RETAIL and THE PLEASURE

For anyone who reads this and has had the unenviable pleasure of working in retail, then you will understand exactly where I am coming from.    Some days were good and some were bloody awful and then again some were funny and most memorable but on the whole it was in most cases  a mundane pass time especially if you didn't like the job anyway.

But in the music shop every day was a brand new adventure, you never knew when something was gonna jump up and hit you in the eye or somewhere else for that matter.

In retail you dealt on a daily basis with people of every colour, class, religion and creed and you dealt with everyone the same. It was a life of music and in music so that’s how it was. Now I am not saying that problems did not arise they certainly did. It was how you dealt with it that mattered.

Now we had a lot of customers who lived in the Moss Side area of Manchester and contrary to the old urban myth “No” they were not all in debt and behind with there HP payments - it was just the opposite mainly.

One day a vary tall black gentleman (6ft-6ins approx - let's call him Mr Wilson) came into the shop carrying in one hand an 18 inch bass speaker (you try that).   On being asked what the problem was he explained to the sales person (Eric Haydock) that the bass speaker was faulty and needed to be repaired and that he had heard that we could get it re-coned for him.   The repair was taken in and Mr Wilson was given a receipt and told it would be about 3 weeks before it came back and Mr Wilson, smiling, said that was ok.

Exactly 3 weeks to the day Mr Wilson arrived at the shop with receipt in hand and asked could he please have his repaired speaker back.   On seeing the paperwork was signed by Eric, the customer was passed over to him and off he went upstairs to see if the speaker was ready. IT WASN'T - so Eric came down the stairs and began explaining to Mr Wilson that the speaker had not yet come back from the people who re-cone them and offered his apologies. Now with some good reason Mr Wilson was not best pleased and made a point of letting Eric know this.     Well Mr Wilson asked ”When will it be  back then?” Eric replied confidendly that it would be just 1 more week. After much argy bargy between the two, Mr Wilson left vowing to be back in one week - things didn't look to good.

Sure enough, 1 week later Mr Wilson arrived at the shop and immediately sought out Eric (the pop star) in, I must say, a rather aggressive manner and demanded that his speaker be returned to him immediately.

Well now wouldn't you know it - IT WASN'T BACK. On being told this Mr Wilson lost his temper and demanded that we give him another speaker until his came back. Eric tried to explain that we did not have one and that he would speak to the electronics engineer upstairs to make sure when it would be back and so off they both went upstairs. 

About 10 minuets later Mr Wilson appeared at the bottom of the stairs speaker in hand and then disappeared out of the shop door turning left to walk up Oxford Street.

Seconds later Eric appeared   ”Where is Mr Wilson?“

I told Eric that he had just walked out of the door. He then told me that Mr Wilson had taken the speaker whilst he wasn't looking and that it belonged to another customer. Eric was told to get it back!

What happened next will stay with me for ever. Eric went out of the door we all followed to watch what went on. At that moment, the company van pulled up outside the shop with the driver Rick. We looked up the street and Mr Wilson was stood at a bus stop with the speaker in his hand waiting for the bus. Just stop and try to picture that.  I told Rick that it was his job to get the speaker back. After a long conversation at the bus stop the speaker was returned to the shop and Mr Wilson got on his bus somewhat embarrassed at what he had done.

When Mr Wilson's speaker finally did return to the shop, I found the repair slip, put the speaker in the car and drove down to Moss Side to where Mr Wilson lived.        

It was a very warm sunny day I remember as I drove my very shiny Ford 1600E towards the Moss. I found Mr Wilson’s house and he was there sitting on the front step, smoking a funny shaped ciggy (joint). He smiled as I pulled up.

I got out of the car, opened the boot and lifted out the speaker and of course he was all smiles and very happy to have his 18 inches back. We talked for a while and I said we were sorry he had such a bad experience with us. I also told him that what he did was wrong but very funny and we  both had a laugh about it. I said I would have to get back to the shop and got up to leave - all 6 ft 6 of him.

We shook hands and I headed to the car. Just as I was about to get in the car, he shouted to me and then walked over and said to me “You had better have this” and passed me something. It was the money for the speaker repair and do you know I thought it had been paid at the shop.

So thank you MR WILSON…….a happy ending! He had his speaker, it was paid for and I still had my customer.

Big thanks to Eric for his sense of humor.

THE HOFNER BASS RIDDLE

It was well known that Adrian Barrat would, if you got him on a good day, do you a really good deal the only problem with that  was that he never told the people at the shop or anyone else for that matter what he was doing and so now and again things got lost in translation.

It was an unusually quiet Saturday morning in the shop when the phone rang and one of the staff said its mr Barratt for you.   Hello Adrian..hello brian. Adrian then says    there will be a chap(lets call him mr Jones )calling in the shop later this morning and I have told him that he can have the hofner bass on sale in the window for the sum of £36-00, will you see that he gets looked after properly to which I replied of course I will.

Sometime later a black gentleman sporting a natty  pork-pie hat came in the shop and asked to speak to me. I knew the man in question and said hello and he said he had come to look at the hofner bass in the window.  We got he instrument out of the window and I said take your time trying it out.      After a while he came up to the counter,winked and said I’ll be back.

Mr jones came back into the shop sometime later and was carrying with him a soft guitar cover obviously with something in it. He came over and proceeded to take out of the cover a rather battered old home made bass guitar ( more like the wreck of the old 97.).  Mr jones then asked me how much I would give him for it against the hofner bass that he tried earlier. I then had to try to explain that Mr Barratt had not mentioned a p/x and had said it was just a cash deal. Mr Jones said that he wanted to speak to Mr B so I thought what the hell he got us into this mess let him sort it so I rang Adrian and told him what had transpired.i told him that the p/x was not fit to resell but to keep Mr Jones happy allow £18-00 for the p/x.

I now explained the new deal to Mr Jones in this way.. The hofner bass is £36-00 -  the p/x aloowance is £18-00 so taking that off the balance is £18-00… Mr Jones was somewhat perplexed at this and could not get to grips with the deal he seemed to think that there was nothing to pay because the p/x was £18-00..next???? is where I really made my big mistake.

