I saw this show around a month ago at Whitley Bay Playhouse. However, I was tempted to go along again for one reason: to see one of my all-time heroes Steve Ellis, formerly of the Love Affair, who had been added to the lineup this time. The rest of the bands are also fun anyway so all good! No programme to buy this time as I already had one from the previous show.
I have written about each of the bands previously so I am going to cheat a little and use some song lyrics to illustrate each act. This seems quite appropriate any way :-).
First up were The Fortunes who sang several of their hits including my favourite: “Here It Comes Again”
“When I see that girl go walking by, I know a boy shouldn’t cry
Here it comes again, that feeling, Here it comes again
When I see her look into his eyes, No matter how I try
Here it comes again, that feeling, Here it comes again
I find I’m cry-y-y-y-in’ over you, I know it’s not the thing to do-o-o-o” (Barry Mason, Les Reed, 1965)
Next in line were Vanity Fare who had some great songs in the late 60s and early 70s including: “Hitchin’ a Ride”:
“A thumb goes up, a car goes by, It’s nearly 1 AM and here am I
Hitchin’ a ride, hitchin’ a ride, Gotta get me home by the mornin’ light
I’ve got no fare to ride a train, I’m nearly drownin’ in the pourin’ rain
Hitchin’ a ride, hitchin’ a ride, Gotta get me home to my baby’s side
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin’ a ride, Ride, ride, ride, hitchin’ a ride” (Jonas Jeberg, Petter Anders Lindgard, Petter Holmberg, 1969)
Closing the first set was my main reason for going. I have told this story before but here it is again! When I was around 12 or 13 years old, I had several heroes. These included of course the Beatles and the Stones. However, on a Saturday morning I would attend a kids disco at Sunderland Top Rank Suite (The Rink). I would try and dress like a young mod and I modelled myself on Barry Ryan, Steve Marriott and the man who I went to see: the one and only main mod man Steve Ellis, the original lead vocalist and founder of Love Affair who had five Top 20 singles including: “Rainbow Valley”, “Bringing On Back The Good Times”, “A Day Without Love” and their classic No.1 “Everlasting Love”. Steve still looks and sounds great. Very much the Cockney swagger growing old disgracefully mod. He performed all of the aforementioned songs, and also included a great cover of Small Faces’ “All or Nothing” in tribute to “the boys” and the other Steve (Marriott).
I have seen Steve many times over the years including as lead singer of his own band Ellis, at Newcastle City Hall supporting the Groundhogs, and fronting Widowmaker at Newcastle Mayfair and opening for The Who at Charlton football ground in 1976. Steve made reference to the Top Rank and playing there over 50 years ago which, he told us, was the last time he played in Sunderland. Actually, I remember that particular concert although I was sadly a little too young to attend. My friends older sister went along and told us all how great it was. It must have been sometime around 1968. I would have been 11 years old at the time. The girl in question went to a string of concerts, I think they were on a Thursday night, and from my great memories I seem to recall that she saw Small Faces, Amen Corner and Love Affair all around the same time. I was so jealous when she told me how great each band was on our way to school on the morning. Anyway, Steve is still out there, knocking out the hits and is still THE MAN.
Opening the 2nd half were the swinging blue jeans whose biggest hit was: “Hippy Hippy Shake”
“For goodness sake, I got the hippy hippy shakes
Yeah, I’ve got the shakes, I got the hippy hippy shakes
Ooh, I can’t sit still, With the hippy hippy shakes
Yeah, I get my fill now, With the hippy hippy shakes
Yeah, it’s in the back, Ooh, the hippy hippy shake” (Chan Romero, 1963)
Finally, the show was closed by headliners Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (Beaky is the only original member). From their tremendous repertoire I choose the very strange song: “Zabadak”. What does it mean? Nothing. It was a song made up of nonsensical words!
“Zabadak, Zabadak, Karakakora kakarakak
Zabadak, Shai shai skagalak
Zabadak, Zabadak, , Karakakora kakarakak, Zabadak
Shai shai skagalak“ (Howard Blaikley, 1967)
A great evening spent with some wonderful memories. Many thanks to Jan, Elaine and Chris for the photographs and assisting me in creating this blog entry.
Yes, I know it isn’t really rock, but it is still fun! A few years ago, I vowed never to attend a 60s revival tour again. I found them cringy; and full of really old people dancing in a very embarrassing way! Roll on some years and I have gone back on my decision. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I realise that I love 60s music and it was the soundtrack to my childhood and early youth. Secondly, I have lost any concerns of going to see bands with very few, or no, original members. I now take the view that I will enjoy the songs, even the lineup is not 100% authentic. Finally, I am now myself a really old person and I fit in with the crowd! So let the fun begin. This was the 
Darlington Hippodrome is a lovely old theatre which I have visited several times over the years, including taking my daughter to see the Chuckle Brothers in pantomime. Good fun! This time I was going to witness a collection of bands from the 1960s. There were 7 acts in the concert so it was jampacked and very tightly timed.
First up was the 
The 2nd group was 
Next up was someone who is 100% authentic, 82 years old and still in great voice. 
Closing the first set was my main reason for going. Now when I was around 12 or 13 years old, I had several heroes. These included of course the Beatles and the Stones. However, on a Saturday morning I would attend a kids disco at Sunderland Top Rank Suite (The Rink). I would try and dress like a young mod and I modelled myself on Barry Ryan, Steve Marriott and the man who I was about to see: the one and only main mod man 
Opening the second half of the show was 
Next, we were treated to a performance of Searchers hits performed by current member 
Closing the show was the consummate professional 
I’m not a big fan of 60s shows. They tend to be a bit too cabaret for me, but this line up was so strong I just couldn’t miss it. This time the 60s Gold tour featured two of my favourite artists: Steve Ellis and P J Proby. I’ve blogged about P J before and have the greatest respect for the man; his voice is astounding and he is one of the best performers I have ever seen. But tonight I was particularly looking forward to seeing Steve Ellis who I haven’t see since the 70s when he fronted Widowmaker, along with Ariel Bender. To me Steve is still the cheeky young cocky cockney mod who exploded on my TV screen on Top of the Pops and blew me away with his performance of Everlasting Love in Love Affair all those years ago.
After the interval it was P J Proby’s turn to take the stage. P J always puts on a strong show, and tonight was no exception. He was backed by the Pacemakers, along with a sax player. Setlist: Price of love; My love; Hold me; Three steps to heaven; If I can dream; The night has a thousand eyes; Somewhere. Ally Pally then returned with more facts from 1963. Did you know that Dr Who first appeared on our TV screens during that year? Or that a new Ford Cortina would cost you £670? As I said earlier, I’d come along largely to see Steve and P J, but was pleasantly surprised by Gerry Marsden. I’ve seem him once before on a 60s show, around 20 years ago, and also enjoyed him on that occasion. He really is a total pro, and his old hits still sound good. Setlist: How do you do; I’m the one; The way you look tonight; It’s gonna be alright; The rose (the Bette Midler song); Midnight hour (sung by the bass player); I like it; Don’t let the sun catch you crying (just beautiful; a classic and one of my all time favourite songs); Shot of Rhythm and blues; Ferry cross the mersey; You’ll never walk alone (lots of crowd singing along, and arm swaying). All in all this was a good evening with some top class performers, who still know how to entertain. And Steve the mod is still a cool guy. On my way out I bought a great psych/mod repro poster from a 60s Love Affair gig, and signed by Steve for £7. Bargain!
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