Robb Storme And The Whispers

ROBB STORME & THE WHISPERS Another band from The Top Twenty’s dark, dim past. Despite some reports suggesting that they were yet another band from Birmingham, they were in fact from Hornsey, London N8 having been assembled by a guy called John F. Eddowes who acted as their mentor and general representative. The wonderfully named Robb Storme (real name - Robert Scales) released, either as a solo artist or with The Whispers, at least 10 singles during the first half of the 60’s and appears to have had more record contracts (Pye, Piccadilly, Decca, Columbia)

Apart from Mr.Storme, the only other members of the band that we know of were drummer Pete Wilson, and guitarists Kenny Street & Norman Shapiro. The latter joined as a fresh-faced 17 year-old in 1960 but by the following year had already flown the nest eventually joining Gene Vincent's backing band. Singles released include 1961's “Music” which obviously bears no relation to the awful John Miles chart-topper of the same name, a "memorable" (according to one journalist) cover version of Phil Spector’s classic tear-jerker “To Know Him Is To Love Him” for Piccadilly in January 1964, “Where Is My Girl?” from 1965, a song that bears the distinction of being ripped off by Pete Townshend and a version of The Beach Boys “Here Today” from Brian Wilson's masterpiece “Pet Sounds” which “outdoes” the original version (according to another reviewer) As for Townshend’s steal, the Chris Charlesworth book on The Who states the following; “Pete had heard “Where Is My Girl?” a little known 1965 single during a “Melody Maker” interview. That song very conveniently provided the melody during the verses of “Substitute”” In January 1963 they travelled to Germany, where they held down the obligatory residency at The Top Ten Club in Hamburg. They also appeared as the backing band for both Colin Hicks (Tommy Steele's brother - with whom they toured Italy) and in June 1963 Italian pop singer Rita Pavone, re-naming themselves The Rokes in the process. So there you have it. The band, to their credit, did make an attempt, albeit unsuccessfully, to change with the times and after a period as “The Robb Storme Group” re-emerged in 1967 as the overtly psychedelic “Orange Bicycle”. They released a few singles of which their first, “Hyacinth Threads” is also their most treasured. They performed at the Isle of Wight music festival on August 31st 1968 wearing matching black and orange suits (nice!) Significant ex-members of “Orange Bicycle” include keyboardist and Iron Maiden producer Will Malone and future Supertramp drummer Kevin Currie. As for manager John Eddowes, he eventually became the victim of the fickle world of pop business, not once but twice. Having secured the band's recording contract with Decca, his talents were almost immediately dispensed with in favour of some "professional" management, a situation that had also befallen Eddowes after he had "discovered" the singer Emile Ford at Paddington Tech. (picture kindly supplied by Dierdre Nicholls, John Eddowes sister.)ROBB STORME & THE WHISPERS - To Know Her Is To Love Her (1964) From The Top Twenty Club by  Dave Edney

Members:

Robb Storme (Robert Scales) - vocals (Died: 2018)

Eddie McManus - bass guitar

Norman Shapiro - guitar

Kenny Street - guitar

Pete Wilson - drums

Jim St. Pier - saxophone

Chuck Hardy - guitar

Gary Hooper - bass guitar

Managed by John Eddowes.

Later known as The Robb Storme Group.

Robb Storme also recorded as a solo artist with orchestral backing.

Known Gigs

 23 Apr 1961 Drogheda, Abbey Ballroom, Ireland. With The Woodchoppers.

29 Dec 1961 Dunstable, California Ballroom.

19 Nov 1962 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Danny Williams. With Chas McDevitt and Shirley Douglas, and Mal Hollander and Esther Hart. Twice nightly for 1 week.

4 May 1963 Dunstable, California Ballroom. With Terry Franks and the Avalons.

5 Oct 1963 Hastings, Pier Ballroom. Supported by The Gamblers. 

31 Jan 1964 Winchester, Lido Ballroom. Supported by The Plymouth Sounds.

5 Nov 1964 Swindon, Locarno. Supporting Herman's Hermits.

1 Jan 1966 Margate, Dreamland Ballroom. Supported by The Epics.

[2:42] 1. Robb Storme Group - Here Today (live BBC session 1966)

[2:56] 2. The Robb Storme Group - Here Today (1966  Columbia)

[2:39] 3. Robb Storme & The Whispers - Love Is Strange (1965 Pye Records)

[2:38] 4. Robb Storme - A Mile Of Broken Hearts (1962 Decca)

[3:05] 5. The Robb Storme Group - But Cry (1966 Columbia)

[2:28] 6. Robb Storme - I Don't Need Your Love Anymore (1960 Decca)

[2:24] 7. Robb Storme & The Whispers - Where Is My Girl (1965)

[2:19] 8. Robb Storme - Pretty Hair & Angel Eyes (1962  Decca)

[2:17] 9. Robb Storme - Earth Angel (1961 Decca)

[2:16] 10. Robb Storme And The Whispers - Bu-Bop-A-Lu-Bop-A-Lie (1964 Piccadilly )

[2:13] 11. Robb Storme - One Thousand Nine Hundred & When (1960 Decca)

[2:09] 12. Robb Storme & The Whispers - To Know Her Is To Love Her (1964 Piccadilly)

[2:07] 13. Robb Storme - Transistor Sister (1961 Decca)

[2:04] 14. Robb Storme & The Whispers - Lonely Town (1961 Decca)

[1:57] 15. Robb Storme & The Whispers - Wheels (1962 Decca)

[1:56] 16. Robb Storme & The Whispers - Near You (1961 Decca Remasterd 2014)

[1:55] 17. Robb Storme & Whispers - Five Minutes More  (1963 Decca)

[1:53] 18. Robb Storme & The Whispers - Music  (1961 Decca Remastered 2014)

[2:07] 19. Robb Storme And The Whispers - Shy Guy (1965 Pye Records)

[2:33] 20. Robb Storme - Double Oh Seven  (COLUMBIA DB 7756 UK 1965 James Bond 007 Dancer)

Missed :

B1: Bye Bye Blues

B2: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane

A: Sixteen Years Ago Tonight

B: Surprise Surprise

A: Happens Ev'ryday

***