История Unit 4+2

Unit 4 + 2 were a British pop band, who had a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1965 with the song "Concrete and Clay". The track topped the UK chart for one week.

Early days

Brian Parker was a guitar player and songwriter in Adam Faith's backing group The Roulettes in early 1962, and he decided to form a vocal harmony group. He asked his friend 'Buster' (David) Meikle, a local star at the time, to join him. Tommy Moeller in his last year at school had a reputation as a singer when Buster and Brian asked him and Peter Moules also at school with Tommy to join what became vocal harmony group called Unit 4.

Unit 4 were later joined by Russ Ballard on guitar and (Robert) 'Bob' Henrit on drums (forming the + 2) for a now 6 piece, 4 vocal harmony group. Tommy Moeller was lead singer and frontman, from the first show as the Unit 4 vocal group to the last show as Unit 4 + 2 as vocal group with instruments. Due to ill-health and dislike of life performance Brian Parker left the live band, yet remained co-songwriter with Tommy Moeller for all original Unit 4 + 2 recordings. [2] His place at live performances was taken by Howard 'Lem' Lubin. In around 1967 when the second album was recorded Rodney Garwood replaced Peter Moules on Bass (Peter had taken up bass when the band morphed from vocal group to pop band) and Hugh Halliday replaced Bob Henrit. As Unit 4 + 2, the sextet issued their debut single, on Decca Records. "The Green Fields" (which included the only performance with the band of banjo player Nigel Snook), reached a modest number 48 in the UK in 1964.[1] Their second single release "Sorrow and Pain" was less successful.[2]

[edit]Success

Unit 4 + 2's song "Concrete and Clay" became a big hit the following year, reportedly thanks to exposure on the pirate radio stations of the day, most notably Wonderful Radio London. The radio station's music director, Tony Windsor, later recalled in an interview that he had initially rejected the song for the station's playlist, but was persuaded to change his mind by DJ Kenny Everett. The disc was recorded using the skill of two guest musicians, Russ Ballard and Bob Henrit (two of Parker's former bandmates from their Roulettes days),[2] who debuted earlier at venues such as Cheshunt Boys' Club, together with Buster Meikle, as members of The Daybreakers. As well as its chart topping exploits in the UK, "Concrete and Clay" was a worldwide hit, and the group suddenly found themselves on radio playlists across the globe.[2] In America, a competing cover version by Eddie Rambeau (produced by Bob Crewe) split sales, with Rambeau reaching #35 on the Billboard charts and Unit 4 + 2 placing at #28. Cash Box charted the two versions together, and they reached a combined #12.

Decca released a hastily put together album, also entitled Concrete and Clay, to capitalise on the success, but it was not as notable in style or content as the single.[2] Nevertheless, the next single release "You've Never Been in Love Like This Before" reached the Top 20 in the UK,[2] and #95 on the Billboard chart in the US "Concrete and Clay" returned to the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart in 1976, courtesy of Randy Edelman's cover version.[3] More recently, the original song appeared in the soundtrack to the film, Rushmore (1998).

The band underwent two changes when bass player Rodney Garwood joined the band in 1964, and on Brian Parker's departure Howard 'Lem' Lubin joined. The next change came in 1967 when Russ Ballard (who went on to form the highly successful Argent) joined full time, having already played some of excellent guitar work with Brian Parker on the original recording for Concrete And Clay in 1964.

[edit]Later years

Unit 4 + 2 released ten singles on Decca, between 1964 - 1967 including one 4 track EP, and many of the songs ended up on their first album called "1ST ALBUM". it was later changed in title, cover art and track listing and then rereleased as "#1 featuring Concrete And Clay" for obvious reason in the title. Also, singles that became hits like the 5th single (You've) Never Been In Love Like This Before, were not on the "1ST Album" and were added under the re-released version.

Hugh Halliday replaced 'Bob' (Robert) Henrit for the second and final album in 1967 on the Fontana Records, record label. With Ballard and Henrit on board as fulltime members, the Unit 4 + 2 sound had toughened up, but a stab at Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" was comprehensively outsold by The Byrds own cover version.[2]. They moved into psychedelic mode with their final single offering "3.30" with lavish orchestration and harpsichords aplenty.[2] The song appears on the 1984 compilation album, The 49 Minute Technicolor Dream. The B-side, "I Will," appeared on the 1984 compilation album The Psychedelic Snarl. "3.30" failed to chart, and with another album Unit 4 + 2 quickly following suit, the group disbanded circa 1970.[2]

The label change was a result of Decca being acquired, its new owners also owned Fontana. Unit 4 + 2 released six more singles on Fontana up to 1969, disbanding in 1970 and have never reformed. One of the Fontana releases was for Spain, and was a reissue of the four tracks from two previous singles, as one EP.

