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The Smoke
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The Smoke were an English psychedelic pop group from York. They consisted of Mick Rowley (lead vocals), Mal Luker (lead guitar), John "Zeke" Lund (bass) and Geoff Gill (drums and compositor).[1]
Key Information
The band originally performed around Yorkshire as The Moonshots, changing their name to The Shots when they moved to London.[2] There were two bands playing R&B and other cover versions, one called Tony Adams and the Viceroys, which included John 'Zeke' Lund on bass, Mal Luker on lead guitar and Geoff Gill on drums. The other band was The Moonshots, which included Mick Rowley on lead vocals and Phil Peacock on rhythm guitar (born Philip Peacock, 7 June 1946, Newcastle, Northumbria). These bands then came together to form The Shots and made a single for Columbia, "Keep A Hold Of What You've Got", which flopped.[1] Peacock left the band, and they then changed their name to The Smoke.[2]
The Smoke's biggest hit was "My Friend Jack" (German Chart: No. 2, UK Singles Chart: No. 45); the BBC banned airplay of the song over its then alleged, though highly apparent, drug references.[3] Later singles released under the band name often had variations on the remaining trio of Lund, Luker and Gill, performing along with session musicians to pad out the sound.[1] All failed to sell in any numbers.[2]
Guitarist Lund later became a sound engineer for Boney M., who recorded a cover version of "My Friend Jack".[4]
The Smoke's demo recording of Nirvana's "Girl in the Park" opens Secret Theatre, a 1995 Nirvana rarities album.
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- 1967: It's Smoke Time (Metronome, Germany-only)[1]
Singles
[edit]- as The Shots
- 1965: "Keep A Hold Of What You've Got" / "She's A Liar" (UK)
- 1965: "There She Goes" / "Walk Right Out The Door" (UK)
- as The Smoke
- 1967: "My Friend Jack" / "We Can Take It" (D)
- 1967: "High In A Room" / "If The Weather's Sunny" (D)
- 1967: "If The Weather's Sunny" / "I Would If I Could, But I Can't" (UK)
- 1967: "Victor Henry's Cool Book" / "Have Some More Tea" (D)
- 1967: "It Could Be Wonderful" / "Have Some More Tea" (UK)
- 1968: "Utterly Simple" / "Sydney Gill" (UK)
- 1968: "Sydney Gill" / "It Could Be Wonderful" (D)
- 1971: "Ride, Ride, Ride" / "Guy Fawkes" (UK)
- 1972: "Sugar Man" / "That's What I Want" (D)
- 1972: "Jack is Back" / "That's What I Want" (F)
- 1974: "Shagalagalu" / "Gimme Good Loving" (D)
- 1974: "My Lullaby" / "Looking High" (UK)
- 1976: "My Friend Jack" (1976 version) / "Lady" (F)
Compilations
[edit]- 2015: My Friend Jack Eats Sugar Lumps: An Anthology (Morgan Blue Town, UK)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 414/5. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1106. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ Brown, Phill (2010). Are We Still Rolling?: Studios, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll – One Man's Journey Recording Classic Albums. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-4768-5609-4. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ Davis, Sharon (2012). Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Seventies. Random House. p. 293. ISBN 978-1-78057-410-3. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
External links
[edit]- "The Smoke". Marmalade-skies.co.uk.
- "The Smoke (UK) | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.
