1966/70
© Herbie’s People
In March 1966, Herbies People's
second disc was issued on the CBS
label, entitled "One Little Smile",
with "You Never Know" on the flip
side. The record failed to make the
charts.
Their next studio session saw them
recording a new Geoff Stevens song:
"Semi-Deatched Suburban Mr
Jones".
(see Discography for more details.)
1966 and 1967 saw Herbies People
make several TV appearances,
notably on "Five o' Clock Club" and
"ATV Today" as well as BBC Radio's
"Saturday Club" with Brian
Matthew, on which show they gave
some sparkling "live" performances.
"Humming Bird", written by Bill
Bates, was released in February
1967. It featured a full vocal
harmony arrangement from the
band, but the instrumentation was
over-produced. The flip side was,
however, a very pleasing and
unusual "Residential Area", which
was chosen for use in the soundtrak
of the film "Poor Cow".
More records followed, and more
disappointments . . . The band were
told that John Carter and Ken Lewis
of The Ivy League had written a
song with Herbies People in mind,
called "Let's Go to San Francisco".
However, John and Ken liked the
song so much, it is said, that they
decided to record it themselves
using the psuedonym The Flowerpot
Men. It was a world-wide hit. A
follow-up song, "Thank you for
Loving Me" suffered the same fate.
When his son Mark was born in
1967, Mike Taylor left Herbie’s
People to concentrate on family life.
Pete Walton, already a dad, followed
soon after. However, both appeared
on subsequent recordings.
The band changed their name to Just
William for their next disc, "I Don't
Care", which is arguably their best
effort. It still sounds fresh and up-to-
date, with great vocals from Danny
and a brilliant musical arrangement.
Pete Stevens was by this time on
bass; Brian Powney on keyboards
replaced Mike Taylor. "Cherrywood
Green", another Robinson/Taylor
composition, was on the flip side.
Another name change to The Bullring
saw the release of a novelty number
entitled "Birmingham Brass Band", a
marching tempo number that was
sung in dialect, with a traditional
brass band accompaniment. The
release of this record saw the lads
featured on the TV programme, The
Golden Shot, filmed around the
Bullring of Brum. The Show was
presented by Bob Monkhouse.
The flip side was a bouncy, "Lady of
the Morning Sun".
popular 60s recording group
Clockwise from left: Len Beddow,
Danny Robinson, Pete Walton, Mike
Taylor, Alan Lacey
Clockwise from left: Mike Taylor,
Pete Walton, Len Beddow,
Danny Robinson, Alan Lacey,
The Bullring.
Clockwise from left: Len Beddow,
Pete Stevens, Alan Lacey, Danny
Robinson.