I reached over behind the counter for apiece of paper and said to mr Jones bear with me. I then wrote thw whole deal down on the paper..i.e. hofner bass £36…..p/x.£18-00 leaving a balance of £18-00 to pay.

Now I know what you are thinking ….so was i…anyone should understand that.

The mistake was about to happen, I was beginning to lose it a little and I could see big money deals all over the shop which was now getting busy and here was I farting about for A.F.B over £18-00 bloody quid. Here it comes …..i pushed the piece of paper across the counter to Mr Jones and said ….wait for it…..Look its there in Black and White mr jones do you understand.  Well he looked at me and said …What do you mean man Black and white that is racial against me man. Is cos I’m black.i thought oh my god what have I done. Now anybody that knows me will tell you the one thing I am not is color prejudiced, it don’t matter to me if your black, white,purple or green you all spend the same color money and anyway you could not do this job if you were because of the diversity of your customer bass. .but there it was ,so what to do next…having thought for a moment.

I gave Mr Jones the Hofner bass and his p/x back also my profound apologies along with MR Barratts home phone number and suggested he ring him that evening.

The next time I saw Mr Jones was on the following Monday when he popped in the shop and thanked me for doing him a good deal. It turned out that Mr Barratt had too on that Saturday evening  on the phone tried to explain the deal to mr Jones but finally  gave up I frustration and didn’t charge him for the balance. ….what balance……between you and me I think Mr Jones had a bit more oil in his can than I  gave him credit for.

As for Mr Barratt on his next visit to the shop he stayed well away from all the hofner guitars……..i wonder why…..by the way I borrowed a Jaguar saloon Metalic blue to go to Derek Lekenby’s ( hermans Hermits )engagement party off a guy called Benny Stone a bass player with a local black band , he made me sign for it and that was in Black and White.

Graham Nash

Now Graham was one of those people who in those far far days way back in  the very early 60s who always seemed to be around. He had his own band and was never short of a gig or so it seemed.

I remember going to a cinema in Cheadle Hulme called “The Elysian” with a mate to see a group that was on there. When we arrived the group turned out to be Ricky and Dane Young - that being Graham Nash and Alan Clarke + the band.

I watched with some amusement as they danced around the stage it seemed to be like the Kalin twins. I remember thinking to myself 'God I could never do that' - that would come back to haunt me.

Despite all the leaping we enjoyed the night out and later met up with Alan Clarke in the pub nearby called the Junction. The guitar player in our band at that time (The Strangers )was John Lee and he had borrowed a vox amp off Adrian Barratt which had an echo unit in the back and Alan spent the rest of the night trying to buy it off me but to no avail.

When the band had finally morphed into what we now know as The Hollies, the boys were always at the Toggery in Stockport, which was owned by their manager Mike Cohen. I used to see Graham driving home through Cheadle Village in his Lotus Elan when he lived in Styal.

He worked at the Toggery in Stockport and whenever he saw me he used to wave and I’d wave back.  I remember him saying in the shop one day that he didn’t know it was me - he just waved  and it was only later that he realised that I was the guy who worked in Barratts with Adrian.  

By this time they were well on their way to success with one chart hit under their belt. Graham was a regular Barratts customer and he was a good mate of Adrian’s so it was no surprise that late one Saturday afternoon that Graham arrived at the shop dressed in his stage suit, Cuban heeled boots and very out of breath. He was carrying with him a vox amp top and after much puffing and blowing told Adrian that it was not working and that they were doing a gig at the Oasis and needed a replacement.

Having been dispatched to check the stock I found that we had a couple of spares and so one was made ready for Graham to take with him. He said that there was no rush so we sat there chatting and I played him a song that I had written called “Out Of My Mind”. He was most impressed and in his own words said ‘that’s what we need, keep writing and keep up the good work’

Now from the now nearly very famous Graham Nash that was praise indeed! So much so that I never forgot it but still have the song (maybe I should send it to him).

Graham said that he would get the bus back to the Oasis and so we waited outside the shop until we saw the right numbered bus coming along.  Now the trick was to catch the bus slowing down for the lights so that you could jump on to the platform at the back of the big red bus by grabbing the bright shiny chrome pole in the middle and then jumping on board if you were quick on your feet it was a piece of cake.  For those who are to young to remember or those people who choose not to remember in those bygone days you could do this and no one bothered.

Wel,l with the bus in sight the now very nearly famous Graham Nash said these imortal words which have stayed with me ever since 'Ok fella’s I’m off, see you later'. What happened next I will take great care to describe in every detail.

Graham timed his run into the middle of Oxford Street to perfection and with speed and grace running towards the big red bus in Cuban heels and immaculate suit and well quiffed hair, in one hand the vox amp the other hand reaching for the shiny chrome pole with only one thing in mind get me to the gig on time. And then!!!!!!!oh my god, the lights changed, the bus accelerated.

He reached forward grasping for the shiny pole. He then thrust forward his right foot towards the running board an anguished look on his face. Guess what? He missed his footing.

Adrian Barratt and myself stood in “The Doorway” and watched in horror as the now very nearly famous Graham Nash slipped off the back of the big red bus, as his hand slid down the shiny pole the other hand let loose its grip on the very very new vox amp.

As he lay prostrate in the middle of oxford street the very new vox amp bounced once or twice and disintegrated into a thousand pieces before our very eyes.   Of course we dashed into the road - it was the least we could do having had the best laugh in years but he took in good heart and was soon on his way again another amp in hand to the Oasis gig.

Someone told me sometime later that on that particular night Graham reached the high notes much better than usual although he wasn’t moving as well.

So that is the story of the now very famous Salford (born in Blackpool I believe) lad who followed his dream and sang his way around the world but not before he fell on his ASS in Oxford Street, Manchester.

Ted Lee

Ted Lee was one of Manchester’s unsung hero’s, like the rest of us he played in a very well known Manchester band “The Olympics” and was part of the oasis and other Manchester gigs scene.  I am sure that most of us who remember Ted will do so not for his musical prowess but for his unquestionable skill with the “”Spray Gun””. If you had a guitar that was red and you wanted it black then Ted Lee was your man.