- The Smoke discography at Discogs
The Smoke
View on GrokipediaThe Smoke was an English psychedelic pop band formed in 1965 in York, consisting of vocalist Mick Rowley, lead guitarist Mal Luker, bassist Zeke Lund, and drummer Geoff Gill.[1][2][3]
Originating from the merger of local groups Tony Adams & the Viceroys and the Moonshots—initially performing as the Shots—the band relocated to London and adopted the name The Smoke, inspired by slang for the city or personal habits.[1][2]
They achieved their greatest recognition with the 1967 single "My Friend Jack", which peaked at number 45 on the UK Singles Chart but faced a BBC airplay ban over lyrics interpreted as allusions to LSD consumption, while attaining number one status in Germany and fostering European success.[1][2][3]
The group released the album It's Smoke Time in Germany that year, toured with prominent acts such as the Small Faces and the Beach Boys, and appeared on television shows like Beat Club, yet persistent label instability and minimal domestic promotion curtailed broader fame.[1][2]
A brief management stint under the notorious Kray twins provided financial backing but yielded few bookings, contributing to the band's eventual obscurity despite a dedicated cult following in psychedelic music circles; they disbanded around 1976.[1][2][3]
History
Formation and early years (1965–1966)
The band that became known as The Smoke originated in late 1964 when the instrumental trio of lead guitarist Mal Luker, bassist John "Zeke" Lund, and drummer Geoff Gill—initially functioning as a backing band—merged with vocalist Mick Rowley and rhythm guitarist Phil Peacock from the Yorkshire covers act The Moonshots to form The Shots.[4][5] As The Shots, the group released their debut single "Keep a Hold of What You Got" b/w "Walk Right Out" on Columbia Records in 1965, a cover of the Joe Tex R&B hit that achieved minimal commercial success.[6][7] Following Peacock's departure, the core quartet of Rowley, Luker, Lund, and Gill rebranded as The Smoke in 1966, shifting from mod and R&B influences toward psychedelic pop experimentation amid the evolving British music landscape.[2][3] Throughout 1965 and 1966, The Smoke gigged extensively on the London and Yorkshire club circuits, refining their energetic live performances and laying the groundwork for their signature sound, though they had yet to secure a recording deal under their new name.[8][2]Breakthrough single and career peak (1967)
In early 1967, The Smoke achieved their commercial breakthrough with the single "My Friend Jack," released on February 10 by Columbia Records (EMI) in the United Kingdom under catalog number DB 8115, with "We Can Take It" as the B-side.[9] The track, written by band members Mal Luker and Mick Rowley, featured psychedelic pop elements including jangling guitars, harmonica, and lyrics alluding to drug use, which led to its withdrawal from UK airplay by the BBC due to perceived references to heroin ("Jack" interpreted as slang for the drug).[3] Despite the ban, the single reached number 45 on the UK Singles Chart and achieved greater success internationally, peaking at number 2 on the German charts.[8] The song's release marked the band's career zenith, propelling them into European tours and television appearances, particularly in Germany where demand was high.[4] Following this, The Smoke issued additional singles in 1967, including "Have Some More Tea" in the UK and "Victor Henry's Cool Book" exclusively in Germany, the latter adopting a music-hall style.[4] Their sole album, It's Smoke Time, was released that year on Metronome Records in Germany (MLP 15 276), compiling tracks like "My Friend Jack," "High in a Room," and "She's a Liar," showcasing their blend of freakbeat roots and emerging psychedelia.[10] The album's production emphasized vigorous guitar work and mind-expanding lyrics, though it received limited distribution outside continental Europe.[11] This period represented The Smoke's highest visibility, with "My Friend Jack" establishing them as a one-hit wonder in psychedelic circles, though subsequent releases failed to replicate its impact amid shifting musical trends and internal challenges.[8]Decline and disbandment (1968–1970)
Following the release of their breakthrough single "My Friend Jack" on February 10, 1967, backed with "We Can Take It", The Smoke experienced limited domestic traction in the UK, where the BBC banned airplay due to lyrics interpreted as referencing LSD via "sugar lumps".[4] [8] While the track peaked at number 45 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 in Germany, subsequent releases such as "High In A Room" b/w "If The Weather's Sunny" later in 1967 failed to achieve comparable commercial success, marking the onset of declining chart performance and visibility.[4] [12] The band's European popularity, driven by underground radio and press support, prompted relocation and extensive touring in Germany during 1968, where they capitalized on demand for their psychedelic pop sound.