Summer of Love in Forest Gate: Upper Cut, Summer 67

1967 has been labelled the Summer of Love, in the annals of pop music. Hippies, flower power, San Francisco nights, and the widespread emergence of hallucinogenic drugs within pop culture have characterised the era. In this, the last of our monthly round-ups of Upper Cut gigs from 47 years ago, we have a brief look at how that summer played out in Forest Gate. For a full list and links to previous posts Upper Cut-related posts, see footnote.


Stratford Express reports on
Upper Cut's summer difficulties

June and July were difficult times for the club. It faced an enquiry into renewing its licence, following complaints of late night rowdiness by patrons and anti-social parking.  The months were relatively slack times at the Upper Cut, before it closed for a summer break.


Stratford Express -
2 June, with The Turtles

There was only one act of any significance in the first four weeks of June: The Turtles, who played the venue on the third. They were a short lived American rock band, who managed to move swiftly from folk, through folk rock to psychedelic within about five years. They first came to prominence in 1965 with a cover of Dylan's It Ain't Me, Babe, but had their biggest hit, just as they were appearing at the Upper Cut, with Happy Together. The Turtles folded in 1970, with a couple of their members leaving to join Frank Zappa in the eclectic Mothers of Invention.


Turtles - not Happy Together for long

Stratford Express,
23 June, advertising
The Chiffons and The Toys

There was then a three week gap in Woodgrange Road's gig schedule, before a double header of two Black, all girl American groups: The Chiffons and The Toys, on 24 June. The Chiffons came from New York's Bronx and had been formed in 1960.  They helped define the girl group sound of the time, and in many ways foreshadowed the later Motown greats. By the time they appeared at the Upper Cut, they had already had chart hits and a gold disc with He's So Fine, and Sweet Talkin' Guy, a few months before the Forest Gate outing.  The core of the Chiffons broke up in the late 1960s, although off shoots continue to tour until today.


Sweet Talkin' girls - The Chiffons

The Toys also hailed from New York,  were a short lived group.  They disbanded the year after the Woodgrange Road outing, by which time they had already had their biggest hit A Lover's Concerto.


The Toys

A week later, there was the return of Chris Farlowe at the end of the month( 30th). He had appeared only two months previously at the club a return doubtless encouraged by the popularity of this Islington soul/blues shouter.
Then July. Only two gigs of note - but two of the most influential bands of the era - on successive Saturdays!


Summer of Love at
the Upper Cut, with
Cream and Chris Farlowe

Return visit from Chris Farlowe

First up, Cream (or The Cream, as they were advertised) on 1 July. Surely one of the greatest rock/blues bands of all time, and perhaps one of those bands who were to characterise the famed Summer of Love.  They had a short life (about two years) but left an indelible mark on British, and indeed international, popular music.  They sold over 15 million albums in their three years of existence, including the Wheels on Fire, the first ever platinum double album. 

Cream of the crop

The three piece band consisted of the mercurial Eric Clapton , who had already outgrown his stints with the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Blues Brakers, and Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, who had emerged from the Graham Bond Organisation, which played the Upper Cut in May. Cream had just released Disraeli Gears by the time they appeared in Forest Gate, so doubtless Strange Brew and Sunshine of Your love got a good airing on the night.

Small Faces revisit home club

 And, the curtain closure before the summer break was the return of local boys, The Small Faces, who had played the club earlier in January 1967. They were just about to release Itchycoo Park. Whether it got its first public airing at this gig isn't clear; but it would have been highly appropriate, had it done so. The inspiration behind the song is much disputed, but Wikipedia, at least, is happy to accord it very local origins. The website says:

A number of sources claim the song's name is derived from the nickname of Little Ilford Park, on Church Road, in the London suburb of Manor Park, where Small Faces singer and song writer Steve Marriott grew up. The "Itchycoo" nickname is in turn attributed to the stinging nettles which grew there. Other sources cite nearby Wanstead Flats (Manor Park end) and Gardeners'  Corner, Aldgate, as the inspiration for the song.

