Lord Rockingham's XI

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Lord Rockingham's XI was a British band that became known especially in their homeland in the late 1950s through the television show “Oh Boy!” . The by Scots Harry Robinson led chapel succeeded in 1958 a surprise number one hit with the novelty - Single "Hoots Mon" .

Band history

Oh boy! One band

"Lord Rockingham's Elf" were actually 13 musicians, including band leader Robinson and the South African Cherry Wainer on the Hammond organ . The band had been formed to play as the house band on "Oh Boy!" A rock 'n' roll music show developed by Jack Good for the British independent television station ITV .

Good had entrusted Robinson with the selection. He decided on the line- up : two tenor saxophones , two alto saxophones , three guitars , double bass , piano , organ, percussion and drums . So the music of Lord Rockingham's XI was saxophone-stressed; a well-known jazz saxophonist, Benny Green (previously with Ronnie Scott ), played in the band, as did Red Price (tenor saxophone), who had previously played in the Ted Heath Band. This band accompanied stars such as Marty Wilde , Billy Fury and Cliff Richard in the TV show .

Hoots Mon! A hit

1958 took Lord Rockingham's XI in the Decca studios in West Hampstead a rock and roll song, Harry Robinson had written an adaptation of the Scottish folk song "One Hundred Pipers" . The song was a catchy instrumental piece on which, however, a few words were spoken in pseudo-Scottish dialect : The title as well as “There's a moose loose aboot this hoose” and “It's a braw, break, moonlight not ” (“ It's a bright moonlight night ”). A catchy tune was born - the single sold more than 500,000 times, and from November 28, 1958, it was number one in the British charts for three weeks . Despite its success, “Hoots Mon” did not bring the musicians any riches: they only received the previously contracted six British pounds .

In February 1959, however, the next single ( "Wee Tom" ) only came in at number 16, and Lord Rockingham's XI hit the charts . You had another appearance in the movie Latin Quarter , but shortly afterwards the television show Oh Boy! discontinued.

Good lord! (No end

During the time of Oh Boy! Most fans equated Harry Robinson with Lord Rockingham . The name was invented by Good and Robinson (a play on the expression "rocking 'em" , for example "they play rock (' n'Roll)"). After the show ended, there was a dispute over the name; Good kept the television and recording rights, Robinson was allowed to continue to use him for stage appearances.

Tried with a different cast Robinson, the band during the Twist - boom to revive three years later (1962) again, but to no avail. In 1968 he and other musicians recorded an LP with new recordings of the hits from Lord Rockingham's XI and cover versions of current hits such as “Lady Madonna” or “Baby Come Back” . In 1993 the original version of "Hoots Mon" was re-released in Great Britain and once again reached number 60 in the charts.

Occupation (1958)

  • Harry Robinson - orchestra leader
  • Ronnie Black - double bass
  • Eric Ford - guitar
  • Ian Frazer - piano
  • Benny Green - alto saxophone
  • Rex Morris - tenor saxophone
  • Ken Packwood - guitar
  • Red Price - tenor saxophone
  • Cyril Reubens - alto saxophone
  • Don Storer - drums
  • Bernie Taylor - guitar
  • Cherry Wainer - organ
  • Reg Weller - percussion

Discography

Singles and EPs

  • 1958 Fried Onions / The Squelch
  • 1958 Oh Boy! ( EP )
  • 1958 Hoots Mon / Blue Train (UK Charts # 1/1958 and # 60/1993)
  • 1959 Wee Tom / Lady Rockingham, I Presume (UK Charts # 16)
  • 1959 Ra-Ra-Rockingham / Farewell to Rockingham
  • 1962 Newcastle Twist / Rockingham Twist

Albums

  • The Return of Lord Rockingham (1968)
  • Jack Good Presents Lord Rockingham's XI from "Oh Boy!" (Greatest Hits and more)

Cherry Wainer solo

  • 1959 Presenting Cherry Wainer (EP)

Web links