Chris Farlowe

  • Real Name: John Henry Deighton
  • Birth Date: 13th October 1940
  • Birth Place: Islington, London
  • Chris Farlowe's first taste of real musical success occurred in 1957 while he was still John Deighton, and leader of the 'John Henry Skiffle Group'. Skiffle was then at its height and the group had won the All-England Skiffle Championship. However, the skiffle craze was replaced by the growing interest in Rock'n'Roll and the newly named Chris formed the Thunderbirds.

    With a voice that was already rounded and mature the new group with its R&B sound soon became a very popular musical attraction in London and they obtained residence at the Flamingo Club in Soho.

    Despite several attempts from 1962, none of his record releases had any great success until through his friendship with the group he obtained the song 'Out Of Time' from the Rolling Stones. With production by Mick Jagger, the record shot to the top of the UK chart. Several modest hits were to follow although Farlowe's vocal style was probably too far from the mainstream for most record buyers.

    All of Chris Farlowe's EP releases are very difficult to find. This one, which happens to be Immediate's first outing on that format (bearing the number IMEP 001), is perhaps a little easier to seek out than some others. The presence of a version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" perhaps exposes his association with the Rolling Stones.
    The Thunderbirds became a consistently popular R&B act despite frequent changes in personnel, although most of Chris Farlowe's recordings were done with session musicians. Despite the popularity of the group, Chris Farlowe changed his musical allegiances several times during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Perhaps this has prevented him from staying long enough in the public conscience to establish a niche. His magnificent voice should have given him greater success on record than he has enjoyed, but even to this day he remains a popular and respected stage act.

    1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

    • Listings include UK 45 singles releases only
    • Collector's Items are shown In Red
    • See lower list for EP releases

    Decca F11536 1962 Air Travel/ Why Did You Break My Heart  
    Columbia DB7120 1963 I Remember/ Push Push  
    Columbia DB7237 1964 Girl Trouble/ Itty Bitty Pieces  
    Columbia DB7311 1964 Just A Dream/ What You Gonna Do  
    Columbia DB7379 1964 Hey Hey Hey Hey/ Hound Dog  
    Columbia DB7983 1966 Just A Dream/ Hey Hey Hey Hey  
    Immediate IM016 1965 The Fool/ Treat Her Good  
    Immediate IM023 1966 Don't Just Look At Me/ Think #37
    Immediate IM035 1966 Out Of Time/ Baby Make It Soon #1
    Immediate IM038 1967 Ride On Baby/ Headlines #31
    Immediate IM041 1967 My Way Of Giving/ You're So Good To Me #48
    Immediate IM049 1967 Yesterday's Papers/ Life Is But Nothing  
    Immediate IM056 1967 Moanin'/ What Have I Been Doin' #46
    Immediate IM065 1967 Handbags And Gladrags/ Everyone Makes A Mistake #33
    Immediate IM066 1968 The Last Goodbye/ Paperman Fly In The Sky  
    Immediate IM071 1968 Paint It Black/ I Just Need Your Lovin'  
    Immediate IM074 1969 Dawn/ April Was The Month  
    Immediate IM078 1969 Out Of Time/ Ride On Baby  

    EP Discography

    • Collector's Items are shown In Red
    • See Upper List For Singles releases

    Decca DFE8665 1965 "Chris Farlowe"  
    Air Travel/Why Did You Break My Heart/Just A Dream/Funny Kind Of Love
    Immediate IMEP001 1965 "Farlowe In The Midnight Hour" #6
    In The Midnight Hour/Mr. Pitiful/(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction/Who Can I Turn To?
    Immediate IMEP004 1966 "Chris Farlowe"  
    Out Of Time/Ride On Baby/Headlines/Think
    Island IEP709 1966 "Stormy Monday"  
    Stormy Monday/She's Alright/Voodoo


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