December 1968

SINGLES

APPLE-Doctor Rock/ The Otherside (Page One)
THE BARRIER-Uh/ Spot The Lights (Philips)
ERIC BURDON/ANIMALS-Love Is (MGM)
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP-Short Change/ Picture Of Heaven (UA)
DEEP PURPLE-Kentucky Woman/ Wring That Neck (Parlophone, Withdrawn)
GRAPEFRUIT-Someday Soon/ Theme For Twiggy (Stateside)
GROUNDHOGS-Still A Fool/ You Don’t Love Me (Liberty)
KIPPINGTON LODGE-Tomorrow Today/ Turn Out The Light (Parlophone)
THE KLUBS- I Found The Sun/ Ever Needed Someone (CAM)
THE LIONS-Twisted Nerve/ My Friend The Blackbird (Polydor)
THE MIRAGE-World Goes On Around You/ Carolyn (Page One)
PINK FLOYD-Point Me At The Sky/ Careful With That Axe, Eugene (Columbia)
THE POETS-Alone Am I/ Locked In A Room (Pye)
PROCESSION-One Day In Every Week/ Wigwam City (Mercury)
RHUBARB RHUBARB- Rainmaker/ Moneylender (President)
RINGS AND THINGS-Strange Things Are Happening/ To Me: To Me: To Me (Fontana)
SIMON’S SECRETS-I Know What Her Name Is/ Keeping My Head Above Water (CBS)
SPICE-What About The Music/ In Love (UA)
SUNDRAGON-Five White Horses/ Look At The Sun (MGM)
TRAFFIC-Medicated Goo/ Shanghai Noodle Factory (Island)

ALBUMS

BONZO DOG BAND-The Doughnut In Granny’s Greenhouse (Liberty) #40
MARMALADE-There’s A Lot Of It About (CBS)
THE NICE-Ars Longa Vita Brevis (Immediate)
PRETTY THINGS-S.F Sorrow (Columbia)
SOFT MACHINE--Soft Machine Vol 1 (Probe US Only)
SUNDRAGON- Green Tambourine (MGM)
THE TROGGS-Mixed Bag (Page One)

HAPPENING!

