Sunday, June 09, 2002 10:06:30 PM
Rock 'n' Roll Artists A-Z...The Idle Race
http://members.iinet.net.au/~althomp/austelo/idle/index2.html
The story of the Idle Race has its roots in the late fifties with the Birmingham band, Billy King and the Nightriders...
After numerous personnel changes, including the departure of Billy King, the band changed their name to Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and the lineup settled to 'Big Al' Johnson on guitar, Mike Sheridan (ex-Dakotas, ex-Checkers) on vocals, Brian Cope on bass, Dave Pritchard (ex-Planets) on rhythm guitar and Roger Spencer (ex-Hound Dogs) on drums.
With the 'Mersey' sound emanating from Liverpool
(The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Hermins Hermits etc.) and well established in the UK, Record producer Norrie Paramor thought that it would be a great idea to emulate the phenomenon in Birmingham, England's second biggest city.
Hundreds of hopeful bands gathered at 'The Moathouse Club' and it was here where Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders were given the chance to make a record...
After a couple of unsuccessful singles including a cover of the Motown classic "Please Mr. Postman" which had only just been a hit for the Beatles, Greg Masters joined on bass and the band looked for a replacement for 'Big Al' Johnson on lead guitar. In 1964 auditions were held and a young lad from Solihul got the gig... His name of course was Roy Wood (ex-Falcons, ex-Lawmen).
Wood made an immediate impact on the band's sound convincing them to get into harmonies, look for a wider variety of material to perform and to work harder at their craft. A measure of his influence can be heard on their first single with him in their lineup, a cover of the Shirelles song "What A Sweet Thing That Was".
During this period the band delved into the realms of comedy on stage, featuring Roy's infamous impersonations of Donovan and a killer Dusty Springfield routine which saw Woody attired in a blonde wig and pink feather boa! The blonde wig was later to resurface during the early incarnation of ELO when Roy would generously cover the rug in talcum powder and would magically become Old Father Time (but that as they say is another story)!
They recorded one more single under the guise of Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders before deciding that maybe a name change would lift their fortunes and so Mike Sheridan's Lot they became. Two singles were released with the flip side to the first featuring Roy's first composition "Make Them Understand".
Their second and final single as Mike Sheridan's Lot "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" was perhaps the best they had ever recorded, written by Jackie De Shannon and produced by Norman 'Hurricane' Smith (of "Babe, what would you say" and "Don't Let It Die" fame). Despite the name change and marvelous second single, the success they so desired seemed a distant dream.
Within a year Wood had left to form The Move in 1966 with Carl Wayne, Ace Kefford, Bev Bevan, and Trevor Burton and was replaced by another guitarist - Johnny Mann. Sheridan found Mann to be no match for the multi-talented Wood, and seeing his band going nowhere quit shortly afterwards.
Pritchard, Spencer, Masters, and Mann continued to exist together under the more appropriate name of The Nightriders and secured a recording contract with Polydor. However, Mann left the band after the first recording session at Pye Studios and was replaced by a teenager hailing from Shard End, Jeff Lynne (ex-Tinkerbells Fairydust, ex-Chantells, ex-Andycaps & The Chads).
The Nightriders returned to Pye Studios to repeat the session with Lynne on lead guitar with the resulting single, "It's Only The Dog" backed with "Your Friend" being released in November of 1966.
Before leaving the group, Johnny Mann taught the young Jeff how to get the 'violin sound' on his guitar that can be heard on "Your Friend", a technique which Jeff was to use to great effect on later Idle Race tracks.
On the 4th of April,1966, Jeff Lynne played his first professional gig with The Nightriders at 'The Belfry' in Birmingham.
Neither song bore any resemblance as to what was to follow and despite the subsequent "Nightriders" release, the band saw themselves moving in a new direction. Pritchard had been writing original material and saw Lynne as a promising front man for the band. With the new image came a new name and by May 1966 the band had become the Idyll Race which very quickly mutated into the Idle Race.
Billy King and The Nightriders ( ? - ? )
Billy King - vocals
Others...
Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders I ( ? - ? )
Mike Sheridan - vocals - formerly with The Dakotas and The Checkers.
"Big Al" Johnson - guitar
Dave Pritchard - guitar - formerly with The Planets.
Brian Cope - bass
Roger Spencer - drums - formerly with The Hound Dogs.
Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders II / Mike Sheridan's Lot I ( ? - 1966)
Mike Sheridan - vocals
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Roy Wood - guitar/vocals - b. Ulysses Adrian Wood, November 8, 1946, Birmingham, England - formerly with The Falcons and The Lawmen.
Roy Wood forms The Move and, later, Electric Light Orchestra.
Mike Sheridan's Lot II (1966)
Mike Sheridan - vocals
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Johnny Mann - guitar
The Nightriders I (1966)
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Johnny Mann - guitar
The Nightriders II / The Idyll Race / The Idle Race I (1966 - January 1970)
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Jeff Lynne - guitar/vocals - b. December 30, 1947, Birmingham, England.
Albums:
"The Birthday Party" (1969)
"Idle Race" (1970)
Jeff Lynne joins The Move, later forms Electric Light Orchestra, and was member of The Traveling Wilburys (with Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty).
The Idle Race II (1970 - 1971)
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Mike Hopkins - guitar
Dave Walker - vocals
Album:
"Time Is" (1971)
Group disbands.
Idle Race Discography
http://members.iinet.net.au/~althomp/austelo/idle/idlediscography.html
Nightriders Discography
http://members.iinet.net.au/~althomp/austelo/idle/nightrdiscography.htm
]
Breaking Clay Makes My Day!
http://members.iinet.net.au/~althomp/austelo/idle/index2.html
The story of the Idle Race has its roots in the late fifties with the Birmingham band, Billy King and the Nightriders...
