Paramounts' Progress (appendix)

Extracted from NME by Frans Steensma

This appendix to Yan Friis's mighty excerpts from New Musical Express was sent in by the eagle-eyed Frans Steensma, whose own comments are interpolated in green. Frans adds that his listing omits any ads in NME for gigs by the Paramounts.

NME, December 6, 1963

Their first mention in NME. It was the first ad by Galaxy Entertainments: 'Solely Representing: THE PARAMOUNTS (R&B) (Parlophone).

NME, January 10, 1964

On the last page a unique photo of the Paramounts with ... Shirley Bassey.

After her triumphant concert at London's Leicester Square Odeon on Saturday, SHIRLEY BASSEY threw a midnight party. Many celebrities were present, including Sir Joseph Lockwood, George Martin (the first time Gary met George?), Tommy Steele, Norman Vaughan, Russ Conway, Matt Monro, Vic Lewis, Alan Klein and Alun Owen (Beatles film writer). Shirley, seen above with the PARAMOUNTS who provided the music, wished them luck with their current 'Poison Ivy' release.

(See also The Pitt Report by Ken Pitt (1985). Part Three, page 1:
Shirley Bassey asked me to find her a group to play at a party she was giving on January 4 so I sent her The Paramounts, who had been playing at the Shades Coffee Lounge, Southend-On-Sea. Two of the boys went on to considerable success: Rob Trower as a seller of albums and Gary Brooker as the singer on Procol Harum's Whiter Shade Of Pale)

NME, March 6, 1964

Ad for Little Bitty Pretty One (+ photo).

The photo EMI used is part of the photo (on the roof) that was shown in its entirety in the insert (top right left inner page) in the Paramounts' compilation Whiter Shades Of R&B (1983)

NME, July 10, 1964

On the news page:

Two RSG (Ready Steady Go) Shows In One Tonight.

The Animals headline the July 24 show. The guest list also includes The Fourmost, The Mojos, The Paramounts, Sandie Shaw (the first time Gary met Sandie? - FS), and King Size and the Dominoes.'

NME, June 18, 1965

Under 'New Disc Signings':

Group drummer's solo disc debut. Phil Wainman, 19-year-old ex-drummer with the Paramounts, who frequently back Sandie Shaw, makes his solo disc début next Friday with his self-penned instrumental number Hear Me A Drummer Man (Columbia)'

(Wainman would later make a fortune as producer of all the hits by The Sweet)

NME, October 29, 1965

Letters page. 'From You To Us.' Nicci Rousse of Chelsea, London writes:

Recently I visited Paris and took the opportunity of seeing the Richard Anthony Show at the Olympia. Although I was disappointed with his performance, which seemed endless, the show was saved by Sandie Shaw.

I would also like to mention Sandie's backing group, the Paramounts. They were fantastic! These four boys have more talent than any other group I have ever seen or heard. Their talents were being wasted using them as a backing group. Their sound is marvellous and the drummer is something of a genius. I hope we'll hear a lot more of them.