Initially performing around their hometown of Liverpool as The Bumblies (named after the Michael Bentine TV show), the group contacted producer Joe Meek (by simply looking him up in the phone book), who agreed to record them in London.
The sessions resulted in the track Please Stay, a cover version of a song by The Drifters, which was picked up by Decca and sailed into the charts. It was to be the final Joe Meek-produced chart hit before he killed himself in February 1967.
Brian Epstein offered to manage the (newly renamed) Cryin’ Shames, but they turned him down in favour of Brian Harvey of Music Echo, who also had designs on managing the band.
Sadly, the band was forgotten almost overnight when their second single – Nobody Waved Goodbye – failed to make the charts.
Charlie Crane died in November 2000. Guitarist Richie Routledge died in Nashville, Tennessee, on 8 October 2023, at the age of 73.
Charlie (Paul) Crane
Vocals Joey Kneen
Vocals Richie (Richard) Routledge
Guitar George Robinson
Bass Phil Roberts
Keyboards Charlie Gallagher
Drums John Bennett
Guitar
Video
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