Tamworth Bands History : 1972

UK Number Ones - 1972

Week Ending Artist Title 08/08/72 New Seekers I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing 05/02/72 T Rex Telegram Sam 19/02/72 Chicory Tip Son Of My Father 11/03/72 Nilsson Without You 15/04/72 The Pipes & Drums & Military Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Amazing Grace 20/05/72 T Rex Metal Guru 17/06/72 Don McLean Vincent 01/07/72 Slade Take Me Back 'Ome 08/07/72 Donny Osmond Puppy Love 12/08/72 Alice Cooper School's Out 02/09/72 Rod Stewart You Wear It Well 09/09/72 Slade Mama Weer All Crazee Now 30/09/72 David Cassidy How Can I Be Sure 14/10/72 Lieutenant Pigeon Mouldy Old Dough 11/11/72 Gilbert O'Sullivan Clair 25/11/72 Chuck Berry My Ding-A-Ling 23/12/72 Xmas No 1 Little Jimmy Osmond Long Haired Lover From Liverpool

In the News - 1972

• President Nixon visits China • British Direct Rule imposed on Northern Ireland • Three day week for industry imposed in the UK during miners strike • Israeli athletes killed by Arab terrorists during the Munich Olympics • Idi Amin orders the expulsion of all Asians from Uganda • Bobby Fischer wins World Chess championship • US Swimmer Mark Spitz wins 7 Olympic gold medals • Duke of Windsor dies, aged 77

 

---

January - March	April - June
Pink Fairies...	Billy Fury at Amington Liberal Club...
July - September	October - December
An Arts Centre for Tamworth?...	Barry John at Tamworth F.C....

---

Folk was very big in Tamworth in ’72 – three new clubs opened. Togetherness was  a new club opened in January at Tamworth College. Although by the end of the year, in November, after a poor response to the headlining band Gothic Horizon, we read “Lack of response and poor support like this will do little to relieve the entertainment void in the town, bemoaned by many people.”

Susanna’s held regular folk nights. On 26th January the E.J. Firkinball Group and Jasper Carrott played. In July, a new folk club was opened at the Unicorn, Orton-on-the-Hill and later in the year, in December, a folk club opened at The George in the centre of the town.

Early in the year we read about the success of local boy Dave ‘Clem’ Clempson who was now a member of Humble Pie with Steve Marriott.

Local Bands
1972 saw several features on new bands in the now regular, Musicbox column in the Herald. Jessup were just about to release a single on CBS. In June Taragon were another band featured.

Phil Bates seemed to have a monopoly on Musicbox in ’72, appearing three times, with three different bands. Firstly, in May with Enigma, when we read how “several of their tapes are in America with their recording manager Monty Babson. They are turning pro in July when they will be touring this country and abroad.” By September he had left Enigma and was now in Quill, releasing their first single “Spent the Rent “ on the EMI label. In November, Quill had become Kwil and released a single on the Parlophone label. Not bad for one year – three bands and three singles on three different labels in one year.

On 16th October 1972 we saw the first recorded appearance locally of Heimdall, Tamworth’s only space rock band, playing at the Hungry Freaks Benefit Ball at the
Assembly Rooms.

Big-name Bands
The Pink Fairies and Gordon Giltrap played at two Hungry Freaks Parties. Billy Fury played twice in the town in April, at Susanna’s and at Amington Liberal Club. 1972 also saw appearances by Ruby Murray, Medicine Head, Bert Weedon, the Swinging Blue Jeans and Sweet.

DJs and Discos
Johnny Slade was being promoted as the Top-Local DJ appearing regularly in and around the town. We saw the first appearance of Kippa as a DJ. Of course in the history of Tamworth bands we have seen him as vocalist in The Blackouts, 4XXXX’s and The Power and the Glory, but his first appearance as a DJ was as D. J. Kip Graham appearing at Fazeley Victory Club on June 30th ’72.

On 10th November ’72 we saw the first appearance of a legendary Tamworth DJ – Barry John began regular Sunday night discos at The Mill Disco at Tamworth Football Club.

News
In September we read the exciting news about the development of an Arts Centre for the town. The Baptist Church on the corner of Church Street and Lower Gungate was to become available in early ’73 and architects were already drawing up plans for the conversion of the building to an Arts Centre. A very exciting development for the town.