Stratford Express,
7 July, with
The Small Faces

The club then took a six week break, over the summer months, not surprisingly, perhaps. But, the Stratford Express of 14 July offered an alternative explanation for the closure, when it announced:

Forest Gate police swooped on youngsters leaving Billy Walker's Upper Cut club and the Lotus dance hall on Saturday (the night of the Faces gig), in a bid to beat hooliganism.

Local shopkeepers had complained of vandalism and residents of noise and parking disruption caused by the club's patrons.

 There was also chaos inside the club, as the Stratford Express continued:

After appearing at the Upper Cut on Saturday ... the Small Faces apologised to fans ... 'It was chaos on stage. We couldn't concentrate', said leader Steve Marriott. Tough bouncers either side of the stage rushed across the front of the Faces to drag away screaming girls to safety. In their rush, Plonk Lane's guitar was put out of tune and Steve Marriott's mike went dead. Dozens of hysterical girls were treated by St John Ambulance men and one was taken to hospital after being trampled in the crush. 'We're very sorry for the kids who got hurt but it was so hot up the front that they fainted and had to be dragged to the stage to safety' said Plonk. 

 Back catalogue

This site has published a number of articles on the history of the Upper Cut club: the first detailing the time when Otis visited it, in March 1967. This post was followed by two, recording the first six months and the final six months of the club's existence.

These posts were followed by almost monthy updates on who played at the club, that month, 47 years previously. The final blog is a record of a recent meeting with former boxer, Billy Walker, the name under whom the club exisited, on his memories of it and Forest Gate almost half a century ago.

Below is a list of those blogs: the hyper links are the titles of the articles, and when hit upon should give access to them. The dates (in italics) are the time covered by the blog and the date in bold are the months the blogs were posted.

Although the content, and some of the comments on the individual posts, is pretty definitive, we'd love to hear any memories readers may have of the gigs, or corrections they could make to the copy. Just post in the Comments box, below.

When Otis played Forest Gate (March 1967) May 2013

Upper Cut (1) - a summary of the emergence of the first six months of the club (December 1966 - July 1967) July 2013

Upper Cut (2) - a brief survey of the second, and final half year of the club's existence (August 1967 - December 1967) July 2013
Georgie Fame, The Tremeloes and Unit 4 + 2 - (September 1967 at the Upper Cut) October 2013

When Stevie Wonder played Forest Gate - (October 1967) November 2013

Mouthwatering musical fayre on Woodgrange Road - (November 1967) December 2013

Club bills for the Upper Cut's two Decembers - (Decembers 1966 and 1967) January 2014

The Upper Cut beds down - (January 1967) February 2014

Essex comes to Forest Gate - (February 1967) March 2014
Stax comes to town - (March 1967) April 2014

A mixed bunch at the Upper Cut in April (April 1967) May 2014

Upper Cut - May 1967 (June 1967) June 2014

Summer of Love in Forest Gate (Summer 1967) August 2014

Golden Boy, Billy Walker's Forest Gate memories September 2014

Post script

In November 2014 we added the following post script to this story:


As visitors to this site may feel, we have an almost unhealthy obsession with this club, which ran for a single year in 1966/7 on Woodgrange Road.

We have recently come across a couple of gems that can be added to our regular coverage. Paul Osborn, who has an interest in the former pirate radio stations, of the 1960's, contacted us with a fascinating MP3 recording, attached, below.

The Club used to host regular sessions of the Giggle, Goggle, Guggle Club - essentially a disco held on Sunday afternoons, hosted by DJs from the pirate radio stations. Tony Blackburn and Ed Stewart, among others appeared.

The You Tube clip, below, is from an advert broadcast on Radio London ("Big L") on 12 August 1967. It was promoting an appearance at the Upper Cut Club, by DJ Mike Quinn, who could be seen for "Half a crown"!


