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Howie Casey & The Seniors
Chad & Jeremy
The Chants
The Cherokees
The Cheynes
The Dave Clark Five
The Mike Cotton Sound
The Country Gentlemen
The Creation
Lee Curtis & The All Stars
picture supplied courtesy of George Robinson Charlie Crane - vocals Joey Kneen - vocals Ritchie Routledge - guitar Phil Roberts - keyboards George Robinson - bass guitar Charlie Gallagher - drums Formed in Liverpool during the latter part of 1963, they were originally called The Bumblies - a name they took from a children's television series presented by Michael Bentine. The early line-up of the group included Norris, singers Joey Kneen and John Bain, guitarist John Bennett and Charlie Gallagher on drums. They earned themselves a good reputation around the clubs and dance halls of Merseyside and became part of Brian Epstein's NEMS stable. By 1965 the group had become one of the most popular unsigned acts in the area. Late in '65, they were signed by Decca and placed under the wing of the legendary producer Joe Meek. By this time, Meek's great days were behind him, but he was confident that The Cryin' Shames would make it to the top. Their first record was a beautiful version of The Drifters' ballad "Please Stay", which surprisingly only reached #26 in the charts. The follow-up, another strong Meek production, missed entirely. After this release Charlie Crane & Ritchie Routledge left the group & put a new band together. This was Paul & Ritchie & The Crying Shames. The new line-up recorded one more Joe Meek produced single before calling it a day. Singles (as The Cryin' Shames) 1966 Please Stay/ Decca F 12340 UK#26 1966 Nobody Waved Goodbye/ Decca F 12425 - Single (as Paul & Ritchie & The Crying Shames) 1966 September In The Rain/Come On Back Decca F 12483 - Paul & Ritchie & The Crying Shames
left to right MIKE ESPIE guitar, BRIAN NORRIS bass, CHARLIE (PAUL)CRANE vocals, RITCHIE ROUTLEDGE vocals, PETE BYRNE organ, PAUL COMMERFORD drums
picture kindly supplied by Ritchie Routledge