for Sunday 12th February 1967

25 13 Call My Name James Royal CBS 202525 The full James Royal story, in his own words, can be found in a supplement to the Fab Forty 13/06/65.

From London, the Pussyfoot line-up was Terry 'Barnyard' Barfield, vcls, David Osborn gtr, David 'Turnip' Townsend, bs, John 'Fingers' Williams lead gtr, and Terry 'Goodmayes' Goodman, drms. Three of them began their musical careers as choristers and the band first called themselves the Soundcasters. Released 10th February, both Mr Hyde and the single's B-side, Hasty Words, were penned by band members Terry Barfield and David Osborn, who were clearly talented songwriters. (Radio London management was probably unaware that the song was about a drug addict.) The Decca producer was Tony Clarke, who became famous for his work with the Moody Blues. Later in 1967, three of the band left and it evolved into Rare Breed with Osborn and Goodman the only original members remaining.

On March 6th, 1967, Pussyfoot played at the Radio London night at the Rhodes Centre, Bishop's Stortford, Herts, hosted by Mike Lennox. The band's manager John Moore has posted a photo taken for 'Jackie' magazine and there are further photos and press cuttings here.

One of my all-time favourite recordings and like its chart companion, Mr Hyde, was another track played regularly during the Radio London RSLs. Left Banke was from New York, although drummer George (Justo Fabio) Cameron was born in London. The band's classically-trained keyboard player Michael Brown (Lookofsky) (d March 2015) wrote Pretty Ballerina which, although not quite as big as their first hit, Walk Away Renee, reached #15 in the US Hot Hundred. The lead singer was Steve Martin, lead guitarist was Rick (Richard David) Brand and Tom (Thomas James) Finn played bass.

Walk Away Renee had been in the Fab in October '66, and the song returned to the Fab Forty in March '67, by the Truth. However, the song did not appear in the Nationals till December '67, when the Four Tops took it to #3.

Read the story behind the song inspired by a girl called Renee Fladen www.tsimon.com/renee.htm

leftbanke.thefondfarewells.com is a dedicated fan site, which contains a wealth of information about Left Banke, personal reminiscences from people who knew them and links to the numerous references to the band which have been discovered on the Internet.

Regarding the strange workings of the Fab, Alan notes:

Oscar makes a reappearance in this week's chart at no 36. Two weeks earlier he'd entered at no 33 then gone straight out again. Two weeks before that he'd been Kenny Everett's climber, but out of the climber list the following week. I remember reading that the DJs hated this record, but were told by Curzon Street they had to play it. This "one-week-on, one-week-off" in the playlist appears to provide evidence of the ongoing struggle.

Over The Wall We Go was a third Fab entry for the artist formerly known as Paul Dean. The full story with Oscar's true identity, a Knees Club connection and the reason why this novelty record can change hands for around £40, is revealed in the Fab Forty for 19th June 1966.

Besides climbers that were played at the time of the broadcast of the Sunday Fab Forty, Alan kept a note of others he heard later in the week and incorporated them into his list.