Hey Rock N' Roll The Very Best Of Showaddywaddy

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Al James (born Geoffrey Betts, 13 January 1946, Leicester – 16 November 2018) [7] — bass / vocals (1973–2008) The band was formed in 1973 by the amalgamation of two groups, Choise and the Golden Hammers, the latter often known simply as The Hammers. They both played at the Fosse Way pub in Leicester, and soon discovered shared musical tastes. After playing together in jamming sessions, they joined together permanently, and Showaddywaddy were born. This led to an eight-member band, with the unusual feature of having two vocalists, two drummers, two guitarists, and two bassists. The band's first professional gig was at the Dreamland Ballroom in Margate, Kent, on 1 September 1973. [ citation needed] Hits [ edit ] Singles sent to radio stations for airplay were the same as standard releases other than a large A for easy identification for the DJ, and also marked with 'Demo Record Not For Sale'. This one has also has the release date written on it, presumably by whichever radio station had it at the time. BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – Under The Moon Of Love". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021.

Showaddywaddy won one programme on the ATV series New Faces, in November 1973, and were runners-up in the "All Winners Final", which was broadcast on 28 December 1973. They have made nearly 300 television appearances, including their own BBC TV special, Showaddywaddyshow, broadcast between Christmas and New Year in 1980. The band also appeared in the 1975 film Three for All, where they performed "The Party" from their 1974 debut album. [ citation needed] BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – The Very Best Of". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021. Due to Showaddywaddy's immense popularity in the 1977/1978 period, a number of early singles were re-pressed due to high demand. As Bell Records had by now been subsumed into Arista Records, these were pressed on the Arista label whilst retaining their original catalogue number. He could be obdurate, opinionated, belligerent and sheer bloody minded at times but underneath he had a heart of absolute solid gold. Later we became not only band mates but also neighbours when we bought adjacent smallholdings in the Leicestershire countryside. BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – Dancin' Party". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021.

Statistics

BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – Step Two". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021.

Showaddywaddy have continued to tour, and still do around 100 dates a year in the UK and Europe. The band currently consists of one remaining original member, Romeo Challenger, along with vocalist Andy Pelos, bass player Tom Bull, guitarist and drummer Sam Holland, vocalist and guitarist Billy Shannon, and saxophonist/guitarist David Graham who rejoined the band in 2020 (having previously toured with the band 2009 to 2011). Showaddywaddy never gave up. Turning their attention to the cabaret and nostalgia circuits, the group continued gigging heavily, with the 2001 lineup including five members of the original octet. Of the remainder, Allured and Gask (plus a later bandmember, Ray Martinez) perform as the Teddys. The Sun Album appeared in 2008. ~ Dave Thompson HOMETOWN Leicester, England Showaddywaddy's singles in the early years were not released in picture sleeves, but a few were available with a simple information sheet instead. His first band was called Billy & The Fenders, and it was as a teenager that he first met up with Malcolm Allured and then with him formed the Golden Hammers along with another local musician Rod Greaves. Their repertoire as a covers band included "Heartbeat", "I'll Never Get Over You", "Under The Boardwalk" & "Say Mama". In the latter half of the '60s the band spent a lot of time gigging in Germany. They also briefly experimented with a female singer in the line up.

BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – Showaddywaddy". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021. BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – When". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrateded.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p.273. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – A Little Bit Of Soap". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021. When the idea of Showaddywaddy was first mooted it was Bill and Malc together with the then drummer with Choise, Richard Hough, who were the most enthusiastic supporters of the idea against the strident ridicule and opposition from some other members of the combined ensemble who variously described it as a ‘joke’ and a ‘circus’! In 1973 when the band entered (and won) the ‘Top Town Talent Contest’ it was Bill and Malc who provided the wherewithal to acquire our first stage suits and additionally when we went full time on the road in September ‘73 they offered their own personal cars as transport for the band.

BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – Greatest Hits 1976–1978". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021.

Footnote:

BRIT Certified Award – Showaddywaddy – Three Steps To Heaven". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 May 2021. The composers, as with all of the band's original material, was officially credited to Allured / Bartram / Challenger / Deas / Field / Gask / James / Oakes. However the song was originally written by Trevor Oakes and Dave Bartram