B.B. (i.e. Brian & Brian) Blunder (i.e. screw-up)". After they had dropped him off at A&E, they thought: "B.B. Blunder? That'll do nicely!" (Apparently he's okay now but has a slight limp!).
B.B. BLUNDER #1 (MARCH 1970 - JUNE 1971)
1) Brian Godding now also on piano and organ
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Kevin Westlake
1) Brian Godding now also on piano and organ
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Kevin Westlake
B.B. Blunder #1
1970
At the same time of B.B. Blunder, Brian Godding and Kevin Westlake played as sessionmen on Andrew Leigh's album, 'Magician' (Polydor 2343-034). Brian played electric guitar only in one song, 'Solitaire', while Kevin sang and played in all the 9 track: 'Magician' (on vocals and drums), 'Get Myself Together' (on drums), 'Goin' Out To The West' (on drums, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar), 'Solitaire' (on bass), ' Windy Baker Street' (on drums), 'Take Me Back' (on drums and electric guitar), 'Leaving Song' (on bass), 'Fresh Brown Eggs' (on acoustic guitar), and 'Up The U.S.A.' (on bass). Kevin was also the author of 'Get Myself Together' and 'Goin' Out To The West'. Curiously, B.B. Blunder's future singer Reg King also played as sessionman in the album, doing vocals and playing piano on the song 'Magician'.
Sunday, November 15, 1970: Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, City of Westminster, Greater London
At the same time of B.B. Blunder, Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw were involved into an "ad-hoc" band called Centipede, a jazz and progressive rock "Canterbury sound" big ensemble with more than 50 members, organized and led by the legendary free jazz piano player Keith Tippett, that brought together much of a generation of young British jazz and rock musicians from bands such as Blossom Toes, Soft Machine, King Crimson, Nucleus, Patto, and Brotherhood Of Breath. The band performed very few gigs, including their tonight debut at the Lyceum Theatre, because they were limited economically by their lineup size.
Centipede's debut gig, Lyceum Theatre, London, November 15, 1970
Saturday, January 30, 1971: Lanchester Polytechnic, Priory Street, Coventry, West Midlands
Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw played here as members of Centipede. Also on the bill: Patto.
Sunday, March 7, 1971: University of Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol
Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw played here as members of Centipede. Also on the bill: Nucleus.
1971
B.B. Blunder played as sessionmen on their future singer Reg King's eponymous debut album, 'Reg King' (United Artists Records UAS 29157), which was released only in the UK. Brian Belshaw, Brian Godding and Kevin Westlake all together backed up Reg King on two songs, 'Little Boy' and '10,000 Miles', that were also released as single that same year, and then only Brian Belshaw also played on 'In My Dreams' and 'Savannah', while Brian Godding also played on 'That Ain't Loving', 'In My Dreams', and 'Gone Away'.
Friday, April 16, 1971
B.B. Blunder's first and only single, 'Sticky Living / Rocky Yagbag' (United Artists UP 35203), was released in the UK. The single was co-produced by B.B. Blunder and George Chkiantz. 'Sticky Living' was written by Brian Godding, while 'Rocky Yagbag' was written by Kevin Westlake. The single was also released in Germany a month later in May 1971 with a picture sleeve, and also in France that same year again with a picture sleeve, but with 'New Day' as B-side instead of 'Rocky Yagbag'.
Liverpool Echo (May 8, 1971)
UK version
German front cover
France front cover
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UK version
German back cover
France back cover
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Friday, May 7, 1971
Reg King & B.B. Blunder's single, 'Little Boy / 10,000 Miles' (United Artists UP 35204), was released in the UK. The single was co-produced by Reg King and B.B. Blunder. Both songs were written by Reg King ('10,000 Miles' co-written with Peter Dale). The single was also released in Italy on Friday, November 5, 1971, with a picture sleeve.
UK version
Italian front cover
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UK version
Italian back cover
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Sunday, May 23, 1971
B.B. Blunder' first and only album, 'Workers' Playtime' (United Artists UAG 29156; Side A: 1. Sticky Living / 2. You're So Young / 3. Lost Horizons / 4. Research / 5. Rocky Yagbag - Side B: 1. Seed / 2. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is / 3. Rise / 4. Moondance / 5. New Day'), was released in the UK. The album was co-produced by B.B. Blunder and George Chkiantz. The album was also released that same year in the US, Germany, Netherlands, and France. The album was re-issued on vinyl format in 1989 in the UK with a different cover and the different title of 'New Day', and on CD format in 2001 (Russia), 2006 (Japan and Germany), and 2009 (UK).
