T H E I N N O C E N T S
Stepping Stones (vocal) / Grazina
Columbia DB7098 - 1963
A Fine, Fine Bird (Vocal) / Spanish Holiday
Columbia DB7173 - 1963
The Innocents were signed to the Robert Stigwood organisation and provided musical accompaniment for many of Stigwood’s artists on tour and record.
Singer Mike Berry was scouting for a permanent band after parting company with The Outlaws and the Innocents were the ideal replacement. With ex-Outlaw Don Groom on drums, Robert Brown on lead guitar, Colin Giffin on rhythm guitar or sax and Dave Brown on bass, the Innocents were a highly respected combo on the circuit.
In August 1963 their debut 45, a Mort Shuman song entitled Stepping Stones, emerged on the Columbia label.
Tucked away on the B-side was Grazina, a guitar-led feature penned by the multi-talented Colin Giffin.
Grazina was taped at Abbey Road on July 15th, 1963.
The inspiration for the title came via Grazina Frame, a curvaceous songstress whom they had toured with.
Their next waxing hit the shops in December ‘63 and was a cover version of Darlene Love’s American smash hit A Fine, Fine, Boy, retitled A Fine, Fine Bird to suit a male perspective.
By this time however, lead guitarist Roger Brown had been replaced by another former Outlaw, Billy Kuy.
The boys once again chose an instrumental for the underside, an original melody by stickman Don Groom called Spanish Holiday.
The track was cut as Don’sTune at EMI’s Studios on July 15th, 1963, whilst Roger Brown was still lead guitarist with the group.
The Innocents issued one more single plus an EP that shared billing with another Stigwood signing, The Leroys.
All were vocal recordings.
The Innocents’ career was all too brief but fortunately for us they left behind a couple of tasty instros to feast upon.