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THE GAME 1966

Exciting times . Terry Spencer the lead guitarist of the "Game" a local Mitcham Surrey R.n.B band had already had television and recording experience and a powerful management team looking after them Jean Lincoln & Bob Miller Agency and had Kenny Lynch as the bands recording manager.

Whilst I was playing with the "Torque" Terry approached me about my becoming their lead singer, I was totally bowled over and my 18 year old ego had to try for this so I accepted. I was rushed up to London Piccadilly, 17 Saville row I remember it like yesterday and had to sing for Kenny in a little tiny room, no microphone just Terry on acoustic guitar. No one was more surprised than I when Kenny O.K 'd me for a recording session at R.G.Jones Wimbledon.

There wasn't aa lot stereo recording in those days just 4 track (this was August 1966).The session went O.K. but I was very nervous and ended up sounding a little like Kenny but it was acceptable.

The thing I remember well was the song writer Bob Whackett a session drummer . He couldn't have had a more apt name.

Terry and I wrote a b side "Gotta Wait" a noisy guitar type thing with minimal musicality.

Things moved very fast. Before I had time to think we were scheduled for an appearance on "Ready Steady Go" and once again I was nervous, surrounded by people I'd only ever seen on television. It was a very unreal time Julie Felix, and Alan Price were on the bill along with other famous people of the time.

I had to sing to a backing track so the boys had to mime, we recorded the backing track slightly different to the record so we would sound more live. We didn't even get a run through as the big names took all the time up so we went on camara cold.

The next night the single was featured on Juke box jury and It was voted a hit, I couldn't believe it. We were actually performing that same night (Saturday) at the "Marquee" in Wardour street I remember two hookers who recognised me threatening to get me down a dark alley, for what I can't say but luckily a good old British bobby moved them on. I met Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (Their Hit single was Red Red Wine) he was very kind to us and helpful. There was a big drug scene in soho at this time so most of our audience wasn’t really with us at all.

From Left to right: Terry Spencer - Jimmy Nelson (Brown) Tony Bird - Alan Janaway - Ray Charsley.

This add was from The New Musical Express aug. 13th 1966

This is a picture of "Gonna Get Me Someone" the Decca 45 recording my brother Alan brought in a Sutton record shop.

"Gotta Wait"

"Gonna Get Me Someone"

cover version by

"Gonna Get Me someone" by

The Greenhornes

another cutting from the New Musical Express