Although they are only remembered today for their 1964 hit Hippy Hippy Shake, The Swinging Blue Jeans were actually one of the strongest of the Liverpool bands from the Merseybeat period.
Formed in 1961 (initially as The Blue Genes) The Swinging Blue Jeans followed virtually the same path to success as many of their Merseybeat contemporaries.
Indeed, after playing a succession of local dance halls and club engagements – including the famous Cavern Club – they took the same route to Germany and appeared at the rapidly emerging Star Club in Hamburg, where their unusual mix of trad jazz rhythm and rock guitars initially got them booed – until they ditched the banjo.
The Swinging Blue Jeans with actor Joseph Brady (PC Jock Weir) on the set of “Z-Cars”. 25 December 1963.
Turning down Brian Epstein as manager, they signed a contract with HMV in 1962 and released their debut single, It’s Too Late Now, in 1963.
The record crept into the charts at #30, but by the turn of 1964, the band had tasted success with their second single, Hippy Hippy Shake – a cover of an obscure 1950s rocker (that was actually performed much better by The Beatles on tapes of their BBC performances).
The band enjoyed some other hits in the UK, including Good Golly Miss Molly and a top-notch Merseyisation of You’re No Good, originally by Betty Everett (and covered in the 1970s by Linda Ronstadt) which they took into the Top Five in 1964.
The band also wrote some catchy and energetic originals in the purest Merseybeat style.
As trends changed – and despite a stab at psychedelia – The Swinging Blue Jeans were on the nostalgia circuit by the 1970’s.
While it may not add up to an enduring legacy, there’s a lot to be said for the naive energy of the best of their early tunes, and in one guise or another, The Swinging Blue Jeans have continued to tour and entertain for over 40 years.
Ray Ennis Vocals, guitar Ralph Ellis Guitar Les Braid Bass Norman Kuhlke Drums Paul Moss Banjo
Video
You May Also Like
Shirley Goodman Born in New Orleans on 19 June 1936, Shirley Goodman was 16 years old when she signed…
Remains, The (Barry & The Remains) The Remains formed in November 1964 at Boston University, where all four members were first-year students…
Carl Perkins Born in Lake County, Tennessee, on 9 April 1932, Carl Perkins began playing country music with his…
Small Faces Singer Steve Marriott (born 30 January 1947) started his showbiz career in 1962 in the London…
Swing Out Sister British jazz-pop combo Swing Out Sister came out of Manchester in 1985. They began life as…
Rip Chords, The Phil Stewart and Ernie Bringas met while they were students at Inglewood High School in Los…
Bedrocks, The Six West Indian immigrants formed this soul, ska and reggae group in Leeds in 1966. They…
Sailor This band was the brainchild of Georg Johan Tjegodiev Sakonski Kajanus, the son of an exiled…
The record crept into the charts at #30, but by the turn of 1964, the band had tasted success with their second single, Hippy Hippy Shake – a cover of an obscure 1950s rocker (that was actually performed much better by The Beatles on tapes of their BBC performances).
