The Swinging Blue Jeans

Infobox Musical artist
Name =The Swinging Blue Jeans


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Origin =Liverpool, England
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Years_active =1960s - present
Label =HMV
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URL = [http://www.swingingbluejeans.co.uk swingingbluejeans.co.uk]
Current_members =Ray Ennis
Les Braid
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The Swinging Blue Jeans are a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their proto rave-up hit single, "Hippy Hippy Shake".

An album to the single "Hippy Hippy Shake" was released in 1964 by EMI on the HMV label. In Canada it was issued by Capitol Records (T6069) and in the U.S. on Imperial Records (LP-9261) [http://www.bsnpubs.com/imperial/imperialf.html album info] .

The Swinging Blue Jeans were originally founded by Ray Ennis and Les Braid. They performed on many popular TV shows in Great Britain, Scandinavia, and Europe. They performed live with The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers, and the Merseybeats.

Later addition Terry Sylvester was not an original band member, and The Swinging Blue Jeans had the standard Merseybeat line-up of two guitars, a bass guitar and drums.

The beat group had a three year spell of moderate success, flying along with the all-pervading merseybeat success story. Once the novelty started to pale, the hits dried up, and the band eventually retired to the oldies circuit.

Sylvester (from The Escorts) left the group in 1968, and joined The Hollies as a replacement for the departing Graham Nash.

The Swinging Blue Jeans, with some original members, continue to tour to this day.

Band members

*Ray Ennis - Vocalist / Guitarist - born Raymond Vincent Ennis, 26 May 1942, in Huyton, Liverpool.
*Ralph Ellis - Guitarist - born 8 March 1942, in Liverpool.
*Les Braid - Bassist / Keyboardist - born William Leslie Braid, 15 September 1937, in West Derby Road, West Derby, Liverpool — died 31 July 2005, at Fazakerley Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool.
*Norman Kuhlke - Drummer - born 17 June 1942, in Liverpool.
*Terry Sylvester - Singer, Guitarist - born 8 January 1946, in Liverpool. (ex-Escorts, pre-The Hollies)
*Colin Manley - Guitarist - born 16 April 1942, in Liverpool — died 9 April 1999. (Ex-guitarist with The Remo Four.)
*John Ryan - Drummer - born 5 April 1953, in Pinehurst Avenue, Liverpool. (Ex-drummer with Liverpool Express.)
*Bruce McCaskill - Guitarist / Vocalist - born 15 January 1940.
*Mike Gregory - Bass guitarist - born Michael Gregory, 7 November 1946, at Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Liverpool. (Ex-bassist with The Escorts.)
*Jim Rodford - Bassist - born James Rodford, 7 July 1941, in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
*Hedley Vick - Guitarist - 22 April 1953, in Birkenhead, Merseyside.

Discography

(UK Singles Chart details)
*"It's Too Late Now" / "Think of Me" (HMV POP 1170, 1963) - UK Chart High: Number 30.
*"Hippy Hippy Shake" / "Now I Must Go" (HMV POP 1242, Dec 63) - Number 2.
*"Good Golly Miss Molly" / "Shaking Feeling" (HMV POP 1273, Mar 64) - Number 11.
*"You're No Good" / "Don't You Worry About Me" (HMV POP 1304, May 64) - Number 3.
*"Don't Make Me Over" / "What Can I Do Today" (HMV POP 1501, Jan 66) - Number 31.
*"Tremblin'" / "Something's Coming Along" (with Kiki Dee, Madeline Bell), (HMV POP1596, Jul 67)

References

Literature

* Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X

External links

* [http://www.swingingbluejeans.co.uk Official website]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ax7tk6rx9kra~T1 Short biography at the AMG website]