Spot Records of Mayfair

[Roburt]

Spot Records were part of the Ryemuse Productions set-up. A weird outfit who mainly released church organ music & military band stuff. Though they did put out a 45 by Scots of St. James (members of who would later form the AWB) + the Glen Athens & the Trojans EP and an album by Alexis Korner Blues Inc. little else of interest to us on here exists. In addition to those 3 releases, a 45 from the Lunar-2  -- "Get It, Take It" was also released by Spot. There must have been a few copies of this around back in the day, as it was made available in both solid centre & push-out centre versions. Spot was releasing stuff from 1965 to 67.

Ryemuse / Spot had an office / studio on a very posh street in Mayfair, London. The building now houses a very upmarket fashion shop (Sartorria Rossi).

I have researched the Lunar-2. They were a duo who were always advertised as being from the US but they weren't. Their 45 was actually pressed up in Newport, Sth Wales, which led me (erroneously) to assume they were originally from Tiger Bay, Cardiff. They weren't even British though, but the two backing bands they performed with (over a 3 year period) were. They got to play live gigs in most of London's top soul club of the time -- the Whisky A GoGo, Uppercut, New All Star Club + @ the Starlight Ballroom Crawley, Gliderdrome, Boston, etc etc. The Spot 45 was the only thing they had released in the UK. The duo were active on the UK music scene from 65 to 69.

One of the Lunar-2 cut a solo 45 in 1970 which was released in Spain. My research points to the Lunar-2 giving up on their UK music career in 1969, when it is suggested they both returned to their native Bahamas. Their UK 45 contained an original song which was written by Cartwright, Wallace & Jones with Morgan Jones being the tracks arranger. That makes me assume that the Lunar-2 were Amiel (Eric) Cartwright & Bill Wallace. The 1970 Spanish solo 45 was by Eric Cartwright. . . . . Below is a montage of pictures of the two acts ... make up your own minds ...

There seems to be another 45 on Spot which JUST MAY be of interest to us ... again it was pressed up in Wales but apart from that I know nothing at all about the group or their songs ... Patsy And The Raybell Orchestra  --  I'm Glad I'm Me. Anyone have any idea if this is a pop / mod / soulie sounding effort ?

Much later on , Ryemuse seemed to return as a reissue outfit (lots of CD's of 60's stuff).

Can anyone here shed more light on this outfit or the group Lunar-2 ?

Edited October 4, 2023 by Roburt

[Roburt]

It's suggested elsewhere on the net that the Spot label which the Scots of St James recorded on is an entirely different outfit to the Lunar-2 label.

However, the Alexis Korner LP has the same label design as that on the Lunar-2's 45 and the sleeve of the Alex Korner LP states the labels address as 64 Molton St. The Scots of St. James publicity photo also states Spot Recs of 64 Molton St (also sometimes called South Moulton St). So Obviously the label is the same for all 3 releases. The label design for the Trojans EP is different again. 

A pic of one of the Lunar-2's UK backing groups (the Late) signing a joint contract with the duo ...

Edited October 4, 2023 by Roburt

[Roburt]

The Patsy & the Raybell Orch 45 ... this 45 also pressed up in Wales (Newport ?).

anyone got a copy ?

Edited October 5, 2023 by Roburt

[Roburt]

A track off the Alexis Korner album ... 

 

[Roburt]

More on Ryemuse's office / studio set up in Sth Molton St, Mayfair.

Spot Studios or Ryemuse Studios, was a recording studio in London, England, located in Mayfair from the 1960s to 1980. It was renamed Mayfair Recording Studios in 1974.

In the early years, the studio was owned by Ryemuse Ltd and operated under the name Spot Studios. It was located at 64 South Molton Street in Mayfair, above a chemist's shop. John Hudson worked there as the chief engineer, having joined the company from BBC Television. At BBC Television he was involved in presentation, broadcasting live sound for programmes such as 'Colour Me Pop' and 'Match of the Day'. Throughout the early 1970s Hudson served as the engineer for numerous hit records produced at the studios.

The studio was renamed from Spot to Mayfair in 1974. In 1977, John Hudson and his wife Kate took over the management of the studio. They bought the company in 1979. In 1980, they found a new site in Sharpleshall Street, Primrose Hill, to where they relocated the studio as the property in South Molton Street was to be sold.

The likes of the Drifters, Gene Farrow, Cream, Gary Glitter & more used the studio in Sth Molton St. 

[Roburt]

The Scots of St James 45 released on Spot. Their earlier efforts were more soulful, but (like many other UK groups) they were transitioning away from a R&B type sound in 1967. The group would take on a new name (Hopscotch) shortly afterwards. They were still taking bookings at English soul clubs though (Nite Owl, Place, Tofts, Whisky A GoGo, Il Rondo, etc) ....   

The group's lead singer (Jimmy Oakley) made a solo 45 in 1968 ("Little Girl") which many class as a UK soul recording ...

 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Roburt

[Wiggyflat]

This is a great thread. I remember seeing an advert for the Lunar 2 in the music press and thought i need to find this record. Still never come across one and i have never heard it. I remember reading about Cream Machine by Cookie Eaton on Conder but did eventually find that record though. Have you got a copy or heard the record?

[Roburt]

I have the Lunar-2 single. Took me ages to get a copy though.

I'm somewhat disappointed in it. It's an uptempo dance track (the original song A side that is -- the B side is a cover of a pop song). Knowing that the two vocalists are black guys, their vocals come across as more like the vocals by the Searchers than by the Drifters or Coasters (the Searchers having had hits with covers of songs originally cut by those 2 groups).

I guess it could have gotten spins @ the Casino in the mid 70's, when pop-ish items you could dance to were popular there. On today's NS scene, I don't think it would get any action. 

Still a nice item to add to my extensive collection even though the vocals aren't that soulful -- but glad I didn't pay anything like the recent going rate for this 45. 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Roburt

[Wiggyflat]

I can rest a bit easier now then. Such a shame the adverts and the pics promised so much.A friend of mine played organ on a small soul release on the Instant label by Sonny Burke.I was imagining it was going to be something like that release.

[Roburt]

. . . ON EVILBAY AT PRESENT: £110

. . . 7" with writing on label ... BUT ...

Only 5 recorded sales (WRONG)

no previous sales via Discogs ..

little known independent Welsh label (WRONG -- London label which put out numerous releases).

[Mal C]

Do you know where in Newport 'Spot' records were pressed?

[Roburt]

Fraid not, I didn't even know there was a pressing plant in Newport till I researched Spot & their releases. Obviously lots of other stuff must have been pressed there but I've no idea what.