Working at Barratts of Manchester as I did, you got to see a lot of Ted as he did all the work that came into the shop and one thing I always remember about him was that he was always smiling, even when I said HOW MUCH…..????? I never did want to pay the full price for the jobs, well we were a shop and needed to make a profit.

Nothing was ever to much trouble for Ted. There are so many stories that I could tell you but it would most likely need a book of it’s own, anyway this little story springs to mind.

I had sold a Gibson Everly model to a very good friend of mine, Graham Gouldman. Now Graham was a very well known song writer who had written many hits for Manchester bands such as “Herman’s Hermits” and others. Well, Graham had a slight accident with the guitar; he snapped the neck off the thing and of course sought Ted's assistance with a view to getting it repaired. Ted undertook the repair job and it is said that the work was as good a job as if it were done by Gibson.

Now for those who are familiar with the Gibson Everly you will know that the inlays in the fret board are mother of pearl stars, they are on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, **9th, 12th and 15th.

Now 9 and 12 are double small stars, 12 being the octave. All the inlays were done by Ted’s very careful hands and when the job was finished it was a sight to behold, nay a work of art no doubt.

The only problem was that the two stars destined for the 12th fret were on the 11th. Oh, I think you are in deep doo doo teddy boy. Don’t ask me to explain how he got out of that one - maybe he would care to tell you on Manchester beat. For me after all this time  I still cock a wry smile when I think about it, I wonder what Graham thought.!!!!!!??????*****-++%$£” and how much was the repair*****repair ha ha ha ha ha .

Now this was not the only high profile job that Ted took on. Anybody that was anybody in the 60s had some work or other done by the master. In point of fact he has just done some re-spray work for Eric Stewart, ex 10cc and Mindbenders.                       

Adrian Barratt struck a deal with Ted when he (Ted ) was a bit skint, he bought him a ford car and in return Ted did al the repairs for the shop until he had paid Adrian back but I’m sure to this day Barratts got the best of the deal - but if you knew Adrian then it was typical.

In late 1962 Ted was asked to do a special job for the shop and he arrived to see what needed doing. The job was to spray black a Rickenbacker model 325 that belonged to John Lennon and also a Gretsch duo-jet that belonged to George Harrison. The Gretsch was already black but was in need of a re-spray. This job was done quite quickly as I recall as the Beatles were getting very busy but despite the urgency, the job was done to Ted's usual high standard. This had all come about through a conversation between myself Brian Higham, George Harrison and John Lennon at the Playhouse in Hulme Manchester and in early 1963 we saw the first pics of John’s Rickenbacker in its new black livery.     Another job well done by “”TED THE SPRAYER””

 I could go on for ever and a day about Ted and the things that we got up to but it would take forever but I would like to put it on the record that Ted Lee was and still is one of the most genuine people that in all my years in the music industry I ever had the pleasure to meet and I’m pleased to say that although I have not seen him for many years we are back in touch and I am still very proud to call him a very good friend and I might add his very patient lady Brenda.

I will be writing more on Ted in the future after a long consultation over a very long and not so dry lunch .

The surprise call

As  with any  events they have to start somewhere and in the shop (Barratts) it was usually the phone ringing and believe me you never knew who or what was going to be on the other end. I don’t recall the day or the month or the year but I do still recall as if it were yesterday the sound of a voice when I picked up the phone and said my normal thing”Barratts of Manchester”. A long drawn and unmistakeable sound of the Deep South said “Hi could I speak to Mr. Brian Higham, speaking I said the caller now having got my full attention. 

The guy on the other end of the phone said that he had been given my name by someone in London from saville artiste’s and that he was doing a show at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester ( now sadly gone ) and was having problems with his amplifier and as I had been recommended could I do anything to help. He then explained in great detail the make and model of his amp and by now I was really fascinated to know who the person was so I suggested that he let me know when they did the sound check and I would come over to have a look, to this he replied we are doing it now that’s why I rang you, ok see you in five at the stage door I replied.

By the time I got to the Free Trade Hall I was really buzzing in anticipation as to the identity of  the caller. I pushed the big heavy door open and I could already hear guitars and the like banging away. I made my way down to the front of the stage, the guitar player stopped leaned forward and asked are you Brian I said yes sir to which he replied, my name is Luther Perkins and I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. Although by now I realised just what I was into I didn’t let on I just said which is the amp with the problem (i was on the stage by now trying to act like normal but inside I was buzzing like a top ). The amp in question was a black faced fender pro reverb which even back then were very rare. I think the output stage was shot there was just nothing so I said that I had a fender twin reverb that I had put in the car before I left the shop. Well they are heavy dam things but between us we got it on the stand. Luther did a little picking and the other two joined in.  After about five minutes they suddenly stopped Luther came over and said “we just ain,t  getting the right sound” he then asked if there was any chance of locating a pro reverb like his own, I explained that they were hard to come by but guess what ??? I did know where there was one exactly the same, it was at my house in the garage where the roadie stored all the Harbour Lights gear. I told Luther and I said that I would nip to Altrincham and pick it up so I did just that.

When I arrived back at the Free Trade Hall about 4 o’clock was I in for a surprise. I lugged my amp in and we got it on stage and plugged up than Luther said hey Brian I would like you to meet my brother, he pointed to his right and said this is my Brother Mr Carl Perkins . I leaned forward and we shook hands and said hello…………………… I HAD JUST SHOOK THE HAND OF THE MAN THAT WROTE BLUE SUEDE SHOES now you can say what you like but that was the nearest I had been to cloud nine or was ever to be, but hell five minuets later things got even better. From the side appeared the man in black, the man himself Johnny Cash. Now how many people can say that Carl Perkins introduced you to the great Johnny Cash? Who in turn then introduced me to his wife the beautiful June Carter Cash.   Well they all rehearsed for I don’t know how long and Luther was pleased with the sound of the amp so when they had finished the sound check I said I had to leave and get back to the shop. So it was I said goodbye to Carl, Johnny and June and Luther and the other guys but just as I shook hands with Carl Perkins he said thanks for all your help Brian and then said why don’t come back and see the show this evening there will be a little party after the show and you are invited Now that’s what I call an invitation.

