The Rockin' Berries
Clive Lea
b. Birmingham, 16 February 1942; vocals
Geoffrey Turton
b. 11 March 1944; guitar
Bryan Charles "Chuck" Botfield
b. Birmingham, 14 November 1943; guitar
Roy Austin
b. Birmingham, 27 December 1943; bass
Terry Bond
b. Birmingham, 22 March 1943; drums
1961
Birmingham. The band forms to perform R&B covers.
November. The band begins an almost two-year stint in Germany performing in various combinations (including a sax section)
 
1963
July. "Wah Wah Woo" / "Rockin' Berry Stomp" [Decca F 11898; no chart action].
October. "Itty Bitty Pieces" / "The Twitch" [Decca F 11760; no chart action].
 
1964
John Schroeder becomes their manager and American independent producer, Kim Fowley takes the band to Pye's Picadilly Records after hearing them at London's Marquee club.
1 October. "I Don't Mean to Hurt You" / "You'd Better Come Home" [Picadilly 7N 35197; charts; UK #43].
15 October. "He's in Town" (Goffin-King) / "Flashback" [Picadilly 7N 35203; charts; UK #3]. Cover of American hit by the Tokens.
 
1965
In Town [Picadilly UK LP NPL 38013] {"He's in Town," "Let's Try Again," "Ich Liebe Dich," "You Don't Know What You Do," "Brother Bill," "Without Your Love," "All of Me," "Crazy Country Hop," "All I Want Is My Baby," "Lonely Avenue," "Shades of Blue," "Follow Me," "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby," "Funny How Love Can Be"}
21 January. "What in the World's Come Over You" / "You Don't Know What to Do" [Picadilly 7N 35217; charts; UK # 23]
13 May. "Poor Man's Son" / "Follow Me" [Picadilly 7N 35236; charts; UK # 5] Cover of American hit by the Reflections.
26 August. "You're My Girl" / "Happy to Be Blue" [Piccadilly 7N 35254; charts; UK #40]
November. "The Water Is over My Head" (Al Kooper and Hank Levine) / "Doesn't Time Fly" [Picadilly 7N 35270; charts; UK #43]
 
1966
April. "I Could Make You Fall in Love" / "Land of Love" [Piccadilly 7N 35304; no chart action]
July. "Midnight Mary" / "Money Grows on Trees" [Piccadilly 7N 35327; no chart action].
 
When they stopped getting hits, the band began playing on the cabaret circuit with Lea doing George Formby impressions.
Find more information on the Rockin' Berries at the Brumbeat website.
Birmingham Schedule Northerners
  23-jan-15