South African seventies

Ray · 2009-01-31T10:31:41+00:00

Much of my youth was spent in the East Rand town of Springs. Toward the end of the senventeis there was a band that did reasonably well for themselves called...

South African seventies

vic

Ray wrote: OK, so your mention of a Springs band just got al the heimwee going that's why I googled and didnt find much but the mention of Colin Pratley but there really isnt much at all :

http://www.freshmusic.co.za/freedom_battle_liner.html

http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=FreedomsChildren

and look here. But hell I cant remember him being this old hey. and now I wonder if this is the oke I knew.

http://www.colinpratley.co.za/

That's them Ray...and Colin Pratley (drummer).Time and tide wait for no-one... ? The Navarones/Naverones should really get more recognition imho. They were into honest music and were not trying to be revolutionaries in the old SA... :?

Ray

So I go look for Navarones on Rhythm Music store online and find Christams in Cape Town and other stuff but no Navarones. And I look for Colin Pratley and also a whole bunch of other stuff. But I found Freedom's Children and and find A New Day - Freedoms Children (Colin Pratley & Ken E Henson).

Ray

You know what? Some time ago I remember Alan R posted about having worked with David Leadbetter. I think this is the same one becasue the one I was in school with moved to Cape Town. Now, Dave Leadbetter was a musician in Springs if I remember he part timed with a bunch of bands but he was pretty hot on keyboards if I remember. His mom used to paly the piano as well for the ballet teachers' exams and all. Anyway, he was well in with the music scene and could quite possibly know these guys so someone track him down and ask him what's what.

Wizard

Here's a trick.
Go onto facebook and search for someone like Julian Laxton or Caroline Blundell ... then look at their list of friends ... and all the names pop up ?

Renesongs

Although I was a in my teens in the 70's I kind of missed the whole 70's rock thing I felt that after The Cream split up and Hendrix died that rock was sooo old news. I was into Jazz and Fusion Chick Corea Weather Report McLaughlin Miles Davis and such. I didn't get involved too much in the local music scene I was an arrogant young prat that rated people like Trevor Rabin and Julian Laxton as really bad, I told the Cohen Brothers that I was not into there vibe and they should rather get my cousin John to play with them, and they did, they formed "Touch wood" which then spawned Bright Blue and Sweat Band.

Do I regret being so up tight, of course I do, opportunity was not only knocking on my door it was thumping on it, wailing and pleading to be let in but I just turned my back on it, music had left my soul and was now a game being played in my head.

It was late in the 80's that I found my religion again through the Baptist like preaching of Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar. There is of course one thing that unites all contemporary music and puts everything in perceptive and that is the Blues - amen. 8)

IceCreamMan

X-rated Bob wrote:
IceCreamMan wrote: Anyone got lyrics and tabs for "Better the devil you know" Stingray version?
Here's that particular ditty

Trying to find out who wrote it. I think it was Dennis East and Mike Pilot.

Thanks , excellent hey ...damn fine days those

vic

Ray wrote: You know what? Some time ago I remember Alan R posted about having worked with David Leadbetter. I think this is the same one becasue the one I was in school with moved to Cape Town. Now, Dave Leadbetter was a musician in Springs if I remember he part timed with a bunch of bands but he was pretty hot on keyboards if I remember. His mom used to paly the piano as well for the ballet teachers' exams and all. Anyway, he was well in with the music scene and could quite possibly know these guys so someone track him down and ask him what's what.

I will try to track the Patterson brothers down....will let you know.

vic

For some healthy 60's and 70's nostalgia, check this page for some early SA bands

http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=taxonomy/term/1057/9

@Ray...here is a pic of a young Colin Pratley PLUS a music clip of the Navarones (Blue blue feeling)...takes a bit of time to load...
the investigation is on track.. ?

Squonk

vic wrote: For some healthy 60's and 70's nostalgia, check this page for some early SA bands

http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=taxonomy/term/1057/9

Very good site Vic ?

Tamago

Shame, and nobody remembers Falling Mirror

The folks who brought you the "Johnny calls the Chemist" song.

Allan Faull was a seriously good guitarist. Some really good work on the above-mentioned track.

Squonk

Who says we dont remember Falling Mirror

Excellent band, although I hated 'Johnny calls the Chemist"

Zen Boulders and Storming the loft and Fantasy Kid, were very good albums.