That night I took my wife Carole to the Free Trade Hall where she met all those world famous people in one crazy fabulous night and I know it may sound a little cheesy but they all treated us as if we were one of there own and made us both so welcome. The party after was awesome and I said to Luther as I  was leaving just leave the amp with the stage door guy and I will pick it up in the morning. He said that would be fine and again thanked me for helping him out he then gave me a card with his home address on it and said that if I was ever stateside to give him a call and I could stay at his ranch for as long as I wanted and that it would not cost me I dime.

That night was a once in lifetime night and one that I will never forget though the memory is tinged with sadness as after that tour Luther Perkins fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand, both he and the ranch went up in flames. Some years later Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and Carl Perkins had all passed away. The Fender Telecaster that Luther used on that last tour can be seen in the hall of fame in Nashville and I must admit that I still tell people that I played that guitar once in Manchester many years ago. Now that is what I call a great memory. Brian Higham.

In 2008 I will be in Nashville. I might just tell the folks there that I once played that there guitar that belonged to   “”Luther Perkins””.

THE GOLDEN GARTER DAYS (and Nights)

It’s hard to know where to begin, having left the comfort of playing in a residency for 6 great years we were now about to start another one, but for how long we did not know.   The first thing that got to all of us was having to strike all the gear off the stage once we had done one spot and then back on again for the next one. It was a real pain when you were doing 4 spots a night, even though there was the stage manager “Mack” with his trusty sidekick and lighting engineer “Ian” and any other body’s that happened to be there.

This went on for a while but then we were relegated to one of the small side stages but at least we could leave the gear there. It was at this point that the band became The Golden Garter Trio - the Harbour Lights were no more.

I remember going in on the very first Sunday to do a sound check and whilst I was there a very charming young lady appeared out of the darkness of the back stage area and walked towards me and said 'hello' in a beautiful soft Irish accent. Sshe then asked me when the sound system would be available for her to try out. The resident band had not yet arrived nor had the sound man Ian, so apart from me and the young lady, her people and the cleaners, that was it.

It turned out the young lady was Dana, who had recently won the Eurovision song contest. That was quite a pleasant week.

I can’t say that working at the Garter was an enjoyable time but over all it wasn’t too bad. Some weeks were good, some were bad and some just very boring. For me there were too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.

First of all the club manager Mr Mike Robbins (one of Paul McCartney’s relatives) would tell you what to do then the assistant manager would tell you what to do and then the stage manger “Mack” stuck his two pennyworth in and then Ian the lighting man had to have his say and it didn’t finish there. The bloody band leader, Dozy Derek Butterworth stuck his bit in till it all came full circle back to Mike Robins!

Sometimes you didn’t know what to do next with all this crap and bullshit flying around; it’s as though they had to justify their subliminal existence, the poor sods.     But now and then, when a top artiste appeared, it could be a real buzz and everyone had to be on the ball.

One such artiste was the great Dusty Springfield.

She was due to appear for two weeks and I had just finished doing a week for Cliff Richard. Cliff was not too happy with the house PA system and he had wanted echo on some of his stuff but this was a facility they did not have on the house system.

David Bryce, Cliff's personal manager, asked if I could help; we go back a long way.  So I rang Jim Marshall the week before Cliff was due to appear and he had two 2x15 power cell cabs with horns and a 9 channel mixer sent up to the shop (Barratts) and a two hundred watt and fifty watt slave amp.

I put the system in on the Sunday using a Watkins echo unit for the effects Cliff wanted and on the Monday band call it sounded really awesome. It was much better than I expected and Cliff was over the moon.

That week was fabulous and it was great to meet up with Terry Britain (left) again who had played guitar for Cliff for many years. He was a local lad from Wythenshawe who went on some years later to write a massive worldwide hit for Tina Turner called What’s love got to do with it. Terry is a very nice guy and genuine person which is quite rare in the old rock 'n' roll scene. The week with Cliff really flew by and before I knew it, I was giving up my Sunday again to take the Marshall PA system out. We had used some gold plated AKG microphones, which looked pretty cool, which I was now about to remove. Unusually there were some people already in the club and that included some of the house band and its iconic leader Derek.  The mikes were at the side of the main stage, so I started to get on with the job of taking the system down and by now I realized that all the action was because Dusty Springfield had arrived.

She had requested a band call on the Sunday as well as the Monday. I watched and listened for a while and it turned out that she was not happy about the house PA system. Now, for a girl, she turned out to be quite savvy and during a short break in the rehearsals she wandered around for a while and finally walked over to where the Marshall speakers were situated on the side stages.

I was just sat there when she walked over, looked at the gold plated mikes and asked to try one. I explained that they were for a different system which was being removed today but that they would not work on the house system as it was low impedence and they were high. She then asked who it was for; I said I put it in for Cliff last week because his management were not happy with the house system. She said 'OK', smiled, said 'thank you' and walked back to the stage area.

It must have been all of two minutes before Mack, the stage manager, with band leader Derek in tow approached me and asked if Dusty Springfield try the Marshall PA that Cliff had used the previous week.

I explained that I had come in on my day off to move it back to the shop but they were adamant that she wanted to try it, so I said 'okay pal, its all yours'. I thought that at least I did not have to dismantle the whole thing and I could now have a lazy Sunday.

I put the mikes back on the stand and reconnected them to the PA amp, switched it all on (including the echo unit) and was making my way to the stage door when Mack called me and said that Dusty Springfield  was now insisting that I operate the dammed thing for her during the rehearsals.

By now I was really pissed off with the whole thing and my lazy Sunday was going down the pan, rapid. I went back stage where (from here lets call her Dusty) Dusty was now waiting. She was most polite and thanked me for helping her out. She then asked me to go through a list of her songs and started to tell me where she wanted echo and where she didn’t. Well, I was bowled over it was my second huge star in two weeks.

As the time went on we were getting on really well and before long all the cue tabs were written down and ready for the rehearsal which went really well.

I arrived at the Garter on the Monday night to be greeted by Mack the stage manager who told me that Mike Robbins wanted to see me in the office urgently. Apparently at the morning sound check and rehearsal had not gone to plan and Miss Springfield was less than happy. 

