The Beatstalkers-Scotland's No.1 Beat Group-Complete recordings '63-69-NEW LP

The Beatstalkers – Scotland's No.1 Beat Group
The Beatstalkers - Scotland's No.1 Beat Group

Complete recordings, 1963-69, by this legendary band from Glasgow.

Fabulous mod-beat, wild R&B and pop-psych, including all their 45 sides for Decca and CBS plus early demos.

Formed in Glasgow in 1962 during the early beat boom by Alan Mair and Eddie Campbell, their line-up also included Davie Lennox, Tudge’ Williamson (replaced by Jeff Allen) and Ronnie Smith. Playing an authentic brand of rhythm ‘n’ blues and soul covers, they soon took the city by storm and were famous for their riotous shows, attracting hordes of screaming girls and young fans. No wonder they were dubbed “the Scottish Beatles” by the press. Between 1965 and 1969, The Beatstalkers would go on to release a total of seven singles. All these sides are featured here. Including mod / freakbeat classics like ‘Base Line’, “‘Ev’rybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout My Baby’, ‘You’d Better Get A Better Hold On’, plus several tracks penned by a young David Bowie (“Silver Tree Top School For Boys”, “Everything Is You”, “When I’m Five”), a killer psych cover of The Action’s “Little Boy” and more.

The Beatstalkers were a strong live attraction in the clubs and ballrooms around Great Britain (they also held a residence at the Marquee) and were highly praised by their contemporaries, including The Who, with whom they shared a ‘Ready Steady Go’ television appearance. David Bowie was also among their crowd and through mutual manager Ken Pitt, he ended up writing three songs for them. He also played guitar and sang backing vocals on some of the recording sessions. Some of the Beatstalkers 7″ were also released in the US, Australia and France (where an EP housed in a cool picture sleeve was issued).
The band also toured Germany many times.

In 1969, after their van was stolen with all their equipment, The Beatstalkers broke up. Eddie Campbell was later in Tear Gas and Jeff Allen went on to play for Dr. K’s Blues Band and then East Of Eden.
Alan Mair was a co-founder of The Only Ones (of ‘Another girl Another planet’ fame).

The band reunited for a show in Glasgow in 2005 and later in 2018 a book about the band was published.

*Remastered sound

*Colour insert with rare photos and detailed liner notes by Lenny Helsing (Ugly Things)

“A seriously overlooked and undervalued British beat group of the 1960s.”
– Lenny Helsing

“If you don’t know about the Beatstalkers, you don’t know the history of Scottish music. The Beatstalkers ARE the history of Scottish music. They were the first, and they were the greatest.”
– Eddie Tobin

Tracklist: A1. Ev’rybody’s Talkin ‘Bout My Baby – A2. Mr Disappointed – A3. Left Right Left – A4. You’d Better Get A Better Hold On – A5. A Love Like Yours – A6. Base Line – A7. My One Chance To Make It – A8. Ain’t no Soul (Left In These ‘Ole Shoes) – B1. Silver Tree Top School For Boys – B2. Sugar Chocolate Machine – B3. Rain Coloured Roses – B4. Everything Is You – B5. Little Boy – B6. When I’m Five – B7. Ramble On – B8. St. Louis Blues (1914)

Label:    Sommor – SOMM056
Format:    
Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue
Country:    Spain
Released:    2019
Genre:    Rock, Pop
Style:    Beat, Rhythm & Blues, Pop Rock, Soul, Mod

A1        Ev'rybody's Talkin 'Bout My Baby
Producer – Solomon*, Scott*
Written-By – T. Washington*
2:52
A2        Mr Disappointed
Producer – Solomon*, Scott*
Written-By – B. Martin*
2:26
A3        Left Right Left
Producer – Tommy Scott
Written-By – T. Scott*
2:16
A4        You'd Better Get A Better Hold On
Producer – Tommy Scott
Written-By – J. South*
2:11
A5        A Love Like Yours
Producer – Tommy Scott
Written-By – E. & B. Holland/Dozier*
2:14
A6        Base Line
Producer – Tommy Scott
Written-By – T. Scott*
2:11
A7        My One Chance To Make It
Written-By – A. Resnick*, K. Resnick*
1:58
A8        Ain't No Soul (Left In These 'Ole Shoes)
Written-By – A. Resnick*, J. Levine*
2:15
B1        Silver Tree Top School For Boys
Producer – Mike Smith (2)
Written-By – David Bowie
2:11
B2        Sugar Chocolate Machine
Producer – Mike Smith (2)
Written-By – A. Mair*
2:20
B3        Rain Coloured Roses
Producer – Tony Reeves
Written-By – C. Bayer*, G. Fischoff*
2:40
B4        Everything Is You
Producer – Tony Reeves
Written-By – David Bowie
2:22
B5        Little Boy
Producer – Tony Reeves
Written-By – Reg King
3:06
B6        When I'm Five
Producer – Tony Reeves
Written-By – David Bowie
2:58
B7        Ramble On
Producer – The Beatstalkers
2:43
B8        St. Louis Blues
Producer – The Beatstalkers
Written-By – William Christopher Handy*
2:36

    Marketed By – Guerssen
    Distributed By – Guerssen
    Pressed By – GZ Media – 199397E

    Bass – Alan Mair
    Drums – Jeff Allen (4) (tracks: A7 to B6), Tudge Williamson (tracks: A1 to A6, B7, B8)
    Guitar – Ronnie Smith (11)
    Keyboards, Guitar – Eddie Campbell (8)
    Liner Notes [Sleeve Notes] – Lenny Helsing
    Vocals – Dave Lennox (2)

Issued under licence from Alan Mair

Comes with 12" 4-page booklet (See pictures)

    Barcode (Scanned): 4040824089368
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, stamped): 199397E1/A
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, stamped): 199397E2/A
    Depósito Legal: L 1159-2019