Missing Paramounts tracks

Frans Steensma in 'Record Collector', May 1998

No Power

Dear Editor

With regard to the Paramounts photo on page 82 of the March issue, Duffy Power isn't anywhere to be found in this picture. The line-up reads, from left to right: the late BJ Wilson, Gary Brooker, Diz Derrick and Robin Trower. They lasted from August 1963 until July 1966. During that time, the Paramounts recorded a lot of great tracks in Abbey Road which were never released. Through RC, I'd like to suggest to EMI that they devote one of their next batch of At Abbey Road CDs to the Paramounts. To quote Keith Richard in Melody Maker, March 14th 1964: 'The Paramounts are one of the best groups to come up for a long time. Put that in Melody Maker!'

Between January 21st 1964 and June 28th 1966, the Paramounts cut the following unreleased tracks at Abbey Road: Chills And Fever, Pride And Joy, If You Don't Come Back, Baby I'm Yours, Draw Me Closer, Turn On Your Lovelight, You've Got What I Want, Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind, Freedom and Monday Monday. Only Draw Me Closer appeared on a rare French EP (Odeon SOE 3774, illustrated), and later turned up (with Turn On Your Lovelight, You've Got What I Want and Freedom) on the 1983 compilation Whiter Shades Of R'N'B (Edsel).

In the first two batches of At Abbey Road CDs, EMI have only released I'm The One Who Loves You and Blue Ribbons (on Beat At Abbey Road 1963–1965) and Little Bitty Pretty One and (with Duffy Power) Tired Broke And Busted (on Rhythm & Blues). That means there are still ten other regular Paramounts tracks that could be added to the ten unreleased ones I mentioned earlier. Wouldn't that make a great compilation? (prophetic words here from Frans!)

Frans Steensma, Huizen, Netherlands.

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