Fathers Angels

[Rick Scott]

Don't know if this has been covered before so apologies in advance if it has, I Have a UK MGM Demo of this

and is credited on the label as being a Heritage recording which as we all know was Booted on That label in a variety of variations.

 So, did it ever get an official release on that label ? and has anyone got one or seen one or is it just something related to the MGM Label or Music company.

I'm Sure this is something a lot of Collectors and DJ's Have pondered on over the years. Thank You In Advance.  

[Tlscapital]

A late November 1968 M-G-M British only release for this Jerry Ross production with that group on the real 'A' side and likely an instrumental studio take filler oddly titled 'Bok to Bach' (British accent tongue in cheek) for the flip. But was that really a Jerry Ross or maybe a UK product...

The Father's Angels was never released stateside on Heritage but its 'A' side was Jerry Ross Philly recording. Like his previous Showstoppers 'Eeny Meeny' also released on M-G-M two month earlier and that "opened" the British M-G-M doors in hope for more Mr. Ross "million" sellers... 

Edited May 26 by Tlscapital

[Simon T]

where would we be without google?

https://boffyblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/northern-soul-classics-bok-to-bach.html

 

 

this must have been massive, what era and at which venues

[Zoomsoulblue]

Simon - I remember it taking the roof off the Casino from mid 70ts however a UK release in 68 it would have been smashed out at the Wheel / Torch / Va Vas and every single oldies night at all venues - great clapping bits to it, which you don’t hear as much now but hey - magic sound - I actually brought the demo from the Casino for £5 back in 76 however it’s got a chip out in the intro which is one of the major leads into a record - but apart from that plays great

[Rick Cooper]

Simon, Not sure if Bok to Bach would have got played at at The Wheel, @Julianb would know for sure.

I remember it as one of those records that suddenly appeared one night at The Torch and got played three or four times that night and then every week after. I'm not sure which DJ had it as I wasn't really paying attention, maybe Alan Day.

Being a UK record it probably had plays before the Torch, possibly West Midlands, Blackpool, Sheffield or London. After going big at The Torch other copies would have surfaced fairly soon as collectors searched shops, especially down south.

 

[Paulmc]

Bok to Bach was a Blackpool Mecca record discovered by Steve Bradly who sold it to Ian Levine

[Zoomsoulblue]

Bok to Bach was a Blackpool Mecca record
so discovered after 73

[Torch56]

I can't be definitive about this, but I think I heard it first at the Torch, December '72, and thereafter at the Catacombs as well. Instant appeal: brilliant instrumentation culminating in a build up of atmosphere matched on the dance floor. Best use of a harp on a northern sound. I'm sure others played it, but I most associate it with Alan Day. Considered to be 'played out' by early summer '73 as playlists moved on.

[Julianb]

15 hours ago, Rick Cooper said:

Simon, Not sure if Bok to Bach would have got played at at The Wheel, @Julianb would know for sure.

I remember it as one of those records that suddenly appeared one night at The Torch and got played three or four times that night and then every week after. I'm not sure which DJ had it as I wasn't really paying attention, maybe Alan Day.

Being a UK record it probably had plays before the Torch, possibly West Midlands, Blackpool, Sheffield or London. After going big at The Torch other copies would have surfaced fairly soon as collectors searched shops, especially down south.

 

Definitely not played at the Wheel. Remember it being played at the Torch but not the Mecca. But then again my memory is not what it was. Keith Minshull told me a few years ago that we both got copies of the Salvadors from Bradford market when he came to visit me, but I don't remember that either!!

[Rick Cooper]

On 28/05/2024 at 19:22, Paulmc said:

Bok to Bach was a Blackpool Mecca record discovered by Steve Bradly who sold it to Ian Levine

That makes sense as Brad discovered plenty of records and sold them to Ian when he DJ'd at the early days of the Mecca. It must have been Ian that first played it at The Torch.

 

23 hours ago, Zoomsoulblue said:

Bok to Bach was a Blackpool Mecca record
so discovered after 73

The Mecca started before 1973 playing all 60s records. "Mecca" style came later.

 

11 hours ago, Julianb said:

Definitely not played at the Wheel. Remember it being played at the Torch but not the Mecca. But then again my memory is not what it was. Keith Minshull told me a few years ago that we both got copies of the Salvadors from Bradford market when he came to visit me, but I don't remember that either!!

Thanks for clearing that up.

I think you're right about Keith getting it wrong about finding The Salvadors at Bradford market. From what I remember all the titles there were on major labels  or distributed by the majors. It seems unlikely that small indie labels would be in the stock but nothings impossible.

[Eddie Hubbard]

Just spoke to Mick Smith who said that he bought it off Brad at The Torch for £12 and then sold it same night to Keith Minshull for £20 .Maybe Brad had more than 1 copy ? 

[Julianb]

11 hours ago, Rick Cooper said:

That makes sense as Brad discovered plenty of records and sold them to Ian when he DJ'd at the early days of the Mecca. It must have been Ian that first played it at The Torch.

 

The Mecca started before 1973 playing all 60s records. "Mecca" style came later.

 

Thanks for clearing that up.

I think you're right about Keith getting it wrong about finding The Salvadors at Bradford market. From what I remember all the titles there were on major labels  or distributed by the majors. It seems unlikely that small indie labels would be in the stock but nothings impossible.

Bradford Market had loads of 'one offs'. I remember getting stuff like Skip Jackson, Dearly Beloved, Bricks,broken bottles and Earl Jackson etc. I played the first 3 at Lord Jim's around 1970/71. They went down like a lead balloon☹ wrong tempo for the time!

[Paulmc]

Brad got his Fathers Angels from Bradford Market. Find enclosed extracts from Blues and Soul April 13-26 No107 1973 and August 17-30 No116 1973. At these dates it was being played in Mexbrough and Coventry. In those days if you had two records with potential you would sell one to Lavine to break it ......... once broke the other copy would be worth much more as other DJ's would try and compete with the Mecca.

[Julianb]

Personally I  always gave new stuff to Jebby to play. It was great to see Ian appear from nowhere with 'what is this, who owns it, I  must have it, sell it to me !

Happy days

[Davebanks]

6 hours ago, Paulmc said:

Brad got his Fathers Angels from Bradford Market. Find enclosed extracts from Blues and Soul April 13-26 No107 1973 and August 17-30 No116 1973. At these dates it was being played in Mexbrough and Coventry. In those days if you had two records with potential you would sell one to Lavine to break it ......... once broke the other copy would be worth much more as other DJ's would try and compete with the Mecca.

Was Eddies my name really played as early as 1973? Suppose it must have if it's in the ad. Could have sworn it was much later. But then my memory like lots on here is not quite as good!

[Paulmc]

That surprised me too, now you mention (Eddies my Name). However it was released in 1965.

[Torch56]

I remember Alan S playing 'Eddie's My Name' at the Catacombs so it must have been 1973 or earlier since he was removed from the DJ roster then. Could have been even '72.

[Eddie Hubbard]

I managed to get a copy of “ Eddie’s My Name “ in ‘74 for £3 .I’d known it for quite a while ,and Pete Waterman’s events and record shop in Coventry were influential at the time