T H E K R E W K A T S
Trambone / Peak Hour
HMV POP 840 - 1961
Samovar / Jack's Good
HMV POP 894 - 1961
The Bat / Jungle Drums
HMV unreleased 1961
In common with many of the instrumental groups from the early 1960s, the Krew Kats cut their teeth as a backing band. Originally known as The Wild Cats, they backed one of the UK’s most cherished rock ‘n’ rollers, Marty Wilde.
The musical expertise of Big Jim Sullivan (lead), Tony Belcher (rhythm), Brian Locking (bass) and Brian Bennett (drums) had been noted and the foursome were invited to accompany visiting American rockers Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent on a UK tour in 1960.
As 1960 progressed Marty Wilde’s career began to change direction as he launched himself into films and musicals. On disc he began to favour strings and orchestras instead of his Kats so the boys decided to go it alone and try their luck as instrumentalists.
Honouring Marty’s decision to retain the Wildcats’ name for future reference (Marty’s current touring band are still billed as The Wildcats) they re-named themselves The Krew Kats and issued two fabulous records on the HMV label.
Jack’s Good was on the reverse side of the Krew Kats’ second release, Samovar, scored by Brian Bennett and affectionately titled as a tribute to pop supremo Jack Good, the respected producer and genius behind the classic ‘Oh Boy’ rock ‘n roll TV shows.
A third Krew Kats single was on the cards but insufficient sales of Samovar forced HMV to cancel its release.
The Bat was destined for the A-side and is another magnificent Brian Bennett composition; mean and moody with Big Jim’s wah wah pedal to the fore (Jim was one of the UK’s earliest exponents of the wah wah pedal).
The origins of Jungle Drums dates back to 1933 but it was probably Clyde Otis & his orchestra’s cover version in May ‘61 that inspired the Krew Kats’ arrangement. Jungle Drums was the proposed B-side of the cancelled 45rpm.
Jack’s Good, The Bat, Jungle Drums and Samovar were all completed during a four hour session in Abbey Road’s famous Studio 2 on Friday 2nd June, 1961.
The Kats folded in late ‘61 with Brian Bennett and Licorice Locking joining The Shadows and Jim Sullivan breaking into the UK’s session scene. It is not known whether Tony Belcher pursued a musical career after the split.
Today, Big Jim performs with Doug Pruden in the ‘Big Jim Sullivan Duo’, Brian Bennett scores film and TV music and Brian Locking is a regular and welcome face at Shadows events in Europe. Again, Tony Belcher’s activities remain elusive.
In September 2006 all four Krew Kats were reunited in London’s Soho to commemorate the birthplace of British rock ‘n’ roll at the site of the legendary 2 i’s coffee bar. The following year Big Jim, Brian and Licorice appeared on stage with Marty at the London Palladium in celebration of his 50 years in showbiz.