Sixties obscure Beat Groups that I loved – the Others, Paramounts, Undertakers, Measles, Birds, Bo Street Runners.

Posted on by Opher

Back in 1964 music was the currency. It was what we all talked about. There were no independent radio stations and only two TV stations so we all watched and listened to the same things. Radio Luxembourg was the only source of anything different and that phased in and out.

I used to listen to a lot of bands that did not quite make it into the charts. There were some crackin’ bands and superb tracks. They were hard to track down back then.

These were some of my favourites.

Birds – Leaving Here

The first bands that I saw live – Ron Wood (of the Faces and Stones) on guitar. They blew me away. This single captured a little bit of that excitement.

The Others – Oh Yeah

The Others released this great Bo Diddley cover that I thought was great.

Paramounts – Poison Ivy

The Paramounts did this great version of the Coaster classic Poison Ivy. It was a minor hit. They went on to become Procol Harum.

Measles – Casting my spell

I thought this should have been massive. Radio London plugged it like mad and I loved it. The track Casting My Spell was later recorded by the Pirates.

Undertakers – Just a little bit

They did an amazing version of the Rosco Gordon number Just a Little bit and would tour around in a hearse and wear Top Hats and tails.

Screaming Lord Sutch – I’m a hog for you baby

Screaming Lord Sutch was amazing. He had the longest hair of anyone! I remember him doing this on TV with a Top Hat on and lifting it up to let all his hair fall down. The band had loads of great people in it –

Bo Street Runners – I’m a Bo Street Runner

I saw them on Ready Steady Go and thought they were wild – a raw version of the Stones. Loved the harp. They were great featuring Mick Fleetwood and Mike Patto

If you fancy reading some of my books on Rock Music try these:

6 thoughts on “Sixties obscure Beat Groups that I loved – the Others, Paramounts, Undertakers, Measles, Birds, Bo Street Runners.”

  1. I love the idea of a scene where everything is good and the stuff that rises to the top is great. Not so true today, alas, for several reasons. One album I really like is Nuggets which has an amazing selection of 60s garage bands from the States …

    https://g.co/kgs/iKt28Y

    1. I love that too Dave, and its offshoots Pebbles, Rubble, Boulders. Pebbles Vol 3 The Acid Gallery is absolutely amazing! I’m not sure the music on it is brilliant but it captures a time of psychedelic youthful exuberance. It is mad, hilarious and weird.

      2. When I ran my History of Rock Music adult education class I had one of my group who became a fanatic when it came to obscure Garage and Psychedelic Punk (What seems to have become known as Freakbeat). It started with nuggets and went from there. By the end of my course he had amassed hundreds of albums. There are thousands of them out there! It’s become an industry in itself.

  3. Pingback: Sixties obscure Beat Groups that I loved – the Others, Paramounts, Undertakers, Measles, Birds, Bo Street Runners. – Opher's World

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