50 years of ‘I Wanna Love You Like A Mad Dog’ Stavely Makepeace.
Fifty years ago today, a single 45 was released that would be the first for so many in the career of Nigel Fletcher and Rob Woodward.
The slightly terrifyingly title; ‘I Wanna Love You Like A Mad Dog’ was the first release of Coventry pop band Stavely Makepeace.
Drummer Nigel Fletcher takes up this fascinating story: “Back in the 1960s getting a 45rpm single released was still like a dream come true for any up and coming pop group.
“It was therefore a great thrill for us, after unsuccessfully knocking so many doors in Denmark Street, (aka Tin Pan Alley), that someone at last showed interest in the results of us recording in our little home studio in Coventry. This ‘someone’ was the music publisher Campbell Connelly & Co Ltd.
“The year was 1969 and professional manager John Read saw potential in what we were doing. Campbell’s didn’t have a record label of their own but John managed to secure a release for us with Pyramid Records, run by the great Graham Goodall.
“Pyramid Records were virtually 100 per cent reggae and they’d just had a huge hit with Desmond Dekker called ‘The Israelites, so having an all white pop band in their stable was something very novel for them.
“On August 29th 1969 ‘I Wanna Love You Like A Mad Dog’ was issued, (PYR 6072), and initially it looked like it might pick up a few air plays.
“Graham Goodall had been at school with Alan “Fluff” Freeman so Alan got us on the Radio One Road Show and he also played it as a new release. Sadly though, without the massive exposure a new record needed to become successful, ‘Mad Dog’ failed to chart.
“Fifty years on and we’re still trying out and recording new ideas in our little studio. Today of course, we no longer need lots of musicians behind us. With modern recording methods one musician can create the sound of a symphony orchestra using ‘track on track’ method, (if he has the patience!)
“Making a record is still a great challenge though and it gives us much satisfaction when the end result turns out as we planned.
“Three years after ‘Mad Dog’ we were at number one with our breakaway band Lieutenant Pigeon and the record ‘Mouldy old Dough’.
“However, there was no thrill like that thrill we got from the release of our first Stavely Makepeace single fifty years ago this month!
“Rob and I plan to go to the Ball Hill chippy to celebrate! (LOL)”
Calling All Bands & Artists
Calling all local bands and artists, HMV in Coventry city centre and ‘Just Dropped In’ in Fargo are both now stocking local artists.
If you want some genuine coverage then get your products to them. Wes Finch has done it, be more like Wes.
Stylusboy ‘Routes’
One of Coventry’s most inspired artists Stylusboy has just released a new album entitled ‘Routes’.
It’s a collection of wonderful music, beautifully sung, with lyrics that put the craft of the songwriter to the fore.
Ten very special compositions here, it’s hard to pick favourites but ‘For The Souls Of My Brothers’,’Shelter in The Light’ and ‘Embrace The View’ provide those moments when you just have to stop put everything else down and listen.
This album deserves your attention… www.stylusboy.co.uk