The Rolling Stones "Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus" TV show is taped in London (10th-11th). There are cameo appearances by John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, Yoko Ono, The Who, Jethro Tull and Marianne Faithful etc. Meanwhile, "Beggars Banquet" is finally released with a new sleeve design.
Graham Nash quits The Hollies to form Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Eric Burdon disbands The New Animals after a farewell gig at Newcastle City Hall (22nd).
Steve Winwood quits Traffic with the intention of beginning a solo career.
Guitarist Mick Abrahams quits Jethro Tull. Tony Iommi (of Birmingham group Earth, later known as Black Sabbath) appears with the group at the taping of "Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus", miming to a previously recorded track. Davy O’List also temporarily fills the gap.
Kevin Ayers quits The Soft Machine following the recording of their debut album (which is only released in the U.S). The group, which is now down to a duo, breaks up. Mike Ratledge returns to the UK but Robert Wyatt completes some solo recordings in the US, including a session with Jimi Hendrix. A tremendous version of his classic "Moon In June", recorded at this time, is rescued from the only (barely surviving) acetate and appears on the Soft Machine CD "Backwards" 33 years later.
The Action split up. Formed in August 1963, The Action had been a popular Mod/R&B band, although they never managed a hit. In recent months the group had begun to move in a more psychedelic direction, especially when joined by pianist/flautist Ian Whiteman and guitarist Martin Stone. Vocalist Reg King left to go solo shortly after the group cut a batch of demos that were finally released in the 90s. The group evolved into the progressively stoned outfit Mighty Baby.
Skip Bifferty split up. Several group members form Arc in 1970. "We can’t carry on", says vocalist Graham Bell. He attempts a solo career before joining Every Which Way.
Steve Howe’s Canto group changes its name to Bodast after bringing in vocalist Clive Maldoon (AKA Skinner), although they are still advertised as ‘Canto’ for their appearance at the Roundhouse (27th)
World Of Oz hit #1 in Holland with their “Muffin Man” single.
BBC1 TV “Crackerjack”-Tremeloes (6th), Marmalade (27th)
BBC2 TV "Colour Me Pop"--Timebox (7th), Love Sculpture (14th), Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (21st).
BBC "Happening For Lulu" (28th)-includes appearances by Maurice Gibb, Cartoone ("A Penny For The Sun" and "Toby Jug") and The Tremeloes
BBC TV "How It Is"-Fairport Convention (13th)
BBC2 TV “Julie Felix Show”-The Hollies (14th)
Southern ITV "Time For Blackburn"-The Kinks, Casuals, Timebox, Grapefruit (21st), The Move, Fortunes (28th)
Granada ITV “Discotheque”-Idle Race (27th)
Thames ITV "Do Not Adjust Your Stocking"- Bonzo Dog Band (25th)
Thames ITV “Magpie”-Yes (31st)
French TV "Surprise Partie"-The Who, The Troggs, Small Faces, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac etc (30th)
German TV "Beat Club"-Joe Cocker, Manfred Mann, Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, Bonzo Dog Band, Bee Gees, Marmalade (31st)
Spanish TV “Telerittmo”-Kinks (3rd), Status Quo (10th)
BBC SESSIONS-Blossom Toes (9th, Radio 1 Club), Bonzo Dog Band (21st, Saturday Club), Alan Bown (30th-3rd Jan, David Symonds), The Bunch (2nd-6th, David Symonds), Bystanders (2nd-6th, Jimmy Young-14th, Pete’s People), Cupid’s Inspiration (2nd-6th, David Symonds-23rd-27th, Jimmy Young), Cymbaline (2nd-6th, Dave Cash), Eclection (8th, Top Gear), Episode Six (7th, Pete’s People-23rd-27th, Jimmy Young-29th, Stuart Henry-31st, Radio 1 Club), Fairport Convention (8th, Stuart Henry-15th, Night Ride-22nd, Top Gear), Family (3rd, Radio 1 Club-16th-20th, David Symonds-30th-3rd Jan, David Symonds), Free (17th, WS R&B), Grapefruit (9th-13th, Jimmy Young), The Gun (2nd-6th, David Symonds), Happy Magazine (16th-20th, David Symonds), The Herd (28th, Saturday Club), Honeybus (29th, Top Gear), Idle Race (2nd-6th, David Symonds), Bert Jansch (18th, Night Ride), Jethro Tull (15th, Top Gear), Jigsaw (9th-13th, David Symonds--23rd-27th, David Symonds), Katch 22 (2nd-6th, Jimmy Young), Kinks (23rd-27th, David Symonds-30th-3rd Jan, Dave Cash), Locomotive (9th-13th, David Symonds), Manfred Mann (2nd-6th, Dave Cash-22nd, Top Gear-23rd-27th, Dave Cash), Marmalade (15th, Pete’s People-16th-20th, Dave Cash-26th, Tony Brandon), John Martyn (11th, Night Ride), Mike Stuart Span (9th-13th, Dave Cash--30th-3rd Jan, Dave Cash), The Mirage (23rd-27th, Dave Cash), Moody Blues (16th-20th, Jimmy Young), The Move (9th-13th, David Symonds-25th, Engelbert Humperdinck Show), Mud (9th-13th, Dave Cash), The Nerve (2nd-6th, Dave Cash), The Nice (1st, Top Gear), The Onyx (16th-20th, David Symonds), Orange Bicycle (2nd-6th, Jimmy Young--9th-13th, Dave Cash--30th-3rd Jan, Dave Cash), Pink Floyd (15th, Top Gear-20th, Radio 1 Club), Plastic Penny (23rd-27th, David Symonds--28th, Saturday Club), Sallyangie (4th, Night Ride), Searchers (30th-3rd Jan, Dave Cash), Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (2nd-6th, Jimmy Young-23rd-27th, David Symonds), The Spectrum (16th-20th, Jimmy Young), Spooky Tooth (4th, Radio 1 Club), Status Quo (9th-13th, Jimmy Young--16th-20th, Dave Cash), Symbols (30th-3rd Jan, Dave Cash), Tangerine Peel (2nd-6th, Dave Cash), Ten Years After (23rd, David Symonds), Timebox (2nd-6th, Jimmy Young-8th, Pete’s People--9th-13th, Dave Cash--30th-3rd Jan, Dave Cash), Tremeloes (16th-20th, David Symonds-21st, Saturday Club-23rd-27th, Dave Cash-25th, Tony Brandon’s Pop Party--29th, Pete's Sunday People), Van Der Graaf Generator (29th, Top Gear), Writing On The Wall (8th, Top Gear)

