Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders

Next up was Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders. They did two numbers "Game of Love" which had made number 2 in February 1965 but had been number 1 in the states just a couple of weeks earlier. They then performed "Just a Little Bit Too Late", but this was not released as a single until June 1965. Their chart career was over by September 1965, although in 1966 as separate acts they were to have other hits. To me, looking at Wayne then and now you would not think they were the same person. Still, we all get older!

The Rolling Stones

Next on and the cheers really got loud at this stage, were The Rolling Stones, "Everybody Needs Somebody", a little snippet of "Pain In My Heart", "Around and Around" plus "The Last Time". My wife commented that Jagger was about as good a singer as I am, I told her difference though is about four zero's in the bank accounts.

Cilla Black

Next on was Cilla Black, backed by Sounds Incorporated. Though on DVD, she only gets the one number "Zip A Dee Do Dah." These days Cilla seems to get remembered only for shows such as Blind Date, but she was a force to be reckoned with back then.

Cathy McGowan was back on to introduce Donovan who did "Catch the Wind" and "You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond", and yes that is the title.

Them

Next up was Them who did "Here Comes the Night" and a self indulgent "Turn On Your Lovelight" Keith Fordyce was on then, I assume to introduce an act but went on about group names being Them, next we could have the, an, a, it etc was cringingly embarrassing.

The Searchers

Suddenly there was a cut to Jimmy Savile who introduced the act I was waiting for. The Searchers. Tony Jackson had left and Frank Allen was now insitu but his skills as a front-man were yet to be evident. Chris Curtis was still doing the intro's, though I was totally annoyed to find that on the DVD they were only given the one number "Let the Good Times Roll".

Frank's bass which, was a Burns, seemed to be too big for him and it seemed somewhat strange to see them line up, from left to right Mike, John and Frank.

Like previous groups though, The Searchers chart career in terms of top 20 records was over by the end of the year. I know for a fact they did "Bumble Bee" on the show, but it is not on the DVD and frankly I can't recall if it actually was on the TV broadcast.

Dusty Springfield

Next on was Dusty Springfield, backed by Sounds Incorporated. She sang just the one number, "Mockingbird", the old Charlie and Inez Foxx number.

The Animals

Then it was the turn of The Animals who at the time of the 1964 concert had just released their first single. Again, as with Herman's Hermits, the two guitarists Hilton Valentine and Chas Chandler plus Alan Price on keyboards were to the right of Eric Burdon. Valentine was playing his fireglo, Rickenbacker Rose-Morris Model 1997.

The Animals got to do three numbers "Boom Boom", "Don't Let Be Misunderstood" and "Talking 'Bout You." Hilton Valentine played a Rickenbacker, they did actually have a new release out at the time of the broadcast which was "Bring It On Home To Me" but this was not shown on the TV broadcast and I have to assume they did not take the opportunity to plug it.

The Beatles

Next on came the biggest cheer of the show, so yes on come The Beatles. They played five numbers in all. The first three included, "I Feel Fine", "She's A Woman" and "Baby's In Black" (rarely done live). John Lennon then introduced their new release "Ticket To Ride." Paul McCartney introduced their final song "a track from one of our EP's" (remember them) and they launched into "Long Tall Sally". Lennon played his Rickenbacker Model 325 in jetglo finish on all numbers with the exception of "I Feel Fine" on which he used his Gibson J160E.

Next some real bad editing, John Lennon was seen being given some award but you can't tell what for, then all the group come on to get the award for Top British Group. Unlike the 1964 show, whereby Roger Moore was introduced and then presented the awards, these were the only awards shown. It looked to me as if Tony Bennett was actually handing out the awards.

The Kinks

Normally once the Fab Four had been on that would be the end, but not in this instance. The Kinks were introduced next and Ray Davies made some comment about "sorry we're late". They did two numbers "You Really Got Me" and in an ironic way somewhat, "Tired Of Waiting For You", which no doubt, the organisers probably were.

End Notes

So that was it, another year over, as far as I can gather the NME Poll winner's shows went on for another three years, until 1968. I don't recall, to be honest, as to whether they were broadcast and to my knowledge no DVD's or VHS tapes exist. Then again, in theory neither does the 1964 and 1965 shows officially.

Some time back a Bootleg double CD emerged of this show and I list below, for those interested, the tracks on the CD, which are not on the DVD and as far as I know were not on TV broadcast.

Georgie Fame - Yeh Yeh
Ivy League - Sweet and Tender Romance
That's Why I'm Crying
Sounds Inc. - In The Hall Of The Mountain King
Cilla Black - Going Out Of My Head
Searchers - Bumble Bee
Dusty Springfield - Dancing In The Street
I Can't Hear You

What is also interesting about the CD is that The Kinks bit appears before The Beatles.

One can't help feeling that the years are passing by when you look at the performers and realise that at least six have gone to rock and roll heaven, John Lennon, George Harrison, Chas Chandler(Animals), Dusty Springfield, Lex Leckenby(Herman's Hermits), Brian Jones.


Roy Clough - September 2004