B E A T I N S T R U M E N T A L
D E N M A R K
D E N M A R K
THE CLIFFTERS story started way back in 1960, only a few years before the Mersey Sound took the rest of Europe by storm. At this time, Cliff Richard and The Shadows were the best group that one could listen or dance to. The Cliffters made their sound very close to Cliff & The Shads, indeed their name seems to have been inspired by Cliff !
Django started it all. It was a self-penned tune by lead guitarist Mogens Petersen, who later took 'Django' as a nickname and continued using it as his professional name when making solo records up until he passed away in 1991.
Before Django, they made two vocal records, but it was this third single which was to be issued in Holland, Sweden, Norway, England and even in Japan where it was very popular.
Mogens picked this title from a western film of the same name and not from Django Reinhardt as has been written previously.
Django started it all. It was a self-penned tune by lead guitarist Mogens Petersen, who later took 'Django' as a nickname and continued using it as his professional name when making solo records up until he passed away in 1991.
Before Django, they made two vocal records, but it was this third single which was to be issued in Holland, Sweden, Norway, England and even in Japan where it was very popular.
Mogens picked this title from a western film of the same name and not from Django Reinhardt as has been written previously.
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by Ole Vinter
Through the years 1961-64, The Cliffters made 11 singles for Philips Records in Denmark and they toured the country several times where they just about had a monoply of this kind of music. They started everything in Denmark with their mixture of instrumentals and vocals.
It seems funny to say now but all their records were made in a cinema with no overdubs. The studio was the cellar of the Islev Bio Cinema where they recorded when people left after the last show. Philips had no recording studio of their own at that time.
Founder members of the group were vocalist Johnny Reimar, Mogens 'django' Petersen (lead), Lars Kofoed (bass), Ole Rasmussen (piano & keyboards) and Jan Petersen (drums). This was the lineup from 1960 to 1963 - and the best one !
Django was covered by many other groups all over the world e.g. The Quivers from Norway, Les Fantomes from France and Terry & The Bluejeans from Japan. The rest of their singles however, were not as successful although the vocal Twistin' Patricia did hit the charts for them.
It seems funny to say now but all their records were made in a cinema with no overdubs. The studio was the cellar of the Islev Bio Cinema where they recorded when people left after the last show. Philips had no recording studio of their own at that time.
Founder members of the group were vocalist Johnny Reimar, Mogens 'django' Petersen (lead), Lars Kofoed (bass), Ole Rasmussen (piano & keyboards) and Jan Petersen (drums). This was the lineup from 1960 to 1963 - and the best one !
Django was covered by many other groups all over the world e.g. The Quivers from Norway, Les Fantomes from France and Terry & The Bluejeans from Japan. The rest of their singles however, were not as successful although the vocal Twistin' Patricia did hit the charts for them.
The original lineup disbanded in 1963 when Johnny Reimar and Jan Petersen left to form another vocal/instrumental group, The Scarlets who went on to make many fine records, but that's another story.
The two new members were Bjarne 'de la 'Motte on rhythm guitar and Torben Sardorf on drums and this was the lineup for the last chapter of the group.
They toured Finland for some weeks in 1964 with this formation but they broke up later in the year after two unsuccessful singles.
Mogens joined rock & roll band Melvis from 1964 - 66 and Motte and Sardorf formed The Hitmakers.
The original band did however get together for some rock gigs in the late '60s and they were the support band for Bill Haley in 1968 at his concert in Copenhagen.
Mogens became a producer and studio musician, Jan Petersen a photographer and Johnny Reimer is the owner of Starbox Records in Copenhagen although he does still sing as a soloist.
The Cliffters are still performing today.
The two new members were Bjarne 'de la 'Motte on rhythm guitar and Torben Sardorf on drums and this was the lineup for the last chapter of the group.
They toured Finland for some weeks in 1964 with this formation but they broke up later in the year after two unsuccessful singles.
Mogens joined rock & roll band Melvis from 1964 - 66 and Motte and Sardorf formed The Hitmakers.
The original band did however get together for some rock gigs in the late '60s and they were the support band for Bill Haley in 1968 at his concert in Copenhagen.
Mogens became a producer and studio musician, Jan Petersen a photographer and Johnny Reimer is the owner of Starbox Records in Copenhagen although he does still sing as a soloist.
The Cliffters are still performing today.
