Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers were a British instrumental beat group in the early 1960s. Originally based in East Anglia, England, the Jaywalkers, comprising Peter Miller (lead guitar), Tony Webster (rhythm guitar), Mac McIntyre (tenor saxophone/flute), Lloyd Baker (piano/baritone saxophone), Geoff Moss (acoustic bass), Johnny Larke (electric bass), and Peter Jay (drums), pre-dated the British beat boom.
They scored a minor hit in 1962 with ‘Can Can 62’, but despite an unquestioned competence, their rather stilted act became increasingly anachronistic."Can Can 62", was produced by Joe Meek and reached the British singles chart in 1962. The group attempted a more contemporary image with several R&B-based releases, and in 1966 a restructured line-up emerged under the name Peter Jay And The New Jaywalkers. Now reduced to a quintet, the unit featured vocalist Terry Reid, but despite an impressive appearance on the Rolling Stones’ UK tour, they disbanded by the end of that year.The group toured with both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before disbanding in 1966.
Having caught the tail-end of the instrumental boom with hit 45 ‘Can Can ‘62’, they recorded a further eight singles for Decca and then Pye, many produced by the legendary Joe Meek.
This is the first time that The Jaywalkers’ recordings have officially been compiled onto CD, remastered from the original tapes.
Both Peter Jay and guitarist ‘Big Boy’ Pete Miller are cooperating with this release, via a raft of anecdotes and rare photos/images.
‘Parchman Farm’, ‘Before The Beginning’ and ‘Red Cabbage’ (as in ‘Green Onions’!) are now valuable collector’s items among the Mod fraternity.
Peter Jay &The Jaywalkers - Jaywalkin' Singles 1962-1965
01 Can can '62 Decca F 11531 1962
02 Redskins Decca F 11531 1962
03 Totem Pole Decca F 11593 1963
04 Jaywalkin' Decca F 11593 1963
05 Poet and Peasant Decca F 11659 1963
06 OO La La Decca F 11659 1963
07 Kansas City Decca F 11757 1963
08 The Parade of the Tin Soldiers Decca F 11757 1963
09 If You Love me Decca F 11840 1964
10 You Girl Decca F 11840 1964
11 Where Did Our love Go_ Piccadilly 7N.35199 1964
12 Caroline Piccadilly 7N.35199 1964
13 Tonight You're Gonna Fall in Love Piccadilly 7N.35212 1964
14 Red Cabbage Piccadilly 7N.35212 1964
15 Parchman Farm Piccadilly 7N.35220 1965
16 What's easy for two is so Hard for One Piccadilly 7N.35220 1965
17 Before the Beginning Piccadilly 7N 35259 1965
18 Solitaire Piccadilly 7N 35259 1965
19 Who's The Girl Pye 7N 15290 1960
20 Paradise Garden Pye 7N 15290 1960
21 Peter Jay & The Blue Men - Just Too Late Triumph RGM 1000 1960
22 Peter Jay And The Blue Men Friendship Triumph 1000 1960
23 Peter Jay & Terry Reid & Jaywalkers - This Time ( Columbia DB 8166) 1967
24 Peter Jay & Terry Reid & Jaywalkers - The Hand Don't Fit The Glove - Columbia DB 8166 1967
The group was formed around 1960 by Peter Jay (b. 29 January 1944, Southgate, North London, England),. Peter Jay formed the group while studying at Norwich College. He played drums; other band members were Pete "Buzz" Miller, Tony Webster (rhythm guitar), Mac McIntyre (tenor sax and flute), Lloyd Baker (piano and baritone sax), Geoff Moss (bass guitar) and Johnny Larke (bass guitar). The band contained the unusual set-up of an acoustic and electric bass, just two electric basses. From about 1962, the group were also noted for their use of coordinated Vox Phantom guitars on stage.
Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers signed a recording deal with Decca Records in 1962. Their first record, a rocked-up version of the can-can music from Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, produced by Joe Meek at Decca's studios in Hampstead and entitled "Can Can 62", rose to #31 after entering the UK chart in November 1962. The group released several further singles on Decca in 1963 and 1964, but none became hits. The group were a popular live act and were chosen as a support act to the Beatles on their UK tour in November and December 1963, . They also appeared on national TV shows including Ready Steady Go! and Thank Your Lucky Stars.
The group moved to Piccadilly Records in 1964 and released several further singles, Miller left in 1965, and was replaced by guitarist Terry Reid. After further personnel changes, and billed as "Peter Jay and the New Jaywalkers", the group continued to appear on bills with leading bands of the time, and were included on a 1966 package tour of the UK with the Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner and the Yardbirds starting at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1966. Following the tour, the group split up.
Later activities
In the late 1970s, Peter Jay, purchased the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth, and gradually restored it as a theatre and circus venue with a circular performing area which could be lowered to reveal a swimming pool. He also took over the lease of the Tower Circus in Blackpool in 1983.
Pete Miller became a solo artist, releasing the single "Baby I Got News for You" (credited as "Miller") in 1965, with backing by Peter Frampton and other members of The Herd. He then concentrated on songwriting and worked as a session musician, before re-emerging as "Big Boy Pete" in early 1968 with the single "Cold Turkey", in the mid-1970s, and has since recorded with his band, the Wildcats, as well as collaborating with other musicians in ventures
Terry Reid continued his solo career, becoming a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
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