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The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four-piece 1960s British
Merseybeat Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a British popular music genre that developed around Liverpool in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The genre melded influences from British and American rock and roll, rhythm and blues, skiffle, tradit ...
band, best known for their hit
singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...
with the
His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...
label: " Hippy Hippy Shake", "
Good Golly Miss Molly In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil. The specific meaning and etymology of the term and its ...
", and "
You're No Good "You're No Good" is a song written by Clint Ballard Jr., first performed by Dee Dee Warwick for Jubilee Records in 1963 with production by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It has since been covered by many artists, including charting versions by ...
", issued in 1964. Subsequent singles released that year and the next made no impression. In 1966, their version of
Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Start ...
and
Hal David Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick. Early life David was born and raised in New ...
's " Don't Make Me Over" peaked at number 31 in the UK Singles Chart, but the group never charted again.


Career

The group had its origins in 1957, when Bruce McCaskill formed a
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
-influenced
skiffle Skiffle is a music genre, genre of folk music with influences from American folk music, blues, Country music, country, Bluegrass music, bluegrass, and jazz, generally performed with a mixture of manufactured and homemade or improvised instruments. ...
sextet called the Bluegenes. Besides guitarist/vocalist McCaskill, the original line-up also included banjo player Tommy Hughes, washboard player Norman Kuhlke, and oil drum bass player Spud Ward. There were a number of early personnel changes, as guitarist Ralph Ellis joined the band and Ward was replaced by Les Braid. Johnny Carter and Paul Moss entered the band to replace Hughes and McCaskill. They were a fully working band by 1962, playing skiffle at venues in Liverpool and at the Star Club in Hamburg. The German audiences booed them off the stage, however, and the group rapidly changed direction and focus. The band switched to
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
, and with a name change to reflect their attire, to the Swinging Blue Jeans. This earned the band, then a quintet featuring Ennis, Braid, Ellis, Kuhlke and Moss, a recording contract with
His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...
with record producer,
Walter Ridley Walter John Ridley (28 February 1913 – 23 January 2007) was a British record producer and songwriter. Primarily associated with traditional pop music especially in the 1950s, he produced hit records by Alma Cogan, Max Bygraves, Ronnie Hilton ...
. The quintet's first recording, "It's Too Late Now", which was written by Ennis, made the British Top 30. After the departure of Moss, the band became a quartet. In December 1963, a cover of the song "Hippy Hippy Shake" took the band to number two on the UK chart and established them as stars. They had a three-year spell of success, rising and falling with Merseybeat itself. The Swinging Blue Jeans had the standard
Shadows A shadow is a dark area on a surface where light from a light source is blocked by an object. In contrast, shade occupies the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross-section of a shadow is a two-dimensiona ...
line-up of two guitars, a bass guitar and drums and achieved local fame with their appearances at the Mardi Gras Club and the
