The Foundations

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Foundations


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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = London, England
Genre = Soul
Years_active = 1967–1970
Label = Pye, Castle, Uni
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Past_members = 1967-1968
Eric Allendale
Pat Burke
Clem Curtis
Mike Elliot
Tony Gomez
Tim Harris
Peter MacBeth
Alan Warner

1968-1970
Eric Allendale
Pat Burke
Tony Gomez
Tim Harris
Peter MacBeth
Alan Warner
Colin Young

1970-1971
Eric Allendale
Steve Bingham
Pat Burke
Tony Gomez
Tim Harris
Alan Warner
Colin Young

The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970.

Origins & Biography

The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby, Now That I've Found You" (a Number One hit in the UK Singles Chart, and subsequently Top 10 in the U.S.) written by Tony MacCaulay and John McCleod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" (a chart topper in the Billboard Hot 100) co-written by MacCaulay with Michael d'Abo, at the time the lead vocalist with Manfred Mann.

The make-up of the group drew much interest and intrigue due to the size and structure of the group. Not only was there a diverse ethnic mix in the group but there was also diversity in ages and musical backgrounds. Here was a mix of youth and experience. The oldest member of the group was Mike Elliott, who was 38 years old. The youngest was Tim Harris, who, at 18, was barely out of school. The West Indian horn section, which consisted of Jamaican born Mike Elliott and Pat Burke and Dominican born Eric Allendale , were all highly experienced musicians who came from professional jazz and rock-and-roll backgrounds. Mike Elliott was a highly experienced musician who had played in various jazz and rock and roll bands including The Cabin Boys who were led by Tommy Steele's brother Colin Hicks. Pat Burke a professional musician was from the London Music Conservatorium. Eric Allendale had lead his own band at one stage as well as having played with Edmundo Ros and being a former member of the Terry Lightfoot and Alex Walsh bands. Alan Warner, the guitarist, was also an experienced musician for his age, having played with numerous semi-pro groups from the age of 16. Peter Macbeth the bass player was a former teacher, Tony Gomez the keyboard player was a former clerk while Clem Curtis had been a former interior decorator and professional boxer.

The origins of The Foundations are somewhat confusing as to who was responsible for choosing the bands name and various different sources give slightly different accounts of their beginnings. One version is that they were originally called The Ramong Sound or The Ramong and there were two lead singers, Clem Curtis and Psychedelic shock rocker Arthur Brown. Another is that they were called The Foundation Squad or Foundation Sound. Apparently Arthur Brown was only a temporary member for about one month and by the time The Foundations had signed to Pye Records he had left the group. They also did a couple of tours backing The Toys and later Motown legend Edwin Starr.

They actually came together in Bayswater London in 1967 and practiced and played in a basement club called the Butterfly Club which they ran. They stayed there until they were eventually forced out by a protection racket gang and had to move next door to a dingy disused Mini-cab office. They were discovered by record dealer Barry Class who teamed up with Ron Fairway to become their managers. Fairway and Class eventually introduced them to PYE records A & R man Tony Macauley.

They are also notable for being one of the few label acts to successfully imitate what became known as the Motown Sound. In terms of line-up and musical style, they anticipated the sound of the more successful Hot Chocolate. Although they were in a similar musical vein to the Love Affair who also topped the UK charts in 1968 with their version of Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love". The Foundations signed to Pye, at the time one of only four big UK record companies (the others being EMI with its HMV, Columbia Records, and Parlophone labels; Decca; and Philips who also owned Fontana).

Debut single

When "Baby Now That I've Found You" was first released it went nowhere. Luckily the BBC's newly founded Radio 1 were looking to avoid any records being played by the pirate radio stations and they looked back at some recent releases that the pirate stations had missed. Baby, Now That I've Found You was one of them. The single then took off and by November Baby Now That I've Found You was number one in the UK charts. This was the ideal time because of the soul boom that was happening in England since 1965 and with American R&B stars visiting the UK, interest and intrigue in The Foundations was generated. Their second single released in 1968 "Back On My Feet Again" didn't do as well as the previous but made it to 18 in the UK. A third single also released in 1968 "Any Old Time You're Lonely Or Sad" only got to no 48.

Curtis and Elliott leave group

Original vocalist Clem Curtis left in 1968 because he felt that a couple of the bands members were taking it a bit too easy thinking that because they'd now had a hit, they didn't have to put in as much effort as they did previously. He hung around and helped them audition a replacement singer. He had become friendly with Sammy Davis, Jr. and was encouraged to try his luck in the states. He moved to the U.S. for a solo career on the club circuit, encouraged by the likes of Wilson Pickett and Sam and Dave, playing Las Vegas with the Righteous Brothers. He was replaced by Colin Young. Mike Elliott the saxophonist also left around this time and was never replaced. With Colin Young the band had two more big hits. "Build Me Up Buttercup" was their second hit for 1968 and "In The Bad Bad Old Days" was their big hit in 1969.

After a successful run of hits, The Foundations made the mistake of breaking with their management and breaking off from a Bill Graham sponsored tour to support The Temptations at the newly opened Copacabana club. This ended up in disaster and the band came back to the UK in low spirits.

