Hank and Bruce's first Drifters session: 65 years ago

[Iain Purdon]

You probably mean Andy White on drums.

Absolutely!! I can see how that crept in (now corrected)
Andy White in the 1970s was drummer with the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra, I worked at BBC Glasgow then and would see a lot of the musicians drinking in the club nearby. I asked Andy about the Love Me Do recording. “It was just a gig”, he said. “They were nice lads.”
PS - both Andy White and Ernie Shear were Scots.

[iefje]

You probably mean Andy White on drums.

Absolutely!! I can see how that crept in (now corrected)
Andy White in the 1970s was drummer with the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra, I worked at BBC Glasgow then and would see a lot of the musicians drinking in the club nearby. I asked Andy about the Love Me Do recording. “It was just a gig”, he said. “They were nice lads.”
PS - both Andy White and Ernie Shear were Scots.

Ah, that's another interesting fact. I didn't know they were Scottish. Also great to have actually spoken to Andy himself!

[JimN]

You probably mean Andy White on drums.

Absolutely!! I can see how that crept in (now corrected)
Andy White in the 1970s was drummer with the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra, I worked at BBC Glasgow then and would see a lot of the musicians drinking in the club nearby. I asked Andy about the Love Me Do recording. “It was just a gig”, he said. “They were nice lads.”
PS - both Andy White and Ernie Shear were Scots.

Ah, that's another interesting fact. I didn't know they were Scottish. Also great to have actually spoken to Andy himself!

I'm sure I have read somewhere that Andy White was Scottish.

I know that Ernie Shear is Scottish because I once interviewed him (over the phone).

[Iain Purdon]

I'm sure I have read somewhere that Andy White was Scottish.

If not in my account above, it may have been in an old thread of mine, Jim. I’ve told the tale before and his accent was unmistakeable!

[Fenderman]

I didn't know there was a piano on Mean Streak. Might play it and have a closer listen.

[Timcooper555]

If on the odd chance, anyone should have “Mean Streak” on 78, that they wish to sell, please pm me.

Thanks, Tim.

[Moderne]

I can't hear a piano on Mean Streak...nor Livin' Lovin' Doll - which was apparently recorded at the same session (14th November 1958). Incidentally, Hank's guitar playing on Never Mind - the original flip of Mean Streak - is unbelievably good, particularly when you think he was just 17 at the time! (Just listened thru headphones to my original 45). Mean Streak on 78...that would be quite something...

[Teflon]

There's a piano on "Steady With You". Would this have been recorded at the same session?

Cliff

[Moderne]

There's a piano on "Steady With You". Would this have been recorded at the same session?

Cliff

Steady With You was apparently recorded five days later - on 19th November. I say "apparently" because I'm quoting from the 'Lewry - Goodall' Complete Chronicle book... Norrie was always present at their sessions so I guess he would often have been tempted to add piano - before Hank and later Brian Bennett revealed themselves to be quite proficient at the instrument! Chinchilla definitely needed Norrie's piano playing!

[GoldenStreet]

There's a piano on "Steady With You". Would this have been recorded at the same session?

Cliff

Steady With You was recorded five days later on 19th November 1958, the same session (Terry Smart's final one before leaving the Drifters) of the original, unreleased attempt at Never Mind.

With regard to Mean Streak, I'm certain there is an almost imperceptible piano part (most likely Norrie Paramor) virtually lost in the mix at various points in the recording. Maybe a remastered version from a more recent compilation CD might help to make it more clear.

Bill

Clive - you beat me to it!