All-Stars (band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Cyril Davies |
| Defunct | 1964 (original lineup) |
| Successor | The Hoochie Coochie Men |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Cyril Davies, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Long John Baldry, Carlo Little |
| Products | Blues music recordings and performances |
The All-Stars represented a brief but notable English blues ensemble active during the early to mid-1960s. Originally called the Cyril Davies (R&B) All-Stars, their subsequent releases are frequently attributed to the Immediate All-Stars, reflecting their association with Immediate Records. In 1999, the group was revived under the name Carlo Little All-Stars.
The Cyril Davies R&B All-Stars
After departing from Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in October 1962, vocalist and blues harmonica player Cyril Davies established a backing band. The initial roster featured former members of Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages, including Nicky Hopkins on piano, Carlo Little on drums, and Ricky Fenson handling bass duties. Guitarist Jimmy Page briefly joined before shifting his focus to session work and was succeeded by Bernie Watson.
In December 1962, Davies competed with Korner to secure the talents of Long John Baldry, who had previously performed with Blues Incorporated and contributed to the 1962 album R&B from the Marquee. Baldry officially joined Davies' ensemble in January 1963.
Davies further expanded the group by incorporating the South African vocal trio known as the Velvettes—Hazel Futa, Patience Gcwabe, and Eunice Mamsie Mthombeni—following their tour with King Kong. Peggy Phango, originally part of this vocal group, departed to pursue a solo career.
On 27 February, the band recorded their debut single for Pye Records, featuring "Country Line Special" and "Chicago Calling", credited as 'Cyril Davies and His Rhythm and Blues All-Stars'. Notably, Baldry and the Velvettes did not participate in these recordings.
By May 1963, due to illness, Hopkins was replaced by pianist Keith Scott, formerly of Blues Incorporated. Internal conflicts prompted the exit of Fenson, Watson, and Little; their roles were filled by bassist Cliff Barton, guitarist Geoff Bradford, and drummer Micky Waller.
This revised lineup produced a second single for Pye in August 1963: a rendition of Robert Johnson's "Preachin' the Blues" coupled with Lead Belly's "Sweet Mary". Instead of Baldry or the Velvettes, backing vocals on "Preachin' the Blues" were contributed by Alex Bradford and Madeline Bell. Later that year, Scott and Waller were succeeded by pianist Johnny Parker and drummer Bob Wackett.
Cyril Davies passed away on 7 January 1964 due to pleurisy and endocarditis. In tribute, Pye Records reissued his four recorded tracks as the EP The Sound of Cyril Davies and His Rhythm and Blues All-Stars.
Following Davies' death, Baldry assumed leadership of the group, performing with Barton, Bradford, and Parker under the name 'The Hoochie Coochie Men', alongside vocalist Rod Stewart and drummer Ernie O'Malley. Carlo Little briefly rejoined in June 1964 but departed due to creative disagreements. The Hoochie Coochie Men released a single album titled Long John's Blues before disbanding in October 1965. Subsequently, Baldry and Stewart formed Steampacket with former All-Stars Ricky Fenson and Micky Waller.
At least one additional track recorded during Davies' lifetime exists: a cover of Little Walter's "Someday Baby", issued by Immediate Records on the 1968 compilation Blues Anytime Vol. 3, credited to 'Cyril Davies and the All-Stars'. Details regarding its recording date and personnel remain uncertain. Additionally, in 1986, a Buddy Holly cover titled "Not Fade Away" appeared on Castle Communications' compilation White Boy Blues Vol. 2, also attributed to 'Cyril Davies and the All-Stars'.
The All-Stars Featuring Jeff Beck
By 1965, Jimmy Page had established himself as a highly sought-after session musician and was signed to Immediate Records as an in-house producer. Approximately eighteen months following the passing of Cyril Davies, Page brought together former All-Stars members Nicky Hopkins, Carlo Little, and Cliff Barton to collaborate with him and his acquaintance Jeff Beck. This collaboration resulted in five original compositions, with Hopkins leading on "Piano Shuffle," Beck taking the lead on "Chuckles" and "Steelin'," and Page heading "Down in the Boots" and "L.A. Breakdown."
The initial track released was "Steelin'," which was originally issued without crediting the group. London fashion photographer David Anthony, under the pseudonym 'Charles Dickens,' recorded a cover of The Rolling Stones' "So Much in Love" for Immediate Records, featuring "Steelin'" as the b-side titled "Our Soul Brother TH," attributed solely to Dickens. The rest of the tracks were officially issued in 1968 on the Immediate compilation Blues Anytime Vol. 3, correctly credited to 'The All-Stars featuring...'.
