Editor's Blog23 mins ago
Pickety Witch
Anybody remember Pickety Witch - Same old Feeling ?
What hapened to the band - where are they now ? what was their other hit ?
What hapened to the band - where are they now ? what was their other hit ?
Answers
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hiya try this http://www.roadkill.com/MDB/artist.phtml/7002
I saw Pikketywitch in 1969. Polly Brown was the lead singer supported by a chap whose name I have forgotten. Anyway good answers. Polly Brown went solo after the hits and realeased 'Up in a Puff of Smoke' (I think). Yes there was a new Pikketywitch. If I can remember correctly they were quite good in caberet, just like the records. Sorry but I do not know where they are now. I have searched the net to no avail.
Apparently they split up, and the drummer and bass player were left to carry on. A Vocalist living in Barrow in Furness
( still singing today ) name of Gordon ( contact the Conservative Club Barrow for contact info ) joined them and they formed a cabaret band with the same name pickety witch. I know because he was telling me this last night in Barrow, where I was appearing !
( still singing today ) name of Gordon ( contact the Conservative Club Barrow for contact info ) joined them and they formed a cabaret band with the same name pickety witch. I know because he was telling me this last night in Barrow, where I was appearing !
Here's the full story of Pickettywitch.
Once upon a time, there was a band called the 20th Century Show Band which included Polly Brown, Chris Warren, Keith Hall and Bob (can't remember his surname). There was several others as well including a guitarist and bass player whose names I can't remember and a second girl singer.
The 20th Century Showband eventually became Pickettywitch as a 6 piece with Polly, Chris, Keith, Bob and the guitarist and bass player mentioned above.
They signed to Pye Records with John McLeod as their producer. John McLeod was one half of the McCauley/McLeod songwriting team who had written hits for the Foundations, Long John Baldry and the Paper Dolls. Tony McCauley was the creative part of this writing partnership with John McLeod providing the musical input (i.e. he played the piano). When Tony left Pye to go off and be creative with other writers, John stepped into his shoes as a producer.
Pickettywitch released a single which disappeared without trace but they had a contract which said that Pye had to release 3 singles in the first year so their manager, David Cardwell, pressed John McLeod to produce a second single.
John looked around for a song he had written previously with Tony because it would be good for his bank balance and came up with That Same Old Feeling which had been released previously on a Foundations LP.
No one expected the record to be a hit but Tony Blackburn started to play it on his morning show on Radio 1 and it took off, eventually reaching No 5 in the official chart.
Meanwhile, two talented musicians (myself and my friend Brian Stuart) were entertaining revellers in a pub called the greyhound at Chadwell Heath to the east of London. We had spent some time rehearsing a band with Chris Warren before he became part of the 20th Century Showband but that band never got off the ground so we went our separate ways. <
Once upon a time, there was a band called the 20th Century Show Band which included Polly Brown, Chris Warren, Keith Hall and Bob (can't remember his surname). There was several others as well including a guitarist and bass player whose names I can't remember and a second girl singer.
The 20th Century Showband eventually became Pickettywitch as a 6 piece with Polly, Chris, Keith, Bob and the guitarist and bass player mentioned above.
They signed to Pye Records with John McLeod as their producer. John McLeod was one half of the McCauley/McLeod songwriting team who had written hits for the Foundations, Long John Baldry and the Paper Dolls. Tony McCauley was the creative part of this writing partnership with John McLeod providing the musical input (i.e. he played the piano). When Tony left Pye to go off and be creative with other writers, John stepped into his shoes as a producer.
Pickettywitch released a single which disappeared without trace but they had a contract which said that Pye had to release 3 singles in the first year so their manager, David Cardwell, pressed John McLeod to produce a second single.
John looked around for a song he had written previously with Tony because it would be good for his bank balance and came up with That Same Old Feeling which had been released previously on a Foundations LP.
No one expected the record to be a hit but Tony Blackburn started to play it on his morning show on Radio 1 and it took off, eventually reaching No 5 in the official chart.
Meanwhile, two talented musicians (myself and my friend Brian Stuart) were entertaining revellers in a pub called the greyhound at Chadwell Heath to the east of London. We had spent some time rehearsing a band with Chris Warren before he became part of the 20th Century Showband but that band never got off the ground so we went our separate ways. <
The true story of Pickettywitch continued....
We knew Chris had become part of Pickettywitch and watched him on Top Of The Pops with great envy. By a peculiar set of circumstances which it would take too long to explain, Chris turned up at the Greyhound one night to see another member of the band which Brian and myself were part of. Pickettywitch were looking to replace the guitarist and bass player because the group wanted to do caberet and these two wanted to play 'heavy' music.
Brian and I auditioned for the position of bass player and guitarist respectively and joined Pickettywitch in May 1970 just before the third single, Sad Old Kinda Movie, was released.
This record and subsequent releases were gradually less successful but the group continued to make a decent living doing caberet and lost of radio and TV.
Things started to get a bit tough towards the end of 1971 so Brian and I left the group and went back to playing in pubs with two of our friends from 'up north', John Makin (guitar) and Steve England (Drums). We had a very successful residency at the Lion and key in Leyton through to around September 1973 when I returned to York.
