The Koobas
Encyclopedia
The Koobas were an English
beat
group from Liverpool
. Their music, and their early history, is similar in some ways to that of fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles
, though they never achieved widespread popularity.
, Germany
, doing a three-week stint there.
Brian Epstein
signed them to a contract in 1964 and brokered them a deal with Pye Records
. In 1965 they were to appear in the film Ferry Cross the Mersey
(a Gerry & The Pacemakers
vehicle) as the losers in a battle of the bands
, but this footage was cut from the film's final release. Their first single was "I Love Her" b/w "Magic Potion", which did not make the charts, but the group opened for The Beatles
on their last British tour to support the single.
In the summer of 1965 they played, as resident group, in the Rock Ballroom at Butlin's Holiday Camp in Ayr, Scotland.
Following the dates with the Beatles, the group did club tours of England and attracted much positive press, but further singles failed to catch on with the public. In 1966, they moved from Pye to EMI
-Columbia
, and the following year played with The Who
at the Savile Theatre and toured with Jimi Hendrix
in Switzerland
.
By 1967, the band had started to change its sound from R&B-rooted beat to psychedelia
, and began writing their own material with the help of new manager Tony Stratton-Smith
. In 1968, they cut a version of "The First Cut Is the Deepest
", but were overshadowed by P.P. Arnold's version, which hit the UK Singles chart
Top 20. Near the end of 1968, the group splintered just as EMI-Columbia prepped their self-titled first LP, released early in 1969. The Koobas never made it into the official sales chart but their cover of the Gracie Fields hit Sally climbed as high as number 21 on pirate station Radio London's Fab 40 in January 1967. Later that spring they recorded their own composition, 'Somewhere in the night',which reached number 3 in the Radio London Fab 40.
Drummer O'Riley joined Yes
in September 1968, after Bill Bruford
's departure to go to university, but Bruford returned in November of that year. He went on to play with Bakerloo
.
Keith Ellis
later played with Van der Graaf Generator
and Juicy Lucy
, while Stuart Leatherwood formed the duo Gary & Stu and later played with March Hare. The group's entire post-1966 output was reissued on CD in 2000 by the Beat Goes On label.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
beat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
group from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. Their music, and their early history, is similar in some ways to that of fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, though they never achieved widespread popularity.
History
The group was founded in 1962 in Liverpool by members who had previously played in local outfits such as the Thunderbeats and Roy Montrose and the Midnights. They used both the spellings "Kubas" and "Koobas" at times. Late in 1963 they began playing at the Star Club in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, doing a three-week stint there.
Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
signed them to a contract in 1964 and brokered them a deal with Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
. In 1965 they were to appear in the film Ferry Cross the Mersey
Ferry Cross the Mersey (film)
Ferry Cross the Mersey is a 1965 musical film featuring Gerry and the Pacemakers.The film, directed by Jeremy Summers, is one of the more uncommon artifacts of the Mersey scene, shown very rarely on television and never issued on video...
(a Gerry & The Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
vehicle) as the losers in a battle of the bands
Battle of the Bands
Battle of Bands is a contest in which two or more bands compete for the title of "best band". The winner is determined by a panel of judges, the general response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize in addition to bragging rights. Traditionally, battles of...
, but this footage was cut from the film's final release. Their first single was "I Love Her" b/w "Magic Potion", which did not make the charts, but the group opened for The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
on their last British tour to support the single.
In the summer of 1965 they played, as resident group, in the Rock Ballroom at Butlin's Holiday Camp in Ayr, Scotland.
Following the dates with the Beatles, the group did club tours of England and attracted much positive press, but further singles failed to catch on with the public. In 1966, they moved from Pye to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
-Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, and the following year played with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
at the Savile Theatre and toured with Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
By 1967, the band had started to change its sound from R&B-rooted beat to psychedelia
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
, and began writing their own material with the help of new manager Tony Stratton-Smith
Tony Stratton-Smith
Tony Stratton-Smith was an English rock music manager, and entrepreneur. He was best known as founder of London based independent record label Charisma Records which he began in 1969. Groups he managed included The Nice , Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator...
. In 1968, they cut a version of "The First Cut Is the Deepest
The First Cut Is the Deepest
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written by Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold in the spring of 1967. Stevens' own version of the song is technically a cover, and originally appeared on his album New Masters in December 1967....
", but were overshadowed by P.P. Arnold's version, which hit the UK Singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
Top 20. Near the end of 1968, the group splintered just as EMI-Columbia prepped their self-titled first LP, released early in 1969. The Koobas never made it into the official sales chart but their cover of the Gracie Fields hit Sally climbed as high as number 21 on pirate station Radio London's Fab 40 in January 1967. Later that spring they recorded their own composition, 'Somewhere in the night',which reached number 3 in the Radio London Fab 40.
Drummer O'Riley joined Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
in September 1968, after Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
's departure to go to university, but Bruford returned in November of that year. He went on to play with Bakerloo
Bakerloo (Blues Line)
Bakerloo was an English heavy blues-rock trio, established by Staffordshire guitarist David "Clem" Clempson, Terry Poole and others in the late 1960s, at the high point of the influence of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream...
.
Keith Ellis
Keith Ellis
Keith Ian Ellis , was an English bass player. He is known for his associations with The Koobas, The Misunderstood and Juicy Lucy. He was also a member of Van der Graaf Generator from 1968 to 1969...
later played with Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
and Juicy Lucy
Juicy Lucy (band)
Juicy Lucy is a blues-rock band formed on April 1, 1969. After the demise of The Misunderstood, vocalist Ray Owen, steel guitarist Glenn Ross Campbell, and saxophone player Chris Mercer formed Juicy Lucy...
, while Stuart Leatherwood formed the duo Gary & Stu and later played with March Hare. The group's entire post-1966 output was reissued on CD in 2000 by the Beat Goes On label.
Members
- Stuart Leatherwood - guitar, vocals
- Roy Morris - guitar
- Keith EllisKeith EllisKeith Ian Ellis , was an English bass player. He is known for his associations with The Koobas, The Misunderstood and Juicy Lucy. He was also a member of Van der Graaf Generator from 1968 to 1969...
- bass - John Morris - drums (early)
- Tony O'Riley - drums (later)