Cavern Club The Cavern Club is a music venue on Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. The Cavern Club opened on 16 January 1957 as a jazz club, later becoming a centre of the rock and roll scene in Liverpool in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The club becam ...
. An album ''Blue Jeans a-Swinging'' was released in 1964 by
His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...
; a contemporaneous American LP composed of 45 and EP tracks, ''Hippy Hippy Shake'' included the released-in-the-US-only instrumental, "Wasting Time". In early 1966,
Terry Sylvester Terence “Terry” Sylvester (born 8 January 1947) is an English musician and songwriter. He is a former member of the Escorts, the Swinging Blue Jeans (1966–1969), and the Hollies. In the latter role, he took on the high parts formerly su ...
from The Escorts replaced Ellis, who had shared songwriting duties with Ray Ennis. The band drifted into a middle of the road direction which failed to bring them any success. In 1967, the band's producer Ridley decided to try and transform Ennis into a solo star, cutting the disc "Tremblin'" with
session musician A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a reco ...
s and backing vocals by
Madeline Bell Madeline Bell (born July 23, 1942) is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s with pop group Blue Mink, having arrived from the United States in the gospel show '' Black Nativity'' in 1962 ...
and
Kiki Dee Pauline Matthews (born 6 March 1947), better known by her stage name Kiki Dee, is an English pop singer. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals, she was the first female singer from the UK to sign with Motown's Tamla Records. Dee is best known f ...
, but it was ultimately released under the band's name. Also in that year the band went to a five piece unit with the introduction of another member from The Escorts, bass player Mike Gregory, with Braid moving on to keyboards. Sylvester left at the end of 1968 to replace
Graham Nash Graham William Nash (born 2 February 1942) is a British and American musician, singer and songwriter. He is known for his light tenor voice and for his contributions as a member of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crosby, Stills ...
in
The Hollies The Hollies are an English rock and pop band formed in Manchester in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Singer Allan Clarke and ...
. The band eventually retired to the cabaret circuit. Early in 1999, Alan Lovell deputised for guitarist Colin Manley due to his deteriorating health. Manley died in April 1999 and Lovell became a permanent member of the band as lead guitarist/vocalist. When Les Braid died in 2005, Peter Oakman took over on bass guitar/vocals. At the end of The Solid Silver Sixties tour in May 2010, Ray Ennis officially retired, announcing his retirement on radio and to the general public. During and prior to the tour, Ennis offered Lovell the opportunity to continue with the band under the name "The Swinging Blue Jeans". Initially Lovell declined but subsequently registered the trademark of the name "The Swinging Blue Jeans" without Ray Ennis's knowledge. Phil Thompson (drums) was unable to continue with band for personal reasons so, in June 2010, two new musicians joined, Graham Hollingworth (drums) and Jeff Bannister (keyboards/vocals). Ennis then decided to challenge Lovell for the ownership of the trademark but a Court decision ruled that Lovell had exclusive legal rights to the name. A subsequent appeal was lodged but was also dismissed. Meanwhile, Ennis came out of retirement to make occasional appearances with another band under the name "Ray Ennis's Blue Jeans". The Swinging Blue Jeans continue to perform today, with no original members, under the leadership of Lovell.


