The British Beat Boom


Main Page
Index of Artists
Tony Jackson & The Vibrations
Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers
David John & The Mood
Casey Jones & The Engineers
The Joystrings










 

Jimmy James - vocals (born Michael James, September 13th 1940, Jamaica)

Wallace Wilson - guitar

Phil Chen - guitar

Coleson Chen - bass guitar

Carl Noel - organ

Fred Fredericks - saxophone

Carl Griffiths - saxophone

Rupert Balgobin - drums





Originally formed in Jamaica in 1960 when James, who had had two major hits on the island, teamed up with existing group the Vagabonds. They relocated to the UK in the mid-sixties and secured work as an opening act for the Who, among others.

For a time the resident band at London's Marquee Club, The Vagabonds were plagued by personnel changes throughout their career but carried on through the 1970's when they had their most successful period during the "Disco" era.

Always more popular as a live act than recording artists, they released several singles in '66 without any chart success, although they would score a minor hit later in the decade.

 

Singles

Jan'66

I Feel Alright/I Wanna Be Your Everything

Piccadilly 7N 35298

-

May '66

Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum/Come To Me Softly

Piccadilly 7N 35320

-

Aug '66

This Heart Of Mine/I Don't Wanna Cry

Piccadilly 7N 35331

-

Oct '66

Ain't Love Good/Don't Know What I'm Gonna Do

Piccadilly 7N 35349

-

 

 

L.P.

Dec '66

New Religion - Ain't Love Good/This Heart Of Mine/Do It Right/Gotta Dance To Keep From Cryin'/I'm A Fool For You/Honest I Do/Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum/People Get Ready/Entertainer/Come To Me Softly/Little Boy Blue/It's Growing/Amen/Ain't No Big Thing

Piccadilly NPL 38027

 

Re-issue

 

1997

Vagabond King - Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum/I Feel Alright/I Wanna Be Your Everything/Come To Me Softly/This Heart Of Mine/I Don't Wanna Cry/(I'm Just A) Fool For You/Ain't No Big Thing/Do It Right/Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud/Don't Know What I'm Gonna Do/I Can't Get Back Home To My Baby/Hungry For Love/Never Like This Before/Little Boy Blue/It's Growing/Wear It On Our Faces/Courage Ain't Strength/No Good To Cry/Four Walls/Good Day Sunshine/Cry Like A Baby/(I Believe) Love Is A Doggone Good Thing/Everybody Loves A Winner/If You're Gonna Love Me, Love Me/Better By Far/Who Could Be Loving You/Red Red Wine