Pete Drummond on Radio London reading
an advert during the morning show for the
Giggle, Goggle Guggle Show, at the
Upper Cut Club, on Saturday 12 August 1967.

Click link: to hear. Thanks to Paul Osborn for the link

We have placed this as a postscript to the article on The Summer of Love, we published in August this year. It can be viewed here.

Prominent Rock music journalist, Peter Guralnick produced a book, published by Penguin, Sweet Soul Music in 1986. It includes photos of both Sam and Dave and Otis Redding, appearing at the Upper Cut on 18 March 1967. Close inspection of the photos shows posters on the wall of the club, adverting the event.

Sam and Dave at the Upper Cut
Club, 18 March 1967

Guralnick credits Fred Lewis for the use of these photos. We have been unable to track Mr Lewis down, but would like to thank him, for our ability to use them. Any other, similar photos, would be very gratefully received! We have placed these photos on our article on the Stax Tour, of April this year, which can be accessed here.

Otis Redding performing at the
Upper Cut Club, 18 March 1967

A mixed bunch at the Upper Cut in April

This posting is one of our regular, monthly updates on those appearing at Woodgrange Road's Upper Cut Club, 47 years ago - in April 1967.

The final days of the Upper Cut, as a warehouse,
before demolition, to make way for a
Channel Tunnel rail ventilation shaft

It would be harsh to describe it as a bit "after the Lord Mayor's show", coming on the heels of March's fabulous Stax tour, but it must have seemed like a bit of an anti-climax to local attendees.

In retrospect, however, with appearances by both Jeff Beck and Prince Buster, the promoters could rightly claim to have introduced Forest Gate to two of the most influential artistes of the last half century - as the story below will attempt to illustrate

April
Sat 1 Apr - Dave Berry - gents 8/6d, ladies 7/6d
Sat 8 Apr - Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds - gents 8/6d, ladies 7/6d
Sat 15 Apr - Alan Price Set - gents 9/6d, ladies 8/6d
Fri 28 Apr - ("Singing his latest hit, Hi, Ho, Silver Lining") Jeff Beck - gents and ladies 6/-
Sat 29 Apr - Prince Buster - gents 9/6d, ladies 8/6d


A Stratford Express advert
for Upper Cut gigs

Sheffield born Dave Berry has been on the road since 1963, but had probably had his most successful days by the time he appeared at the Upper Cut. He was much influenced by Elvis and Gene Vincent and his act was, in many ways, a prototype for Alvin Stardust.

He appeared with the Cruisers, who after many personnel changes, are also still on the road. His best-remembered hits are Memphis Tennessee (a cover of the Chuck (no-relation) Berry hit), The Crying Game (both 1964),  and 1965's Little Things, a cover of a Bobby Goldsboro number.

He has gained a bit of recent prominence for the way in which two of his hits have been reissued.  The Crying Game was used as the theme tune for the eponymous film  and, perhaps less artistically - although probably more financially - satisfying, his Little Things has recently been adopted to promote Andrex toilet paper.

Chris Farlowe - or John Henry Deighton as he was named - similarly, is still on the circuit as an enjoyable blues and soul singer who can still knock out an old classic, with some style.  He has been backed by the Thunderbirds (who were with him at the Upper Cut) and later Coliseum.  His best known hits were covers of Rolling Stones records - mainly before the Upper Cut gig - most notably Out of Time and the Mike D'Abo penned Handbags and Gladrags  (published after the Forest Gate outing), which was later covered by the Stereophonics and used as the backing for Ricky Gervais'  The Office.



Chris Farlowe - never one of pop's glam figures,
but he's always been able to belt out a good song

Farlowe is a collector of war memorabilia and some while ago received bad publicity for trading in Nazi materials. He has run an antiques shop, trading, somewhat opportunistically, under the name Out of Time.