[edit]Band member details

Brian William Parker (born 1939, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire): vocals, guitar; later taught guitar playing in his local area, but died whilst playing tennis in 2001.[4] Co-writer of "Concrete and Clay".[5]

Thomas John George 'Tommy' Moeller (born 23 February 1945, Liverpool): lead vocalist, guitar, piano; was the brother of Billy Moeller, who became public face of the one-hit wonder, Whistling Jack Smith, and took "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" to number five in 1967.[5] Tommy Moeller was lead singer, frontman and main songwriter in Unit 4 + 2 with Brian Parker with their biggest hit being "Concrete and Clay".[5]

'David Ian 'Buster' Meikle (born 1 March 1942, Goff's Oak, Hertfordshire): vocals, guitar; former lead singer of Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers, (which included Russ Ballard, Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on keyboards and Bob Henrit) and a founding member of Unit 4 + 2. Left in 1967 and had chart success overseas as half of Bill & Buster, along with Billy Moeller. Now living in Norfolk.

Peter Charles Moules (born 14 October 1944, Barnet, Hertfordshire): original member and bass vocalist and later bass guitarist. He was replaced by Rodney Garwood on bass for the second Unit 4 + 2 album on Fontana.

Rodney 'Humble' Garwood (born 27 March 1944, Diss, Norfolk): bass guitar; joined in 1967.

Howard 'Lem' Lubin (born 20 January 1944, Hampton Court, Middlesex): replaced Parker (above) in the group's early days. Was a member of Satisfaction and then Christie, before becoming a record producer.

Hugh John Halliday (born 12 December 1944): drums; joined in 1967, replacing original drummer Bob Henrit. He subsequently became a dancer, and then an opera director with English National Opera, Victoria State Opera, and other Australian and New Zealand opera companies. He is presently Director of Productions of Melbourne Opera.

Nigel Ian Norman Snook (born 26 February 1944, Poole, Dorset - died 5 November 2007): He played banjo on the first single "The Green Fields".

Russ Ballard (Russell Glyn Ballard), who came from Waltham Cross, joined in 1967 from Adam Faith's one-time backing ensemble, The Roulettes.[5] He later joined Argent and became and remains a successful songwriter performer.

Bob Henrit (Robert John Henrit) performed as a session drummer on "Concrete and Clay". He joined as a regular member in 1967, also from the Roulettes.

[edit]Discography

[edit]Singles

"Green Fields / Swing Down Chariot" - January 1964 - UK #48 RR

"Sorrow and Pain / The Lonely Valley" - August 1964 Did Not Chart

"Concrete and Clay / When I Fall In Love" - March 1965 - UK #1 RR, #2 NME

"Wild Is The Wind / Cotton Fields / Cross A Million Mountains / To Be Redeemed" - 1965

"You've Never Been in Love Like This Before / Tell Somebody You Know" - May 1965 - UK #14 RR, #17 NME

"Hark / Stop Wasting Your Time" - September 1965 - UK #30 NME

"You've Got to Be Cruel to Be Kind / I Won't Let You Down" - December 1965 - UK #23 NME

"Baby Never Say Goodbye / Rainy Day" - March 1966 - UK #49 RR, #28 NME

"For A Moment/ Fables" - June 1966 Did not chart

"I Was Only Playing Games / I've Seen The Light" - January 1967 Did Not Chart

"Too Fast, Too Slow / Booby Trap" - 1967 Did Not Chart

"Butterfly / A Place To Go" - 1967 Did Not Chart

"Loving Takes a Little Understanding / Would You Believe What I Say" - 1967 (released name was by The Unit) Did Not Chart

"A Place To Go / Butterfly / Too Fast Too Slow / Booby Trap" - (Spain) 1967

"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere / So You Want To Be A Blues Player" - May 1968 Did Not Chart

"3.30 / I Will" - January 1969 Did Not Chart

[1]

(Chart positions from Record Retailer and NME - the Record Retailer positions were those used for the official UK Singles Chart)

[edit]Albums

"1ST Album" - released by Decca in 1965 (later re-released on London label with new artwork as album title "#1 featuring Concrete And Clay", with "500 Miles", You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Swing Down Chariot" being replaced by "Tell Somebody You Know", "(You've) Never Been In Love Like This Before" and "Woman From Liberia".

Unit 4 + 2 - 1969

Creative Commons By-SA License