Buying the albums sampled on “You Can All Join In”.
Today we continue with the notes written by Patrick Cambell-Lyons, from where we left off last time:
“It was Christmas time and I decided to return to Ireland and inform my parents of my decision to work with music and put University off, for the time being. Naturally, they were disappointed, but they were open-minded and flexible enough not to stand in my way, for which I am forever grateful to them both. In March of the following year I returned to London and based myself in Ealing Broadway.
“One night a fellow with a red electric guitar got up on stage during the interval and performed three rock and rollers. I thought he was much better than the showband, so I made myself known to him and told him so. We became friends. I called him “Clare” because that’s where he was coming from and he called me “Cork”, even though I came from Waterford, the next county….it must have been my accent……I was born close to the Cork border.
“Within three months I had put together the Second Thoughts, an exciting rhythm and blues group with five West London musicians. I survived by booking halls, printing posters and putting on blues shows, with the Second Thoughts playing, and my girlfriend on the door, selling admission tickets. It was a very crazy time with no inhibitions, no stress, no sleep. Every night was happening and music was really going in some wonderful directions. The Second Thoughts became on of West London’s best known groups and within a year we were playing on the stage of the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany. I had achieved my goal. I was in a really good band and I could travel to interesting places abroad……Frankfurt, Munich, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg…..old town, new town, new coat made of leather, black sheep, white sheep, white house, snowflakes, falling for a year, and you know who broke all the rules…..Lord of all the Rings, Queen to all the Kings…..and your Daddy said “What does that boy do?” and you replied, “He’s in a group…..he sings”…..and I could see hundreds of butterflies coming out of his mouth.”
More next time.
Tagged: Clare, Copenhagen, Cork, Ealing Broadway, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Munich, Star Club in Hamburg, Stockholm, the Second Thoughts, Waterford
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