Sounds Incorporated
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | January 1, 1961 in Dartford, Kent, England |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Dartford , England |
| Products | Instrumental pop and rock music |
Sounds Incorporated, originally known as Sounds Inc., was a British instrumental pop and rock ensemble active throughout the 1960s.
Background
Established in early 1961 in Dartford, Kent, Sounds Incorporated gained recognition in South London for their distinctive saxophone-driven instrumental style. In August 1961, when Gene Vincent's group was refused UK work permits, Sounds Incorporated stepped in to support Vincent during his UK tour and London recording sessions. This opportunity led them to accompany other American artists such as Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brenda Lee, and Sam Cooke.
Career
Their only single released under Parlophone, titled "Mogambo", experienced minimal commercial impact. After transitioning to Decca Records, they issued three singles, with the final one produced by Joe Meek, yet none achieved notable success. While performing in Hamburg, they developed a friendship with the Beatles and subsequently signed with Brian Epstein’s NEMS management in 1963. That same year, the band appeared as musical performers in the film Live It Up!.
In 1964, their first two singles on Columbia Records—"The Spartans" and "Spanish Harlem"—charted in the UK, marking their only domestic chart appearances. That year also saw them acting as the backing band for Cilla Black and releasing their debut album, Sounds Incorporated, which included popular live numbers but omitted recent charting tracks. Their third Columbia single, an adaptation of the "William Tell Overture", achieved considerable success in Australia, peaking at number 2.
They toured internationally as the Beatles’ opening act, performing at venues such as Hong Kong in July 1964 and Shea Stadium in August 1965. Throughout this period, they maintained a steady presence by supporting televised NME awards shows and participating in the Hammersmith Odeon’s "Another Beatles Christmas Show".
Their musical arrangements incorporated uncommon instruments like the battery-powered Clavioline keyboard on songs including "Keep Movin'" and "Sounds Like Locomotion". Al Holmes provided lead flute parts on "The Spartans".
No singles were released domestically in 1966; however, they issued a second album through EMI’s Studio 2 label to highlight advancements in stereo recording technology, while singles distributed overseas remained in mono. By 1967, rebranded as "Sounds Inc.", members Cameron, Holmes, and West contributed saxophone performances on the Beatles’ track "Good Morning Good Morning" from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. After departing EMI, they released a single on Polydor titled "How Do You Feel", marking their first vocal track.
The latter part of the decade witnessed the band's decline: drummer Tony Newman left to focus on session work before joining May Blitz. Cameron exited to pursue an A&R role but was replaced by percussionist Terry Fogg and vocalist Trevor White. The group spent their final years primarily based in Australia, shifting toward a more mainstream sound with increased vocal emphasis on their last LP—distributed internationally but not released in the UK. Sounds Inc. officially disbanded in 1971.
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sounds Incorporated | Issued June 1964 via Columbia SX 3531 |
| Sounds Incorporated | Released November 1966 under Studio Two TWO 144 |
| Sounds Incorporated (also known as Maxwell's Silver Hammer) | Published 1970 by Metronome HLP 10 282 |
Compilation albums
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Sounds Incorporated – See for Miles Records | Issued in 1993 on CD, catalog number SEECD 371 |
EPs
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Top Gear | Released in August 1964 by Columbia, catalog SEG 8360 |
Singles
| Title | Information | Highest chart rankings | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | |||
| "Emily"
"Mogambo" |
Issued August 1961 by Parlophone, catalog R4815 | —
— |
—
— |
rowspan="4"Template:Non-album singles |
| "Sounds Like Locomotion"
"Taboo" |
Released November 1962 on Decca 11540 | —
— |
—
— | |
| "Go"
"Stop" |
Issued February 1963 by Decca F 11590 | —
— |
—
— | |
| "Keep Movin'"
"Order of the Keys" |
Released August 1963 via Decca F 11723 | —
— |
—
— | |
| "The Spartans"
"Detroit" |
Issued March 1964 by Columbia DB 7239 | 30
— |
8
— |
Top Gear |
| "Spanish Harlem"
"Rinky Dink" (from Sounds Incorporated (1964)) |
Released July 1964 on Columbia DB 7239 | 35
— |
22
22 | |
| "William Tell"
"Bullets" |
Issued November 1964 by Columbia DB 7404 | —
— |
2
— |
Sounds Incorporated (1964) |
| "Time for You"
"Hall of the Mountain King" |
Released April 1965 under Columbia DB 7545 | —
— |
—
58 |
rowspan="4"Template:Non-album singles |
| "My Little Red Book"
"Justice Neddi" |
Issued August 1965 by Columbia DB 7676 | —
— |
—
— | |
| "I'm Comin' Through"
"On the Brink" |
Released October 1965 on Columbia DB 7737 | —
— |
—
— | |
| "How Do You Feel"
"Dead as a Go-Go" |
Issued October 1967 via Polydor 56209 | —
— |
—
— | |
| Title | Year of release | Australian chart peak | Associated album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Maria" | 1964 | 2 | Sounds Incorporated (1964) |
| "Light Cavalry" | 71 | ||
| "Warmth Of The Sun" | 1970 | 95 | Sounds Incorporated (1970) |
The track "Maria" from Sounds Incorporated (1964) reached number two in Australia.
The single "Light Cavalry," also from Sounds Incorporated (1964), peaked at number seventy-one in Australia.
In 1970, "Warmth Of The Sun," from the album of the same name, attained position ninety-five on the Australian charts.
Their discography is extensively accessible on compact disc, featuring rare and previously unreleased material. Collections of singles are available in The Singles, while UK albums can be found in stereo editions. Additionally, less common tracks appear on specialized UK compilation albums. Many early recordings are included on various instrumental compilation releases.
The third single released through Decca, "Keep Movin'" / "Order of the Keys," produced by Joe Meek, is particularly prized among collectors. The debut album titled Sounds Incorporated was issued in both mono and stereo formats.
Existing archival video includes their live performance at the Beatles' Melbourne concert in 1964 and segments from the color music revue film Pop Gear, which is currently obtainable on video format.
Band members
- Alan "Boots" Holmes – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute (born 25 April 1939, Rotherhithe, South East London; passed away 8 January 2022)
- "Major" Griff West – tenor saxophone, flute (born 19 December 1940, Barnehurst, Kent)
- Barrie Cameron – organ, baritone saxophone (born 25 October 1939, Erith, Kent; deceased 11 November 2019)
- John St. John – lead guitar (born 1 April 1940, Dartford Hospital, Kent)
- Wes Hunter – bass guitar (born 17 December 1941, Barnehurst, Kent; died 4 April 2013)
- Tony Newman – drums (born 17 March 1943, Southampton, Hampshire)
- Trevor White – vocals, keyboards, piano, drums (born 3 August 1947, Chelmsford, Essex)
- Terry Fogg – drums and percussion (born 25 September 1945, Chesterfield, Derbyshire)
See also
External links
- [ Allmusic.com biography by Steve Huey]