The Action

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The Action
Also known asAzoth (1968)
OriginKentish Town, North London, England
GenresBlue-eyed soul, folk rock, psychedelic rock, freakbeat
Years active1963–1969 (Reunion: 2000)
LabelsParlophone (UK), Capitol (US), Hansa (France)
Spinoff ofSandra Barry and the Boyfriends
Past membersAlan "Bam" King
Mike "Ace" Evans
Roger Powell
Reg King
Peter Watson
Ian Whiteman
Martin Stone
Websiteactionmightybaby.co.uk

The Action were an English band of the 1960s, formed as the Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London.[1] They were part of the mod subculture,[2] and played soul music-influenced pop music.

Career[edit]

1963–1964: The Boys[edit]

The band was formed as the Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London. The original members were Reg King (lead vocals), Alan 'Bam' King (rhythm guitar, vocals), Mike "Ace" Evans (bass guitar, vocals) and Roger Powell (drums).[1] They had a brief spell as a bar band in Germany, and then as a backing band for Sandra Barry, (sometimes referred to as Sandra Barry and the Boyfriends) playing on her single "Really Gonna Shake" in 1964.[3] After the stint with Barry, Pete Watson was recruited as lead guitarist, and in 1964 they changed their name to The Action.[1]

1965–1968: The Action[edit]

The Action first auditioned for Decca on May 31, 1965, with an assortment of demos such as "In My Lonely Room", "You'll Want Me Back", "Why You Wanna Make Me Blue", and "Fine Looking Girl".[4] However, the band were unsuccessful.[5]

In 1965, they signed to Parlophone with producer George Martin. "Land of a Thousand Dances" b/w "In My Lonely Room" was well received by critics, but sold poorly.[1] None of The Action's singles achieved success in the UK Singles Chart.

Dissatisfied with the stewardship of their manager Rikki Farr, Pete Watson left the band in late 1966.[1] The Action continued as a quartet. During a stagnation period in the studio, they were known for performing The Ronettes songs "Do I Love You?" and "You Baby" in their live sets, as George Martin was preoccupied with the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's recording sessions.[6] The band was dropped by Parlophone in mid-1967, after their last single "Shadows and Reflections" failed to chart,[6] by which time they had also parted ways with Rikki Farr.

The Action then assumed control of their own affairs. Keyboardist Ian Whiteman briefly joined, in an effort to expand their sound and to help secure the band with a new recording contract by November 1967. However, Whiteman had since left the band, and was driven out by Reg King's increasingly unpredictable behaviour. Guitarist Martin Stone was soon recruited to fill his place.[1][7]

The Action were now set about gathering original material for a new projected LP. Their recording demos were in a radically different, Byrds-influenced psychedelic style, and failed to secure the band with a long hoped-for record deal. (These 1967/68 demos were eventually released in the 1990s, under the title Rolled Gold). With the band seemingly having reached an impasse, vocalist Reg King's behaviour had become increasing unpredictable, and he departed from the band in mid-1968.[1]

Following Reg King's exit, Ian Whiteman returned and shared vocal duties with Alan King.[7] It was at this point, that the band decided on a brief name change from the Action to Azoth. However, the band soon reverted back to their old name, in order to record a new set of five demos. The demos captured the band's transition into more of a mid-tempo, West Coast-influenced, psychedelic ballad style and early folk rock. (These demos were eventually released in 1985, under the title The Action Speaks Louder Than Words).

1969–1971: Mighty Baby[edit]

Main article: Mighty Baby

By January 1969, upon signing to Head Records (a fledgling independent label run by their former roadie John Curd), the Action were finally and permanently re-christened Mighty Baby – under the name in which they released two albums: Mighty Baby (1969) and A Jug Of Love (1971). Mighty Baby disbanded at the end of the year, in 1971.[1][7]

Alan King later went on to form Ace, and had a US hit with "How Long" in 1975.