As I made my way to the office I had a good idea what was about to happen and sure enough, Mike tells me the band call had gone really badly and Dusty was quite upset at not getting what she wanted. 

Now let me make one thing quite clear before I carry on. It was well documented that Dusty Springfield was a difficult person to work with but this was a bit of an urban myth. Whoever said it in the first place didn’t tell the absolute truth. What she liked in point of fact was to have things done correctly she was a perfectionist and she made sure that this was the case. Why not? She was a super star at the height of her career and she deserved to have it right. So, anyone who bad mouthed her and said she was temperamental had most likely had a rollicking for not doing their job properly - and rightly so.

I don’t think she ever did for the hell of it. She had Joe Public to think about and more to the poin,t she had worked bloody hard to get where she was. When things were running smoothly, you never heard her complain but she was quick to say well done when things were really together - that I can vouch for personally.

The upshot was that Dusty had insisted that I work the PA for her, so I went up to her dressing room and we went through list of songs again. One of the songs she did was Windmills of your mind so the que from Dusty was 'I would like to do this song from the Thomas Crown Affair, Windmills of your mind'.

As soon as she said 'mind' I pressed the foot switch on the echo. She sang 'round' and the echo repeated 'round, 'round, 'round', fading gradually. It was just as she wanted it and having got the first night over, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Everything went fine until the fourth night - all the ques were spot on and the house band, augmented with brass, sounded terrific.

It came to Windmills of your mind but Dusty said 'I would like to do this song from the Thomas Crown Affair ... round'     There was no echo as she didn’t give me the right que and add ' Windmills of your mind'.

Panic! I hit the foot switch and hoped that she realised that she had made a mistake. The rest of the set went fine but when she came off she made straight for me and said 'You missed your bloody que for Windmills you little s--t.'

I spent the next 20 minutes with her and the management, trying to explain that it was not my fault and that the mistake was hers. It eventually got sorted out and all was peace and quiet again. But this was the calm before the storm!

THE SATURDAY I WILL NOT FORGET

Friday and Saturday were always big nights at the Golden Garter, especially when you had such a big star like Dusty Springfield appearing and this particular Saturday was building up quite nicely. Because it was so busy, such a big show and with me working for Dusty as well as playing for dancing, we only had to do three spots instead of four.  There was a big review type thing with all the dancing girls and Shep's Banjo Boys - gawd love em! Then there was us, then top of the bill - you know who. I have to say that it was a really good show.

Dusty came back stage a few minutes before she went on, just to check things were ok. She looked stunning.

The band struck up and the mc introduced Dusty.

'Ladies and gentlemen a big welcome live on stage tonight, the fabulous Miss Dusty Springfield'.

The atmosphere was absolutely electric - you could feel it in the air; it was almost touchable and it gave you goose bumps. Even my goose bumps had goose bumps. She went through the curtain and out to her audience and the noise was absolutely deafening even back stage, so it must have been awe-inspiring out front.  Now all artist’s from big stars to club singers do a false tab number. For those who don’t know, its when they sing one of their big hits or best songs and then go off but then come back on and do another couple of songs. Now all artist’s from big stars to club singers do a false tab number. For those who don’t know, its when they sing one of their big hits or best songs and then go off but then come back on and do another couple of songs. Dusty’s false tab number was the fabulous Preacher Man. The show had gone smoothly without a single hitch. I was sat back stage soaking up the atmosphere and doing all the ques and listening on my monitor speaker to Dusty belting out Preacher Man when all of a sudden I couldn’t hear her voice, I could hear the band but not her. I looked at the amp and the monitor, all the lights were on. I could hear the band but not Dusty.  The next thing I remember was the curtain flying open from the on stage area and Dusty appeared flying down the steps and what she didn’t call me has not yet been written or invented yet.

She was absolutely incandescent with rage. 'You f---in! ba----rd! What the hell did you do, you little shit? How dare you f—k me around like this! You will never work here again! Why is the bloody mike not working? What the f—k is going on? Get me the f—kin manager. I won’t be working in this bloody hole another minute. '

I don’t need to tell you that all hell broke loose back stage with her yelling at me and me yelling back, saying 'I don’t know what the f—kin hell happened. I just lost you on the monitor!'

Through all this, the band was still playing; real pro’s. I tell you, it was surreal.

All the management came from nowhere. The stage manager was running around like a headless chicken, Mike Robbins was a whiter shade of pale and trying to calm Dusty down but that seemed to make things worse than ever (but the band played on).

All her people and her personal assistant were trying to calm Dusty down. She eventually went back on and did her last 2 songs using the house system. It goes without saying that regardless of what had happened, she went down an absolute bomb.

She then stormed off to her dressing room with the whole management in tow. In the meantime, I discovered that the HT fuse had blown in the main amplifier. Unfortunately it was just one of those things that no one could have foreseen happening.

Now I had to go and get ready quickly to play the last spot for dancing. As I left the back stage area, Mack the stage manager said to me 'Can I have a word with you before you leave tonight'.

I replied that it was not my fault and it was just one of those things. I added that I wouldn’t be spoken to or swore at like that by her or anybody else - especially as I was doing her a favour.

We (the Golden Garter Trio) played the last spot and after I went up to our dressing room and took off my make up. Yes, I did say make-up - Max Factor 24 or 28, I can’t remember.

The dressing room phone rang. Dave Buckley, my drummer, answered it and said 'Brian you are wanted in the front office, now', to which I replied 'I am going home. I am pissed off with the whole affair and I know they want to give me the bullet - not just for this row with Dusty Springfield but because I won’t bloody well dance in the revue. So tell them they can stuff their job up where the sun don’t shine, I have had it up to here.'

I turned and walked out of the dressing room door slamming it so bloody hard it very nearly came off it hinges.   

By the time I got downstairs, the assistant manager Steve Kalton was there and he very politely asked me to go to the office with him. He then explained that they (the management) were well aware that it was not my fault but they would like to talk to me and so I went to the office where somewhat surprisingly I was greeted with smiles and a big 'Hello Brian'. That in itself was a bit unnerving.

