The Nashville Teens

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The Nashville Teens
The Nashville Teens
The Nashville Teens
Background information
Origin Weybridge, Surrey
Genre(s) Pop
Years active 1962-1973
1980-Present
Associated acts Jerry Lee Lewis
Website nashville-teens.com
Members
Ray Phillips
Adrian Metcalfe
Colin Pattenden
Simon Spratley
Ken Osborn

The Nashville Teens are a British pop band formed in Weybridge, Surrey in 1962.

Contents

[edit] History

Little is known of the founding musicians, except that Arthur Sharp began his career in music as the manager of Aerco Records in Woking, Surrey, but the 'Mark II' line-up comprised original singers Arthur Sharp and Ray Phillips, with former Cruisers Rock Combo members John Hawken (piano), Mick Dunford (guitar), Pete Harris (bass) and Dave Maine (drums). Additional guitarist Pete Shannon completed the band. Roger Groome replaced Maine shortly afterwards.

In 1963, third vocalist Terry Crowe joined briefly; but later that same year Dunford and Groome left and were replaced by John Allen and Barry Jenkins. (Crowe and Dunford later formed 'The Plebs' with Danny McCulloch, and were re-united with Hawken in Renaissance in 1970).

Whilst playing in Hamburg (as most British bands of the era did), the Teens backed Jerry Lee Lewis for his Live at the Star Club, Hamburg album. It is widely considered one of the greatest live rock and roll albums ever.[1][2] [3] [4][5][6] Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes, "Live at the Star Club is extraordinary, the purest, hardest rock & roll ever committed to record."[5] They later backed Carl Perkins on his hit single "Big Bad Blues", and also played with Bo Diddley. At one such gig, they were spotted by Mickie Most who subsequently produced their June 1964 debut single, an interpretation of the John D. Loudermilk penned song, "Tobacco Road", which reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart and number 14 in the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 chart. Jimmy Page played guitar on the studio cut of "Tobacco Road". The follow-up, another Loudermilk song, "Google Eye", reached number 10 in the UK in October 1964.

The following year they appeared as themselves in the British film, Be My Guest,[7] filmed at the Twickenham Film Studios, which was arranged by their then manager Don Arden.

A further three top fifty singles, "Find My Way Back Home" and "This Little Bird", followed in February and May 1965; with "The Hard Way" making a brief appearance the following year; but three subsequent records ("I Know How It Feels To Be Loved", "Forbidden Fruit" and "That's My Woman") all failed to chart.

Jenkins left in 1966 to join the The Animals, and was replaced by his predecessor Roger Groome.

The Nashville Teens' record producers included Andrew Loog Oldham and Shel Talmy. Although they were musically as competent as any of their contemporaries, the Teens had no distinctive personality as a band, and this contributed to their lack of long-term success, as did Decca's typical lack of promotion. (By 1970, Decca's only remaining rock acts were The Rolling Stones and The Moody Blues, both of whom handled their own promotion). In 1971 they released a single, "Ella James" - a Roy Wood penned song, originally recorded by The Move - on Parlophone, but again without success.

Arthur Sharp left in 1972 to join their one-time manager Don Arden, whilst Trevor Williams joined the fray. Despite Phillips' efforts, the Nashville Teens split in 1973.

They reformed in 1980, however, with Phillips as the only recognisable member joined by Peter Agate (guitar), Len Surtees (bass) and Adrian Metcalfe (drums), and are still playing. The current line-up is Phillips, Metcalfe, Colin Pattenden (bass and vocals), Simon Spratley (keyboards and vocals) and Ken Osborn (guitar).

Phillips joined The British Invasion All-Stars in the 1990s and made three albums with the group, consisting of members of The Yardbirds, Procol Harum, The Pretty Things, Downliners Sect and more. They did a cover of "Tobacco Road", which still receives airplay on XM Satellite Radio.

A 1993 EMI label compilation, Best of the Nashville Teens, contained a re-recording of their "Tobacco Road" hit, which is the only one available on iTunes.[8]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  • "Tobacco Road" (1964) - Number 6 (UK Singles Chart), Number 14 (Billboard Hot 100)
  • "Google Eye" (1964) - Number 10 (UK)
  • "Find My Way Back Home" (1965) - Number 34 (UK)
  • "This Little Bird" (1965) - Number 38 (UK)
  • "The Hard Way" (1966) - Number 45 (UK)
  • The Biggest Night of Her Life (1967)

[9]

[edit] Main band members

The following individuals were responsible for the bulk of the group's most successful era :-

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peter Checksfield, "Jerry Lee Lewis. The Greatest Live Show on Earth", Record Collector, #188 - April 1995, p. 79.
  2. ^ Milo Miles, Album review of Live at the Star Club, Hamburg. Rolling Stone, #899/900 - July 2002, p.112.
  3. ^ Q Magazine, #1, 2002, p.59.
  4. ^ Mojo, 3/01/04, p.52.
  5. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Album Review: "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg" at All Music Guide.
  6. ^ Steven Stoulder, Editorial review of "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg" at Amazon.com.
  7. ^ IMDb database - Be My Guest
  8. ^ All Music Guide review
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 387. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

[edit] External links