While in the UK, Vince Taylor recorded two singles which made no chart impression (top 30 in those days).

The first of two singles Right Behind You Baby / I Like Love was released in December 1958 by the EMI subsidiary label Parlophone. It came out on the red-silver label as a 10" 78 rpm single (catalogue no. R 4505) and in the „new" format as 7" 45 rpm single (45-R 4505).

For the second single Brand New Cadillac / Pledging My Love, which was released in May 1959 again in the 10" 78 rpm (R 4539) and the 7" 45 rpm format (45-R4539), Joe Moretti replaced Tony Sheridan on lead guitar. Sheridan had left the group to seek his fortune in Hamburg. [Ref.: Sleeve notes of the EMI Vince Taylor EP (Nut EP series, EMI 2961)].

In quite a lot of discographies the two Vince Taylor singles, which he cut for the Belgium based Palette label, are listed with the above line-up: I’ll Be Your Hero / Jet Black Machine (red-silver Palette, catalogue no. PG.9001, released in September 1960) and What-Cha-Gonna Do / Move Over Tiger (red-silver Palette, catalogue no. PG.9020, released in 1961). Having in mind that Brian Locking and Brian Bennett joined Mary Wilde’s Wildcats in May 1959, it is quite unlikely that the above line-up plays on the two Palette singles. The line-up playing on these two singles probably comprises Vince Taylor (vocals), Tony Harvey (lead guitar), Bobbie Clarke (guitar), Johnny Vance (bass guitar) and Alan Hamilton (piano). [Ref.: Sleeve notes to the Belgian compilation album The Golden Best Of Vince Taylor, EMI 4B054-23593]

Whether there had been already problems with Vince Taylor or just because they were available the Playboys backed the UK singer Janice Peters on the second of her two Columbia singles. A Girl Likes / You’re The One was released in March 1959 on the green-silver Columbia label in both formats, 10" 78 rpm (DB 4276) and 7" 45 rpm (45-DB 4276).

When Vince Taylor went over to France the Playboys split up. At the same time Larry Parnes wanted to reform the backing group for one of his artist, Marty Wilde. He knew about the quality of Jim Sullivan, who brought Brian Locking and Brian Bennett with him. Together with Tony Belcher they formed the "new" Wildcats. This line-up cut three singles and one album for the Philips label. All three singles made the top ten charts while the album failed to reach the album chart, which was a top ten at that time.

The first single A Teenager In Love / Danny was released on the blue-silver Philips label in May 1959. As with the other two singles, it too came out in both formats as 10" 78 rpm single (catalogue no. PB.926) and as 7" 45 rpm single (45-PB.926). Following the success of the previous two Wilde singles it reached position two of the charts.

The follow-up single Sea Of Love / Teenage Tears (blue-silver Philips label, catalogue no. PB.959 for 10" and 45-PB.959 for the 7" format) was released in September 1959 and reached number three chart position.

Also in September 1959, Marty Wilde’s first album WILDE ABOUT MARTY saw the light of day. It had the black-silver label and the catalogue no. BBL.7342. The tracks were Down The Line; Love Of My Life; Put Me Down; Blue Moon Of Kentucky; Dream Lover; You’ve Got Love; I Flipped / All American Boy; Mean Woman Blues; Are You Sincere?; High School Confidential; Don’t Pity Me; Splish Splash; So Glad You’re Mine.

Bad Boy / It’s Been Nice was the last single release with the above line-up, again on the blue-silver Philips label with the catalogue no. PB.972 for the 10" and 45-PB.972 for the 7" single. The release date was December 1959.

In Peter Frame’s ROCK FAMILY TREES it is reported that the above Wildcats have recorded the WILDE ABOUT MARTY album plus the MARTY WILDE SHOWCASE album, the latter having been released in 1960. The SHOWCASE album, however, compiles tracks from Wilde’s singles spanning a period from 1957 to 1960, including from the above singles A Teenager In Love, Sea Of Love, Teenage Tears, Bad Boy and It’s Been Nice. 

On February 16^th and 23^rd 1960, Gene Vincent recorded six songs for the BBC radio show SATURDAY CLUB at BBC’s Picadilly Studios, backed by The Wildcats. Two songs, Be-Bop-A-Lula and Say Mama, were recorded on both sessions, but it is impossible to tell which of all songs was recorded at what date. The shows were broadcasted on March 5^th and 12^th. The recorded songs were Be-Bop-A-Lula (Version 1), Be-Bop-A-Lula (Version 2)*, Say Mama (Version 1), Say Mama (Version 2)*, Summertime, Wildcat, My Heart (recorded 23.2.60, broadcasted 12.3.60) and Rocky Road Blues.

The two tracks marked with * were released on the Rockstar EP ON TOUR WITH GENE VINCENT & EDDIE COCHRAN (RSR-EP 2013, 1986), the other tracks on the Rockstar album ROCK’N’ROLL HEROES - GENE VINCENT & EDDIE COCHRAN (RSR-LP 1004, 1981).