The group's final hit was the less pop-oriented, more sophisticated "Born To Live and Born To Die" that was written by some of the band members. After that, the hits dried up and even though they still did very well on stage, they split in 1970. Peter Macbeth the bass player left to join the group Bubastis with Bernie Living, a replacement for him was Steve Bingham. Their last released record was a single issued on the MCA label, "Stoney Ground" bw "I'll Give You Love" A while later Alan Warner left to form the progressive group Pluto.

1971 to present

When Curtis returned to the UK, he formed a new version of the group with little success on record in spite of releasing several singles , but later a lucrative spell on the 1960s nostalgia circuit. In fact, Curtis' re-formed Foundations have on several occasions and among the many musicians to be part of latter day Foundations were Bill and John Springate, the latter becoming a member of The Glitter Band, Derek "Del" Watson and Roy Carter who later on joined Heatwave. Foundations Trombonist Eric Allendale attempted to work with original Foundations drummer Tim Harris in the seventies.

Clem Curtis and Colin Young have both been in re formed versions of The Foundations and later Alan Warner had been associated with both of them.

In the mid seventies while Clem Curtis and The Foundations were on the road there was also another Foundations line up that was lead by Colin Young who were on the road at the same time who were playing basically the same material. This eventually led to court action which resulted in Clem Curtis being allowed to bill his group as either The Foundations or Clem Curtis & The Foundations. Colin Young was allowed to bill himself as The New Foundations or Colin Young & The New Foundations. Around the mid seventies Colin Young and his group released a lone 45 on the PYE label, "Something For My Baby" / "I Need Your Love". It's worth noting that on various occasions Clem Curtis had approached Colin Young with ideas to team up and join forces. This union would have meant a band with two former lead singers. On those occasions, Colin Young was either not interested or didn't want to know.

Since the mid seventies Clem Curtis has re-recorded their old hits, but without Colin Young's distinctive voice on some of them. He has also recorded newer and original material that has been released on vinyl and compact disc.

There has also been another line up formed in 1999 that included Colin Young (Vocals), Alan Warner (Guitar), Steve Bingham (Bass), Gary Moberly (Keyboards) , Tony Laidlaw (Sax) and Sam Kelly then Steve Dixon (Drums) This version of the group was reformed due to the popularity of the film "There's Something About Mary" and the interest created resulting from the 1968 hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" being featured in the film. Some time later Colin Young left this version of the group and was replaced by Hue Montgomery AKA Hugh Montgomery.

There is also an American group that uses the name The Foundations and happen to use the Foundations name as well as covering some occasional material of the original band. They appear to have no connection or relation to the original group.

Regarding articles and references in some Rock Encyclopedias

A number of articles in Rock encyclopedias and rock music reference books state that there was an early seventies English line up that had nothing or little to do with the original Foundations. This is incorrect as Clem Curtis has been leading a new line up of the Foundations since coming back to the UK and reforming the group in the early seventies.

About CD releases of their original hits

Although their later Pye hits were re-issued on stereo albums, surprisingly "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup", only appeared in mono or mono electronically created stereo. However, within the last ten years, genuine stereo versions of both tracks have appeared These were taken from a 1968 Marble Arch label album that featured re-recordings of some of their past hits plus new material. The track "Baby, Now That I've Found You" is not the original version but one that features Colin Young instead of Clem Curtis.

Trivia

* The Foundations were the first visibly multi-racial group to have a number 1 hit in the UK in the 1960s.
* The nationalities of the group included one from Dominica, two from Jamaica, three Caucasians from London, one Sri Lankan and one from Trinidad. In 1968 Colin Young from Barbados who replaced Trinidad born Clem Curtis as lead singer.
* "Take A Girl Like You" was used in the Jonathan Miller directed 1970 film "Take A Girl Like You" that starred Oliver Reed and Hayley Mills, it appears on the Pye Records original soundtrack album.
* "Build Me Up Buttercup" became a hit again in 1998 when it was featured in the ending credits of the comedy film, "There's Something About Mary".
* "Baby Now That I've Found You" was featured in the 2002 top box office smash "Shallow Hal".
* The group's original recordings are now owned by Sanctuary Records.
* Former bass player Steve Bingham is now a member of Geno Washington's group.
* "The Foundations" still appear as Clem Curtis & The Foundations. Up until fairly recently, Alan Warner was on the road with The Foundations.

Former Personnel

* Clem Curtis: lead vocals - born 28 November 1940, Trinidad, West Indies.
* Colin Young: lead vocals - b. 12 September 1944, Barbados, West Indies - replaced Clem Curtis in 1968.
* Arthur Brown:vocals - b. 24 June 1942 Whitby, Yorkshire, Member for approximately one month in 1967
* Alan Warner: lead guitar - b. 21 April 1947, Paddington, West London.
* Peter Macbeth: bass guitar - b. Peter McGrath, 2 February 1937, Marylebone, North London.
* Steve Bingham: bass guitar -
* Tim Harris: drums - b. 14 January 1948, St John's Wood, North London.
* Tony Gomez: keyboard - b. 13 December 1938, Colombo, Ceylon - (now Sri Lanka).
* Pat Burke: tenor saxophone/flute - b. 9 October 1937, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.
* Mike Elliott: tenor saxophone - b. 6 August 1929, Jamaica, West Indies. - Left in 1968
* Eric Allandale: trombone - b. Eric Allandale Dubuisson, 4 March 1936, Dominica, West Indies — died 23 August 2001.
* Mike D'Abo :Piano - b. 1 March 1944, Betchworth, Surrey , Co-wrote and Guested on Build Me Up Buttercup contributing piano.

