The Mojos

The Mojos
Origin Liverpool, England
Genres Merseybeat, Pop, Rock
Years active c.1963–1968
Labels Decca Records
Associated acts Stu James & The Mojos
Nicky Crouch's Mojos
Stephanie de Sykes
Members
Stu James
Nicky Crouch
Terry O'Toole
Keith Karlson
John "Bob" Konrad
Past members
Aynsley Dunbar
Lewis Collins
Adrian Wilkinson

The Mojos are a British beat group from the 1960s, best known for their hit UK single, "Everything's Alright". In spite of having one of the best reputations among the Liverpool scene, "Everything's Alright" remained their only major hit, with only two other singles charting low in the UK Singles Chart in 1964.[1]

Contents

Biography

The band formed under the name The Nomads in September 1962 and originally consisted of lead guitarist Roy Wood, bassist Keith Karlson (born Keith Alcock) and drummer John Runt. The next to join was lead singer, pianist Stuart James (born Stuart Leslie James Slater), rhythm guitarist, vocalist Adrian Lord (born Adrian Wilkinson) and drummer Bob Konrad (born John Konrad), replacing Runt. The band continued without a lead guitarist when Wood left. At the suggestion of Beatle George Harrison, pianist Terry O'Toole (born Timothy Steveley) was added to the lineup in August 1963; Harrison having heard him play at a jazz club. The band also changed their name in August 1963 to The Mojos and Lord changed from rhythm guitarist to lead guitarist. This lineup recorded "My Whole Life Through", which was featured on the Oriole Records This is Merseybeat compilation album,[2] and the debut single "They Say You Found A New Baby".

Despite having written the single's b-side, Lord (Wilkinson) left the group soon after its release in October 1963 and was replaced by Nicky Crouch (formerly of Faron's Flamingos) (born Nicholas Crouch, Aintree). This was the line-up that was to continue until October 1964, recording the group's three charting singles - "Everything's Al'right" (#9), "Why Not Tonight" (#25) and "Seven Daffodils" (#30) - as well as two further singles and an EP. Like many of their contemporaries the group played at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany.[3]

In October 1964, Karlson, Konrad and O'Toole left the group, which changed its name to Stu James & the Mojos in December 1964. James and Crouch were joined by drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who had previously played on the group's recording of "Everything's Alright", and bassist Lewis Collins. This line-up recorded two further singles - "Goodbye, Dolly Gray", for Decca, and "Until My Baby Comes Home", for Liberty - before disbanding in September 1966.[4]

Collins became an actor, starring in The Professionals, and Dunbar became a noted session musician, playing with Frank Zappa, David Bowie and John Mayall amongst others. Crouch currently plays in a group called "Nicky Crouch's Mojos", which features members of other 1960s Merseybeat acts including The Swinging Blue Jeans, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes and Faron's Flamingos.[5]

Discography

Year Single UK Singles Chart
1963 A. "They Say You Found a New Baby" (Myers)
B. "Forever" (Wilkinson)		 -
1964 A. "Everything's Al' Right" (Crouch/Konrad/Staveley/James/Karlson)
B. "Give Your Lovin' To Me" (Staveley/James/Karlson)		 #9
A. "Why Not Tonight" (James/O'Toole)
B. "Don't Do It Any More" (James)		 #25
A. "Seven Daffodils" (Hayes/Moseley)
B. "Nothin' At All" (James/Crouch)		 #30
"The Mojos" EP[6]
1. "Everything's Al'right" (Crouch/Konrad/Staveley/James/Karlson)
2. "I Got My Mojo Working" (Foster)
3. "The One Who Really Loves You" (Robinson)
4. "Nobody But Me" (Isley/Isley/Isley)		 -
1965 A. "Comin' On to Cry" (James/Crouch)
B. "That's The Way It Goes" (James/Crouch)		 -
A. "Wait A Minute" (Lynch/Shuman)
B. "Wonder If She Knows" (James/Crouch)		 -
1967 A. "Goodbye, Dolly Gray" (Cobb/Barnes)
B. "I Just Can't Let Her Go" (Ross)		 -
1968 A. "Until My Baby Comes Home" (Slater)
B. "Seven Park Avenue" (Slater)		 -

A compilation entitled Everything's Alright: The Complete Recordings was released in 2009 by RPM Records. As its name suggests, it features all of the above (including "My Whole Life Through"), in chronological order by release date.[7]

References

  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 374. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 122. CN 5585. 
  3. ^ May, Chris; Phillips, Tim (1974). British Beat. London: Socion Books. p. 14. ISBN 0-903985-01-2. 
  4. ^ "The Mojos biography". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p19385/biography. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  5. ^ "Nicky Crouch's Mojos". Nicky Crouch. http://www.nickcrouch.co.uk/cmojos.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  6. ^ http://www.45cat.com/record/dfe8591 The Mojos EP
  7. ^ "The Mojos Everything's Alright - The Complete Recordings UK CD ALBUM (471558)". eil.com. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=471558. Retrieved 2009-07-16. 

External links