Before anybody could say anything, I said 'Fire me if you want but it was not my fault'. They explained that they had talked things out with Dusty and that she was now aware that it was just a very unfortunate thing to happen and despite the fact that she had threatened not to work the second week that she now would IF I sorted out the PA and on condition that I did the second week for her, for which the management would pay me extra for my trouble.

I could not believe my luck, so I agreed to do it once I found out how much extra I was going to get. Oh, I’m all heart (££££££££).  The next day Sunday, I spent nearly all of it putting in a spare amp on to the same system with a bleed to the main house system so in the event of any HT fuses blowing, all I had to do was put the jack for her mike into the next main input which I had now preset so if the worst did happen it would just seem like a drop in volume for a second or two. Well, that was my master plan anyway.

WOULD IT WORK? I HOPED I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO FIND OUT

After the first week, could anything else go wrong?

I arrived at the Garter on Monday night and we did our first two spots as usual and there was all the other stuff going on - Shep's Banjo Boys, the revue, etc. When it came to top of the bill time, I made my way once again back stage and as I approached the mixing console, Mack the stage manager was standing there. He turned to me and said 'I hope all goes well tonight Brian, I really do',

I turned around looked him straight in the eye and said to him 'If Dusty says one wrong word to me tonight, I am straight out of that door)and I won’t be coming back except to pick up my money and my gear'. Well, there was the usual hub-bub back stage while we waited for Dusty to arrive. All of a sudden Dave McDonald my bass player came through the stage door and said she on her way.

We stood there back stage in a line - me, Mack and the two Dave’s. When you think about it now, we must have looked pretty bloody stupid - it looked more like a guard of honour. Anyhow the stage door opened door and she appeared (wearing the dress in the pictures) and she looked a zillion dollars - definitely the Wow factor.

She then looked over in my direction, walked right up to me and took both of my hands and pulled them up to her bosom - holding both hands really tightly. We could not have got any closer if we had tried. She looked me straight in the eyes and said 'Brian, I am so sorry for what happened last week and all the things that I said to you. I realised that it was not your fault and its been worrying me all yesterday and today. Will you please accept my apology? I am truly sorry for everything I said, honestly I really am.'

Ok, you know what came next but I will tell you anyway. I melted like a piece of butter, went all goo goo and said 'Please don’t give it another thought and thank you for the apology'. She then asked me to work the rest of the week for her, which I agreed to. She then gave me a kiss and said 'Lets have a good night tonight'. I have to tell you that Monday night was one of the best nights ever. The rest of the week went without a hitch and you would think that we had always known each other. She treated me like I was her best friend. Later in that week, I took my wife Carole to meet her and they both sat in the dressing room comparing contact lenses and glasses as they were both blind as bats without them. After all these years, I still find it hard to believe that I spent that precious time with one of the biggest stars this country had ever produced and we were just like really good mates.

THE FINAL SATURDAY

The last night finally arrived and just when you think things could not get any better, they actually did.

It was a fabulous show and Dusty was just awesome. At the end of her set, before the last number, she thanked the band for being so wonderful (and they had been terrific). She also gave me a little mention, you know 'I would like to thank my back stage sound man for looking after me for the last two weeks', that kind of thing.

After the show there was a little party in Dusty's dressing room just for a few close friends. After about half an hour, she took me to one side and thanked me once more for being there for her. She then said to me 'I would like you to have this as a gift from a very close friend' and she then handed me a package and on the outside wrapping it said To Brian, the voice saver - all my love Dusty.

She told me to open it - by now everyone was nosing around. I undid the wrapping and inside was an oblong shaped box, which I opened and inside was a beautiful Parker pen, engraved on the cap it read 'To Brian, many thanks, love Dusty”.

I have to tell you there were tears in my eyes when she gave me a big hug and a kiss; everybody in the dressing room gave a round of applause. It was a night and a moment that I will never forget.

Dusty Springfield kept in touch with me for quite a while after our time at The Golden Garter; the odd phone call now and then, usually when she was a bit down as her career started to wobble but generally she was pretty up beat and cards form here and there.

She rang me at the shop quite regularly but as with most long distance friendships, the calls became less and less especially when she went to America.

I only ever saw her once again some years later at the BBC in Manchester and you would think that we had been together only yesterday as we sat laughing and reminiscing in the beeb canteen. I think the people in there thought we were a pair of crazy people, laughing like a pair of loons.

I still have that wonderful gift, the pen that she gave me but sadly we no longer have Miss Dusty Springfield - which is our sad loss. I often get out the pen just to look at it and to think she spent the whole of Saturday afternoon looking around Manchester looking for a gift just for me. How lucky was I to deserve such attention from a star as big as Dusty Springfield - not just a star but someone I could call 'a friend'.

Now, how many nobody’s can say that.

I bet she still wows them up there with all the other stars. Give em hell Dusty.

Nashville gets a taste of real Manchester musicianship!

Brian finally gets to play Nashville (2008).  Sadly Brian's empty begging bowl in out of shot.

In the Nashville Hall of fame next to Luther Perkins.

Elton on the cadge Elton John visits Barratts Music Shop (around 71-72) If you have ever worked in retail then you will know that no two days are ever the same. As with most things in a large musical instrument shop apart from people actually coming in, the only other link to the outside world was the telephone. Now today that may seem a bit old fashioned but back in those dark days there was no fax or internet, no pc. Just the old dog & bone & if you wanted to send a letter or a bill to someone you put it in a thingy called an envelope then licked the back of a stamp which had glue on it made out of dead cats (oooh nice) & then stuck it in a big red box on a corner somewhere & if you were really lucky you would receive ot a week later or maybe longer. Expectations were not high Back In The Day .. but I digress. The phone rang one particular morning & was dually answered by young Kevin Parry who happened to be nearest, the voice on the other end asked to speak to me. After a short while Kevin came over to me looking somewhat bemused & said it’s for you, he say’s his name is Elton John (Kevin was a trumpet player bless) so I went to the phone & said "Hello, Brian Higham speaking". The voice at the other end said "Hi its Elton John here, hope you don’t mind me calling but your name& number was given to me by Saville Artiste’s of London (Cliff’s Office) & they said if I had any problems whilst touring in the north to contact you & if it was possible you would be able to help so that’s why I am calling I have a big problem". I said if I can help I will what seems to be the trouble…….well he said & then paused, then went on to say that the road manager for his band had parked the van in a less than secure place (they were staying at the Piccadilly Hotel) near the hotel & some artful Manchester dodger had prised off the back door of the & stolen all the guitars. At this point there was a short silence & then I said oooh that is a problem when is your next gig…..another short silence & then he replied tonight in Stoke on Trent tonight, actually it was The Place at Hanley but lets not be pedantic. So then I said well what it is you would like me to do to which he replied is there anyway that he could hire some instruments just for the one night. I asked if he knew what they needed … "I have no idea" he replied, "I’m just the piano player". I said ok you send the guys down to the shop & I'll see what I can do as they will know what they need. He said ok I'll tell them now & thanks its really appreciated Brian...click the line went dead. Approximately twenty minutes after the call I was looking out of the window when I saw the biggest gleaming white Roll’s Royce that I had ever seen & I thought to myself some lucky bugger most probably won the pools.

