- Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
-
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers were a 1960s British rhythm and blues, soul and beat group who had two Top 10 hits with "One Way Love" (#9 UK, 1964) and "Got to Get You into My Life" (#6 UK, 1966).
Well-known members include Bennett himself (vocals, born Clifford Bennett, 4 June 1940, Slough, Berkshire, England)[1] Dave Peacock (lead guitar, born David Victor Peacock, 24 May 1945, Ponders End, Middlesex, England), Chas Hodges (keyboards, bass), born Charles Nicholas Hodges, 28 December 1943, Edmonton, North London, England), Mick Burt (drums, born Michael Arthur Burt, 23 August 1938, Middlesex, England) and Nicky Hopkins (piano, born Nicholas Christian Hopkins, 24 February 1944, Harlesden, North West London, England).
Contents
The rhythm and blues boom
In 1957 Bennett put together the first version of the Rebel Rousers, who were good enough to attract the attention of audio engineer and aspiring record producer Joe Meek, with whom they recorded several singles that were leased to Parlophone. Bennett continued recording for Parlophone, including cover versions of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Got My Mojo Working", but failed to make any impact.
They were signed by Brian Epstein to a management contract in September 1964 and their seventh release, "One Way Love" (written by Bert Berns and Jerry Ragovoy under their pseudonyms Bert Russell and Norman Meade) b/w "Slow Down", finally charted soon after. Their next, "I'll Take You Home" (written by Johnny Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marv Tarplin) b/w "Do You Love Him", only got to #42[1] but "Three Rooms With Running Water" (written by Jimmy Radcliffe and Bob Halley) did somewhat better.[2] Then, in early 1966, while an opening act on The Beatles' last European tour, Paul McCartney played "Got to Get You into My Life" for Bennett. The song would appear on the Revolver album later that year and was not to be released as a single so, with Paul McCartney producing the session, a #6 hit ensued, with Bennett's song "Baby Each Day" appearing on the B-side.[1]
Afterwards
Bennett went on to be part of Toe Fat, whilst Chas Hodges (keyboards), Dave Peacock (bass) and Mick Burt, (drums) became Chas & Dave. After Toe Fat disbanded, two of their members (Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake) joined Uriah Heep,[1] and Bennett was asked to join them but declined. He was also considered for the lead vocalist position in Blood, Sweat & Tears when David Clayton-Thomas left in the early 1970s but once again turned the position down. He released a solo album, Rebellion in 1971 but he was not to rekindle his success of the previous decade.
In the 1970s Bennett retired from the music industry to become a shipping magnate; however since the mid 1980s he has constantly toured with a reformed Rebel Rousers. More recently he has toured alongside Mike d'Abo, Chris Farlowe, Zoot Money, Maggie Bell, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Manfreds, Steve Ellis and New Amen Corner.[3]
2009 saw Bennett embarking on a UK tour alongside Chris Farlowe, Herbie Goins and the Norman Beaker Band.
Members
- Roy Young - organ (born in 1937, London, England)
- Bobby Thomson - bass (born Robert Thomson, in 1942, Liverpool, Lancashire, England)
- Frank Allen - bass (born Francis Renauld McNiece, 14 December 1943, Hayes, Middlesex, England)
- Ben Jordan - bass (born Benjamin Jordan, in 1941, Edmonton, North London, England)
- Ricky Winters - drums (born Richard Winters, 27 September 1940, Aldershot, Hampshire, England)
- Dave Edmunds - percussion
- George Mattingley - percussion
- Dave Wendels - lead guitar (born David Wendels, 5 July 1942, Hounslow, Middlesex, England)
- Mick Currell - rhythm guitar (born Michael Currell, in 1940)
- Bernie Watson - lead guitar (born Bernard Watson, in 1944)
- Mick King - lead guitar (born Michael Borer, in 1942, in Croydon, Surrey died in 2010)
- Moss Groves - saxophone (born Maurice Groves, 3 April 1940, Birmingham)
- Sid Phillips - saxophone (born Bernard Phillps)
- John Golden - trumpet
Discography
Singles
- Jul '61 "You've Got What I Like"/"I'm In Love With You" Parlophone R 4793
- Oct '61 "That's What I Said"/"When I Get Paid" Parlophone R 4836
- Mar '62 "Poor Joe"/"Hurtin' Inside" Parlophone R 4895
- Jul '63 "Everybody Loves A Lover"/"My Old Stand By" Parlophone R 5046
- Nov '63 "You Really Got A Hold On Me"/"Alright" Parlophone
- Mar '64 "Got My Mojo Working"/"Beautiful Dreamer" Parlophone R 5119
- Sep '64 "One Way Love"/"Slow Down Parlophone" R 5173 UK#9
- Jan '65 "I'll Take You Home"/"Do You Love Him?" Parlophone R 5229 UK#42
- 1965 "Three Rooms With Running Water"/"If Only You'd Reply" Parlophone R 5259
- Aug '65 "I Have Cried My Last Tear"/"As Long As She Looks Like You" Parlophone R 5317
- 1966 "You Can't Love 'Em All"/"Need Your Loving Tonight" Parlophone R 5406
- Jun '66 "Eyes For You"/"Hold On I'm Coming" Parlophone R 5466
- Aug '66 "Got To Get You Into My Life"/"Baby Each Day" Parlophone R 5489 UK#6
- 1966 "Never Knew Lovin' Could Be So Doggone Good"/"Don't Help Me Out" Parlophone R 5534
- Feb '67 "I'm Sorry"/"I'll Take Good Care Of You" Parlophone R 5565
- May '67 "I'll Be There"/"Use Me"
EPs
- 1965 Try It Baby - "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby"/"Shoes"/"Try It Baby"/"Do It Right" Parlophone GEP 8936
- Oct '66 We're Gonna Make It - "My Sweet Woman"/"Whole Lotta Woman"/"We're Gonna Make It"/"Waiting At The Station" Parlophone GEP 8955
Albums
- 1965 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - "I Can't Stand It"/"Sweet And Lovely"/"Make Yourself At Home"/"You've Really Got A Hold On Me"/"Ain't That Lovin' You"/"Sha La La"/"One Way Love"/"Steal Your Heart Away"/"It's Alright"/"Beautiful Dreamer"/"Mercy, Mercy"/"Talking About My Baby"/"The Pick-Up" Parlophone PMC 1242
- Nov '66 Drivin' You Wild - "Three Rooms With Running Water"/"Baby, Baby, Baby"/"You Made Me Happy"/"Sweet Sorrow"/"I Have Cried My Last Tear"/"Another Saturday Night"/"Drivin' Me Wild"/"That's Why I Love You So"/"Who Cheatin' Now?"/"I'll Be Doggone"/"Strange Feeling"/"I'll Take You Home" Music For Pleasure MFP 1121[4]
- On bootleg recordings of The Beatles performing at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, a performance of "Hully Gully" (recorded the same night as a Beatles set) is often mistakenly included as a Beatles performance.
References
External links
Categories:- Beat groups
- Musical groups established in 1959
- British rhythm and blues boom musicians
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