Legacy and reunion[edit]

In 1980, The Ultimate! Action, a compilation album of the Action's Parlophone tracks was released, with sleeve notes written by Paul Weller ("The Action had it in their soul").[8] It did much for the creditability of the band and their profile. The Rolled Gold album of demos were hailed by the general public as lost classics, when they were reissued in the 1990s.[9][10]

In 1998, the original line-up of the Action reformed for a concert in the Isle of Wight. They headlined and played two shows at the Ryde Theatre for the New Untouchables August Bank Holiday Mod Rally.[11] They also played at the Tufnell Park Dome[12] and Boston Arms in London,1998 (Uptight and Outasight).[13]

They are one of the favourite bands of Phil Collins, who performed with the reunited band at the 100 Club in June 2000.[14] "For me it was like playing with the Beatles", he later commented on the experience in 2002.[15] Collins financed the documentary film In The Lap Of The Mods (2000), which contained footage from both reunion gigs, 100 Club and Tufnell Park Dome, as well as some archive material.[12]

The Action then played semi-regularly over the years. They made an appearance at Modstock 2004, a three day event organized by New Untouchables to commemorate 40 years of Mod Subculture, on May 30, 2004.[16]

During an interview in September 1986, Steve Marriott regarded the Action as a "legitimate band" and compared them to the likes of the Small Faces, in terms of street origins and authenticity in the 1960s Mod scene.[17]

Band members[edit]

Classic line-up:

  • Reg King – lead vocals (1963–1968, 1998–2004; died 2010)
  • Alan "Bam" King – rhythm guitar, vocals (1963–1971, 1998–2004)
  • Mike "Ace" Evans – bass guitar, vocals (1963–1971, 1998–2004; died 2010)
  • Roger Powell – drums (1963–1971, 1998–2004)

Additional members:

  • Peter Watson – lead guitar, vocals (1964–1966, 1998–2004)
  • Ian Whiteman – keyboards, vocals, saxophone, flute (1967, 1968–1971, 1998–2004)
  • Martin Stone – lead guitar (1967–1971; died 2016)

Discography[edit]

Singles[edit]

as Sandra Barry and The Boys
  • "Really Gonna Shake" / "When We Get Married" (R. King) (March 1964, Decca)
as The Boys
  • "It Ain't Fair" (R. King/Evans) / "I Want You" (R. King/Evans) (November 1964, Pye)
as The Action

Compilation albums[edit]

The Ultimate! Action[edit]

(singles and other material recorded by the original run of the band, 1964–1967)
No.TitleLength
1."I'll Keep On Holding On"3:43
2."Harlem Shuffle"3:16
3."Never Ever"2:39
4."Twenty Fourth Hour"2:42
5."Since I Lost My Baby"3:35
6."In My Lonely Room"2:38
7."Hey Sha-Lo-Ney"2:25
8."Wasn't It You?"2:51
9."Come On, Come With Me"2:23
10."Just Once in My Life"2:56
11."Shadows and Reflections"2:52
12."Something Has Hit Me"3:28
13."The Place"2:33
14."The Cissy"2:22
15."Baby You Got It"2:42
16."I Love You (Yeah!)"3:19
17."Land of a Thousand Dances"2:51

Brain/Rolled Gold[edit]

(Tracks recorded in late 1967 and 1968, but released only in 1995):[18][19]
No.TitleLength
1."Come Around"2:47
2."Something To Say"3:15
3."Love Is All"3:42
4."Icarus"2:54
5."Strange Roads"3:55
6."Things You Cannot See"2:46
7."Brain"3:00
8."Look At The View"3:59
9."Climbing Up The Wall"3:03
10."Really Doesn't Matter"3:07
11."I'm A Stranger"2:44
12."Little Boy"4:17
13."Follow Me"2:56
14."In My Dream"3:19
15."In My Dream" (Demo)4:51

Action Speaks Louder Than (EP)[edit]

(Tracks recorded circa. 1968, released by Castle Music in 1985):