Less than a week later competition loomed on the horizon for the very successful Upper Cut, from just across the road, over what would have been a Burtons' outfitters and is now the 99p stores.  Above the shop, in a former snooker hall, was the Lotus Club.  We hope to bring a fuller history of that club after our monthly round ups of the Upper Cut have dried up.

Serious competition for the Upper Cut

April 14 saw an appearance from "the queen of Motown", Mary Wells.  She had a career plagued by ill-health and died in 1992 of cancer.  She appeared in Forest Gate a little after her marriage to Cecil Womack, of that famous family, and two years after her greatest hit, My Guy.


As she was, the fabulous Mary Wells


Alan Price headed the bill in the middle of April 1967 on Woodgrange Road.  Having started his successful musical career, and playing a significant part in their early hits, with the Animals, he left his fellow Geordie band in 1965 to set up the more jazz-influenced Alan Price Set.



Alan Price Set on
a forthcoming bill

By the time of his Upper Cut appearance he had had big UK hits with I've Put a Spell on You and Hi Lili, Hi Lo and was on the point of releasing Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear, which may well have had an airing at the Upper Cut.

Alan Price Set in action,
about the time of the Upper Cut gig

The Alan Price Set, in a variety of different formats, has continued to tour, until this day - often appearing on bills with such contemporaries as Georgie Fame (another Upper Cut performer), Maggie Bell and The Manfreds.

April was concluded by two very different acts. The last Friday of the month saw Jeff Beck (as the promotional literature said "singing his latest hit Hi, Ho Silver Lining"). Jeff was a Croydon boy, who replaced Eric Clapton, for a short while,  in the Yardbirds, on Jimmy Page's recommendation. The band was probably at its most successful in his twenty month tenure there.


Jeff Beck, in earlier times,
voted fifth best guitarist - ever!

Beck has gone on to play with the Who's Who of almost every significant popular musician of the last half century and was voted number 5 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the world's top 100 guitarists.

Beck was followed the next night, in considerable contrast, by Prince Buster. His Wikipedia entry sums up his impact, well:

"He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music. The records he released in the 1960s influenced and shaped the course of Jamaican contemporary music and created a legacy of work that later reggae and ska artists would draw upon."

Prince Buster, a seminal figure
in the development of Reggae

Six months before his Upper Cut appearance he had appeared with Millie in a show based around her seminal My Boy Lollipop. His biggest hit, Al Capone, had been released just two months before the Upper Cut gig, and was soaring in the charts at the time he played Woodgrange Road.

Back catalogue

This site has published a number of articles on the history of the Upper Cut club: the first detailing the time when Otis visited it, in March 1967. This post was followed by two, recording the first six months and the final six months of the club's existence.

These posts were followed by almost monthy updates on who played at the club, that month, 47 years previously. The final blog is a record of a recent meeting with former boxer, Billy Walker, the name under whom the club exisited, on his memories of it and Forest Gate almost half a century ago.

Below is a list of those blogs: the hyper links are the titles of the articles, and when hit upon should give access to them. The dates (in italics) are the time covered by the blog and the date in bold are the months the blogs were posted.

Although the content, and some of the comments on the individual posts, is pretty definitive, we'd love to hear any memories readers may have of the gigs, or corrections they could make to the copy. Just post in the Comments box, below.When Otis played Forest Gate (March 1967) May 2013Upper Cut (1) - a summary of the emergence of the first six months of the club (December 1966 - July 1967) July 2013Upper Cut (2) - a brief survey of the second, and final half year of the club's existence (August 1967 - December 1967) July 2013Georgie Fame, The Tremeloes and Unit 4 + 2 - (September 1967 at the Upper Cut) October 2013When Stevie Wonder played Forest Gate - (October 1967) November 2013Mouthwatering musical fayre on Woodgrange Road - (November 1967) December 2013Club bills for the Upper Cut's two Decembers - (Decembers 1966 and 1967) January 2014The Upper Cut beds down - (January 1967) February 2014Essex comes to Forest Gate - (February 1967) March 2014Stax comes to town - (March 1967) April 2014A mixed bunch at the Upper Cut in April (April 1967) May 2014Upper Cut - May 1967 (June 1967) June 2014Summer of Love in Forest Gate (Summer 1967) August 2014

Golden Boy, Billy Walker's Forest Gate memories September 2014

Upper Cut Club, part 2 - hitting the deck

Last week we featured the rise of the Upper Cut Club on Woodgrange Road, in 1966, as east London's premier popular music venue.  We focused on the splendid array of talent that graced the former public hall during its first six months. 