[4] However, internal logistical strains emerged amid this continental focus, compounded by the absence of sustained UK breakthroughs. Additional singles, including efforts in 1968 and 1969, yielded no significant hits, further eroding momentum as the psychedelic scene evolved and label support waned.[3] By 1969, lead vocalist Mick Rowley chose to remain in Germany to pursue solo opportunities and leverage his established fanbase there as the band's charismatic frontman.[12] [4] Guitarist Mal Luker, drummer Geoff Gill, and bassist Zeke Lund returned to the UK, making it untenable to sustain the original lineup without Rowley's songwriting and performance contributions. The Smoke effectively disbanded in late 1969 or early 1970, with no further cohesive activity from the core group, though sporadic singles appeared under the name into the early 1970s via reformed or session iterations lacking the original chemistry.[4] [13]Band members
Core lineup
The core lineup of The Smoke featured four members who formed the band's primary recording and performing unit during its most active period from 1965 to 1970: Mick Rowley on lead vocals, Mal Luker on lead guitar, John "Zeke" Lund on bass guitar, and Geoff Gill on drums.[1] [3] [4] This quartet originated from the merger of two Yorkshire groups and relocated to London to pursue opportunities in the music scene.[14] Rowley, born Michael Rowley on 29 June 1946 in Scarborough, Yorkshire, served as the frontman, delivering the distinctive vocals on hits like "My Friend Jack."[15] Mal Luker (born Malcolm Luker on 3 March 1946) handled lead guitar duties, contributing to the band's psychedelic pop sound through his riffing and arrangements.[15] Zeke Lund, the bassist, provided the rhythmic foundation, while Geoff Gill not only played drums but also contributed as a composer, co-writing several tracks including elements of the band's signature single.[3] The members were all Yorkshire natives who had previously played in local beat groups before coalescing as The Smoke.[14] This stable configuration recorded the band's singles and album, defining its brief but notable output in the mid-1960s British music landscape.[1]Personnel changes
The Smoke underwent minimal personnel alterations during its existence. Originally performing as the five-piece The Shots in the mid-1960s, the group included rhythm guitarist Phil Peacock alongside the core members. Peacock, born Philip Peacock on 7 June 1946 in Newcastle, exited the lineup shortly before the band rebranded as The Smoke in 1966, reducing the ensemble to a quartet.[16][5] This configuration—Mick Rowley on lead vocals, Mal Luker on lead guitar, John "Zeke" Lund on bass, and Geoff Gill on drums—persisted without further substitutions through the release of their singles and album It's Smoke Time in 1967, as well as subsequent efforts until the band's dissolution around 1970.[4] No documented internal departures or additions disrupted the quartet during their active recording phase, reflecting the short-lived nature of their career peak and decline.[16]Musical style and influences
Psychedelic pop characteristics
The Smoke's psychedelic pop blended freakbeat rhythms with hallucinatory lyrical themes and subtle production effects, maintaining pop catchiness amid references to altered states. Their 1967 single "My Friend Jack" exemplifies this through Mick Rowley's childlike, innocent vocals narrating a tale of a friend consuming sugar lumps and a brownie, widely interpreted as veiled allusions to LSD and hashish ingestion.[17][18] The track's bouncy, handclap-driven rhythm and vigorous tremolo-laden guitar riffs by Mal Luker created an infectious energy, rooted in their prior R&B and freakbeat foundations.[11][4] Production techniques amplified the psychedelic edge, including a lacerating, distorted guitar intro in "My Friend Jack" added as a last-minute suggestion by producer Monty, evoking disorientation over pop structures.[19] Songs like "High in a Room" featured fairy-tale-esque backing tracks and mind-expanding lyrics, with lite orchestration enhancing whimsical, dreamlike atmospheres while preserving accessible choruses.[11][20] This hybrid drew from blue-eyed soul influences akin to The Young Rascals and Steve Winwood, fusing soulful grooves with psych-tinged experimentation.[11] The band's sound prioritized melodic hooks and rhythmic drive over heavy sonic experimentation, distinguishing their psychedelic pop from more avant-garde contemporaries; proto-punk aggression surfaced in raw guitar energy, yet overall delivery remained light and pop-oriented.[1][21] Tracks often evoked a "lazy Sunday afternoon" vibe, with Rowley's occasional shouting adding playful urgency to themes of escapism and chemistry-fueled reverie.[11][22]Roots in beat and freakbeat scenes