Page, Clapton, and the Immediate All-Stars
In June 1965, Jimmy Page invited Eric Clapton to join a jam session at his London home studio, resulting in seven instrumental recordings: "Choker," "Draggin' My Tail," "Freight Loader," "Miles Road," "Snake Drive," "Tribute to Elmore," and "West Coast Idea." Both musicians regarded these as informal rehearsals rather than completed pieces. Nonetheless, Immediate Records asserted publishing rights under Page's contract and requested that he add overdubs. In August, Page returned to Olympic Studios to enhance the tracks with a new lineup of All-Stars that included members of The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Ian Stewart, and Charlie Watts (credited as Chris Winters). This collaboration was arranged by Stones' manager and Immediate co-founder Andrew Loog Oldham.
Clapton considered Page's actions a betrayal, which strained their relationship for several years. Reflecting on this episode, Page noted that despite contributing overdubs, he did not receive royalties, and the tracks were released with liner notes bearing his name without his consultation.
Immediate Records issued these recordings along with earlier All-Stars material in 1968 across the compilation series Blues Anytime Vol. 1–3. While initially credited to Eric Clapton or 'Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page,' many subsequent releases attribute them to 'The Immediate All-Stars'.
The Carlo Little All-Stars
During late 1962, the Rolling Stones were emerging on London's blues circuit with vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones, and pianist Ian Stewart. In this early phase, they worked with various bassists and drummers, including Carlo Little and Ricky Fenson from the Cyril Davies All-Stars. Both Little and Fenson impressed the Stones and were frequently invited to join; however, financial limitations prevented the band from matching their salaries. After securing permanent bassist Bill Wyman in December 1962 and drummer Charlie Watts in January 1963, the Stones supported the All-Stars for roughly one month, during which Little and Fenson occasionally substituted for Watts and Wyman.
In March 1998, Little's connection to the Rolling Stones sparked renewed media attention including interviews and a Channel 5 documentary. He reunited backstage with the Stones in Paris and attended Mick Jagger's 55th birthday celebration.
Capitalizing on this resurgence of interest, Little reassembled the All-Stars in 1999 with Fenson on bass, vocalist Art Wood, guitarist Alex Chanter, harmonica player Eddie Armer, and keyboardist Johnny Casanova. They recorded an album titled Never Stop Rockin' in 2001 featuring guest appearances by Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck, Long John Baldry, Matthew Fisher, and the Chanter Sisters. The album was posthumously released by Angel Air Records in January 2009 following Little's death from lung cancer on 6 August 2005.
Personnel
1962–1964
- Cyril Davies and the R&B All-Stars
- Note: Dates are approximate within a month.
- Cyril Davies – vocals, harmonica
- Jimmy Page – guitar
- Nicky Hopkins – piano
- Ricky Fenson (also known as Rick Brown) – bass
- Carlo Little – drums
- Bernie Watson – guitar
- Long John Baldry – vocals
- The Velvettes – backing vocals
- Hazel Futa, Patience Gcwabe, Eunice Mamsie Mthombeni
- Keith Scott – piano
- Cliff Barton – bass
- Micky Waller – drums
- Geoff Bradford – guitar
- Johnny Parker – piano
- Bob Wackett – drums
- Timeline
1965
- The All-Stars Featuring Jeff Beck
- Jimmy Page – guitar, production
- Jeff Beck – guitar
- Nicky Hopkins – piano
- Cliff Barton – bass
- Carlo Little – drums
- The Immediate All-Stars
- Jimmy Page – guitar, production
- Eric Clapton – guitar
- Mick Jagger – harmonica
- Ian Stewart – piano
- Bill Wyman – bass
- Charlie Watts, listed as Chris Winters – drums
1999–2002
- The Carlo Little All-Stars
- Carlo Little – drums, band leader
- Art Wood – vocals
- Alex Chanter – guitar, vocals
- Eddie Armer – harmonica
- Johnny Casanova – keyboards
- Ricky Fenson – bass
Pye Records
All releases attributed to Cyril Davies and His Rhythm and Blues All-Stars.
| Date | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | "Country Line Special"
|
|
"Preachin' the Blues" (Robert Johnson cover)
|
| |
| 1964 | Template:Track listing | Compilation EP including all four tracks from the prior singles. |
Immediate Records
This section lists only the early releases by the All-Stars. Following Immediate Records' closure in 1970, these recordings were reissued extensively across various compilations and labels.
| Date | Release |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Template:Track listing |
| Template:Track listing | |
| Template:Track listing |
- Castle Communications
| Date | Release |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Template:Track listing |
Angel Air Records
Carlo Little All-Stars
| Date | Release |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Template:Track listing |