D I S C O G R A P H Y
(on Philips except where indicated)
45s (instrumentals shown in white)
My Heart and I / How Wonderful To Know
(355241 PF - 1961)
Walkin' back to Happiness / Travellin' Home
(355249 PF - 1961)
But I Do / What'd I Say
(355250 PF - 1961)
Django / Amapola
(355256 PF - 1961)
I Never Had A Chance / Walk On By
(35525? PF - 1962)
Just as I Did / When My Little Girl Is Smiling
(355260 PF - 1962)
Twistin' Patricia / Perfidia
(355266 PF - 1962)
Riding Cossack / I Listen to My Heart
(355275 PF - 1962)
The Missing Link / Andalucia
(355275 PF - 1963)
Sweet Georgia Brown / Roman Holiday
(355278 PF - 1964)
One Way Ticket / What Can I Do?
(Polydor - XM62029 - 1964)
Johnny Is My Guy / Oh My Honey Boy (with Annette)
(Mogens Petersen solo)
(Triola - TD256 - 1965)
Django / Nostalguitar Boogie
(Philips - 6019158 - 1975)
(on Philips except where indicated)
45s (instrumentals shown in white)
My Heart and I / How Wonderful To Know
(355241 PF - 1961)
Walkin' back to Happiness / Travellin' Home
(355249 PF - 1961)
But I Do / What'd I Say
(355250 PF - 1961)
Django / Amapola
(355256 PF - 1961)
I Never Had A Chance / Walk On By
(35525? PF - 1962)
Just as I Did / When My Little Girl Is Smiling
(355260 PF - 1962)
Twistin' Patricia / Perfidia
(355266 PF - 1962)
Riding Cossack / I Listen to My Heart
(355275 PF - 1962)
The Missing Link / Andalucia
(355275 PF - 1963)
Sweet Georgia Brown / Roman Holiday
(355278 PF - 1964)
One Way Ticket / What Can I Do?
(Polydor - XM62029 - 1964)
Johnny Is My Guy / Oh My Honey Boy (with Annette)
(Mogens Petersen solo)
(Triola - TD256 - 1965)
Django / Nostalguitar Boogie
(Philips - 6019158 - 1975)
LPs (instrumentals shown in white)
"Pop" (Philips 6403525 - 1974)
Django / Walk On By / Andalucia / What'd i Say / Riding Cossack / When My Little Girl Is Smiling / Missing Link / My Heart & I / How Wonderful To Know / Perfidia / I Never Had A Chance / Listen To My Heart / Twistin' Patricia / Travellin' Home / Amapola / But I Do
"Nostalguitar" (Philips 6403542 - 1975)
(Mogens Petersen solo)
Django '75 / In A Persian Market / Apache / Sweet Dreams / The Persuaders / Sabre Dance / Tequila / Chattanooga Choo Choo / Town Without Pity / Wakadi Wakadu / Nostalguitar Boogie / Rebel Rouser
"We're All Alone" (queen LP1260379 - 1980)
(Mogens Petersen solo)
We're All Alone / Feelings / Torn Between Two Lovers / I Skovens Dybe Stille Ro / Breeze and I / If You Leave Me Now / Here, There and Everywhere / En Bu i Provinsen / All By Myself
This article first appeared in New Gandy Dancer magazine in 1980 and is reproduced with permission by editor Davy Peckett.
Thanks also to Ole Vinter.
"Pop" (Philips 6403525 - 1974)
Django / Walk On By / Andalucia / What'd i Say / Riding Cossack / When My Little Girl Is Smiling / Missing Link / My Heart & I / How Wonderful To Know / Perfidia / I Never Had A Chance / Listen To My Heart / Twistin' Patricia / Travellin' Home / Amapola / But I Do
"Nostalguitar" (Philips 6403542 - 1975)
(Mogens Petersen solo)
Django '75 / In A Persian Market / Apache / Sweet Dreams / The Persuaders / Sabre Dance / Tequila / Chattanooga Choo Choo / Town Without Pity / Wakadi Wakadu / Nostalguitar Boogie / Rebel Rouser
"We're All Alone" (queen LP1260379 - 1980)
(Mogens Petersen solo)
We're All Alone / Feelings / Torn Between Two Lovers / I Skovens Dybe Stille Ro / Breeze and I / If You Leave Me Now / Here, There and Everywhere / En Bu i Provinsen / All By Myself
This article first appeared in New Gandy Dancer magazine in 1980 and is reproduced with permission by editor Davy Peckett.
Thanks also to Ole Vinter.
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