Band members


Current

* Alan Lovell (born 5 January 1952,
Newtown, Wales Newtown () is a town in Powys, Wales. It lies on the River Severn in the community of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn, within the historic boundaries of Montgomeryshire. It was designated a new town in 1967 and saw population growth as firms settl ...
) – guitar (1999–present) * Jeff Bannister (born Jeffrey Bannister, 7 January 1943, Slough, Berkshire) – keyboards, vocals (2010–present) *Graham Hollingworth – drums (2010–present) *Roger Flavell – bass (2023–present)


Former

* Bruce McCaskill (born Bruce Thomas McCaskill, 15 January 1940,
Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
– died 24 December 1993,
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
) – guitar, vocals (1957–1961) * Tommy Hughes (born 7 May 1938 – died 21 September 2013) – banjo, vocals (1957–1959) * Norman Kuhlke (born 17 June 1942) – drums (1957–1969) * Spud Ward (born Albert James Ward, 2 November 1940, Walton, Liverpool) – bass (1957–1958) * Kenneth Metcalf – lead vocals, guitar (1957) *Arthur Griffiths – guitar (1957) *Norman Houghton (born 18 September 1940, Liverpool) – washboard (1957) *Jimmy Hudson – Double bass (1957–1958) *Ray Ennis (born Raymond Vincent Ennis, 26 May 1940,
Huyton Huyton ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. Part of the Liverpool Urban Area, Liverpool Built-up Area, it borders the Liverpool suburbs of Dovecot, Merseyside, Dovecot, Knotty Ash and Netherley, Liverpool, ...
, Liverpool) – lead vocals, guitar (1957 – 2010) *Les Braid (born William Leslie Braid, 15 September 1937, West Derby Road,
West Derby West Derby ( ) is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, in the east of the city. At the 2011 Census, the population was 14,382. History West Derby Mentioned in the ''Domesday Book'', West Derby achieved significance far earlier tha ...
, Liverpool – died 31 July 2005, Fazakerley Hospital,
Fazakerley Fazakerley is a suburb of north Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Walton Parliamentary constituency. At the 2011 Census, it had a population of 16,786. Description Fazakerley is in north Liverpool; neighbouring d ...
, Liverpool) – bass (1957–2005), keyboards (1967–1972) *Ralph Ellis (born 8 March 1942, Liverpool) – guitar (1958–1966) *Paul Moss – banjo (1959–1963) *John E. Carter (born 21 May 1938, Liverpool) – lead vocals, guitar (1959–1961) *
Terry Sylvester Terence “Terry” Sylvester (born 8 January 1947) is an English musician and songwriter. He is a former member of the Escorts, the Swinging Blue Jeans (1966–1969), and the Hollies. In the latter role, he took on the high parts formerly su ...
–(born 8 January 1946, Allerton, Liverpool) – guitar, vocals (1966–1969) *Mike Gregory (born Michael Gregory, 7 November 1946, Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Liverpool – died 27 April 2023) – bass (1967–1972) *Kenny Goodlass – drums (1968–1973) *Michael Pynn – guitar, vocals (1972–1975) *Hedley Vick (born 24 April 1952,
Bromborough Bromborough ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England, on the Wirral Peninsula south-east of Bebington and north of Eastham. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, and became part of Merseysi ...
, Merseyside) – guitar (1975–1976) *Colin Manley (born Colin William Manley, 16 April 1942, Old Swan, Liverpool – died 9 April 1999) – guitar, vocals (1977–1999) *John Ryan (born 5 April 1953, Pinehurst Avenue, Liverpool) – drums (1980–1983) *Phil Thompson (born 18 October 1947, Liverpool – died April 2018) – drums (1983–2010) *
Jim Rodford James Walter Rodford (7 July 1941 – 20 January 2018) was an English musician, who played bass for several British rock bands. He was a founding member of Argent, which was led by his cousin Rod Argent, and performed with them from their forma ...
(born 7 July 1941, St Albans – died January 20, 2018) – bass (regular guest, 2005–2010) *Pete Oakman (born Peter Andrew Oakman, 12 December 1943, Cuffley, Hertfordshire – died 29 September 2023, Greece) – bass (2005–2023)


Discography


Albums

*''Hippy Hippy Shake'' (1964) – US no. 90 *'' Blue Jeans a'Swinging'' (1964) ''Hippy Hippy Shake'' (1964) apitol T 6069Canada. *''Tutti Frutti'' (1964) egal SREG 1073Export only issue of first album *''Live aus dem "Cascade Beat Club" in Köln'' (1965) lectrola SME 83 927Germany only *''Don't Make Me Over'' (1966) apitol T 6159Canada only *''The Swinging Blue Jeans'' (1967) FP 1163Reissue of first album *''Hippy Hippy Shake'' (1973) rand Prix, GP 10025Swedish label; includes tracks not available in the UK *''Brand New and Faded'' (1974) art, BULL 1001*''Jump 'n' Jeans'' (1979) ace Records, ACE 001*''Best of the Swinging Blue Jeans'' UT 15Compilation album, 1963–67


Singles


See also

*
List of bands and artists from Merseyside This is a list of notable bands and artists from Merseyside, North West England. For over fifty years, the area has had a thriving pop and rock music scene, particularly since The Beatles popularised Merseybeat. 0-9 * 28 Costumes * The 74 ...
*
List of performers on Top of the Pops __NOTOC__ This list of performers on ''Top of the Pops'' includes popular music recording artists and musical ensembles who have performed on ''Top of the Pops'', a weekly BBC television programme that featured artists from the UK Singles ...
* List of British Invasion Artists


Notes


References


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swinging Blue Jeans, The Beat groups British Invasion artists English pop music groups Musical groups from Liverpool Musical groups established in 1962 Imperial Records artists 1962 establishments in England