After a brief conversation I said that is some car you have there, he said yes I like it come & have a look inside. Two minutes later I was sat in the back of this roller with Elton John. The back seat area was like a small room with blue leather upholstery & beautiful sold burr walnut on the doors, there was a fully stocked bar & a record player & all the fittings were gold even the telephone was gold. Elton then pressed a button and a big screen came up between the rear & the front, he pressed another button and another screen came up but this was a privacy screen so you could not see the driver & that is what the gold phone was for to talk to the driver. It was just absolutely awesome, it was just then when I was trying to take in all this opulence that I noticed another Rolls pull up behind. Elton said oh this is my lead guitar player so as we both disembarked from Elton’s rolls yet a third rolls pulls up & he said that it was the bass player. Well by this time my head was spinning & so was half of Oxford Street with this trio of Rolls Royce’s lined up outside the shop. Finally the last car arrived & it was Nigel Olsen the drummer in a Thunderbird thank god for that BIT OF NORMALITY. The people on Oxford Street & passing buses must have thought it was a wedding taking place & I’m sure it’s a sight that will never be seen again.

So all the guys in the band + Elton were there & they set about picking various instruments. When they had finally decided which they wanted I booked them out to Elton Johns office, he then asked what the cost would be so having valued them I said give me a cheque for £500.00. to cover the insurance cost’s in case of any damage as the instruments were all new & if they all come back in tact we will deduct the hire charge.

I asked Elton if that was ok for him & he replied that was absolutely fine, he then gave me the cheque. The guys in the band were really happy & there were a lot of hand shaking & thank you’s then they loaded up & left.The Rolls then pulled up & stopped right outside the shop door. The driver jumped out & came around to the kerb side to open the door; I thought bloody hell it must be the Queen visiting (no pun intended).  The driver opened the door & out stepped Elton John himself. He came into the shop & asked to speak to the shop manager I said that’s me Brian Higham we shook hands & he said very pleased to meet you & said that the boys are on their way.

Now working in the shop as I had done all through the 60tys I had met some very rich & famous people & that was just a part of the job but that day was different & I just could not get over the enormity of the wealth on display that it was so in your face.

Don’t ask me why because I don’t know myself but it did bother me even my wife (Carole ) said that when I got home I looked a little bit pensive so I explained all about the day with Elton John & the 3 Rolls Royce’s & she said it was all part of life’s rich pattern ( what the hell does that mean). In other words get over it.

The next day about 10 o’clock a van pulled up outside the shop. It was Elton John’s roadie. He brought all the gear that had been borrowed along with the delivery note.  After a quick inspection I sad that they were all ok except for one minor scratch on one of the guitars well you would expect that after a gig.

About 11 o’clock I rang the Piccadilly Hotel & asked to speak to Elton John & they said he was just having breakfast so I asked the receptionist to tell him that I would be over to see him shortly. She asked me to hold which I did for a minute. When she came back on she said that that would be ok just ask for Elton at reception when I got there & he would come down.

Around 11-30 I went over to the Piccadilly Hotel, went to reception & asked for Elton John & told her my name & the very pretty young lady said he is expecting you I’ll just give him a call.

Well he arrived at the front desk all smiles & we went & sat down, he asked if I would like a coffee & I said that would be nice. The coffee came & we chatted for a while about this & that & last night s gig.

I told him that all the gear had been returned ok & he kept on saying how much he appreciated the shop lending him the instruments. I then said that you had better have this. I then gave him back the cheque for £500-00.that he had given me the day before & he was somewhat surprised & said that I had not deducted the hire charge to which I replied” there is no charge just consider it a service from Barratts Of Manchester”. ell at this point he looked a little bit over come so I stood up having finished my coffee & said that I have to get back to the shop, he stood up & we shook hands & he then said to me in a very sincere way. If there is anything that I can ever do for you at anytime whatever it is don’t hesitate to call me you have the office number & I owe you a very very great big favour. With that still ringing in my ears I left & went back to the shop.

Well just in case you are wondering …..no I never did ask him to return the favour in fact I never saw him again but at least I did help him along the way courtesy of Barratts Of Manchester.

I’ll have to look to see if I still have his number as my old Range Rover is getting a bit long in the tooth.

I did eventually get over this famous visit & disappeared back into total obscurity .

Memories

This is quite an amazing set of coincidences that leads me to write this . Whilst doing research on the web into the serial numbers of 3 guitars led me to this site.

Ive just read your account of the day Elton John walked into your shop..... and almost 40 years on i sit here with the original Barratts Hire Invoice to Elton John.

Now Ive just got off the phone to my brother inlaw  if your memory serves you ok you might remember him he is Kevin Downing and worked in the shop along with his band mate Kevin Parry my brother inlaw played the trombone .

Anyhow he gave me the Invoice almost 35 years ago and told me of the story of Elton and how you passed on the Invoice to him as a keep sake of that day and since that day its been with a copy of Elton Johns Yellow Brick Road until I started doing research into the signature and serial numbers the 2 Fenders serial numbers were easy to trace the Les Paul Gibson is proving more difficult and I am waiting for a reply from Gibson direct as it is a pre 1975 vintage and the serial numbers are impossible for me to work out.

If you would like a copy of that Invoice for the site let me know and if you give me an email address I'll forward it on to you.