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Record Mirror (May 29, 1971)
June 1971: Wessex Sound Studios, 106 Highbury New Park, Highbury, London Borough of Islington, Greater London
Centipede, with Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw, recorded their debut (and only) double-album over three days during this month, with Robert Fripp of King Crimson as producer. The album, entitled 'Septober Energy' (Neon NE 9), was released in November in the UK, and three years later also in the US (but with a different cover).
UK cover
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US cover
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June 1971
At the same time of B.B. Blunder and Centipede, Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw temporarily joined another prog rock band called Symbiosis, for a short tour this month. The band also featured the late Gary Windo on sax, the legendary Robert Wyatt on drums, Nick Evans on trombone, and the late Mongezi Feza on trumpet (all of them were also members of Centipede).
June 1971
B.B. Blunder added Reginald 'Reg' 'Reggie' King (b. Monday, February 5, 1945, Paddington, West London - d. Friday, October 8, 2010, Belvedere, South East London, of cancer) on vocals, formerly of Mighty Baby, and The Action. It was Brian Godding's idea to added a "real" singer because he'd decided that in order to play the guitar the way he wanted to play it, he didn't want to be bothered with singing, particularly.
B.B. BLUNDER #2 (JUNE 1971 - JULY 3, 1971)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Kevin Westlake
4) Reg King vocals
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Kevin Westlake
4) Reg King vocals
B.B. Blunder #2, Roundhouse, London, June 1971
June 1971: Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Thursday, June 17, 1971: City of Leicester College of Further Education, Leicester, Leicestershire
Also on the bill: Dada, The Dick Powell Band.
Wednesday, June 23, 1971: '2nd Annual Glastonbury Fayre Festival', Worthy Farm, Pilton, Mendip, Somerset
B.B. Blunder were on the bill (playing from 6:15pm to 7:15pm) along with Flash Gordon, Magic Muscle, Sattva, Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, Arthur Brown, and Illusions.
Saturday, July 3, 1971: Hampstead Country Club, 210a Haverstock Hill, opposite Belsize Park Odeon, Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Kevin Westlake's last gig with B.B. Blunder.
Sunday, July 4, 1971
Kevin Westlake left B.B. Blunder (he went to play with Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance, and then again as solo artist) and was replaced by drummer Christopher 'Chris' Hunt, formerly of Thunderclap Newman.
B.B. BLUNDER #3 (JULY 4, 1971 - AUGUST 1971)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Reg King
4) Chris Hunt drums
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Reg King
4) Chris Hunt drums
B.B. Blunder #2 article
Friday, July 9, 1971: Hampstead Country Club, 210a Haverstock Hill, opposite Belsize Park Odeon, Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Supposedly Chris Hunt's debut gig with B.B. Blunder.
Sunday. August 1, 1971: Hampstead Country Club, 210a Haverstock Hill, opposite Belsize Park Odeon, Hampstead, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Blossom Toes #2 reunion gig. Also on the bill: Crocodile.
BLOSSOM TOES #4 (aka #2) (AUGUST 1, 1971)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan
4) Poli Palmer
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Jim Cregan
4) Poli Palmer
August 1971
B.B. Blunder added Nicholas 'Nick' Judd (b. Wednesday, Janury 18, 1950, St Ives, Cornwall) on keyboards, and Alan 'Bam' King (b. Monday, September 18, 1944, 154 Grafton Road, Kentish Town, North West London) on guitar, formerly of Ace, Mighty Baby, and The Action.
B.B. BLUNDER #4 (AUGUST 1971 - JANUARY 31, 1972)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Reg King
4) Chris Hunt
5) Nick Judd organ
6) Alan 'Bam' King guitar
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Reg King
4) Chris Hunt
5) Nick Judd organ
6) Alan 'Bam' King guitar
Friday, August 20, 1971: 'Implosion', Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road, London Borough of Camden, Greater London
Also on the bill: Brinsley Schwartz, Cochie, Roger Ruskin-Spear, Colin Scot, DJ Jeff Dexter.
Friday, August 27, 1971: Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
Also on the bill: Man. One show, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm.