Meanwhile, Pickwttywitch had effectively broken up and Chris Warren had got a job with Campbell Connelly Music in Tin Pan Alley.
He wrote a song with another guy and decided it would be a good idea to find a girl singer to record it so it couldbe released under the name New Pickettywitch. Enter Sheila Rostill to sing on the record. As far as i know, the only other performance she did was a live recording of the song for Radio 1 which was done at the BBC Maida Vale studios with the band that Brian and I had formed providing the backing.
Sheila subsequently developed the 'alledged' total allergy syndrome and was featured regularly in the national press and on TV being transported here and there on a stretcher wearing an oxygen
We knew Chris had become part of Pickettywitch and watched him on Top Of The Pops with great envy. By a peculiar set of circumstances which it would take too long to explain, Chris turned up at the Greyhound one night to see another member of the band which Brian and myself were part of. Pickettywitch were looking to replace the guitarist and bass player because the group wanted to do caberet and these two wanted to play 'heavy' music.
Brian and I auditioned for the position of bass player and guitarist respectively and joined Pickettywitch in May 1970 just before the third single, Sad Old Kinda Movie, was released.
This record and subsequent releases were gradually less successful but the group continued to make a decent living doing caberet and lost of radio and TV.
Things started to get a bit tough towards the end of 1971 so Brian and I left the group and went back to playing in pubs with two of our friends from 'up north', John Makin (guitar) and Steve England (Drums). We had a very successful residency at the Lion and key in Leyton through to around September 1973 when I returned to York.
Meanwhile, Pickwttywitch had effectively broken up and Chris Warren had got a job with Campbell Connelly Music in Tin Pan Alley.
He wrote a song with another guy and decided it would be a good idea to find a girl singer to record it so it couldbe released under the name New Pickettywitch. Enter Sheila Rostill to sing on the record. As far as i know, the only other performance she did was a live recording of the song for Radio 1 which was done at the BBC Maida Vale studios with the band that Brian and I had formed providing the backing.
Sheila subsequently developed the 'alledged' total allergy syndrome and was featured regularly in the national press and on TV being transported here and there on a stretcher wearing an oxygen
The true story of Pickettywitch continued again........
Finally, I should point out that I was the person who appeared on The Weakest Link in January 2008. Someone has said that I 'claimed' to be a member of Pickettywitch and my daughter found that highly amusing. In her view, no one would 'claim' to have been a member of Pickettywitch if they hadn't actually been a member of Pickettywitch.
Before you ask, no, I have no idea where the other members are today. Chris Warren was a little older than me so he is probably drawing his old age pension by now whereas I only have a bus pass.
The only one I am still in touch with is my friend Brian who now lives in Phoenix Arizona and who i will be visiting at the end of May 2008.
I hope that sets the record straight for anyone who is interested in the history of Pickettywitch.
Peter - You Are The Weakest Link - Goodbye
Finally, I should point out that I was the person who appeared on The Weakest Link in January 2008. Someone has said that I 'claimed' to be a member of Pickettywitch and my daughter found that highly amusing. In her view, no one would 'claim' to have been a member of Pickettywitch if they hadn't actually been a member of Pickettywitch.
Before you ask, no, I have no idea where the other members are today. Chris Warren was a little older than me so he is probably drawing his old age pension by now whereas I only have a bus pass.
The only one I am still in touch with is my friend Brian who now lives in Phoenix Arizona and who i will be visiting at the end of May 2008.
I hope that sets the record straight for anyone who is interested in the history of Pickettywitch.
Peter - You Are The Weakest Link - Goodbye
Hi I am wondering if anyone knows the whereabouts of Chris Warren. My name is Stephen Page, Chris Warren managed my band 'AS WE ARE' a black country based band which split in 93. His management/ publishing company was called split music.
Chris was living in Malvern Worstershire and I did go visit him at his house in 93 then I moved to America in 94 and we lost touch. I can't remember his wife and kids name. I would love to speak to him again. If anyone has any info I would truly appreciate itif you would contact me: My Phone is 07968521514 my email is: [email protected]
Thanks
Stephen Page
Chris was living in Malvern Worstershire and I did go visit him at his house in 93 then I moved to America in 94 and we lost touch. I can't remember his wife and kids name. I would love to speak to him again. If anyone has any info I would truly appreciate itif you would contact me: My Phone is 07968521514 my email is: [email protected]
Thanks
Stephen Page
Hi, I used to make the stage costumes for Pickettywitch and if its any help two of the band turned up at my home town Shildon, Co Durham long after (about 1989)I had left the music scene in London. I made black sequinned jackets for them which they loved. I still have the remains of the fabric. I presumed that they were still performing but on the club circuit.
I was amazed when they found me but happy to make their jackets. I no longer make clothes but now I use my sewing skills to make fine art landscapes under 'Painting With Thread' which you can find on Facebook.
I was known first as Sandra Fuller and then Fuller- Cook when they reappeared. They were lovely guys and very appreciative. I often wondered what became of them.
I was amazed when they found me but happy to make their jackets. I no longer make clothes but now I use my sewing skills to make fine art landscapes under 'Painting With Thread' which you can find on Facebook.
I was known first as Sandra Fuller and then Fuller- Cook when they reappeared. They were lovely guys and very appreciative. I often wondered what became of them.
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