The cult Liverpool band Swinging Blue Jeans originally performed under the creative pseudonym The Bluegenes. The group was created in 1959 by the union of two skiffle bands.
Swinging Blue Jeans composition and early creative career
As happens in almost any group, the composition of the Swinging Blue Jeans has changed several times. Today, the Liverpool team is associated with such musicians as:
- Ray Ennis;
- Ralph Alley;
- Norman Houghton;
- Les Braid;
- Norman Kulke;
- John E. Carter;
- Terry Sylvester;
- Colin Manley;
- John Ryan;
- Bruce McCaskill;
- Mike Gregory;
- Kenny Goodless;
- Mick McCann;
- Phil Thompson;
- Hadley Wick;
- Alan Lovell;
- Jeff Bannister;
- Pete Oakman.
The musicians performed all sorts of rock and roll cover versions. Initially, the guys performed almost on the street. A little later they moved to Mardi Gras and Cavern.
The Swinging Blue Jeans team was lucky enough to perform on the same stage with such cult groups as The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers and Mersey Beats.
Signing a contract with HMV
In the early 1960s, the band changed their name to the more resounding Swinging Blue Jeans. A few years later, the musicians signed a lucrative contract with the HMV label, an affiliate of the EMI label.
Interestingly, for a long time, the group members were sponsored by a brand that produces fashionable jeans. Patrons actively contributed to the frequent appearance of the group on the air.
Peak of popularity
The first musical composition It's Too Late Now took the 30th position in the British charts. But the musicians found real success after the release of Hippy Hippy Shake.
Interestingly, the track was previously performed by the vocalists of The Beatles. But he received recognition only after the presentation of the group.
Soon the musicians were invited to become participants in the Top of the Pops show. This greatly expanded the audience of their fans. In England, the track Hippy Hippy Shake took an honorable 2nd position, and in the USA - 24th.
The group did not stop there. The guys released a dozen hits. The following tracks deserved considerable attention: Good Golly Miss Molly, You're No Good, Don't Make Me Over, It's Too Late Now. All of the tracks listed were cover versions.
In Britain, the so-called "Beatlemania" appeared, and the Swinging Blue Jeans group faded into the background. The group's popularity began to decline. The last significant track was the composition Don't Make Me Over. The song rose to number 31 on the charts.
Swinging Blue Jeans decline in popularity
In 1966, the team left the one who stood at the very beginning. It's about Ralph Ellis. Soon his place was taken by Terry Silvestro. The group's affairs worsened every year.
The band's concerts were also actively attended. But the band's new tracks no longer hit the top. If fans went to concerts, it was mainly to listen to old hits.
In the summer of 1968, the last "failed" track was released under the name Ray Ennis and the Blue Jeans. We are talking about the musical composition What Have They Done To Hazel?. Soon the band members announced their disbandment.
In 1973, Ray Ennis tried to resurrect the Swinging Blue Jeans. The band even released a Brand New and Faded record. Music lovers and music critics stubbornly ignored the new album. Ray failed to renew his interest in the Swinging Blue Jeans.
Since then, the band has released new compilations from time to time. But most importantly, the audience was not enthusiastic about the musical novelties. Fans demanded that the musicians perform old hits.
The group enjoyed significant attention in the 1990s. Four years later, a successful world tour took place. At that time, Ray Ennis and Les Braid were present from the "golden lineup". And they were accompanied by Alan Lovell and Phil Thompson.
In 2010, the soloists of the Swinging Blue Jeans group announced the final dissolution of the band.
