PARAMOUNTS (The) - Whiter Shades of R&B, 1983(compilation 1963-1965)(Edsel ED 112)

The Paramounts were formed back in 1959 whilst Brooker, Copping and Trower were still at secondary school in Southend. With the addition of Brownlee and Scott they developed a good local reputation as a covers band gigging in local youth clubs. Eventually Scott dropped out and Brooker took over the vocal duties. When they left school in 1962 they became semi-professional, acquired a manager Peter Martin and began to specialise in black American R&B covers of songs by artists like James Brown and Ray Charles. They also gained a residency at the Shades club in Southend. At the start of 1963 Brownlee was replaced by Wilson and later that year Copping left to go to Leicester University with Diz Derrick joining in his place. They were signed by Parlophone the same year and one of their demos, a cover of The Coasters' Poison Ivy was put out as a 45. It had a lot of commercial appeal and sold pretty well. They were further boosted when The Rolling Stones, who'd they'd worked with on the 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' pop show, described The Paramounts as "the best R&B group in England". Although their follow-up 45, a revival of Thurston Harris' Little Bitty Pretty One, was plugged quite hard it failed to sell, as did their subsequent releases. In 1964 they were featured on a Duffy Power flip side, Tired, Broke and Busted. By late 1965 they were clearly in decline (reduced to backing Sandie Shaw and Chris Andrews on European tours) and they split in September 1966 . Trower and Wilson remained on the R&B circuit whilst Brooker concentrated on songwriting, linking up with lyricist Keith Reid. By Spring 1967 they'd written quite a few songs and needed a band to play them. After advertising in 'Melody Maker' Procol Harum was formed. Over the subsequent years all the old Paramounts (apart from Diz Derrick who left the music business) were recruited to its ranks. Robin Trower later embarked on a solo career. The Edsel compilation (Edsel ED 112 / 1983 ) includes all the band's recordings plus four previously unissued cuts including a very lively cover of The Sorrows' You've Got What I Want and a barnstorming rendition of Charlie Mingus's black liberation anthem Freedom. (taken from "Tapestry Of Delights") My personal faves are their previously unreleased killer version of "Turn On Your Lovelight" and their cool cover of "A Certain Girl". R&B/Beat enthusiasts will love that platter, Procol Harum fans should give them a listen for historical reasons.

Line-up

Gary Brooker (keyboards, vocals)
Robin Trower (guitar)
Chris Copping (bass, 1959-62)
Bob Scott (vocals, 1959-61)
Mick Brownlee (drums, 1959-62)
Graham "Diz" Derrick (bass, 1962-66)
B.J. Wilson (drums, 1962-66)


Tracklisting

1. Poison Ivy

2. I Feel Good All Over

3. Little Bitty Pretty One

4. A Certain Girl

5. I'm The One Who Loves You

6. It Won't Be Long - Bad Blood

7. Do I

8. Blues Ribbons

9. Cuttin' In

10. You Never Had It So Good

11. Don't Ya Like My Love

12. Draw Me Closer

13. Turn On Your Lovelight

14. You've Got What I Want

15. Freedom