The Escorts!

miguel · Post by **miguel** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:14 pm

Yes, The Escorts, one of the greatest bands to come out of the Merseyside! And even more interesting than that is that they played Rickenbackers! Mike Gregory, the bass player, bought a RM 1999 in late 1964, early 1965, and Terry Sylvester (later, a member of The Hollies) had a RM 1997. This band never had a top twenty hit (except in Texas, where they reached the number one in mid 1964 with a raw version of 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy'!) but they released some excellent singles between 1964 and 1966 for the 'Fontana' label ('Philips Records'). Talented and with a strong image, the band sounds a bit like The Merseybeats, but they had their own style ('Come On Home Baby' is a bright, Beatles - inspired gem!). As you may know, there is an out-of-print CD comp, in 'Edsel Records', titled 'From The Blue Angel', that sometimes can be found in 'EBay'. If you don´t know The Escorts, try to get the Cd. You won´t be disappointed!

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:03 pm

Miguel: The Escorts are just a great topic. While they were around for a very brief period from 1962 to 1966, there are many links between the Escorts and other Liverpool groups including such groups as the Swinging Blue Jeans, Hollies, and Beatles. McCartney produced one of their singles late in the Escort's career, "From Head to Toe" and Night Time. This as it turns out did no better on the charts than any of their other hits. I will have to search for their CD.

While I don't want to short-change any of the groups' members, I find Mike Gregory, John Foster and Terry Sylvester to be of interest for a number of reasons.

As you say, Mike Gregory played a Rickenbacker export bass in Fireglo finish, a model 1999 I believe. I will try to round up a photo.

John Foster (their first drummmer, I believe) was a cousin to Ringo Star who I understand played a role in getting them connect to the Blue Angel Club. John's nickname was Johnny Sticks.

Terry Sylvester would leave the Escorts to play first with the Swinging Blue Jeans and later the Hollies. I would love to find a photo of Sylvester with his Model 1997.

I have not run across many of the Escorts recordings over the years but understranding that their first single was "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" recorded by Larry Williams and, of course, by the Fab Four.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:50 pm

Here is the photo that I was thinking of with the Escorts at the Mardi Gras Club. Terry Sylvester is seen second from the left with his Model 1997 and Mike Gregory on the extreme right with his Model 1999.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:10 am

Another Escots' photo of John Kinrade with his Gretsch and Mike Gregory with his Rickenbacker Model 1999 on stage at the Rumblin' Tom.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 4:44 pm

Interesting that the Escorts also had Gretsch and Rickenbackers, the choice of The Beatles.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:55 am

Any web sites for the Escorts? W/sound bites ould be cool.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 6:57 am

Sound samples of The Escorts CD, from the Blue Angel can be found here. Here is the track listing
1. Dizzy Miss Lizzy
2. All I Want Is You
3. One To Cry, The
4. Tell Me Baby
5. I Don't Want To Go On Without You
6. Don't Forget To Write
7. C'mon Home Baby
8. You'll Get No Lovin' That Way
9. Let It Be Me
10. Mad Mad World
11. From Head To Toe
12. Night Time

Their harmonies are very much like the Everly Brothers. They also make good use of three-part harmonies and the "wall of sound" used by many groups of the day. While the samples are limited, to me their sound lacks the edge that they might have needed to chart.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:48 pm

Thanks for that, Peter. I think your assessment of their sound is right on.

miguel · Post by **miguel** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 1:18 am

To me, they were a top class group. The best definition of their sound is that it was a mixture of the Beatles and The Merseybeats, and a very good one. Sadly, recordings at 'Fontana'´s Stanhope Place Studios in London were supervised by Jack Baverstock, a man not exactly delighted by the new sounds of the Beat era. Nevertheless, the samples, as Pete says, are limited. I recommend to you that you buy the Cd and have a listen, The Escorts were a very, very good group, and in Liverpool, from 1964 to 1966, they were the new Beatles.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 2:26 am

I agree Miguel, a comprehensive reivew of their work seems to be in order. It would be interesting to hear what Alan Williams has to say about this group as well. That Paul McCartney took the time to work with them in the recording of "From Head To Toe" and "Night Time" certainly is a comment on their sound. Certainly the Rickenbacker sound coupled with the Gretch lead work adds a richness of guitar texture reminiscent of the Fab Four.

