ANGLIANS, THE

Lead Vocals: Garry Freeman aka Brian Freeman

Guitar: Roy Bell

Bass: Alistair Thorn

Keys: Clive Clare aka Clive Frindle

Drums: Hilson Hatley

In September 1966 the well established Garry Freeman & The Contours changed their name to fulfil new managerial obligations and also to avoid any confusion with an American act signed to the Tamla Motown label. Early publicity announced The Anglian Set as their new name but this was shortened to The Anglians just before the bands re-launch. The group’s new management team were Anglia TV’s director of music Peter Fenn, bandleader Bob Miller and session musician Reg Wale. The same month the band signed a three year deal with American label CBS, who had so far failed to land themselves a major UK act. The label felt The Anglians were the band to break this duck and wildly promised them two single releases before Christmas that year.

Local media pounced on the band’s impending success and months of speculation followed about the band's debut release. A popular rumour was that Norwich musician and ex Jaywalker, Pete Miller would be writing the band’s material and although they did later record some of Miller’s tracks, nothing was officially released.

The Anglians began recording tracks at the CBS Studios in New Bond Stree, London on the 1st November 1966. Their debut release A Friend Of Mine came on 13 January 1967 and was written by J.Armstead, N.Ashford and V.Simpson and was backed with the group’s self-penned Daytime Lover. The track was voted a unanimous “Miss” on the BBC’s Juke Box Jury, the day after it was released although panellist and DJ Pete Murray said he thought the band stood a good chance of making a name for themselves given more time. Sales peaked at around 10,000 which was not enough to trouble the national charts although it was a local success reaching Number 3 in the Norwich Top Ten, with sales figures being compiled by city record retailers. Freeman talks about promoting the record, “We were appearing on the BBC’s Parade Of The Pops and setting up to play a live set after an interview with the show’s host. As we set up, we could hear our single being played in the background and I remember thinking, we are here, we have made it!”

In contrast to their recording careers, the live-work poured in and the summer of 1967 was full, playing at The Palace Hotel in the Isle Of Man followed by a month at Park Lane's, Playboy Club. CBS meanwhile frustrated the group as they dragged their heels on the band’s second release. Freeman explains what he thinks happened, “CBS wanted a successful UK act and just after we released A Friend Of Mine they took on The Tremeloes, previously with Brian Poole. The group went on to have three top ten hits in a row and I think that made CBS reluctant to release a second single as they already had what they wanted.”

The band were released from the label in late 1967. Speculation of the groups future came soon after when an EEN article announced that they would be changing their name to Dream Machine, signing to the Arthur Howes Agency with an imminent release due on Polydor records. However, the group remained The Anglians and in the first week of December 1967, at the request of their new management team headed off to Pye Studios at Marble Arch to record tracks for a speculative new release.

The group recorded three tracks including their own song Discotheque Time and Pete Miller’s Crystal’s Tune, under the guidance of producer Des Champ, who had also produced their first single. The band at this time were operating out of London and being managed by showbiz scriptwriter Peter Dulay, who later presented the light comedy show Candid Camera. “I remember the session." said freeman. "Des took us out for a very large lunch and explained how he wanted to use a saxophone trio on the tracks. We had interest from Polydor who wanted to release Crystal’s Tune on their label. We did some promotion and recorded other demos for them but once again it didn’t happen”. The band were still in demand as a live act and were retained by Mecca, for the summer season of 1968, starting with a six-week residency at Tiffany’s, Shaftsbury Ave and later toured with Freddy Mack on his European dates. In May 1968 the rumour of the band changing their name to Cardboard was sheer speculation, however, they were offered but had declined the opportunity to become Joe Brown’s backing band, The New Bruvvers. The Anglians continued until September 1968 when they signed to Mercury Records and became The Moving Finger. 

Discography:

7” Friend Of Mine b/w Daytime Lover

CBS Records CBS202489 released 13/01/67

RR: Pye Studios, Marble Arch, Ldn ??/11/67

Crystals Tune / Discotheque Time + unknown tracks

7Act Discotheque Time  c67

7Act Reminiscing  c67

Selected advertised supports:

07/03/67 St Andrews Hall, Nch - Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

15/04/67 Orford Cellar, Nch - John L Watson & The Web

09/09/67 West Runton Pav, Crmr - Ebony Keyes

Tours:

French Tour: Paris & Bordeaux 22/02/68-04/03/68

France, Paris 15-17/03/68

The Freddy Mack Show:  Belgium & France 1968

15-16/09/68 Belgium, 19/10/68 Paris, 20-29/10/68 unk locations

Mediography:

Three-year contract for city group H&N EEN 12/09/66 (P)

Anglian Set choose from 250 numbers H&N EEN 17/10/66

Anglians' disc voted a miss H&N EEN 16/01/67 (P)

Record voted a unanimous miss by the DJs but not out of hand Pete Murray thought the band "Stood a good chance of making a name for themselves given more time" new single has been picked Garry's Discotheque Time. Two radio performances coming up BBC Saturday Club and BBC Bob Millers Parade Of the Pops both in Jan/Feb 67 CBS said 'if the anglians have a hit record we will be very quickly off the mark with an LP. It depends entirely for the immediate future on what happens to this first record'.

Norfolk groups ‘disc debut’ NM&J 03/02/67 (P)

Anglians land 12-week summer season H&N EEN 03/04/67

Anglians’ next disc H&N EEN 08/05/67 (P)

Pop star treatment for Anglians H&N EEN 04/09/67 (P) pic by Maaji Masaya

First single sold 10,000 copies / most requests for Crystals Tune in the summer season. Roy hoped it would be released by CBS by September 67,

They doing better all the time H&N EEN 30/10/67

Machine recording next month H&N EEN 13/11/67

Listening in to ‘Crystals’s’ sets AH H&N EEN 11/12/67 (P)

First week December 1967 band record at studio two Pye Studios Marble Arch. reporter Andrew Harvey goes with them. brings in two tenors and a baritone. record three tracks Crystals Tune, Discotheque Time, unamed track.

Bonjour Les Anglians H&N EEN 19/02/68 (P)

The Anglians fly to France 20/02/68-04/03/1968 to promote Crystals Tune coming out on Polydor (Gentry Label - UC) on 8th March. Peter Miller to write third single - Doing a week for Mecca at Tiffany's Shaftsbury Ave. Then a summer season.

Sweet music for Anglians H&N EEN11/03/68

Not like the old days for Garry WC EEN 13/6/87 (P)

TV :

Anglia TV: About Anglia ~ unk trks aired 23/12/66

BBC1: Juke Box Jury ~ Daytime Lover aired 14/01/67

BBC East: Look East ~ unk trks aired 21/09/67

Radio:

BBC R1: One’s Saturday Club ~ unk trks aired 28/01/67

BBC R1: Parade Of The Pops ~ unk trks aired ??/??/67

Residencies:

The Palace Htl, Douglas, I.O.M SSJun-Aug67

Guest Acts: Sounds Incorporated, The Troggs, Gerry Marsden & The Shadows

The Playboy Club, Park Lane, London 09-23/10/67

Tiffany’s, Shaftsbury Ave, LD summer 1968 March 68 6 weeks? Then 5 weeks retained by Mecca

(Clare -The Sonics) The Contours <> Moving Finger

Releases
Cover	Title	Studio	Label	YoR
	DISCOTEQUE TIME		CBS RECORDS	1967
	A FRIEND OF MINE		CBS RECORDS	1967
	REMINISCING		CBS RECORDS	1967