Penfro Sounds

Chips Open Your Eyes / Earth RCA Victor RCA 2392 (1973) Chips were an Irish pop band that were formed in Belfast in 1969 and active through the 1970s and early 1980s. They scored hits on the Irish singles chart with songs such as "Love Matters" (1975), "Goodbye Goodbye" (1977) and "David's Song" (1982). The group included Linda Martin who went on to win the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest, a competition the band themselves attempted to enter four times. Having starting in Belfast in 1969 as an all male band called "The Group" , the band wanted a change of style and recruited schoolgirl Linda Martin and Annie Ferguson and renamed themselves Chips. Aiming for the "west coast sound" the first ever performance was a cover of "Dedicated To The One I Love" . In 1974 Linda left the group and was replaced briefly by Nicola Kerr who went on in the 80s to join The New Seekers. She in turn was replaced by Irene McElroy who became a ...

The Mojos Everything's Al' Right / Give Your Lovin' To Me Decca F 11853 (1964) Originally formed in Liverpool during 1962 as The Nomads, the band combined the talents of Keith Karlson, Jon "Bob" Conrad, Stu James and Adrian Lord.  In 1963 at the suggestion of George Harrison, Terry O'Toole was added to the line-up. In August 1963 the band changed their name to The Mojos. After recording their first tracks (which appeared on a compilation album called "This Is Merseybeat" ), Lord left the band and was replaced by Nicky Crouch. The band released 3 singles during 1964 as well as appearing in a movie ( "Every Day's A Holiday" ) and, like many of the Mersey bands, playing a residence at the Star Club in Hamburg. In October 1964 O'Toole and Crouch left the band and were replaced by Aynsley Dunbar and Lewis Collins.  The new line up recorded a further 2 singles before disbanding in 1966. James and Crouch formed a new version of the band wi...

Orion Honey / Ebony Eyes Sun Records CYS 1060 (1979) In 1977 the author Gail Brewer-Giorgio started a novel called Orion that told the story of a musical superstar (based on Elvis Presley) who faked his death to find peace and privacy.  The book was published in 1978 and at the same time recordings began to appear on the Sun label by a masked singer calling himself Orion and sounding very much like Elvis. Orion was in fact Jimmy Ellis (born James Hughes Bell in 1945). He had began his signing career at age 19 releasing a 45 for a small Georgia label called Dradco.  In 1969 Shelby Singleton who had acquired the rights to the Sun catalogue (other than Elvis') contracted Ellis to  record versions of   "That's All Right (Mama)" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky"  c rediting the recordings simply to "?" , whilst helping to push the rumour that they were alternate takes from Presley sessions. When Elvis died in 1977 Singleton revived the hoax by dubbing Ellis...

The Mighty Avengers Hide Your Pride / Hey Senorita Decca F 11891 (1964) An English pop group that originated from Rugby.  Formed in 1962 by Tony Campbell who played guitar and sang along with Dave "Biffo" Beech on drums, Mike Linnell on bass and Kevin "Bep" Mahon on guitar & harmonica. Signed by Andrew Loog Oldman, this 1964 single featuring a cover on the flip of The Drifters "Hey Senorita" failed to chart however the bands follow up 45, "So Much In Love" reached #46 in the UK charts. Two further 45s were released in 1965 but both failed to chart.  By the end of that year the band split up. Campbell, Beech & Mahon went on to be part of the band Jigsaw who are best known for their 1975 hit "Sky High". FLAC

A Popular History Of Signs Crowds / Crossing The Border  Melodia M2 (1981) A Popular History Of Signs were a arty synth pop/dance band originating from London. The band released its first three 7" and two EPs with a lineup of Andy Jarman on vocals, bass, and synthesizer with Peter Scammell on synthesizer and Paul Clarke on percussion. In 1983, Scammel left the group and was replaced by Andrew Smith on guitar, synths and vocals. This lineup recorded the LP Comrades and single 'The Art of Persuasion', toured the UK in support of Shriekback and extensively in France and Spain. Clarke was eventually replaced by Mark Tattersall (also of Cabaret Voltaire) on drums. Smith left for journalism in 1986 and is now a bestselling author. They never found any great success and received during their run mixed reviews.  One current blog page refers to Jarman as a "duff singer" however they did elsewhere gain comparisons to Wang Chung and Ultravox. This 45 on Melodia Records (n...

Catatonia Dead From The Waist Down (CD EP) blanco y negro NEG 115CD (1999) Catatonia were an alternative Welsh band formed in Cardiff in 1992. The band formed after the meeting of Mark Roberts and Cerys Matthews and featured Stephen Jenkins on drums, Paul Jones on bass and Clancy Pegg with keyboards. Some band changes took place prior to the release of their first single with Roberts and Matthews being the only two members that remained with the band throughout their lifetime. Several singles were released in the early 90s and by 1996 with the release of their first album the band hit the limelight being placed as part of the Britpop scene. This single released in 1999 was taken from their third album Equally Cursed And Blessed. It reached #7 in the UK charts. A further 2 tracks from the album were released as singles. August 2001 saw the release of their final album Paper Scissors Stone and by September of that year the band announced their breakup. Roberts moved on to  production...