Freddie & The Dreamers

  • Real Name: Freddie Garrity
  • Birth Date: 14th November 1936
  • Birth Place: Manchester
  • Derek Quinn
  • 24th May 1942
  • Manchester
  • Bernie Dwyer
  • 11th September 1941
  • Manchester
  • Roy Crewsdon
  • 29th May 1941
  • Manchester
  • Pete Birrell
  • 9th May 1941
  • Manchester
  • These five Mancunians first came together as a musical group during 1961 supplementing their bookings, in common with many others of the period, with stints in Hamburg playing rock and roll. They also found work during the summer season at various British seaside resorts and, possibly because of this, became much more than just a singing group. The inclusion of comedy in their stage act had become important before they were known nationally through their recordings.

    They struck lucky with their first release, 'If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody'; the original James Ray version of which aroused no interest in the UK. This hit gave them a good start and the outrageous stage antics of Garrity soon became familiar to British TV viewers. Their second release, 'I'm Telling You Now' consolidated their credentials as big hitters. Garrity's zany comedy also turned out to have appeal in America and his exposure on TV there resulted in further US chart entries. The Americans found a name for Freddie's high stepping dance routine- 'The Freddy' which was turned into a US hit, and even covered by 'twister' Chubby Checker. However, it was never issued at home, and by the end of that year- 1965, the Dreamers' UK chart career was over.

    The EP shown on the right was issued in 1964 while Freddie and his team were very much at their peak. The record contained songs from their participation in the Alan Klein movie "What A Crazy World". The group were called 'Frantic Freddie & The Dreamers" in the film. According to Michael Carreras' sleeve notes: "Freddie is the only man I know who can sing, dance and remove his trousers all at the same time"- which records pretty well their stage act.
    Despite their lack of continued success on record their 'over-the-top' stage act maintained sufficient appeal to keep them in plenty of live bookings until the end of the 1960s. Garrity has since resurfaced with new 'Dreamers' and could still be seen throughout the 1990s, despite the passage of many years, prancing and dancing in a manner likely to 'do himself a mischief' as they say in Manchester. However, following a heart attack during 2000, the otherwise irrepressible Freddie was forced into unscheduled retirement. Sadly, Freddie died on May 19th 2006, and perhaps some of the fun that made the 1960s so wonderful died too.

    1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

    • Upper list includes UK 45 singles releases only
    • Collector's Items are shown In Red
    • See Lower list for EP releases

    Columbia DB7032 1963 If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody/ Feel So Blue #3
    Columbia DB7086 1963 I'm Telling You Now/ What Have I Done To You #2
    Columbia DB7147 1963 You Were Made For Me/ Send A Letter To Me #3
    Columbia DB7214 1964 Over You/ Come Back When You're Ready #13
    Columbia DB7286 1964 I Love You Baby/ Don't Make Me Cry #16 
    Columbia DB7322 1964 Just For You/ Don't Do That To Me #41
    Columbia DB7381 1964 I Understand/ I Will #5
    Columbia DB7526 1965 A Little You/ Things I'd Like To Say #26 
    Columbia DB7720 1965 Thou Shalt Not Steal/ I Don't Know #44 
    Columbia DB7857 1966 If You've Gotta Minute Baby/ When I'm Home With You  
    Columbia DB7929 1966 Playboy/ Some Day  
    Columbia DB8033 1966 Turn Around/ Funny Over You  
    Columbia DB8137 1967 Hello Hello/ All I Ever Want Is You  
    Columbia DB8200 1967 Brown And Porter's (Meat Exporters) Lorry/ Little Brown Eyes  
    Columbia DB8496 1968 Little Big Time/ You Belong To Me  
    Columbia DB8517 1968 It's Great/ Gaberdine Mac  
    Columbia DB8606 1969 Get Around Downtown Girl/ What To Do  

    EP Discography

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

    Columbia SEG8275 1963 "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody" #8
    If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody/Feel So Blue/I'm Telling You Now/The Viper
    Columbia SEG8287 1963 "Songs From The Film 'What A Crazy World'" #15
    Sally Ann/Camp Town Races/Lonely Boy/Short Shorts
    Columbia SEG8302 1964 "You Were Made For Me"  
    You Were Made For Me/Send A Letter To Me/Money/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da
    Columbia SEG8323 1964 "Over You" #17
    Over You/Come Back When You're Ready/Kansas City/I'm A Hog For You
    Columbia SEG8349 1964 "Freddie Sings Just For You"  
    I Love You Baby/Don't Make Me Cry/Just For You/I Just Don't Understand
    Columbia SEG8403 1965 "Ready, Freddie, Go!"  
    Silly Girl/Little Bitty Pretty One/In My Baby's Arms/She Belongs To You
    Columbia SEG8457 1965 "Freddie And The Dreamers"  
    I Wonder Who The Lucky Guy Will Be/A Windmill In Old Amsterdam/Do The Freddie/A Love Like You


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