Many Star-Club bands were audience favorites without becoming as big as the Beatles, who also started there. But there was one group that towered above their competitors for their outstanding musical quality, and it was another band from Liverpool, The Remo Four. In the early and mid-sixties the Remo Four became backing musicians for solo singers and were among the best bands to ever touch the hallowed stage of the legendary Hamburg club. By 1967, they were among the best bands from England.Charismatic singer/organ player Tony Ashton (1944-2001) and guitarist Colin Manley (1942-1999) were brilliant instrumentalists, and their solos were solidly backed by the band's rhythm section: ace drummer Roy Dyke and bass-player Phil Rogers. The Remo Four were the first among equals with an excellent fusion of rhythm, blues, brass-free soul and even gospel snippets with Tony proving how such a mixture could be sung perfectly and soulfully alike.Songs such as Sing Hallelujah, Brother Where Are You or the fantastic Jive Samba (to name but a few) are excellent examples of the quartet's outstanding groove. Their greatest success came in 1966 with the Peter Gunn instrumental, which made them stars in Germany after a legendary live performance on the famous 'Beat-Club' TV show.These days an original vinyl copy of The Remo Four's only album Smile! is insanely rare and expensive, but even the CD edition out of print for many years has become a sought-after rarity. Now this outstanding slice of mid-Sixties music is available again with eight extra songs (A&B sides of two singles plus four tracks unreleased at the time). With this fabulous release, BEAR FAMILY finally fills in a missing link in the musical story of the 'Swinging Sixties'.
S**N
A GOOD BAND FROM THE MERSEY BEAT ERA
This is another good example of British beat music from the 60's that people interested in that period should check out. The band had good instrumental chops, and the vocals had a slight blue-eyed soul feel to them. The use of an organ gave the band a slight jazzy sound that was (is) very appealing.THE REMO FOUR (named after the San Remo Music Festival) backed a number of artists (Gene Pitney, Cilla Black among others) in their ten year career, and played at the Star Club in Germany, where they were more popular than in their own country, even though in 1961, the band rose to number three on the Mersey Beat poll. But the band never had any real hits (except for "Peter Gunn"), primarily because they played live a great deal and didn't have time to concentrate on recording commercial singles. This set hovers somewhere between 3 1/2 and 4 "stars" in relation to similar bands, and depending on your penchant for this period of music.The band had two members that went on to relative fame-Tony Ashton (keyboards/vocals) and Roy Dyke (drums), and also included Phil Rogers (bass) who replaced Don Andrew, and Colin Manley (guitar)-but the band had a number of personnel changes early on throughout their career.This set has both original songs and covers ("No Money Down", "Rock Candy", "Roadrunner", "Jive Samba"), "Peter Gunn", and a couple of others. But the blend of originals and covers lets you hear what people were listening to during that era. And the band stamped their sound on each song-especially the covers. Their jazzy organ and guitar playing and soulful vocals were really hip, and made them popular with audiences wherever they played.Anyone who's into this period of British music should check this out. They were a cut above most (if not all) the so-called second tier bands of the day. And the best of their music still sounds good today. This is one collection that shouldn't slip between the cracks of time and disappear.The disc snaps inside a cardboard book-style holder. The attached booklet (13 pages in English-13 in German) has an essay on both the period and the band, including quotes from band members. There's also some good photos of the band in both color and b & w, along with album cover reproductions. Bear Family Records has done another good job in packaging this great 60's music-check it out.
M**O
Excellent "Used" CD/Remo Four Is Not To Be Missed
I originally ordered this album from a different vendor but the order sat for a while and eventually was cancelled. I wrote a negative review and unfortunately posted on sherlock-jr rather than on the original vendor. If you see this negative review, please disregard. My apologiesI found a "very good" used CD of the album on sherlock-jr and ordered it from them. The CD came very quickly and the CD plays as though it is brand new. The liner notes booklet is in very good shape as is the cover. I will order again from sherlock-jr when appropriate.Remo Four is a band that is not well known which is unfortunate. This is their only album and if you are a fan of UK music in the early to mid '60s, this album is a necessity. I produce a music program on a community radio station and plan on using this album on the air.Thanks, sherlock-jr.
A**O
Nice album
While Peter Gun Theme was on this album, it was NOT the version from Remo Four I was looking for.Oh Well.....
E**.
killer merseybeat
im glad i bought this after reading the review about it in mojo magazine, really good merseybeat from the mid 60s, if you liked the merseybeats and the whole london beat scene of the early to mid 60s you will love this disc, enough said
A**N
This group was really very good. They never made it here in the USA ...
This group was really very good. They never made it here in the USA along with the others that came over during the British Invasion in 1964-through early 1967, but they were very talented, and a legacy to the Merseyside Music Scene in Liverpool. They also played The Cavern along The Beatles and many other notables from that era. Worth the buy!
J**N
Great Sound!
This group had a great sound! Peter Gunn is fantastic.
J**G
Nice 1960s C.D.
Nice CD and great music from a 1960s group , Peter Gunn is my favorite track on this C.D. but the other songs a very good too.
N**R
Who doesn't like Peter Gunn?
Great collection addition
ガ**ん
グルーヴィーなモッズ
私も他の方のレビューを見て、you tubeに衝撃を受けたクチです。カッコ良すぎで買うしかないと思いました。元々はジョニーサンドンのライズを探しててここにたどり着いてしまいました。ギターやオルガンがカッコいいのは言うまでもないのですが、個人的にはタイトなリズムを刻むドラムが意外と印象に残ります。マストです。
Z**C
DVDで見てぶっ飛びました。
ピーターガンしか聞いた事なかったけど、DVDで見てぶっとびました。You tube でも観れるので見て気にいった人は買いですよ。口パクで無い画像で必見です。
J**L
Great album that deserves to be better known!
This sole album by Liverpool band The Remo Four has never been released in England but is a great British soul/jazz album that will appeal to mods and any fans of the Hammond organ and acts such as Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames and The Spencer Davis Group. Highlights on the soul side of things include great covers of Gloria Jones' Heart Beat and Dean Parrish's The Skate while jazzy highlights include versions of Brother Jack McDuff's Rock Candy and Cannonball Adderley's Jive Samba. Elsewhere they cover Mose Allison, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gaye etc. The album was recorded for the German Star-Club label and shows the band to have developed from their Pye singles. The band sound incredibly tight and the track listing is basically their live set of the time. The sound quality of the CD is excellent. The eight bonus tracks include their much admired version of Peter Gunn and a take on The Miracles' Mickey's Monkey.
D**Y
Most underrated Liverpool beat band.
I first heard of the Remo Four from a friend in Berlin who had them on vinyl from the Star Club Record Company,and was blown away by their musical ability.And totally blown away that I had actually never heard of them.Of course all my German friends knew of them.So I investigated further through YouTube videos of the Beat Club and hey presto bought this CD.Highly recommended for fans of British beat music or fans of all the bands that honed their skills in the Star Club in Hamburg. *****
P**Y
gtreat sixties band now on cd
At last something by the Remo Four on cd, no need to remortgage your house tracking down vinyl all the tracks plus extras are here in glorious sound. Complete with booklet and very reasonably priced at around £10 got to be worth a listen, if only for Peter Gunn alone.
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