WATCHING!

The New Year’s Eve Rave at Alexandra Palace stars The Small Faces, Amen Corner, Bonzo Dog Band, Joe Cocker, The Gods, Kippington Lodge, The Iveys and Gun. Dutch TV films the entire event. Go HERE to see some pictures from the souvenir programme.
Marquee-House Of Lords (1st, 22nd), Free (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd), Family (3rd), Village (3rd, 20th, 31st), Joe Cocker (5th, 19th), Love Sculpture (6th), Dream Police (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th), Delivery (9th, 21st), Led Zeppelin (10th), Spice (12th), East Of Eden (12th, 26th), Andromeda (14th), The Who (17th), Yes (17th), Clouds (19th), Pegasus (23rd), Ten Years After (26th), Just William (28th)
Middle Earth-Gun, Barclay James Harvest, Arcadium (7th), Uriel, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, Third Ear Band, Uriel (14th), Jeff Beck Group, Blonde On Blonde (21st), Eire Apparent, Canto, Edgar Broughton Band (27th), John Mayall, Arcadium, Writing On The Wall, Uriel (28th) *”Super Star Jam Sessions” are advertised for the nights of the 27th/28th in addition to the groups named above. Artists participating in these promised jams included The Soft Machine, Noel Redding, Steve Howe, Mitch Mitchell, Roy Wood, Carl Wayne and Zoot Money.
Lyceum-New Formula (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th)
Speakeasy-Yes (13th, 24th, 31st)
Blaises-Yes (8th, 26th)
Hatchett’s Playground-The Toast (1st, 18th)
100 Club-Fairport Convention, Greatest Show On Earth (12th), Timebox (13th)
Revolution-Yes (13th, 16th)
Whisky A’Go-Go-Tract (12th), South Sea Bubble (14th), The Toast (15th), Rainbow Ffolly (24th), Riot Squad (25th), Spring (28th), Octopus (29th)
Klook’s Kleek-Ferris Wheel (5th), Roy Harper (10th), The Web (12th), Van Der Graaf Generator (14th), Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity (17th), Riot Squad (26th)
Royal Albert Hall-“A Christmas Carol Party” with everyone in Dickensian dress and featuring Family, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (19th)
Abergavenny Old Tyne Barn-Gun (19th), Cupid's Inspiration (31st)
Acton Town Hall-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, Free (13th)
Pavilion, Bath-The Who (9th), Jeff Beck Group, Led Zeppelin (16th)
Belfast, Ulster Hall- Pentangle (3rd)
Bexley, Black Prince-Timebox (15th)
Birmingham Arts Lab-Gun (13th)
Birmingham, Castaways-Spooky Tooth (1st)
Birmingham, Factory Club-Alan Bown (6th), Gun (14th)
Mothers. Birmingham-Eire Apparent, Caravan (6th), Eclection, Ron Geesin (14th), The Nice (15th), Gun (20th), Edgar Broughton Band, Third Ear Band (21st), Ten Years After (22nd), Family (24th), Colosseum (27th), Free (28th), Jethro Tull (31st)
Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford-The Iveys (14th), The Toast (16th), Episode Six (31st)
Borehamwood, New Links ’69-Marmalade (14th)
Gliderdome, Boston- Amen Corner (7th), Alan Bown (14th), Status Quo (21st), The Nice (28th)
Bournemouth College- Pink Floyd (5th)
Ritz, Bournemouth-The Sweet (7th), The Nice (17th)
Bubbuls Club, Brentwood-The Who (14th)
Key Club, Bridgend-The Nice (14th)
Bridgend YMCA-Love Sculpture (31st)
