The E.B.C. Archives -
For over six years, Ray Ennis of The Swinging Blue Jeans enthralled sixties music fans with his monthly article published in The Beat Goes On magazine about the antics of the legendary Elbow Bending Club. Now, with Ray's permission, we are re-running these articles on the web.
What is the Elbow Bending Club? Well, no-one really knows except for the members themselves - and membership is restricted to 60s performers and other carefully selected people from within the business!
You can guarantee not missing each new edition by completing the Netmind box on the
main Swinging Blue Jeans page
Swinging Blue Jeans after-show soirees featuring Leslie Braid on pianoforte are legendary with most sixties groups. These events usually take place in hotel lounges after overseas appearances when there are six or seven different bands on the bill. However, I will admit there have been some very amusing sessions which have taken place following gigs in Great Britain.
Gig 1 - Teeside Airport
We were appearing in a Marquee at the St George Hotel at Teeside
Airport. At about 2am we all adjourned to the bar as rumour ran
rife that it had a piano. The bar and the dining-room were part of
one large divided room. Les was in full flight offering the odd
tune to croon with and then bursting into an avid collectors medley
of ragtime. We had spent what we all thought was just an hour or so
sinking a few pints and as many songs when suddenly, a gentleman in
full waiters outfit of bow-tie etc. tapped me on the shoulder and asked "Could you possibly keep the noise down as people are trying to eat their breakfast." Looking in the direction of the dining
room we saw some rather irate business men glaring at us over their
kippers, toast and marmalade it was 7.OOam!
I often wondered if this contributed to Kramer's defection from the EBC.
Gig 2 - Most of Scotland
Part of the agreement was, that after each show we would all attend a buffet reception in the hotel and mingle with the friends and families of the directors for autographs etc. To our great delight we spied a piano nestling in a corner of the lounge at which Les was soon comfortably ensconced, flexing his fingers with a pint of nectar in easy reach. Les went through the card, the Bobby Crush medley, a selection from the Chocolate soldier, the full works of Charlie Kunz, a sing-a-long segment from Mrs Mills and a sprinkling of gems from the Al Jolson songbook.
Being Scotland, all members of the EEC were in overdrive and Les continued to pound the ivories while the whole show harmonised on every song.
One of the Directors (whose name escapes me) appeared each evening in full Highland dress, kilt, sporran, dagger down his sock, the works, Bill Shankly and Bonnie Prince Charlie would've been proud of him. By the end of the four days the Mr Kilt was delighted, especially with the after show receptions and he promised we would do it again!.
Some months later, I met Dave Munden of the Tremeloes. He told me they had been invited back to Scotland for a gig by the Director in the Kilt. After the gig they all went back to the hotel for drinks ect. Mr Kilt in obvious partygoing mood then suggested "Ok, lets get going on the piano" which was met with blank looks from the Trems. Mr Kilt, somewhat deflated then added "But you did it every night when you toured for us last time!"
The Trems then explained that it was Les Braid of the Swinging Blue Jeans who played the piano each night, to which Mr Kilt snorted "Shit I've booked the wrong band!"
Thinking back to those nights of choral endeavours, the only thing missing was the dulcet tone of my older mate DAVE BERRY