The Soundsations
February 19, 2010
Reminiscences, recalling fading memories which tend to become dim or lost with the passing years.
From about the mid 1950s to the late1970s were the prime zenith years of our youth, throughout those two or more decades, we had little perceptiveness of the good times we were enjoying, nor any concept of just how deceptively quickly those golden years would fly pass.
This was a transitional era of musical taste, the formerly popular and great traditional jazz bands of the early 1950s were in a state of declination, being phased out as a result of promotional publicity fuelling a rapid rise in the popularity of what became known as ‘pop’ or popular music.
The pop Groups of the 60s.
The band ‘Soundsations’ was formed after much searching to find the best musicians obtainable within the South London counties.
Mike Breslin started learning to play drums at or before the age of seven, he played side drum as a young boy invited to stand in with the London Scottish regimental pipe band when they held band practise at their London drill hall, that honour Mike remembers well his father was the pipe bands lead drummer.
When he was age twelve he became a student at the prestigious London School of Dance Music in Charing Cross Road, increasing his expertise under the guidance of the Jazz drummer Tony Kinsey.
The Soundsations
From their almost regular performances at the Woodstock came an invitation for a performance at the Napoleon Suite booked for Sunday 9th.February 1964, at London’s exclusive venue The Café Royal Regent Street. Other bookings flooding in included one from Decca Records for some private recording sessions at the Marble Arch London studio, the group’s first record, Decca F.11848 was released on Friday February 28th 1964, a 45 rpm ‘I’ve been crying’ with ‘For your Love’ on the flip side.
The recording was almost cancelled because the vocalist Denny, had a very severe head cold which can be heard in his voice on the record, despite this Decca Records decided to release the record. Later recordings were made by the group which were kept ‘in the can’ intended for future release.
Further from these very successful gig’s came many follow on diamond and mink bookings at London’s most glamorous establishments; several occasional performances at The Grosvenor House Park Lane, and at the Dorchester hotel Park Lane, and The Londoner hotel, guest membership of The Playboy Club 45 Park Lane London, The Bunny Club Girls.
‘The Establishment’ at Greek Street Soho, the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore London venue was one of many such regular London area gigs.
Several national television performances featured The Soundsations, publicised in the Midlands and national editions of the TV times, such series of programmes included were the Thursday 30th April, 1964 For Teenagers program broadcasted on Thursday’s, and the prime time National TV programme ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ and the Juke Box Jury show.
Although the Soundsations group did undertake some arranged promotional nationwide tours throughout the U.K. and to as far north as Elgin and Glasgow Scotland, the band did not actively seek publicity since they had a full on going itinerary to cater for covering central London and the outer south east London counties with numerous bookings further north to the midland and further northern counties.
Extract taken from one of many newspaper articles:
A summary extract; taken from a publication of 17th. April 1964 Bromley and Kentish Times Newspaper, reads; a well known radio compare played popular records on his programme, these included records by the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, The Searchers and The Hollies, but he commented that for the first time since he started broadcasting these pop music programmes he had received the most requests for a group other than the Beatles, which was for Denny and The Soundsations record ‘I’ve Been Crying’ and ‘For your Love’. Naturally he also played a record by The Beatles as well, and passed on a message from the Beatles which said: “thank you for putting us where we are” to his program listeners. There was also a taped message of welcome and thanks from The Hollies. The Soundsations group were broadcasted internationally twice nightly at peak times on the very popular Radio Luxemburg.
Peter Frampton was occasionally invited to stand in as a guest artist playing lead guitar with the group.
Mike Breslin. Geophysicist
Having a distinguished professional career in marine geophysics Mike served an apprenticeship training commencing in 1954 with the first American seismic oil and gas Exploration Company in England, working on the first geophysical exploration vessel mobilised for North Sea Oil exploration.
As an acknowledged marine geophysicist and Oil company representative with extensive worldwide experience of some fifty years, his accreditation exceeds that of professor of geophysics.