Part of club's original signage

This week we look at the second half of its short life, featuring both the bands that played there and examining the reasons for its sad demise.

The talent on display hardly diminished in the final months, although problems began to emerge because of the club's unsuitable location and cavernous size.

Last week we showed that having seen the impact the club was having, other promoters and club owners tried to muscle in on the Upper Cut's act and reputation, and perhaps damaged its commercial success.

The club closed a year, to the week, after it opened, amid recriminations and with a sad inevitability was transformed into a bingo club - the latest "hot" entertainment on the high street.

Site of the Upper Cut club, on Woodgrange Road

The club continued to attract top national talent in May and June 1967, following its first successful six months of operation. 

So, May saw Wayne Fontana, whether with the Mindbenders or not isn't clear and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones on a record promotion visit.  This is likely to have been for the Beyond the Buttons album.

He was followed rapidly by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers and Scotland's answer to Bob Dylan, Donovan.  They all appeared on a free matinee gig, aimed at young teenagers, unable to drink alcohol  lawfully!

May also saw the Kinks, who had recently released Waterloo Sunset and Dave Davies' solo Death of a Clown. The Troggs post Wild Thing, but pre Reg Presley's crop circles obsession rounded the month off.

June featured Chris Farlowe, soon after both his chart topping singles Out of Time and Yesterday's Papers had been released.

July showcased "The Cream" (!), just as Strange Brew was being issued.  There was then the second appearance by local boys the Small Faces.  Ronnie "Plonk" Lane had just penned Itchycoo Park, which was released a couple of weeks later. 

Local boys, local venue and location: 
The Small Faces with Itchycoo Park

Whether it got its first public airing at this gig isn't clear; but it would have been highly appropriate, had it done so.  The inspiration behind the song is much disputed, but Wikipedia, at least, is happy to accord it very local origins.  The website says:

A number of sources claim the song's name is derived from the nickname of Little Ilford Park, on Church Road, in the London suburb of Manor Park, where Small Faces singer and song writer Steve Marriott grew up. The "Itchycoo" nickname is in turn attributed to the stinging nettles which grew there.  Other sources cite nearby Wanstead Flats (Manor Park end) as the inspiration for the song

The club then took a six week break, over the summer months, not surprisingly, perhaps.  But, the Stratford Express of 14 July offered an alternative explanation for the closure, when it announced: "Forest Gate police swooped on youngsters leaving Billy Walker's Upper Cut club and the Lotus dance hall on Saturday (the night of the Faces gig), in a bid to beat hooliganism."
 
Local shopkeepers had complained of vandalism and residents of noise and parking disruption caused by the club's patrons.  There was also chaos inside the club, as the Stratford Express continued:

After appearing at the Upper Cut on Saturday ... the Small Faces apologised to fans ... 'It was chaos on stage.  We couldn't concentrate', said leader Steve Marriott. Tough bouncers either side of the stage rushed across the front of the Faces to drag away screaming girls to safety.  In their rush, Plonk Lane's guitar was put out of tune and Steve Marriott's mike went dead. 

 Dozens of hysterical girls were treated by St John Ambulance men and one was taken to hospital after being trampled in the crush. 'We're very sorry for the kids who got hurt but it was so hot up the front that they fainted and had to be dragged to the stage to safety' said Plonk.

