RAPIERS ARE GO!

Vol. 3 EP 4 Sale: Record Too!

Must be eBay Alert Week in Rapiersville. Here's a boss Rapiers EP [1985, Twang RA003] on eBay I'd plump for in a heartbeat if I didn't already own.

Says seller oodahthawit of Chesterfield, England:

This is The Rapiers Vol. 3. Recorded 1985. The cover and the record in Near Mint condition. Autographed on the back cover by the four Rapiers. The tracks are Rocket Man, Golden Earrings, Growl, See You in Dreamland. Great photo on the front cover, taken at Harry's Cafe, Deptford.

The band featured is the 1st classic Rapiers line-up: Dave Lawes, John Tuck, Roger Cover and Colin Pryce-Jones, who, '60s-like, offer up their likes on the cover flip side.

Bidding starts at £4.99.

Vol. 4 Sleeve Sells, Shadowmania Tix Available

Twenty-three pounds for a 7"-by-7" piece of blue-tinted paper? That's the price a Rapiers collector by the name shads paid for a rare, withdrawn picture sleeve, auctioned on eBay this week. Mind you, no vinyl came with purchase, so shads can only imagine the twang.

Frimley Green in the Fall

Meanwhile, I spy a single Shadowmania ticket on eBay offer, too, for the 22 September all-dayer featuring The Rapiers, Jet Harris, Licorice Locking, Legend and Bruce Welch's Shadows.

It's up close and personal, too, says seller s4wgb:

THIS SEAT IS ON TABLE 21 WHICH IS 2 TABLES FROM THE R/H OF THE STAGE. THIS IS THE SIDE THAT BRUCE WELCH STANDS WHEN HE COMES ON WITH HIS GROUP AS THE FINAL ACT OF THE NIGHT.

Starting bid is £35.00.

Postcard Perfect

Nathan J. Hulse framed it twinkling at dusk, now here's Sydney's transport landmark looking like a graceful prehistoric beastie out for a stroll in the light of day, and the Opera House never minding.

Wipe Out With The Shades

Found: Another Oh Boy! TV clip of Colin Pryce-Jones's pre-Rapiers group The Shades, this time rendering The Surfaris surf classic. Betcha it's also the earliest video proof of our lad doin' crossover steps while playin' lead.

Surf's up in London

'60s All Star Concert Imagery

Steve Wells, who commands a professional team of freelance photographers based in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, is offering snapshots of The Rapiers, John Leyton, Billie Davis and other artists who performed at April's Papworth Hospital Charity Concert in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.

For more information, visit Steve's '60s All Star Concert gallery.

Top: Johh Leyton. Above: Nathan J. Hulse. ©SJWImages

Oh Boy! It's The Shades

In the late '70s, while America yukked up a '50s revival with Sha Na Na, England enjoyed producer Jack Good's camped-up, revved-up Oh Boy! TV series with—ta da!—Colin Pryce-Jones's pre-Rapiers combo The Shades (also known as The Rockin' Shades) starring as house band.

A packet of OB! clips are percolating on YouTube, like this frantic Rock 'n' Roll Is Good for the Soul, capped by Joe Brown and Alvin Stardust cameos.

Not hyper enough? Try Geronimo Stomp with dollops of cool Fender guitar runs 'tween the sax waving.

Post o' the Week: Divine

Colin, you are a guitar GOD!

The Raging Teens
Boston, Massachusets

---

FYI: "Boston's wildest rockabilly sensations" boast a lead guitarist (Miss Amy Griffin), whom the Boston Herald waxes is "a 20-something prodigy who dresses like a debutante and plays like a demon; she can recapture the solos that Scotty Moore played with Elvis in the '50s without messing up her hair."

Rockin' Across the Channel

Viva La Rock!

The Rapiers and John Leyton appear at the Rock Across the Channel 45 Anniversary Concert on Saturday, 28 July, at the Minch, Calais Harbour, France. Booking details forthcoming.

Seems the original concert in June 1962, featuring The Shadows, Outlaws, Searchers and other British combos, earns beaucoups credit for bringing "rock 'n' roll to the French", so writes John L. in his June-July fan newsletter.

Curiously, here's a note claiming 2 i's coffee bar owner Paul Lincoln organised the first Calais Channel soiree five years earlier, featuring a boat load of skiffle artists.