Prof. Mike Breslin
Buckingham Palace Garden Party
September 14, 2009
Buckingham Palace
By kind permission of: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
A Garden Party held in the grounds at Buckingham Palace and attended by members of the Royal Household.
Our grateful thanks to: ‘The Not Forgotten Association’ for the invitation requesting the company of myself and my wife at Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea on Wednesday 22nd. July 2009.
My wife was unduly apprehensive as to whether she aught to wear her Singapore national dress or one from her English style summer dress’ she need not have worried as many other Ladies wore their national dress. One young Japanese lady virtually stole the show by wearing her traditional Japanese kimono cultural costume.
Shortly before 2 pm the outer gate to the palace forecourt was opened, we were admitted and walked through to the main Palace entrance then into the inner courtyard from where we passed through the Palace itself and into the magnificent gardens.
Large marquees provided cover housing the caterer’s who provided a lavish selection of sandwiches with a choice of delicious fillings, cakes of all sorts, soft drinks, strawberries and cream, appetising pastries and of course plenty of tea. Service provided by waiters and or by self service option.
This is a special annual event where you will see many of the older and some more youthful soldier’s sailors Royal Air force and Merchant navy service men and women who proudly wear Medals won for active and or combat service given, and for valour often above and beyond the call. ‘Respect’ is fully accredited to these people, and is duly acknowledged.
The Band of: The Irish Guards
The weather could not have been better, a lovely sunny summer day not too hot for comfort and with an occasional light gentle refreshing breeze.
From a separate bandstand marquee the regimental band of the Guards played a repertory of enjoyable music. The National Anthem was played to announce the arrival of Their Royal Highnesses who also appeared to be having an enjoyable social afternoon, spending most of their time engaged in conversation with their guests.
The Palace Grounds
At the upper part of the vast garden area nearer to the rear of the Palace it was a real pleasure to see two Pipe Majors, that is I assume these would be majors, dressed in full highland uniform and playing set pieces on their bagpipes, such as Scotland the Brave, Hielan Laddie, and other tunes.Pipe band music set pieces are unique and have attained international appeal the tunes are distinctive having a rhythmic vitality in range and tempo, from such as the more mournful lament, through to those played in distinctive 6 over 8 beats to the bar time, marching tunes played with a lively lilt or a swagger, others are in the tempo of a highland reel or a strathspey at a strutting pace, and other tunes played in straightforward 4 over 4 beats to the bar marching time.
Of these two Pipers one was from the much favoured Gurkha regimental pipe band, judging by the other pipers plain none tartan kilt, I would guess that he was from the London Scottish Regiments pipe band.
The area of the lavishly landscaped garden is surprisingly extensive, at the furthermost part from the Palace there is a lovely lake there are walkways and secluded areas with seating where the surrounding quietness may easily make one quite forgetful that you are in the centre of London.
Regimental Band of: The Irish Guards.
Shortly before 5 pm dressed in their famous scarlet uniforms and wearing their bearskin caps the regimental band marched on to the designated parade area. They gave a stunning display of different formations whilst in marching formation playing a selection of stirring traditional military marching tunes, and the music compositions which represent the various branches of the combined armed forces, finishing with the ceremony of Beating Retreat to mark the close of day.
By 5: 30 pm. We made our way back through the Palace to the outer forecourt gates leading to the Mall.
Back to normality, our memorable afternoon was at a close.
The Differences
Medals rather than: Titles
The clearly obvious difference between these awards must be emphasised,
of the numerous awards given annually known as ‘titles’ under the entirely different ‘honours’ orchestrated system which are obtained mainly through governmental influence, such are in the majority of cases given out rather like lollipops.
The recipients often having done little or nothing which really could be regarded as creditably note worthy although there may be a small minority of exceptions, generally these titles lack credence commanding very little or no respect whatsoever.
Mike Breslin
China Earthquake
May 27, 2008
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