Having won a Melody Maker beat contest in 1965, they obtained a  Decca recording deal and were able to cover a great record for their debut - The Beatles' "Girl" - which brought them chart success - just outside the top ten. 

"The Truth" who also released a version at the same time were not as fortunate.

Local dance fans will have purchased the record for it's "B" side - a great version of Otis's "Respect".  I did!

But their follow-ups, Graham Gouldman's Behind The Door (which I also bought and was covered in the USA by Cher) and East Side Story, failed to dent the Top Forty -  bringing their recording career  to an end in less than a year.  They eventually split in 1967.

They may not have sparked the record buying public's interest but they kindled my interest in soul music.  Thank you. 

"Dave Webb and I had previously played for a great touring band around the region - The Chapters.

After them, I had then gone on to form a new outfit with Marian Stockley (later known as Friday Brown) which coined the name 'Wynder K. Frog' and we asked Mick Weaver from Bolton to join on keyboards (Farfisa organ).

At the end of the short lived band (but some good gigs), he took the name and went to London and got a recording contract with Island Records. I went on to join St. Louis Union with Dave."

Alex Kirby

I saw the band at the Gay Tower Ballroom (you could say that then) Birmingham, I think as support for the Small Faces. Can anyone confirm this ? Does anyone know the date of this gig? If I remember rightly I spoke to a couple of the blokes.

Sean Toal

I remember Dave Nichols.

The schoolboy from St. Bedes with whom I 'hung out' at the 'Cona Cafe'when I was 15 and he was 17. We sometimes sat on the step outside of said coffee bar, to mull over our then thwarted 'love lives'.

He was such a lovely guy, and I was so proud to see him on TV singing 'Girl' a couple of years later......and wondered if he was singing about the girl in striped, matelot tee shirt.

Gosh, we were soooooo young and gorgeous, and I still love the St. Louis Union version of that song. Heigh Ho.

Kate Franklin

On second thoughts, methinks it might have been Tony Cassidy who used to 'hang out' at the Cona.

Gawd knows that I spent years thinking he was a 'Mike' for some reason.

Suffice to say......'many moons' etc.,but I remember that sweet, fair haired boy from St. Bedes like it was yesterday.

Kate Franklin

1966

1966

1966

1965

CLICK HERE for a full page article on the SLU from Roger Eagle's Rhythm and Blues magazine

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