AlanRatcliffe

Squonk wrote: Who says we dont remember Falling Mirror

+1. Alan is a great player. Haven't seen him around for a while. Anyone know if he's still playing?

costafonix

I grew up around Hillbrow/Berea in the 70's thru mid '80's and I think those were excellent years for SA music. You could spend an entire evening in Hillbrow in and out of various clubs and see one live act after the other. There were a couple of great bands playing at Bella Napoli, I remember going there on a Sunday evenings to watch a band called Bite, and then there was a band called Fantasy, I'm still very good friends with their ex-drummer "Bokkie" who went on to play for Johnny Clegg.
Bokkie now lives in Canada and still plays drums but also does motivational speaking. There was another great club band called Celebration who did the Hillbrow circuit.
Then there was the whole Rockey Street thing happening in Yeoville, same story, great, great talented bands, too many to mention but one such band were the Diamond Dogs (the drummer Claude happens to be my brother-in-law) and we're still playing in our band today.
As far a great guitarists from that era go, I remember Jethro Buttow who I thought (and still do today) rate him as one of the best.
The best part of the 70's was you could pick up the real deal in guitars (and there were lots of little music shops all over the place), 2ndhand Gibsons and Fenders for next to nothing,,, I bought my Les Paul from Dave? who played for a band called Blend for R600!!
ahem,, just given away my age,, but that was a great period in time. ?

Bob-Dubery

CostaFonix wrote: The best part of the 70's was you could pick up the real deal in guitars (and there were lots of little music shops all over the place), 2ndhand Gibsons and Fenders for next to nothing,,, I bought my Les Paul from Dave? who played for a band called Blend for R600!!
ahem,, just given away my age,, but that was a great period in time. ?

Well that was a lot more money then than it is now. My first month's gross pay was R300! That would have been 1976.

Squonk

CostaFonix wrote: Then there was the whole Rockey Street thing happening in Yeoville, same story, great, great talented bands, too many to mention but one such band were the Diamond Dogs (the drummer Claude happens to be my brother-in-law) and we're still playing in our band today.

Used to frequent Dylan's then Costa?
I have met up with Greg (Guitarist Diamond Dogs) and we have some really good chats about those days. Greg's kids went to the same school as my kids.

I saw them at Dylans a couple of times, good stuff, they also did good original songs!
I saw some good acts at Caricatures, The guitarist from Petit Cheval etc etc. There was such a good buzz in Yeoville in those days.
I actually stayed in Hillbrow/Yeoville from 1981-1999!
Can you remember a Keyboardist , Clive Goodwill who played for a lot of the Hillbrow bands?

costafonix

Absolutely X-rated Bob, I remember begging, borrowing, stealing to raise the funds for this guitar,,funny thing is, there was a black Les Paul Custom with gold hardware going for R700, and I could not raise another penny to buy that one.
Squonk, yep I frequented Dylan's but not too often. I do remember the name Clive Goodwill.

Bob-Dubery

CostaFonix wrote: I grew up around Hillbrow/Berea in the 70's thru mid '80's and I think those were excellent years for SA music. You could spend an entire evening in Hillbrow in and out of various clubs and see one live act after the other. There were a couple of great bands playing at Bella Napoli, I remember going there on a Sunday evenings to watch a band called Bite, and then there was a band called Fantasy, I'm still very good friends with their ex-drummer "Bokkie" who went on to play for Johnny Clegg.
Bokkie now lives in Canada and still plays drums but also does motivational speaking. There was another great club band called Celebration who did the Hillbrow circuit.
Then there was the whole Rockey Street thing happening in Yeoville, same story, great, great talented bands, too many to mention but one such band were the Diamond Dogs (the drummer Claude happens to be my brother-in-law) and we're still playing in our band today.

Did you ever go to the Boogie Barn? I saw some great bands there - Raven, Baxtop, Shag (who morphed into The Asylum Kids), Flash Harry, Corporal Punishment, The Gents, The Lancaster Band, Hogs Norton, The Other Band....

I remember Bokkie de Beer from his time playing in "the Big Jump Band" at the Ports 'o Call in Durban.

As far a great guitarists from that era go, I remember Jethro Buttow who I thought (and still do today) rate him as one of the best.

I remember him from a band that played at the Plumb Crazy. Can't remember their name. He was always a stand out player.

Squonk

Bob now you are talking?

Used to Frequent Port O' call when I was in Durban as well, saw Alcatraz and Gate quite a few times, The Guitarist in Cinema was in Alcatraz.

Didn't Jethrow play in Morocco at that time, slightly jazzy/poppy band?

Plumb Crazy , haven't thought of that name for years ?

costafonix

Yep, it was Morocco. Here's some other clubs from them days :- Ciro's, President Hotel, and there was quite a dodgy one in the centre of town - Just For Kicks,,,say no more,,,

IceCreamMan

Early 80's i used to hang out at the Golden Banana and King of clubs.

Bando of Gypsies ...still going as far as i know although with line up changes, excellent guitarist ...