The Smoke originated in Yorkshire, England, where core members John "Zeke" Lund (bass), Mal Luker (lead guitar), and Geoff Gill (drums) emerged from the local beat and R&B scene as part of Tony Adams and the Viceroys, while vocalist Mick Rowley came from the Moonshots alongside guitarist Phil Peacock.[2] These groups reflected the mid-1960s British beat movement, characterized by rhythm and blues covers and high-energy performances akin to contemporaneous acts dominating the charts.[2] By merging lineups and relocating to London in early 1965, the band coalesced as The Shots, releasing a debut single that failed commercially but anchored their initial sound in riff-driven beat music.[2] [3] As The Shots, they performed a hard-edged variant of R&B and beat, drawing direct influence from pioneers like the Beatles, the Kinks, and the Small Faces, emphasizing raw guitar work, tight harmonies, and mod-infused energy typical of the era's provincial beat groups seeking London exposure.[2] [23] This foundation positioned them within the broader beat scene, where bands adapted American rock 'n' roll and Chicago blues into concise, danceable tracks, often gigging in clubs and supporting tours to build repertoires of standards before originals.[2] The 1965 single's flop underscored the competitive beat market, prompting a shift toward self-penned material amid management ties to figures like the Kray Twins, though their core style retained beat's propulsive rhythms.[2] Renaming to The Smoke around 1966 marked their pivot into freakbeat, a subgenre evolving from mod beat's fringes with experimental edges like tremolo effects, angular riffs, and proto-psychedelic flourishes, distinguishing it from straighter beat by incorporating uncommercial, "freakier" elements amid Swinging London's scene.[4] [2] Their recordings from May to November 1966 captured this post-mod freakbeat phase, layering tremolo guitar over beat-derived structures to create a spin on riff-based rock that bridged traditional beat's accessibility with emerging psych-pop traits.[4] Tracks like early demos echoed freakbeat contemporaries such as the Creation or the Eyes, prioritizing sonic innovation over pure chart conformity while retaining beat's harmonic simplicity and vocal punch.[2] This evolution reflected freakbeat's causal roots in beat's saturation, where regional acts like The Smoke adapted to London's mod-psych undercurrents by amplifying freak elements without abandoning foundational beat drive.[4]Discography
Albums
The Smoke released one studio album, It's Smoke Time, in July 1967 on the Metronome label, with initial distribution limited to Germany.[4][24] The record captured the band's evolution from beat and freakbeat origins toward psychedelic pop, featuring 12 original tracks recorded primarily in 1966–1967.[25] Production involved engineer and producer contributions aligned with continental European psychedelia, though the album saw no UK release at the time due to contractual shifts and the BBC ban on lead single "My Friend Jack" for perceived drug allusions.[26] The track listing for the original LP is as follows:- "My Friend Jack" (3:03)
- "Waterfall" (2:41)
- "You Can't Catch Me" (3:17)
- "High in a Room" (3:02)
- "Wake Up Cherylina" (2:37)
- "Don't Lead Me On" (2:17)
- "We Can Take It" (2:43)
- "If the Weather's Sunny" (2:50)
- "I Wanna Make It with You" (3:10)
- "It's Smoke Time" (2:55)
- "In My Life" (2:50)
- "Song for Mary Jane" (3:00)
Singles
The Smoke's singles discography spans from 1967 to 1974, reflecting their initial burst of psychedelic pop output followed by sporadic releases amid lineup changes and commercial challenges. Their debut single, "My Friend Jack" backed with "We Can Take It," was issued on Columbia Records (DB 8115) on February 10, 1967, and achieved modest UK success, peaking at number 45 on the Singles Chart despite a BBC ban over lyrics interpreted as referencing drug use, such as "sugar lumps." The track fared better internationally, reaching number 2 on the German charts. Subsequent UK singles failed to chart domestically, with later efforts appearing on various labels as the band navigated declining popularity and personnel shifts.[29][14][30] European markets saw additional variants, including "High in a Room" / "If the Weather's Sunny" on Metronome Records in 1967, aligning with the band's freakbeat and psychedelic style but not impacting UK charts. By 1968, releases shifted to Island Records, though one planned single remained unreleased. Post-1970 singles, issued during a period of reduced activity, adopted more varied styles without notable commercial breakthroughs.[30][31]| Year | A-Side | B-Side | Label | Catalog Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | My Friend Jack | We Can Take It | Columbia | DB 8115 | Peaked at #45 UK; #2 Germany; BBC banned.[14][30] |
| 1967 | If the Weather's Sunny | I Would If I Could (But I Can't) | Columbia | DB 8252 | No UK chart entry.[31] |
| 1967 | It Could Be Wonderful | Have Some More Tea | Island | WIP 6023 | No chart entry.[32] |
| 1968 | Utterly Simple | Sydney Gill | Island | WIP 6031 | Unreleased in UK.[31] |
| 1971 | Ride, Ride, Ride (Dick Turpin) | Guy Fawkes | Pageant | SAM 101 | No chart entry.[31] |
| 1972 | Sugar Man | That's What I Want | Regal Zonophone | RZ 3071 | No chart entry.[31] |
| 1974 | Shagalagalu | Gimme Good Loving | Decca | FR 13484 | No chart entry.[31] |
| 1974 | My Lullaby | Looking High | Decca | FR 13514 | No chart entry.[31] |