After numerous personnel changes, including the departure of Billy King, the band changed their name to Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and the lineup settled to 'Big Al' Johnson on guitar, Mike Sheridan (ex-Dakotas, ex-Checkers) on vocals, Brian Cope on bass, Dave Pritchard (ex-Planets) on rhythm guitar and Roger Spencer (ex-Hound Dogs) on drums.
With the 'Mersey' sound emanating from Liverpool
(The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Hermins Hermits etc.) and well established in the UK, Record producer Norrie Paramor thought that it would be a great idea to emulate the phenomenon in Birmingham, England's second biggest city.
Hundreds of hopeful bands gathered at 'The Moathouse Club' and it was here where Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders were given the chance to make a record...
After a couple of unsuccessful singles including a cover of the Motown classic "Please Mr. Postman" which had only just been a hit for the Beatles, Greg Masters joined on bass and the band looked for a replacement for 'Big Al' Johnson on lead guitar. In 1964 auditions were held and a young lad from Solihul got the gig... His name of course was Roy Wood (ex-Falcons, ex-Lawmen).
Wood made an immediate impact on the band's sound convincing them to get into harmonies, look for a wider variety of material to perform and to work harder at their craft. A measure of his influence can be heard on their first single with him in their lineup, a cover of the Shirelles song "What A Sweet Thing That Was".
During this period the band delved into the realms of comedy on stage, featuring Roy's infamous impersonations of Donovan and a killer Dusty Springfield routine which saw Woody attired in a blonde wig and pink feather boa! The blonde wig was later to resurface during the early incarnation of ELO when Roy would generously cover the rug in talcum powder and would magically become Old Father Time (but that as they say is another story)!
They recorded one more single under the guise of Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders before deciding that maybe a name change would lift their fortunes and so Mike Sheridan's Lot they became. Two singles were released with the flip side to the first featuring Roy's first composition "Make Them Understand".
Their second and final single as Mike Sheridan's Lot "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" was perhaps the best they had ever recorded, written by Jackie De Shannon and produced by Norman 'Hurricane' Smith (of "Babe, what would you say" and "Don't Let It Die" fame). Despite the name change and marvelous second single, the success they so desired seemed a distant dream.
Within a year Wood had left to form The Move in 1966 with Carl Wayne, Ace Kefford, Bev Bevan, and Trevor Burton and was replaced by another guitarist - Johnny Mann. Sheridan found Mann to be no match for the multi-talented Wood, and seeing his band going nowhere quit shortly afterwards.
Pritchard, Spencer, Masters, and Mann continued to exist together under the more appropriate name of The Nightriders and secured a recording contract with Polydor. However, Mann left the band after the first recording session at Pye Studios and was replaced by a teenager hailing from Shard End, Jeff Lynne (ex-Tinkerbells Fairydust, ex-Chantells, ex-Andycaps & The Chads).
The Nightriders returned to Pye Studios to repeat the session with Lynne on lead guitar with the resulting single, "It's Only The Dog" backed with "Your Friend" being released in November of 1966.
Before leaving the group, Johnny Mann taught the young Jeff how to get the 'violin sound' on his guitar that can be heard on "Your Friend", a technique which Jeff was to use to great effect on later Idle Race tracks.
On the 4th of April,1966, Jeff Lynne played his first professional gig with The Nightriders at 'The Belfry' in Birmingham.
Neither song bore any resemblance as to what was to follow and despite the subsequent "Nightriders" release, the band saw themselves moving in a new direction. Pritchard had been writing original material and saw Lynne as a promising front man for the band. With the new image came a new name and by May 1966 the band had become the Idyll Race which very quickly mutated into the Idle Race.
Billy King and The Nightriders ( ? - ? )
Billy King - vocals
Others...
Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders I ( ? - ? )
Mike Sheridan - vocals - formerly with The Dakotas and The Checkers.
"Big Al" Johnson - guitar
Dave Pritchard - guitar - formerly with The Planets.
Brian Cope - bass
Roger Spencer - drums - formerly with The Hound Dogs.
Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders II / Mike Sheridan's Lot I ( ? - 1966)
Mike Sheridan - vocals
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Roy Wood - guitar/vocals - b. Ulysses Adrian Wood, November 8, 1946, Birmingham, England - formerly with The Falcons and The Lawmen.
Roy Wood forms The Move and, later, Electric Light Orchestra.
Mike Sheridan's Lot II (1966)
Mike Sheridan - vocals
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Johnny Mann - guitar
The Nightriders I (1966)
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Johnny Mann - guitar
The Nightriders II / The Idyll Race / The Idle Race I (1966 - January 1970)
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Jeff Lynne - guitar/vocals - b. December 30, 1947, Birmingham, England.
Albums:
"The Birthday Party" (1969)
"Idle Race" (1970)
Jeff Lynne joins The Move, later forms Electric Light Orchestra, and was member of The Traveling Wilburys (with Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty).
The Idle Race II (1970 - 1971)
Dave Pritchard - guitar
Roger Spencer - drums
Greg Masters - bass
Mike Hopkins - guitar
Dave Walker - vocals
Album:
"Time Is" (1971)
Group disbands.
Idle Race Discography
http://members.iinet.net.au/~althomp/austelo/idle/idlediscography.html
Nightriders Discography
http://members.iinet.net.au/~althomp/austelo/idle/nightrdiscography.htm
] Breaking Clay Makes My Day!
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