The Outlaws (band)

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This article is about the UK band. For the American band, see Outlaws (band). For the rap group, see Outlawz.

The Outlaws
Also known asThe Chaps, The Rally Rounders, The Raleigh Rounders, The Six Shooters, The Admirals, The Lancasters, The Ritchie Blackmore Orchestra
OriginLondon, England
GenresInstrumental rock, pop
Years active1960–1965
LabelsHMV
Associated actsJoe Meek (producer)
Past membersChas Hodges
Billy Kuy
Bobby Graham
Reg Hawkins
Ken Lundgren
Don Groom
Roger Mingaye
Mick Underwood
Ritchie Blackmore
Harvey Hinsley

The Outlaws were an English instrumental band that recorded in the early 1960s.[1] One-time members included Chas Hodges, (born Charles Nicholas Hodges in 1943), Bobby Graham (born Robert Francis Neate in 1940), Ritchie Blackmore (born Richard Hugh Blackmore in 1945), Mick Underwood (born Michael John Underwood in 1945), Reg Hawkins (born Reginald Hawkins in 1942), Billy Kuy (born William John Kuy Jnr. in 1940), Don Groom (born Donald Groom in 1939), Roger Mingaye (born in 1942), Ken Lundgren and Harvey Hinsley.[1]

Their name was originally conceived by Joe Meek (born Robert George Meek in 1929), who needed a backing group for Mike Berry's "Set Me Free" in 1960,[2] after, according to Meek biographer, John Repsch, Meek had fired Berry's original backing group, The Statesmen.[1] After that recording, they continued being one of the house bands of his recording studio at 304 Holloway Road, London.[2] As such, they were used for recordings, demos and auditions. Many of their songs were written by Meek, and credited to one or other of his pseudonyms, either Robert Duke or Peter Jacobs; the latter of which he used on The Outlaws' "Shake with Me".[2]

They appeared as themselves in the 1963 British film, Live It Up!.

In addition to featuring as a backing band on recordings by Mike Berry (born Michael Hubert Bourne in 1942), including three hit singles, or backing Houston Wells, Gene Vincent, John Leyton, Geoff Goddard or Heinz, they also recorded singles in their own right.[2] One of these, "Bike Beat", for Raleigh Bicycle Company, (see below), even had dance instructions created especially for it, printed on the picture sleeve, with bicycle references : "Grab a girl at random, make like a tandem".

In 1990, all of their 1960s singles were issued on The Outlaws Ride Again (the Singles A's and B's ), on the See For Miles Label.[3]

Discography[]

Singles[]

With the line-up : Billy Kuy, Bobby Graham, Chas Hodges, Reg Hawkins

  • "Swingin' Low" b/w "Spring is Near" (March 1961) - UK No. 46[3]
  • "Ambush" b/w "Indian Brave" (June 1961) - UK No. 43[3]
  • "Valley of the Sioux" b/w "Crazy Drums" (September 1961)

With the line-up : Ken Lundgren, Don Groom, Chas Hodges, Roger Mingaye

  • "Ku-Pow!" b/w "Last Stage West" (February 1962)
  • "Sioux Serenade" b/w "Fort Knox" (12 October 1962)

With the line-up : Mick Underwood, Ken Lundgren, Chas Hodges, Ritchie Blackmore

  • "Poppin' Medley Part 1". b/w "Poppin' Medley Part 2". Released as The Chaps (7 December 1962) Parlophone R4979
  • "Return of The Outlaws" b/w "Texan Spiritual" (February 1963)
  • "That Set the Wild West Free" b/w "Hobo" (August 1963) Note : Underwood does not appear on "Hobo"
  • "Law and Order" b/w "Do Da Day" (December 1963)
  • "Keep a Knockin'" b/w "Shake with Me" (3 April 1964). Note : John Peel credits "Shake with Me" as the first Heavy Metal recording, according to the liner notes of the CD 'The Outlaws Ride Again (Singles A's and B's)'
  • "The Bike Beat 1" b/w "The Bike Beat 2" as The Rally Rounders (1964) Lyntone LYN 573 : Flexidisc (for Raleigh Bicycle Company)

With the line-up : Mick Underwood, Ken Lundgren, Chas Hodges, Harvey Hinsley

Album[]

With the line-up : Billy Kuy, Bobby Graham, Chas Hodges, Reg Hawkins

  • Dream of the West (1961):[2]

"Dream Of The West" / "The Outlaws" / "Husky Team" / "Rodeo" / "Smoke Signals" / "Ambush" / "Barbecue" / "Spring Is Near" / "Indian Brave" / "Homeward Bound" / "Western Sunset" / "Tune For Short Cowboys" (HMV, December 1961). Re-released on CD with bonus tracks : "Swingin' Low" / "Valley Of The Sioux" / "Crazy Drums" (2012, Coronet)

Compilations[]

  • Rockin' Guitar - Rare Items Vol.6 :

"Swingin' Low" / "Valley Of The Sioux" / "Crazy Drums" / "Ku-Pow" / "Last Stage West" / "Sioux Serenade" / "Fort Knox" / "Return Of The Outlaws" / " Texan Spiritual" / "That Set The Wild West Free" / "Hobo" / "Law And Order" / "Do Da Day" (1985, Gibson)

  • Ride Again - The Singles As & Bs :

"Swingin' Low" / "Spring Is Near" / "Ambush" / "Indian Brave" / "Valley of the Sioux" / "Crazy Drums" / "Last Stage West" / "Ku-Pow" / "Sioux Serenade" / "Fort Knox" / "The Return of the Outlaws" / "Texan Spiritual" / "That Set the Wild West Free" / "Hobo" / "Law and Order" / "Do-Da-Day" / "Keep a Knockin'" / "Shake with Me" (1990, See For Miles Records)

  • Back To The West :

"Swingin' Low" / "Spring Is Near" / "Ambush" / "Indian Brave" / "Dream Of The West" / "The Outlaws" / "Husky Team" / "Rodeo" / "Smoke Signals" / "Barbecue" / "Homeward Bound" / "Western Sunset" / "Tune For Short Cowboys" / "Valley Of The Sioux" / "Crazy Drums" / "Last Stage West" / "Ku-Pow" / "Sioux Serenade" / "Fort Knox" / "The Return Of The Outlaws" / "Texan Spiritual" / "That Set The Wild West Free" / "Hobo" / "Law And Order" / "Do-Da-Day" / "Keep A Knockin'" / "Shake With Me" (2003, Prospector) Re-released with bonus tracks : The Chaps : "Poppin' [Part 1]" / "Poppin' [Part 2]" / The Raleigh Rounders : "Bike Beat [Part 1]" / "Bike Beat [Part 2]" / The Lancastrians : "Satan's Holiday" / "Earthshaker" (2007, Norf*k Coast Records)

  • The Best Of The Outlaws :

"Ambush" / "Swingin' Low" / "Valley Of The Sioux" / "Indian Brave" / "Rodeo" / "Barbecue" / "Husky Team" / "Homeward Bound" / "The Outlaws" / "Fort Knox" / "Crazy Drums" / "Sioux Serenade" / "Last Stage West" / "Western Sunset" / "Ku-Pow!" / "Dream Of The West" / "Smoke Signals" / "Spring Is Near" / "Tune For Short Cowboys" / The Chaps : "Poppin' [Part 1]" / "Poppin' [Part 2]" + 7 songs as backing band for Mike Berry (2020, Not Now Music)

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Biography by Bruce Eder". Allmusic.c om. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 334. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 412. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links[]

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