The club resumed activities in September, with some big names, notably The Tremeloes (just after Silence is Golden was released, but before Even the Bad Times are Good), "Sweet" Georgie Fame (after the release of Get Away and Sunny) and Unit 4 + 2 (post Concrete and Clay).

October saw massive US acts, Stevie Wonder (soon after I Was Made to Love Her) and Ben E King (for the first time).

November, however, really was the beginning of the end for the club; it suffered dwindling audiences and serious local competition. After the appearance of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers at the start of the month, the club was forced to offer cut rate "package" deals to draw the crowds.  So, tickets for the three gigs, featuring PP Arnold, Ben E King (second appearance) and the return of Eddie Floyd, could be had for just £1 - less than £16 at today's prices.

Local competition, meanwhile, was beginning to challenge the Upper Cut's hegemony in the area.  The Lotus club, on the opposite side of Woodgrange Road was able to offer the Moody Blues, the Foundations and Chris Farlowe, at cheaper prices, to challenge the Upper Cut around this time.

Leyton Baths got in on the act with reduced rates to see The Troggs and Georgie Fame and even the Railway Tavern in Stratford could offer competitive rates to see Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac and the Savoy Brown Blues Band over the coming weeks.

The Upper Cut staggered on, punch drink at the competition, with the Foundations (post Build me up Buttercup) as their last big gig; almost a year to the day after the exciting opening show, at the end of December.

The Stratford Express provided the Upper Cut's obituary in two parts.  Firstly, by way of editorial on 15 December, when it reported: complaining neighbours, parking problems, dwindling audiences and the departure of Billy Walker as its patron.  It announced:

The Upper Cut, East London's £200,000 'pop palace' may soon shut its door to beat fans - and it's their own fault. Disenchanted disc jockeys this week slammed the pop kids for their apathetic attitude towards top ten groups. ... Now the Upper Cut, once billed as 'the entertainment centre of the East End' may switch from catering for the mods ... to the mums!  Bingo is on the cards.

And sure enough, the final blow came in the next week's edition with the following advert:

Upper Cut, floored by Bingo

So, there it is - the sad demise of a short-lived local institution that can even today - 45 years on - stand proud in the history of British popular culture.

We'd love to hear from anyone who was lucky enough to experience any of this great local cultural heritage. 

If you were there - please either leave some thoughts in the Comments box below, or contact us and we'll be delighted to call, record and relay your recollections on this site.

Selected Upper Cut gig list - May - December 1967



Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders

Sat 6 May - Wayne Fontana - gentlemen 8/6d, ladies 7/6d

Sat 13 May - Terry Reid - gentlemen 8/6d, ladies 7/6d
Sun 14 May - "To celebrate their latest Columbia disc, a personal appearance by Rolling Stone, Bill Wyman" - gentlemen and ladies 5/-
Sat 20 May - matinee - 2pm - 5pm -  "For the 12's to 17's, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, with special guest Donovan" - "Absolutely free"
Sat 20 May - (evening) - Kinks - gentlemen and ladies 9/6d
Fri 26 May - Graham Bond Organisation - gentlemen and ladies 6/-
Sat 27 May - The Troggs - gentlemen and ladies 9/6d
Sat 3 June - The Turtles - gentlemen and ladies 9/6d
Fri 30 June - Chris Farlowe - gentlemen and ladies 8/6d
Sat 1 Jul - The Cream (sic) - gentlemen and ladies - 8/6d
Sat 8 Jul - "Return of" The Small Faces - gentlemen and ladies 8/6d
Sat 9 Sept - The Tremeloes - gentlemen and ladies 9/6d


Silence is Golden - self  awareness from the Tremeloes?

