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• What began as a quick knock out single by pop single master Geoff Stephens, the track Winchester Cathedral almost accidentally became a no.1 hit all over the world. Voiced in a session by John Carter, Stephens then quickly needed a group to follow up with the promotion. A hasty call to drummer and group leader Henry Harrison, then with his own R&B band (Cops n Robbers), set the wheels in motion and The New Vaudeville Band came alive, to enjoy a lengthy career well into the late 1970’s.
• During an eighteen month peak (1966/1967) the band were managed by Peter Grant and Mickie Most, released two LPs (recorded by a mixture of band members and session musicians) , scored 4 hit singles, and played residencies in Las Vegas to thousands. Musically rivalling contemporaries the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The New Vaudeville Band dressed in 1920’s outfits and adopted the 1920’s swing time style to their perky 60’s pop brand. It fitted right in with the Carnaby Street fashion fads and Bonnie & Clyde gangster theme of the time.
• Collected here are the complete recordings credited to The New Vaudeville Band , plus a couple of unreleased tracks (on the original reissue) and song writing demos (including John Carter’s demo of Winchester Cathedral).
• Key tracks remain regular radio favourites today and this complete collection will interest a great many collectors and mainstream fans alike.
• Features their two acclaimed LPs and includes the international hits ‘Winchester Cathedral’, ‘Peek A Boo’, ‘Finchley Central’, ‘Green Street Green’. The gorgeous package includes interviews with Geoff Stephens, John Carter, Henry Harrison.
Tracklist
1. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PHYLLIS PUKE
2. NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE
3. I CAN’T GO WRONG
4. THAT’S ALL FOR NOW SUGAR BABY
5. THERE’S A KIND OF A HUSH
6. TAP YOUR FEET
7. WHISPERING
8. YOUR LOVE AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE
9. LILI MARLENE
10. OH DONNA CLARA
11. DIANA GOODBYE
12. WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
13. FINCHLEY CENTRAL
14. SHINE ON HARVEST MOON
15. PEEK A BOO
16. SHIRL
17. I WONDER WHO’S KISSING HER NOW
18. SADIE MOONSHINE
19. SO TIRED
20. IF I HAD A TALKING PICTURE OF YOU
21. REFLECTIONS
22. ROSIE
23. WAITING FOR WENDY
24. I WAS LORD KITCHNER’S VALET
25. AMY (B-SIDE OF PEEK-A-BOO)
26. GREEN STREET GREEN (45 A-SIDE)
27. HOLIDAY INN
28. 14 LOVELY WOMEN (B-SIDE OF GREEN STREET GREEN)
29. IVY OSBORNE
30. ROSIE (ORIGINAL DEMO)
31. HOLIDAY INN (ORIGINAL DEMO)
32. WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL (ORIGINAL DEMO)
1-12 WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL LP (1966)
13-24 FINCHLEY CENTRAL LP (1967)
25-28 ORIGINAL 45s
29-32 EXCLUSIVE UNRELEASED OUTTAKES