Post created 1st July 2008
Updated 2nd July 08
Benchmark
During the 1950's the bombed heart of Coventry had been reconstructed and Phoenix like a brand new city centre had
arisen by 1960. As both Pete Waterman had expressed in his autobiography I Wish I was Me (see the 1950's post) and Trev Teasdel in his Coventry Tale (growing up in the 1950's ) (again linked on the the 1950's post) it both felt and looked new, and generated a feeling of new potential that was a general feeling throughout the 1960's. Coventry's reconstruction embodied that feeling 'anything's possible' and 'reconciliation' interfaced with the optimism and innovations in the wider culture. It was an exciting decade although no one in 1960 would know what would develop during the decade. It was to be a good decade for Coventry music. The other side of the coin was that the optimism was forged against a backdrop of widespread nuclear testing, growing concern over the environment, the Vietnam war, Civil rights campaigns, troubles in Northern Ireland, built in obsolescence and the development of a 'throwaway' culture and alienation in affluent society, Harold Wilson's 'squeeze', political scandels, assassination (Kennedy, Martin Luther King) and more. As far as music was concern, all this would be reflected in the music as the decade rode on and a growing feeling that young people were going to change the world, establish an alternative society.
However in 1960, mainstream music was fairly innocuous, soft rock had replaced the hard rock of Elvis and Bill Haley - even Cliff Richard and Elvis toned down the music, extending their range and widening their audience. There was an undertow of cool jazz reflected in songs like Fever and in charting bands like Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball etc. Even Elvis had a rasping sax on his first post army album - Elvis is back. Jazz proliferated in Coventry - the Tiara Buana Jazz Band for example. Jazz was top of the list at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club and the Umbrella would launch the cities first folk club in this decade. On the other hand, in Liverpool a new force was beign marshalled with the Beatles and other of the later beat groups and in New York a young Bobby Dylan was honing his protest songs. What was underground in the early 60's would soon be in the mainstream by the mid 60's. A new generation was emerging that grew intolerant of war, exploitation, pollution etc. The Coventry music scene emerged in this context with a growing sense of ideology being interlinked. That's not to say there weren't a lot of bands who's perpectives were purely commercial, but as the decade moved on, the feeling of being part of a growing alternative society began to permeate the music and the music began to influence the fans.
But this was 1960 and all that was to come -
COVENTRY MUSIC 1960 - 1961
THE CHUCKLES - Formed in Nuneaton 1960, they became the backing band for the legendary Gene Vincent. Two were apprentices at Roots Motor Company.
(See Pete Chambers Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat P9)
THE SABRES - Formed in 1960. became the Peeps in 1965.
See Page 32 of Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat and P70 in Godiva Rocks and Broadgate Gnome A to Z
COVENTRY IN THE CHARTS
Frank Ifield - The Coventry born Australian singer who had lived in Coventry until he was 9 had his first hit in 1960. He would make a real impact on the UK charts until 1962.
Lucky Devil - Frank Ifield reached No22 spending 7 weeks on the chart with one re-entry.
Got to Get a Date - Frank Ifield reached No 49 spending 1 week on the chart.
Frank had been a recording star in Australian, starting out at the age of 13. He was keen to break into the UK market and would do so in a big way in 1962. For more on Frank Ifield see Godiva Rides by Pete Chambers P37 and P44 of Godiva Rides to a Backbeat.
Bert Weedon - 1960
Not a Coventry born artist but one who lived in Coventry part time (in Allesley Village) during the 1960's, had further hits with -
Big Beat Boogie - reached No 37 and was on the charts for 4 weeks
Twelfth Street Rag - reached No 47 - 2 weeks on the chart.
Apache - reached No 24 - on chart 4 weeks
Sorry Robbie - No 28 - in chart 11 weeks
Bert Weedon - 1961
Ginchy - No 35 - 5 wks in chart.
Mr Guitar - No 47 - 1 wk in chart
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