The British Beat Boom


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Billy J. Kramer - vocals (born William Howard Ashton, August 19th 1943, Bootle)

Mike Maxfield - lead guitar (born February 23rd 1944, Manchester)

Robin Macdonald - rhythm guitar (born July 18th 1943, Nairn)

Ray Jones - bass guitar (born October 20th 1939, Oldham died January 20th 2000)

Tony Mansfield - drums (born May 28th 1943, Salford)






Kramer was the lead singer for a Liverpool group called The Coasters when Brian Epstein spotted them playing at The Cavern. The Coasters did not want to turn professional so Epstein teamed Kramer up with accomplished Manchester band The Dakotas.

Given access to several Lennon/McCartney songs (four of the first five singles were written by the duo), most of which were unused by The Beatles themselves, Kramer & The Dakotas embarked on a brief but spectacular career as hit-makers. Ray Jones left the group in July '64 and Macdonald switched to bass allowing the dynamic Mick Green (ex Johnny Kidd & The Pirates) to come in as lead guitarist.

Following the failure of their last few singles, Kramer left The Dakotas in 1967 for an ultimately unsuccessful solo career. He later moved to the United States.

 

Singles

Apr '63

Do You Want To Know A Secret?/I'll Be On My Way

Parlophone R 5023

UK#2

Jul '63

Bad To Me/I Call Your Name

Parlophone R 5049

UK#1

Oct '63

I'll Keep You Satisfied/I Know

Parlophone R 5073

UK#4

Feb '64

Little Children/They Remind Me Of You

Parlophone R 5105

UK#1

Jul '64

From A Window/Second To None

Parlophone R 5156

UK#10

Jan '65

It's Gotta Last Forever/Don't You Do It No More

Parlophone R 5234

-

May '65

Trains And Boats And Planes/That's The Way I Feel

Parlophone R 5285

UK#12

Nov '65

Neon City/I'll Be Doggone

Parlophone R 5362

-

Feb '66

We're Doing Fine/Forgive Me

Parlophone R 5408

-

Aug '66

You Make Me Feel Like Someone/Take My Hand

Parlophone R 5482

-

 

 

E.P.s

Sep '63

The Kramer Hits - Do You Want To Know A Secret?/I'll Be On My Way/Bad To Me/I Call Your Name

Parlophone GEP 8885

Dec '63

I'll Keep You Satisfied - I'll Keep You Satisfied/I Know/Dance With Me/It's Up To You

Parlophone GEP 8895

May '64

Little Children - Little Children/They Remind Me Of You/Beautiful Dreamer/I Call Your Name

Parlophone GEP 8907

Nov '64

From A Window - From A Window/Second To None/Dance With Me/Twelfth Of Never

Parlophone GEP 8921

Feb '65

Billy J. Plays The States - Sugar Babe/Twilight Time/Tennessee Waltz/Irresistible You

Parlophone GEP 8928

 

L.P.

Dec '63

Listen To Billy J. Kramer - Dance With Me/Pride (Is Such A Little Word)/I Know/Yes/Twelfth Of Never/Sugar Babe/Da Doo Ron Ron/It's Up To You/Great Balls Of Fire/Tell Me Girl/Anything That's Part Of You/Beautiful Dreamer/Still Waters Run Deep/I Call Your Name

Parlophone PMC 1209

 

 

The Dakotas

Singles

Jul '63

The Cruel Sea/The Millionaire

Parlophone R 5044

UK#18

Sep '63

Magic Carpet/Humdinger

Parlophone R 5064

-

Nov '64

Oyeh/My Girl Josephine

Parlophone R 5203

-

 

 

E.P.

Oct '63

Meet The Dakotas - The Cruel Sea/Magic Carpet/The Millionaire/Humdinger

Parlophone 8888

 

Re-issue

1995

The EP Collection - I Call Your Name/Bad To Me/Do You Want To Know A Secret/I'll Be On My Way/I'll Keep You Satisfied/Dance With Me/It's Up To You/I Know/Little Children/They Remind Me Of You/Beautiful Dreamer/From A Window/Second To None/Twelfth Of Never/Trains And Boats And Planes/Take My Hand/We're Doing Fine/The Cruel Sea/Millionaire/Magic Carpet/Humdinger/Sugar Babe/ Twilight Time/Tennessee Waltz/Irresistible You

See For Miles