Elton John´s Diary 1966

The Illustrated Cornflakes & Classics A musical history of Elton John
by Paul Maclauchlan


Copyright 1989, 2006 Paul Maclauchlan

Permission granted to copy this information if credit is given

Photo: Elton John and Bluesology

1966

Feb 1966

UK 45 - Bluesology

Fontana

Mr Frantic 

Everyday (I Have The Blues) 

Dec 11 1966

Mr. Frantic

Written by Reg Dwight

© 1965 Mills Music

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When you hold me, when you thrill me

My heart just sets on fire

When you love me, when you hold me

I'm just filled with desire

You know that I love you baby

But your kind of loving just drives me crazy

When you hold me, when you kiss me

Mr. Frantic, Mr. Frantic

When you tell me that I'm your only

I feel on top of the world

If you'd only say you will

Then you'll be my only girl

We could be such a happy pair

And I promise to do my share

When you hold me, when you kiss me

Mr. Frantic, Mr. Frantic

You know that I have loved you since

The day we met in the rain

And if you were to go away now

My heart couldn't stand the pain

BLUESOLOGY History

From about 1960, organist Reggie Dwight - then aged 13 - and his neighbour, singer and guitarist Stewart "Stu" Brown, performed with a local group, the Corvettes, in Pinner, Middlesex, a suburb of London. After that group split up, the pair formed a new group, Bluesology, with Rex Bishop (bass), and Mick Inkpen (drums). According to Dwight the band's name was in homage to the Django Reinhardt album Djangology. There had also been a 1956 piece named Bluesology by John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet. By 1962 they had begun playing local pubs, and in 1963 they won a regular weekly slot at the Establishment Club in London, playing tunes by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Witherspoon and Memphis Slim, among others. In 1965, they turned professional, and signed a contract with an agency which began hiring them out as a backing band for visiting American performers, including The Isley Brothers, Doris Troy, Billy Stewart and Patti LaBelle.

After recording a demo they were signed by Fontana Records, and recorded their first single, Dwight's song "Come Back Baby", in July 1965.[3] In November 1965 they released a second single, "Mr. Frantic", again written and sung by Dwight, and again unsuccessful. After a tour of Germany the band returned to England to work as the backing band for Major Lance with an expanded line-up of Dwight, Brown, Pat Higgs (trumpet), Dave Murphy (saxophone), Freddie Creasey (bass) and Paul Gale (drums).

In September 1966 the band was invited by vocalist Long John Baldry to become his regular band. Only Dwight and Brown agreed, thus forming with Baldry a new version of Bluesology, along with Fred Gandy (bass), Pete Gavin (drums), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Elton Dean (saxophone), Marc Charig (cornet), and Alan Walker (vocals), and, for a brief spell, singer Marsha Hunt.[6] As Stu Brown and Bluesology, they recorded the single "Since I Found You Baby" for Polydor Records, produced by Kenny Lynch.

As Baldry's music drifted more towards the cabaret market, Dwight became disenchanted with the band, and so simultaneously began to develop songwriting skills in collaboration with Bernie Taupin whilst working as a session musician. Dwight, Brown and Dean all quit Bluesology in late 1967, Brown's replacement being Caleb Quaye, only for the band to call it a day the following year.

Dwight used the names of fellow band members Elton Dean and John Baldry to create his new solo stage name of Elton John. Brown went on to form country rock band Cochise, playing and singing on their first two albums, Cochise and Swallow Tales, in 1970-71, before moving to the Mediterranean. Dean, Hubbard and Charig all had lengthy careers as jazz and session musicians. Gavin became a member of Heads Hands & Feet and later Vinegar Joe,and Gandy joined Caleb Quaye's band Hookfoot.[

A Bluesology compilation album, Rare Tracks, was issued by Polydor in 1975.

UK CONCERT - Saville Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London

Bluesology, along with The Quotations and The Alan Price Set, appear as a support band for the only London appearance of Little Richard. At this point in time the band is: Stuart Brown: vocals; Reg Dwight: keyboards; Freddie Creasey: bass; David Murphey: sax; Chris Bateson: trumpet; and Paul Gale: drums.

Chapter Menu
1947 to 1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

Dec 1966

Long John Baldry becomes the lead singer of Bluesology.