All tracks are written by Ian Whiteman

No.TitleLength
1."Only Dreaming" 
2."Dustbin Full Of Rubbish" 
3."An Understanding Love" 
4."My Favourite Day" 
5."A Saying For Today" 

Uptight and Outasight[edit]

(Radio and TV recordings, 2004 CD bonus: 1998 live recording, released by Circle Records):[13]

CD1 – The Action on Television and BBC Radio 1966–1967

No.TitleLength
1."I'll Keep Holding On" 
2."Land of 1000 Dances/Uptight" 
3."Mine Exclusively" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1966) 
4."Reg King Interview" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1966) 
5."Baby You've Got It" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1966) 
6."Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A While)" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1966) 
7."Going to a Go-Go" (BBC Radio's Pop North 1966) 
8."Never Ever" (BBC Radio's Pop North 1966) 
9."Love Is All" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1967) 
10."I See You" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1967) 
11."India" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1967) 
12."Shadow and Reflections" (BBC Radio's Saturday Club 1967) 

CD2 – The Boston Arms, London 1998

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Meeting Over Yonder"  
2."The Monkey Time"Curtis Mayfield 
3."Baby Don't You Do It"  
4."In My Lonely Room"  
5."I Love You (Yeah!)"  
6."Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)"  
7."Ooo Baby Baby"  
8."Crazy About You Baby"  
9."Heatwave"  
10."People Get Ready"  
11."The Memphis Train"  
12."Since I Lost My Baby"  
13."Harlem Shuffle"  
14."Baby You've Got It"  
15."I'll Keep On Holding On"  
16."Land of 1000 Dances"  

In addition to this in 1980, Edsel released a compilation of all The Action's original UK singles called The Ultimate Action (Edsel ED101) and after that four singles using the same material:

  • "I'll Keep on Holding On/Wasn't It You?" – E5001 1981
  • "Since I Lost My Baby/Never Ever/Wasn't It You?" – E5002 1981
  • "Shadows and Reflections/Something Has Hit Me" – E5003 1982
  • "Hey Sha-Lo-Ney/Come On, Come With Me" – E5008 1984

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 14/5. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  3. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Sandra Barry Artist Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  4. ^ MODSBEAT. "THE ACTION / DECCA AUDITION 1965". YouTube. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  5. ^ "The Action - Limited Edition". www.theactionbook.com. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Raison, Mark (January 7, 2011). THE ACTION: REGGIE KING INTERVIEW (1995). Monkey Picks. Retrieved April 30 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Irvin, Jim (June 2022). "Mystic Mods". MOJO. No. 343. H Bauer Publishing. ISSN 1351-0193.
  8. ^ "The Action – The Ultimate Action". Discogs. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  9. ^ Nast, Condé. "Action: Rolled Gold". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  10. ^ Long, Pat (7 November 2010). "Reg King obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  11. ^ Ringgold, Jason (9 October 2016). "New Untouchables Mod Rally, Isle of Wight 1998". YouTube. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "The Action – In The Lap Of The Mods". Discogs. 2000. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b "The Action – Uptight And Outasight". Discogs. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  14. ^ Phil Collins (2 March 2024). Not Dead Yet. London, England: Century Books. ISBN 978-1-78089-513-0.
  15. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (15 November 2002). "Home entertainment: Phil Collins". The Guardian.
  16. ^ "Modstock 2004". www.actionmightybaby.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  17. ^ Sandrew Metronome Music (24 November 2016). "Steve Marriott - Steve Marriott Interview". YouTube.
  18. ^ The Action: Brain (The Lost Recordings) at Discogs (list of releases)
  19. ^ "Reaction Recordings - the Action - "Rolled Gold" CD". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.

Further reading[edit]

  • Ian Hebditch, Jane Shepherd: The Action – In the Lap of the Mods (2012, with Mike Evans and Roger Powell, foreword by George Martin); ISBN 978-0957345706

External links[edit]

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