Bridgwater Sydenham Club-Orange Bicycle (20th)
Brighton Dome- Pentangle (6th)
Top Rank, Brighton-The Nice, Orange Bicycle (27th)
Bristol Corn Exchange-Orange Bicycle (28th)
Bristol University-The Who (7th)
Bridge Country Club, Nr Canterbury-The Couriers (6th, 20th), Led Zeppelin (13th, billed as The Yardbirds), Spencer Davis (27th)
Caldicot, Severn View Club-Orange Bicycle (18th)
Canterbury, Elliott College- Gun (7th)
Chelsea, Pheasantry Club-The Toast (17th)
Cheltenham Spa Lounge-The Toast (14th)
Chingford Wellington Avenue Youth Centre-The Sweet (20th)
Canley College, Coventry-Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, Glass Menagerie, Kaleidoscope (7th)
Cromer Royal Links Pavilion-The Sweet (24th)
Devizes Poperama-Alan Bown (27th)
Dundee College Of Art-Pink Floyd, Gethsemane (12th)
Dunfermline Kinema- Casuals (1st), The Stoics (21st), Marmalade (29th)
Dunstable, California Ballroom-Locomotive (7th), Cupid’s Inspiration (14th), The Herd (28th)
Edmonton, Cooks Ferry Inn-Spooky Tooth (2nd), Taste (16th)
Elsmere, Elsmere Hall-Greatest Show On Earth (3rd)
City Hall, Exeter-Led Zeppelin (19th)
Glasgow Maryland-Marmalade, Dream Police, Beatstalkers (28th)
Hampstead Country Club-Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (1st), Ron Geesin & Friends (4th), Gun (8th), Eclection (15th)
Hanley, The Place-Joe Cocker (15th), Locomotive (22nd), Alan Bown (26th), Montanas (31st)
Harlow Birdcage Club-The Sweet (19th)
Dacorum College, Hemel Hempstead-Fairport Convention (10th)
Hinckley, George Ballroom-Grapefruit (28th)
Hornsey Wood Tavern, London-Ten Years After (13th), Family, Village (20th), Jeff Beck (27th)
Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Huntingdon-The Who (21st)
Ipswich, Manor Ballroom-The Nice (1st)
Kidderminster, Frank Freeman’s-Gun (15th)
Leeds College Of Art-Barclay James Harvest (16th)
Leicester De Montfort Hall- Pentangle (5th)
Leyton Town Baths-Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (14th)
Red Lion, Leytonstone-The Nice (5th), Freedom (26th)
Little Baddow Village Hall-The Sweet (18th)
Liverpool Stadium- Pink Floyd, The Move, The Klubs (7th, "Kaleidoscope '68)
Kings College, London-The Nice (10)
London, Notre Dame Hall-Open Mind (6th, 13th)
London Polytechnic-Family, Village (7th)
London University College-Terry Reid, Love Sculpture (7th)
Manchester New Century Hall-Gun (21st)
Margate, Dreamland-Alan Bown (31st)
Morecombe Pier- Marmalade (26th, 27th)
Nailsworth Town Hall-Orange Bicycle (9th)
City Hall, Newcastle-Pentangle (1st), Pink Floyd (15th), The Nice (19th)
Gala Ballroom, Norwich-Status Quo (31st)
Norwich Industrial Club-The Sweet (31st)
Nottingham College-Kaleidoscope, Steamhammer (7th), The Nice (13th)
Nottingham Union Rowing Club- Hopscotch (7th), Gary Walker & The Rain (14th)
Ombersley Wharf Hotel-Greatest Show On Earth (1st)
Winter Gardens, Penzance-Jethro Tull (30th)
Pinner, Clay Pigeon-Marmalade (8th)
Plymouth Top Rank-Orange Bicycle (8th)
Plymouth Van Dikes-Man (20th), Village (26th), Third Ear Band, Clouds (27th), Keef Hartley (28th), Juniors Eyes, Spirit Of John Morgan (31st)
Pontypridd Municipal Hall-Status Quo (13th)
Portsmouth, Kimbell's Blues Club- Family (22nd)