Sat 16 Sept - "Sweet" Georgie Fame - gentlemen and ladies 9/6d
Sat 30 Sept - Unit 4 + 2 - gentlemen and ladies 8/6d
Sat 7 Oct - Stevie Wonder - gentlemen and ladies 12/6d
Sat 21 Oct - Ben-E-King - (no price shown)

Stevie Wonder

Competition from Lotus Club:  Sat 4 Nov -The Moody Blues - 7/6d

Tues 7 Nov - Foundations - gentlemen and ladies 6/6d
Sat 11 Nov - John Mayall and the Blues Breakers - (no price shown)
Sat 18 Nov - PP Arnold - gentlemen and ladies 9/6d
Weds 22 Nov - Ben-E-King - gentlemen and ladies 7/6d
Sat 25 Nov - Eddie Floyd - gentlemen and ladies 7/6d
Special offer: all three of the PP Arnold, Ben-E-King and Eddy Floyd shows, above, for £1.  These were effectively the last big shows, but one.


PP Arnold, part of cut price, 
package deals, signalling end for Upper Cut

Ben E King - two local 
shows, in swift succession

Desperate cut price deals 
advertised in Stratford Express

Competition from Leyton Baths: Sat 18 Nov - The Troggs - gentlemen and ladies 7/6d;  Sat 25 Nov - Georgie Fame - gentlemen and ladies 7/6d


"Sweet" Georgie Fame, appeared at both
 Upper Cut, and local competition

Competition from Bottleneck Blues Club, Railway Tavern -  Angel Lane Stratford (not to be confused with the recently shut down, and soon to be re-opened as Forest Tavern pub, by Forest Gate station)

Fri 22 Dec - Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac - (no price shown); Sat 29 Dec - Savoy Brown's Blues Band - (no price shown)

Competition from Lotus Club, Woodgrange Road - Sat 23 Dec - Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds - gentlemen and ladies 10/-


Out of Time? nearly was for Upper Cut,
as Chris Farlowe appears at
 the Lotus on 23 December

Sat 30 Dec - The Foundations - gentlemen and ladies 10/-
This was to be the last "big name" appearing at the Upper Cut club


Foundations - last big band at Upper Cut

Fri 29 December - advert in Stratford Express, announcing Upper Cut club to re-open soon as a Bingo hall

For conversions of some of the prices and some context for this listing, see last week's article, below.

Back catalogue

This site has published a number of articles on the history of the Upper Cut club: the first detailing the time when Otis visited it, in March 1967. This post was followed by two, recording the first six months and the final six months of the club's existence.

These posts were followed by almost monthy updates on who played at the club, that month, 47 years previously. The final blog is a record of a recent meeting with former boxer, Billy Walker, the name under whom the club exisited, on his memories of it and Forest Gate almost half a century ago.

Below is a list of those blogs: the hyper links are the titles of the articles, and when hit upon should give access to them. The dates (in italics) are the time covered by the blog and the date in bold are the months the blogs were posted.

Although the content, and some of the comments on the individual posts, is pretty definitive, we'd love to hear any memories readers may have of the gigs, or corrections they could make to the copy. Just post in the Comments box, below.

When Otis played Forest Gate (March 1967) May 2013

Upper Cut (1) - a summary of the emergence of the first six months of the club (December 1966 - July 1967) July 2013

Upper Cut (2) - a brief survey of the second, and final half year of the club's existence (August 1967 - December 1967) July 2013
Georgie Fame, The Tremeloes and Unit 4 + 2 - (September 1967 at the Upper Cut) October 2013

When Stevie Wonder played Forest Gate - (October 1967) November 2013

Mouthwatering musical fayre on Woodgrange Road - (November 1967) December 2013

Club bills for the Upper Cut's two Decembers - (Decembers 1966 and 1967) January 2014

The Upper Cut beds down - (January 1967) February 2014

Essex comes to Forest Gate - (February 1967) March 2014
Stax comes to town - (March 1967) April 2014

A mixed bunch at the Upper Cut in April (April 1967) May 2014

Upper Cut - May 1967 (June 1967) June 2014

Summer of Love in Forest Gate (Summer 1967) August 2014

Golden Boy, Billy Walker's Forest Gate memories September 2014