UK Singles discography

* "Baby, Now That I've Found You" / "Come On Back To Me" - PYE 7N 17366 - 1967 - UK #1, U.S. #11
* "Back On My Feet Again" / "I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving" - PYE 7N 17417 - 1968 - UK #18
* "Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)" / "We Are Happy People" - PYE 7N 17503 -1968 - UK #48
* "Build Me Up Buttercup" / "New Direction" PYE 7N 17636 - 1968 - UK #2, U.S. #3
* "In The Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)" / "Give Me Love" - PYE 7N 17702 - 1969 - UK #8
* "Born To Live, Born To Die" / "Why Did You Cry" - PYE Pye 7N 17809 1969 - UK #46
* "Baby, I Couldn't See" / "Penny Sir" - PYE 7N 17849 - 1969
* "Take A Girl Like You" / "I'm Gonna Be A Rich Man" - PYE - 7N 17904 - 1970
* "I'm Gonna Be A Rich Man" / "In The Beginning" PYE 7N 17956 - 1970
* "Stoney Ground" / "I'll Give You Love" - MCA MKS 5075 - 1971
* "Baby Now That I've Found You" / "Build Me Up Buttercup" - Old Gold OG9407 - (1979 Re-release)
* "Baby Now That I've Found You" / "Build Me Up Buttercup" - Flashback FBS 6 -1979 (Re-release)
* "Build Me Up Buttercup" - CD single -1998 - UK #7

UK Album discography

* "From The Foundations" - PYE NSPL 18206 - 1967
* "Rocking The Foundations" - PYE NSPL 18227 - - 1968
* "The Foundations" - Marble Arch MALS 1157 - 1968
* "Digging The Foundations" - PYE NSPL 18290 - 1969
* "Golden Hour Of The Foundations (Greatest Hits) - GH 574 - 1973
* "Back To The Beat" - PRT DOW7 - 1983
* "Best Of" - PRT PYL 4003 - 1987

UK EP 7

* "It's All Right" Pye NEP24297 - 1968
* Mini Monstor Pye PMM.103

UK EP 12"

* "Baby, Now That I've Found You" - PYE Big Deal BD 107 - (4 tracks)
* "Baby, Now That I've Found You" - PRT Pyt 24 - 1989 - (3 tracks incl remix)

US Singles discography

* "Baby, Now That I've Found You" / "Come On Back To Me" - Uni 55038 - 1967
* "Back On My Feet Again" / "I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving" - Uni 55058 - 1968
* "Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)" / "We Are Happy People" - Uni 55073 -1968
* "Build Me Up Buttercup" / "New Direction" - Uni 55101 - 1968
* "In The Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)" / "Give Me Love" - Uni 55117 - 1969
* "Born To Live, Born To Die" / "Why Did You Cry" - Uni 55162 - 1969 - UK #46
* "My Little Chickadee" / "Soloman Grundy" - Uni 55137 - 1969
* "Take A Girl Like You" / "I'm Gonna Be A Rich Man" - Uni 55210 - 1970
* "Stoney Ground" / "I'll Give You Love" - Uni 55315 - 1971
* "Build Me Up Buttercup" / "Baby, Now That I've Found You" - Eric 192 (Re-release)

US Album Discography

* Baby Now That I've Found You -- Uni 3016 (Mono)/73016 (Stereo) -- 1967
* Build Me Up Buttercup -- Uni 73043 -- 1968
* Digging The Foundations -- Uni 73058 -- 1969

References

* Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
* The Guinness Book Of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
* The Book Of Golden Discs - ISBN 0-214-20512-6
* The Collection , Baby Now That I've Found You Castle Music CD liner notes by Roger Dopson

References with links

* The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown http://www.richieunterberger.com/brown.html
* Alex Gitlin Pluto page http://www.alexgitlin.com/npp/pluto.htm
* GARY MOBERLEY info http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Diner/2674/moberley_gary_a.htm
* Pluto Website http://www.pluto-rockband.com/70141/info.php?p=2&pno=0
* Alan Warner site page http://www.alan-warner.com/10102/info.php?p=4&pno=0
* Ride Your Pony http://rideyourpony-twighlightzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/group-made-up-of-west-indians.html
* Mike D'Abo Foundations http://www.mikedabo.com/foundations.htm
* Buddah Records @ Disco-Disco.com http://www.disco-disco.com/labels/buddah.shtml

External links

* [http://www.clemcurtis.com Clem Curtis web site]
* [http://www.alan-warner.com Alan Warner site page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/clemcurtis Clem Curtis Myspace]