Reading University-The Who (12th)
Redcar Coatham Hotel-Alan Bown (29th)
Rhondda, Maerdy Workman’s Club-Orange Bicycle (22nd)
Rhondda, Tynewydd Club-Orange Bicycle (15th)
Salisbury Alex Disco- Blossom Toes (7th), Black Cat Bones (21st), Riot Squad (28th)
Scarborough Scene 2-Status Quo (27th-28th)
Scunthorpe Baths Hall-Cupid's Inspiration (24th)
Southampton University-Barclay James Harvest (6th), Van Der Graaf Generator, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (12th)
Southport, Cambridge Hall-Cupid's Inspiration (20th)
St Andrews University-Pink Floyd (11th)
Annabelle’s Club, Sunderland-Status Quo (16th-17th)
Taunton, Club Camelot-Orange Bicycle (5th-7th)
Tavistock Town Hall- Episode Six (14th)
Tonypandy N.U.M Club-Orange Bicycle (14th)
Tottenham, Sisters Club-Taste (6th), Ten Years After (13th)
Treorchy, Polikoff’s Club-Orange Bicycle (21st)
Uxbridge, Brunel University-Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (13th)
Uxbridge, Burton’s-The Spectrum (14th), Amboy Dukes (24th)
Walthamstow Assembly Hall-Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Pretty Things (12th)
Weston Super Mare, RAF Locking-Orange Bicycle (13th)
Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare-Status Quo (14th), Alan Bown (28th)
Weybridge Brooklands Tech College-Barclay James Harvest (13th)
The Black Bull, Whetstone-Taste (2nd), Van Der Graaf Generator (16th)
Wolverhampton Lafayette-Montanas (1st)
Wolverhampton Park Hall Hotel-Greatest Show On Earth (2nd)
Fishmongers Arms, Woodgreen-Arcadium (4th), Pete Brown/ Battered Ornaments, Yes (6th), The Action, Sundae Times (13th), Freedom (18th), Led Zeppelin, Closed Cell Sponge (20th), Clark-Hutchinson, Sensory Armada (27th)
Pavilion, Worthing-The Who (19th)
Yeovilton, R.N.A.F-Orange Bicycle (19th)
York Langworth College-Gun (12th)
York University-The Nice (12th)

REVIEWS

Marmalade

There's a Lot Of It About (LP): Hardly a progressive group but they turn out satisfying records, both vocally and musically.

The Nice

Ars Longa Vita Brevis (LP): A vast improvement on their first album which shows them moving in a direction far removed from any other group, British or American.

Pink Floyd

Point Me At The Sky: Point this at the chart and let it fly! Cynics who maintain that the Floyd are a spent force should prepare to masticate their syllables. They have successfully isolated a strain of pop production that is both infectious and imaginative. The riffs are old but the sounds and thoughts are new. After several plays the lyrics are still a little obscure, working on the assumption they mean more than the introduction which simply talks about building a flying machine and taking off. " 'Idden depth", that's what I suspect is behind this Floydian hit.

Rhubarb Rhubarb

Rainmaker: I was hoping these would prove to be an original comic group, full of cries of "rhubarb" but instead they are a dull "four-piece group from Berkshire". Come on lads, you can do better then this.

Sundragon

Green Tambourine (LP): A nice album by a new duo who play several instruments as well as producing a neat, integrated vocal sound.

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