Tongue-in-cheek good-time Geordie punks The Toy Dolls contributed two songs to the most infamous Oi! album, Strength Thru Oi!, and released a self-financed single (Tommy Kowey’s Car) on their own GBH label, which quickly sold out of its initial 2000 pressing.
Eventually, EMI came knocking . . . and then swiftly departed again, leaving the band with Newcastle-based indie Volume Records, with whom they cut their brilliant and successful debut album, Dig That Groove Baby (1983).
Their 1984 smash hit Nellie The Elephant (a typically offbeat revival of the old kiddies favourite) served to get them – unfairly – tagged as a pure novelty act.
Stand out singles tracks include Deidre’s A Slag (1984) (obviously the band were fans of Coronation Street), She Goes To Fino’s (1985) and James Bond (Lives Down Our Street) (1985).
Michael ‘Olga’ Algar Vocals, guitar Robert ‘Happy Bob’ Kent Drums Phillip ‘Flip’ Dugdale Bass Barry ‘Bonny Baz’ Warne Bass Pete ‘Zulu’ Robson Bass, guitar Colin ‘Mr Scott’ Scott Drums Paul ‘Hud’ Hudson Vocals Dean Robson Drums Trevor ‘The Frog’ Brewis Drums Graham ‘Teddy Toy Doll’ Edmundson Drums Steve ‘Rubiboy’ Mallinson Bass Frederick ‘Freddie Hotrock’ Robertson Bass Nick Buck Drums Alan ‘Dirty Dicka’ Dixon Drums Malcolm ‘Dicky’ Dick Drums Paul Smith Drums Ernie Algar Bass Kevin Scott Drums John Casey Bass Richard ‘Dicky’ Hammond Bass Gary ‘Fun’ Dunn Bass Martin ‘Marty’ Yule Drums Suba Drums Michael Rebbig Bass David Nuttall Drums Duncan Redmonds Drums, vocals Tom ‘Goober’ Blyth Bass, vocals