Its left me totally amazed at how these things turn out.

Keith Ashington
10/7/11

Harbour Light Meets Web Master

When I found out that Paul Mlynarz the Manchester beat webmaster was coming to the UK for a Christmas visit 2008 I mailed Paul and asked if we could meet up.

We had met before in the '60s but whilst Paul remembers I didn’t and so it was that we arranged to meet.

We arranged to meet at the George and Dragon at Holmes Chapel which was a pub that I managed for ten years after I left Barratts (from 1980 to 1990).

When we arrived at the pub Paul was already there and obviously recognized me because of all the stuff he had put on M/Beat about The Harbour Lights.

He introduced me to his lovely wife Sarah and his daughter Hannah and I like wise did the same with my wife Carole and some other friends from the village

We had a really great lunch time but it went so quickly however it was a meeting I won’t forget in a hurry. I know that all you M/Beat people think we know Paul because we seem to be constantly in touch with him by e-mail but until you have met this guy you don’t know what you are missing.

I hope this doesn’t embarrass him but he is a really genuine nice guy with a lovely family and I would like to thank him for all the work that he has done in getting it out there for the entire world to see.

Not all the groups made the big time but for all those who didn’t M/Beat opens up a new world that we can all explore and I should know because I get mail from all over the world from people who have discovered Manchester Beat. Many old friends and colleagues have surfaced as they discover M/Beat and old friendships are revived, it’s just simply the best ever.

On this special day Paul recruited his daughter Hannah to take some pictures of this meeting of old rockers one of which I attach to this letter and which I will always treasure.

Once again thanks Paul for a great time and all the best to you and your family.

Kindest Regards Brian and Carole Higham

And is was a real pleasure meeting you both, Brian.  You played such a major part in so many lives - a true Manchester icon!

Thanks for the music.

Paul

Maxton G Beesley

The Manchester United Barratt Connection

Just going back down memory lane my thoughts turned to Manchester United.

With all this Rooney stuff going on my mind went back to those heady days in the 1967/8 season when Manchester United won the European Cup. I was fortunate enough to have known some of that great team.

Bobby Noble a great full back was in that team though he did not play in the final.

Bobby grew up in a place called Cheadle Village which was where I also grew up; we both went to the same school Broadway Secondary Modern though he was a few years behind me being much younger. I knew the family quite well especially his big sister Jackie as they lived just down the road from my house.

I often saw bobby with his dad on the local footy field across the river being put through his paces which was to stand him in good stead & yes the boy done good & eventually became a Busby Babe & made it into the first team at Manchester United.

Unfortunately his career was cut short by a car accident which damaged one of the muscles in left eye making it difficult to focus.

The club did everything it could for him but the damage was too great & so he very prematurely retired.

After he had left United he became a regular in my local pub in Sale where I was now living. Bobby was also living in sale with his family.

At this time Bob was not working so one night after a few beers I offered him a job at the shop (Barratts) as a salesman & to my surprise he accepted.

And so now I had a famous footballer from Manchester United working for me along side Ex Hollies bass player the legendary Eric Haydock & they became great mates & got on very well.

Sometime later I was lucky enough to find myself in the company of Sir Matt Busby one sports evening at the Golden Garter in Wythenshawe just outside Manchester.

I mentioned to Sir Matt that Bobby had worked for me after United & he told me how sad he had been at losing such a fine player at such a young age & how he was still held in high regard at Old Trafford.

I haven’t seen Bobby for many years but I know he still lives in Sale with his family & works in Altrincham for a printing company.

Another one of that 68 team was one George Best who I recall scored in the 68 final.

I met George through an old friend of mine Malcolm Mooney who had become George’s business partner.

We all used to meet most Thursdays at the Pinewood Hotel in Handforth where there was a regular disco & after we would go back to George’s new house Que Serra in Woodford where we would play snooker till the early hours.

Well now I suppose you are thinking where does Barratts fit into all this because George didn’t play a musical instrument of any kind he was into other kinds of recreation.

On one of those wonderful evenings George asked me about putting a music system in the ceiling throughout the house, so I said that could be done easily enough.

The next day he came to the shop in his E-type Jag & gave me the make of the unit that he wanted.

I got our shop engineer Terry Smith to go to George’s place to check just what was needed & the set installed was fully functioning a couple of  weeks later much to George’s  delight. I went up to the house one morning just to have a listen to the finished job & ended up having bacon & eggs for breakfast & a read of the daily mirror with George Best, now there aren’t many can say that.

Some weeks later I also had a great music system fitted into his E Type Jag.

At the time George & Malcolm had 2 shops called George Best Edwardia & were planning to expand into more shops & it was then that I got a call from George to meet him & Malcolm at the shop in Sale which I did & they offered me a job running the shops for them as they opened, well after much soul searching I reluctantly declined the offer & stayed on Oxford Street. Though it was very tempting turning down such a glamorous position working for the great George Best but they both fully understood & I’m pleased to say we remained firm friends.
Sadly sometime later Malcolm died in a car crash & I don’t think George ever got over that as they were really close.

Adrian Barratt & I saw all the 1968 European Cup matches that were played at Old Trafford & we never had to buy a ticket as they came to us by courtesy of the late Great George Best.

It was a great & unforgettable time way back then & I was very privileged to have known George Best as a Friend.

Another Red from the 68 team was Tony Dunne; he was a Harbour Lights fan & used to come to Bredbury Hall Country Club to watch us play.
Whenever he was there he always bought me a drink whether I wanted it or not & he insisted that it was a pint of Guinness with a Baby Cham poured in the top. It blew your bloody head off, no wonder????? .

Oh & some years later I had the pleasure of showing Sir Bobby Charlton & his wife how to use a Phillips video recorder. It only recorded for half an hour, still it was 1974.

So there you have it four Red Connection’s to Barratts of Manchester.

Brian Higham  
21/10/2010.

Gallery

       
Brian Higham and Hank Marvin in Barratts late 60s and again in Blackpool circa 2005/6. 
Hank is smiling because he remembers the great guitar he got from Brian and what a real gent he was to deal with.
Brian is smiling as he remembers the mark-up.