Friday, September 17, 1971: ‘Sounds of The 70s,’ BBC Radio One, Studio T1, BBC Studios, Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London (broadcast date)
B.B. Blunder and Edgar Broughton Band appeared on the Sounds of the 70s, a radio programme hosted by Steve Bradshaw and aired every Friday from 10pm to 12 midnight.
Thursday, October 14, 1971: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London
Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw played here as members of Centipede. Also on the bill: Gnidrolog.
Saturday, October 16, 1971: Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Brackner Forest, Berkshire
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Groundhogs, Gypsy, and Mick Greenwood.
Tuesday, November 16, 1971: 1832 Club, William Street, Windsor, Berkshire
Saturday, November 20, 1971: The Temple, 33-37 Wardour Street, Soho, City of Westminster, Greater London
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Shiva, and Barabbas. The gig, an "all-nighter" from 9:00pm to 6:00am, was advertised as B.B. Blunder's 'London debut'.
Sunday, November 21, 1971: Torrington, Woodside Park Tube, 811 High Road, North Finchley, London Borough of Barnet, Greater London
Thursday, November 25, 1971: The Scotch Discotheque, 13 Victoria Road (Top of Market Street), Torquay, Devon
‘The incredible B.B. BLUNDER Live from London,’ as they were advertised, played from 8pm to 1am.
Herald Express (November 24, 1971)
Saturday, November 27, 1971: Friars, Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
The band was billed as 'B.B. Blunder Ex. Blossom Toes.' on the poster. Also on the bill: Barclay James Harvest. Lights by Canyon Sounds. One show, started at 7:30pm.
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Sunday, December 19, 1971: Rainbow Theatre, 232-238 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney, Greater London
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Centipede, Patto, and Zoot Money. Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw played with both B.B. Blunder and Centipede tonight. This was supposedly Centipede's last gig before split up due to impossibility to keep this huge lineup together.
December ??, 1971: 'Sounds of The 70s', BBC Radio One, Studio T1, BBC Studios, Kensington House, Shepherds Bush, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London
The show was broadcasted on Monday, December 27, from 10:00pm to midnight.
Friday, January 7, 1972: Redbridge Technical College, Little Heath, Barley Lane, Romford, London Borough of Havering, Greater London
Saturday, January 8, 1972: Farnborough College of Technology, Boundary Road, Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come.
Friday, January 14, 1972: Sirius, Alan Pullinger Youth Club, High Street, Southgate, London Borough of Enfield, Greater London
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Unicorn.
Wednesday, January 19, 1972: Big Brother Club, Oldfield Tavern, 1089 Greenford Road near Greenford Tube, Greenford, London Borough of Ealing, Greater London
Wednesday, January 26, 1972: Friars, Town Hall, Hempstead Road, Watford, Hertfordshire
Also on the bill: Family.
Saturday, January 29, 1972: Slough Community College, Dukes House, 8-10 Wellington Stree, Slough, Berkishire
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Gypsy.
Monday, January 31, 1972
Nick Judd and Reg King left B.B. Blunder. Apparently King was actually fired because as soon as they went out on the road, he started disappearing from gigs (and from then he went directly into the local nut house!).
B.B. BLUNDER #5 (FEBRUARY 1, 1972 - MAY 27, 1972)
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Chris Hunt
4) Alan King
1) Brian Godding
2) Brian Belshaw
3) Chris Hunt
4) Alan King
Thursday, February 24, 1972: Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Genesis.
Friday, March 3, 1972: Shoreditch College of Education, Cooper's Hill, Englefield Green, Runnymede, Surrey
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Gypsy.
Sunday, March 5, 1972: The Horn Hotel, High Street, Braintree, Essex
Saturday, May 27, 1972: London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, City of Westminster, Greater London
B.B. Blunder were on the bill along with Man. Supposedly B.B. Blunder's last gig before splitting up apparently because Sahara Music ran out of money. Chris Hunt went to play with Leo Sayer Band, Brian Belshaw went to play with Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance, while Brian Godding went to play with Mike Westbrook's Solid Gold Cadillac (the association with Westbrook would last through the 70s, 80s, and into the 90s, and spanned a vast amount of music and lineups through from quartets to orchestral ventures), and then he will play with Julie Driscoll, Magma, The Dick Morrisey Band, Bob Downes band, Paz, Zagunga, Gary Glitter band, Motive Force, Mirage, GLS (Godding, Lamb & Sheen), Kevin Coyne band, Eric Burdon band, The Dance Band, Other Routers, Full Monte, and last but not least, he also released several solo albums.