On three occasions Eddie Cochran was backed by The Wildcats for the BBC radio shows PARADE OF THE POPS (broadcasted 22-2-60) and SATURDAY CLUB (5 and 12-3-60). The recordings for all three shows took place at the BBC Picadilly Studios. They were released on the Union Pacific album EDDIE COCHRAN - A LEGEND IN OUR TIME ¹ (U.P. 001, 1971), the Rockstar album ROCK’N’ROLL HEROES - GENE VINCENT & EDDIE COCHRAN² (RSR-LP 1004, 1981), the Rockstar EP ON TOUR WITH GENE VINCENT & EDDIE COCHRAN³ (RSR-EP 2013, 1986) and the Rockstar single What’d I Say / Milk Cow Blues⁴ (RSR-SP 3001, 1979). The indices refer to the following songs featured on the above records.

For the PARADE OF THE POPS show Eddie and the Wildcats recorded version 1 of C’mon Everybody³ on an unknown exact date in February 1960.

The songs C’mon Everybody (Version 2)¹, Hallelujah, I Love Her So (Version 1)¹, What’d I Say⁴ and Milk Cow Blues⁴ were recorded on 16-2-1960 for the SATURDAY CLUB show, which was broadcast on 5-3-1960.

For the SATURDAY CLUB show from 12-3-1960 Eddie and the Wildcats recorded Somethin’ Else², Hallelujah, I Love Her So (Version 2)² and Twenty Flight Rock² on 23-2-1960. 

Having been sacked by Marty Wilde (or his management) the Wildcats were not allowed to use the name for own recordings. So they thought the Krew Kats name would be far enough away from running into trouble with Marty, but close enough to be recognisable. Six tracks are believed to be recorded by the Krew Kats, of which four were released on two 7" only singles in 1961.

Trambone / Peak Hour was the first single released on the EMI subsidiary label His Master’s Voice in February 1961. It came out with the blue-silver HMV label and the catalogue no. 45-POP 840. Although it was no big success, the single entered the charts and peaked at position 33.

The second single Samovar / Jack’s Good (blue-silver HMV, 45-POP 894) was released in June 1961, without making any chart impression.

The tune The Bat was recorded at the same session as Samovar, but saw the light of day for the first time on the See For Miles album 20 CLASSIC INSTRUMENTAL RARITIES (SEE 37, 1985). This leaves one last track, Jungle Drums, still unreleased in the EMI vaults. 

To back-up his singer Michael Cox, Joe Meek recruited The Krew Kats for a session in summer, 1961. Although there were only three tracks thought to be taped during this session, at least a fourth one has survived over the years.

Sweet Little Sixteen / Cover Girl was released in August 1961, on blue-silver HMV (45-POP905). On the label The Krew Kats are billed as The Charles Blackwell Orchestra.

On February 1962, the single Young Only Once / Honey ‘cause I Love You (45-POP 972) was released with the Krew Kats providing the backing of the flip side only. This single came out when Brian Bennett had already joined The Shadows. On the label Tony Meehan has the credits for directing the musical accompaniment of this second single, which seems a bit unlikely – at least for the B-side.

In 1999 a fourth track was unearthed by Zircon Recordings, Johnny B Goode. This cover of the famous Chuck Berry title was released together with the other three tracks on the Zircon CD MICHAEL COX – ANGELA JONES (ZIRC 1005, 1999).

A bit of a mystery is surrounding a single on the Starlite label Tom Tom Cat / Big Brother (ST 054), which was released in 1961. Both sides were written and produced by Charles Blackwell, who already took credits for the first Cox single. ‘Big‘ Jim Sullivan confirmed that he plays lead on this single, Brian Bennett told that he had nothing to do with this recording. When I asked him, Brian Locking doesn’t remember anything about this one.

Tom Tom Cat was used by the BBC for various sport programms and both tracks are said to be compiled on one of the KPM library albums. On the KPM CD THE SIXTIES (KPM 194 CD) Tom Tom Cat is included under the name of Big Tom Cat, without crediting an performer or artist but listing Charles Blackwell as composer.

Recently this track has been made available by Zircon Recordings on their various artists compilation CD 60‘s BRIT-POP INSTRUMENTALS VOLUME 1 (ZIRC 1014, 1999).

In 1962 the French singer Dick Rivers looked for a replacement of his former backing group, Les Chats Sauvages (The Wild Cats). In November he saw an English group, The Rockin‘ Tuxedo, performing in Paris and booked them as his new backing. Probably to stay close to the name of his former backing group, the name was changed to The Krewkats. They passed an audition at Pathé Marconi and recorded 8 instrumental tracks, which were released in 1963 on two EPs on the French HMV label (EMF 338 and EGF 646).
All 8 tracks have been reissued on the French compilation CD FRENCH 60‘s EP COLLECTION – INSTRUMENTAL SIXTIES VOLUME 2 (Magic Records, 522722, 1995). 

The following listing will give the record, on which the track was originally released, and - if existing - a CD release. If more than one CD releases are existing, the easiest obtainable official release is listed.

All text © 2000, Ulrich Sasu