The Symbols
Encyclopedia
The Symbols were an English
pop music
band
, who were founded in 1965 and lasted until 1972. They had two hit
s on the UK Singles Chart
with "Bye Bye Baby" (1967), and "(The Best Part of) Breaking Up
" (1968).
label
. In 1965, they changed their name to The Symbols, and their initial line-up included John Milton (vocals), Mick Clarke (bass guitar), Shaun Corrigan (lead guitar) and Clive Graham (drums). Their debut single
under the Symbols name was produced
by Mickie Most
. However, "One Fine Girl", was a commercial failure. The follow-up single was their cover version
of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love
", but after lack of mainstream success, by 1966 they were released from their recording contract
. They had been regular performers at the California Ballroom
, Dunstable
, Bedfordshire
.
Clarke left them to join The Tremeloes
, introducing them to a track that The Symbols had played in their repertoire, "Silence is Golden
". Clarke later returned to The Symbols, who experienced other changes in their line-up with Joe Baccini (bass), and Chas Wade (drums), variously playing with the group.
Edward Kassner
launched President Records in the UK
in 1966, and signed The Symbols, initially to cover a US
hit, "See You In September
". The gamble did not work as the record failed to reach the UK chart. However, Kassner persisted in trying cover versions of previously successful US releases, and The Symbols next effort, "Bye Bye Baby", a version of The Four Seasons' song, spent three weeks in the UK chart in August 1967, peaking at number 44. The song found more lasting notability in the UK when the Bay City Rollers
reached number 1 in March 1975. The Symbols themselves followed with "(The Best Part of) Breaking Up
", originally recorded by The Ronettes
, which was their second and final UK chart success. It reached number 25 in early 1968, spending twelve weeks in the chart. Subsequent singles failed to chart.
With personnel changes the band carried on until 1972, when Clarke joined The Rubettes
, and Wade and Milton moved to the pub rock outfit, JJ Foote.
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...
pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, who were founded in 1965 and lasted until 1972. They had two hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s on 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 ...
with "Bye Bye Baby" (1967), and "(The Best Part of) Breaking Up
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up
" Breaking Up" is a song written by Phil Spector, Pete Andreoli and Vince Poncia. It was first recorded by The Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector with Ronnie Spector on lead vocals and with backing vocals by Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett...
" (1968).
Career
The group began in the early 1960s as Johnny Milton and the Condors, and they released two singles, including "Cry Baby" on the FontanaFontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. In 1965, they changed their name to The Symbols, and their initial line-up included John Milton (vocals), Mick Clarke (bass guitar), Shaun Corrigan (lead guitar) and Clive Graham (drums). Their debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
under the Symbols name was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Mickie Most
Mickie Most
Mickie Most was an English record producer, with a string of hit singles with acts such as The Animals, Arrows, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and the Jeff Beck Group often issued on his own RAK Records label....
. However, "One Fine Girl", was a commercial failure. The follow-up single was their cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" is a song that was originally a hit for early New York City-based rock and roll group Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers in 1956. It reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, No. 6 on Billboards Pop Singles chart, and number one on the UK Singles Chart...
", but after lack of mainstream success, by 1966 they were released from their recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
. They had been regular performers at the California Ballroom
California Ballroom
The California Ballroom, nicknamed "Cali" and "Soul City", was a 2000-capacity music venue, being one of the United Kingdom's best-known soul music venues outside London. Located in Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, the venue was open from 1960 to 1977 and soul artists appearing included...
, Dunstable
Dunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
.
Clarke left them to join The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, Essex, and still active today.-Career:They formed as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes influenced by Buddy Holly and The Crickets...
, introducing them to a track that The Symbols had played in their repertoire, "Silence is Golden
Silence is Golden (Four Seasons song)
"Silence is Golden" is a song co-written by Bob Gaudio of the American rock band, The Four Seasons, with Bob Crewe. It was released as a B-side to the hit song "Rag Doll," in 1964....
". Clarke later returned to The Symbols, who experienced other changes in their line-up with Joe Baccini (bass), and Chas Wade (drums), variously playing with the group.
Edward Kassner
Edward Kassner
Edward Kassner was an Austrian-born music industry executive and songwriter who was responsible for establishing the music publisher Kassner Music and the President record label. He lived and worked in both Britain and the United States.-Life and career:He was born in Vienna to Jewish parents,...
launched President Records in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1966, and signed The Symbols, initially to cover a US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hit, "See You In September
See You In September
"See You in September" is a song written by Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards. The song was first recorded by the Pittsburgh vocal group, The Tempos. This first version peaked at #23 in the summer of 1959...
". The gamble did not work as the record failed to reach the UK chart. However, Kassner persisted in trying cover versions of previously successful US releases, and The Symbols next effort, "Bye Bye Baby", a version of The Four Seasons' song, spent three weeks in the UK chart in August 1967, peaking at number 44. The song found more lasting notability in the UK when the Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
reached number 1 in March 1975. The Symbols themselves followed with "(The Best Part of) Breaking Up
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up
" Breaking Up" is a song written by Phil Spector, Pete Andreoli and Vince Poncia. It was first recorded by The Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector with Ronnie Spector on lead vocals and with backing vocals by Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett...
", originally recorded by The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
, which was their second and final UK chart success. It reached number 25 in early 1968, spending twelve weeks in the chart. Subsequent singles failed to chart.
With personnel changes the band carried on until 1972, when Clarke joined The Rubettes
The Rubettes
The Rubettes were an English pop band assembled in 1973 by the songwriting team of Wayne Bickerton, then the head of A&R at Polydor Records, and his co-songwriter, Tony Waddington, after their doo-wop and 1950s American pop-influenced songs had been rejected by a number of existing acts...
, and Wade and Milton moved to the pub rock outfit, JJ Foote.
Band members
- John Milton — Vocalist
- Mick Clarke (born Michael William Clarke, 10 August 1946, GrimsbyGrimsbyGrimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
, LincolnshireLincolnshireLincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England) — Bassist / vocalist - Shaun Corrigan — Lead guitarist
- Clive Graham — Drummer
- Joe Baccini — Bassist
- Chas Wade — Drummer
Chart singles
| Year | Title Songwriters |
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 ... |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "Bye Bye Baby" (Bob Crewe Bob Crewe Bob Crewe is an American songwriter, dancer, singer, manager, record producer and fine artist. He is known for producing, and co-writing with Bob Gaudio, a string of Top 10 singles for The Four Seasons... / Bob Gaudio Bob Gaudio Robert John "Bob" Gaudio is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.-Early career:... ) |
Number 44 |
| 1968 | "(The Best Part of) Breaking Up (The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up " Breaking Up" is a song written by Phil Spector, Pete Andreoli and Vince Poncia. It was first recorded by The Ronettes, produced by Phil Spector with Ronnie Spector on lead vocals and with backing vocals by Nedra Talley and Estelle Bennett... " (Phil Spector Phil Spector Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.... / Peter Andreoli / Vince Poncia) |
Number 25 |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2004 | The Best Part of the Symbols: The President Recordings 1966-1968 |