Just in passing, are there any songs on this album that could be classified as "Rockers." I found "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" to be rather subdued or at least far gentler than the treatment given by Lennon.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 4:19 am

There is interesting information on the Escorts at terrysylvester.com. A couple of these tidbits include

"When the Escorts won the "Lancashire & Cheshire Beat Group Competition" in 1963, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, George Harrison & Ringo Starr were 2 of the 4 judges."

"The Escorts used to provide background music for Mike McCartney & the Scaffold at the "Blue Angel" Club."

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 5:41 am

I have come across an interesting comment made by Mike Gregory, bass player for The Escorts. We have noted here that the group, in spite of their best attempts, did not chart. Mike comments on this frustration directly in Spencer Leigh's 1984 book "Let's Go Down The Cavern." From page 144 of this out of print publication

"Looking back, I'm as sick as a parrot that I've never made the charts. When I see some of the tripe that gets in, I am amazed that I haven't made it somewhere. Never mind, I've been plodding on for the last twenty years, and I'm ready for the next twenty."

miguel · Post by **miguel** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:06 am

The 'Lancashire Beat Group Competition' was won by The Escorts, and The Merseybeats came second. The Escorts were offered an audition with 'Decca' in the early summer of 1963, and they recorded 'Fortune Teller', but 'Decca' didn´t signed the band. 'Fontana' signed The Merseybeats right after the contest, and The Escorts followed. One of the more intriguing questions relating to The Escorts is why, if 'Fontana' had them under contract since July 1963, their first record came out in April 1964! A whole year was wasted. An interesting theory says that 'Fontana' didn´t want The Escorts to compete with The Merseybeats, so the record company kept The Escorts in silence. This would back the fact that they were a strong band with chart potential.

I believe that 'Dizzy' was rushed, it sounds more like a 'demo' to me. Stanhope Place Studios (just like Pye´s Marble Arch studios, Decca´s West Hampstead studios or even EMI´s Abbey Road) were into the 'three-hours-three-songs' recording policy. Even The Merseybeats were looked with disdain at Stanhope Place, let alone The Escorts...

The Escorts´sound wasn´t into hard rock and roll or Stones type R&B. They sounded very much like The Beatles + The Merseybeats in the A sides, which used to be bright up-beat numbers ('The One To Cry', 'Come On Home Baby'...) and did stylish Merseybeats-style ballads in their 'B' sides. 'Mad, Mad World' was more rockier (this one was recorded at 'Regent Sound', in Denmark Street, London). For their last single in 1966, they were into a Motown/Impressions sound.

I´ll try to scan a couple of pictures as soon as possible.

miguel · Post by **miguel** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:16 am

These pictures are from the original four page fold out that came with the LP version of 'From The Blue Angel', in 1982. This one was taken by Campbell Mc.Callum in Liverpool, in April 1964, when The Escorts released 'Dizzie'. It was probably taken just outside manager Jim Ireland´s offices at Mardi Gras, Mount Pleasure. From left to right: Mike Gregory (bass), Pete Clarke (drums), John Kinrade (guitar) and Terry Sylvester (guitar). Although it is difficult to know, the stage uniforms that the boys are wearing were probably made by a local tailor, somewhat copying the designs of Doug Millings.

miguel · Post by **miguel** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:26 am

Here is the ad that appeared in the british music papers when the Moody Blues released their version of 'I Don´t Want To Go On Without You'. This nice shot was also distributed without the text to the 'Music Echo', the popular music paper that Bill Harry launched after 'Mersey Beat' folded in December 1964. Here are The Escorts with new stage uniforms and new their new Rickenbacker guitars. The drummer is not Pete Clarke (he left the group for a while in 1965) but Kenny Goodlass.