CCS (band)
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | John Cameron, Mickie Most |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people | Alexis Korner (frontman), John Cameron (musical director), Mickie Most (record producer) |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
CCS, occasionally stylized as C.C.S., was a British ensemble fronted by blues guitarist Alexis Korner. The acronym represents Collective Consciousness Society.
Established in 1970 by musical director John Cameron alongside record producer Mickie Most, CCS primarily comprised session musicians and operated chiefly as a studio-based project. Notable contributors included vocalist Peter Thorup, guitarist Alan Parker, flutist Harold McNair, bassist Herbie Flowers, keyboardist Roger Coulam, drummer Barry Morgan, and trombonists Don Lusher and Bill Geldard. Several members were also affiliated with the band Blue Mink.
The group gained prominence through their instrumental rendition of Led Zeppelin's 1969 song "Whole Lotta Love," which charted in the UK Singles Chart in 1970 and became the signature tune for the BBC's pop show Top of the Pops during the 1970s and later from 1998 to 2003 in a remixed version. While the TOTP theme was performed by the show's orchestra, John Cameron conducted it with many CCS musicians participating, enabling tailored arrangements for broadcast and lowering royalty costs.
Among their most successful singles were Donovan's "Walking" and "Tap Turns on the Water." CCS released three albums featuring covers such as "Boom Boom," "Living in the Past," and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," complemented by original tracks.
The track "Brother" served as the theme for Tom Browne's and Simon Bates' Sunday Top 40/20 Chart Rundown on BBC Radio 1 during the 1970s. Additionally, CCS crafted the inaugural jingles for Manchester's Piccadilly Radio at its inception in April 1974. The group dissolved in 1973, after which Alexis Korner went on to form Snape.
Albums
- CCS, also referred to as Whole Lotta Love (RAK SRKA 6751) (October 1970)
- CCS 2 (RAK SRAK 503) (March 1972) – reached No. 23 on the UK Albums Chart
- The Best Band in the Land (RAK SRAK 504) (September 1973)
Compilation albums
- The Best of C.C.S. (RAK SRAK 527) (1977)
- Whole Lotta Love (EMI CDP 7 97553 2) (1991)
- A's, B's & Rarities (EMI Gold 560 2532) (2004)
Singles
| Year | Title A-side b/w B-side | UK | AUS | CAN | UK label & catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1970 | "Whole Lotta Love" b/w "Boom Boom" | 13 | – | 37 | RAK Records 104; initial release featured "Boom Boom" as A-side |
| January 1971 | "Walking" b/w "Salome" [US & Canada B-side: "Lookin' for Fun"] | 7 | 95 | – | RAK 109 |
| August 1971 | "Tap Turns on the Water" b/w "Save the World" | 5 | 95 | – | RAK 119 |
| February 1972 | "Brother" b/w "Mister, What You Can't Have I Can Get" | 25 | – | – | RAK 126 |
| October 1972 | "Sixteen Tons" b/w "This Is My Life" | 54[lower-alpha 1] | – | – | RAK 141 |
| February 1973 | "Shakin' All Over" b/w "Cannibal Sheep" (Unissued) | – | – | – | RAK PSR 356; promotional only |
| June 1973 | "The Band Played the Boogie" b/w "Hang It on Me" | 36 | 8 | – | RAK 154 |
| April 1974 | "Hurricane Coming" b/w "Dragster" | – | – | – | RAK 172 |
External links
- Biography available at www.mystrands.com
- Discography of Alexis Korner hosted on alexis-korner.net
- Dedicated CCS fan website at www.alexgitlin.com
- Jeff Cooper’s commemorative site showcasing jingles recorded by CCS for the radio station
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