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The Action

From Alfawiki
The Action
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
FoundedAugust 1963; 63 years ago (1963-08)
Headquarters
Kentish Town, London
,
England, United Kingdom
ProductsMusic recordings, singles, albums

The Action originated as an English group initially named the Boys in August 1963, based in Kentish Town, North West London. They were closely associated with the mod movement, performing pop music infused with soul influences.

1963–1964: The Boys

Established in August 1963, the founding members were Reg King (lead vocalist), Alan "Bam" King (rhythm guitar and vocals), Mike "Ace" Evans (bass guitar), and Roger Powell (drums). Reg King and Powell were school acquaintances and early contributors to the Scene Club in Soho, London, a pivotal venue within mod culture and fashion circles. Alan King joined subsequently, bringing Mike Evans into the ensemble. Their management was secured through a recommendation from Mike Court of Juke Box Jury, who encouraged them to emphasize original songwriting.

Initially, the Boys supported singer Sandra Barry on her track "Really Gonna Shake," penned by Reg King and issued in March 1964 via Decca. Following this collaboration, Pete Watson was added as lead guitarist. The band briefly performed as a bar band in Brunswick, Germany. After returning to the United Kingdom, they played at The Birdcage Club in Portsmouth, Hampshire, where they caught the attention of manager Rikki Farr. Their debut single "It Ain't Fair" backed with "I Want You" was released in November 1964 on Pye. By early 1965, they adopted the name The Action.

1965–1968: The Action

On 31 May 1965, The Action auditioned for Decca with demos including "In My Lonely Room" and "Fine Looking Girl," but did not obtain a contract. Later that year, they signed with Parlophone under the guidance of producer George Martin, head of Associated Independent Recording (AIR). Their first single for Parlophone came out in October 1965: "Land of a Thousand Dances" backed with "In My Lonely Room." Despite critical acclaim, sales were disappointing. The band became recognized for their interpretations of American Tamla Motown material, although none of their releases charted on the UK Singles Chart during their active years.

The Action initially supported The Who at the Marquee Club in late 1965 and soon secured a residency there throughout 1966, building a dedicated mod audience. Among their regular attendees was future musician Phil Collins. In 1966, they issued singles "I'll Keep Holding On" and "Baby, You've Got It"; the former received high praise and briefly entered the charts, reaching No.39 on the Melody Maker listings. They performed "I'll Keep Holding On" on the Dick Clark show Where the Action Is and headlined the 6th annual National Jazz and Blues Festival, sharing the stage with acts such as Cream (band).

A planned album for 1966 was ultimately shelved. In August of that year, they recorded "Wasn't It You," a composition by Gerry Goffin and Carole King regarded as a studio highlight but withheld until its release as a B-side in Germany in 1969. Although chart success eluded them, The Action frequently appeared on television programs like Ready Steady Go! and were featured in an American documentary episode on The Twentieth Century. Their live repertoire included covers of songs by The Ronettes, while George Martin concentrated his efforts primarily on Beatles projects. The band was distinguished by three-part harmonies centered around Reg King's soulful lead vocals. Internal tensions led to Pete Watson's exit near the end of 1966.

Reduced to a quartet in 1967, The Action released two further singles: "Never Ever" and "Shadows and Reflections," both co-written by Reg King alongside journalist Nick Jones. Parlophone terminated their contract mid-year after these singles failed to chart; concurrently, they parted ways with manager Rikki Farr. AIR had funded all recording sessions up to that point without yielding commercial hits. Reg King described their evolving style as "flower music," aiming for a gentle and bright sound.

Late in 1967, keyboardist Ian Whiteman briefly joined to broaden their sonic palette and aid efforts to secure a new recording deal but departed due to Reg King's unpredictable behavior. Guitarist Martin Stone then took his place. The band commenced demo recordings for an intended LP titled Rolled Gold, initially slated for production by George Martin; however, Parlophone showed no interest. These Byrds-inspired psychedelic demos failed to attract label support despite collaboration with producer Giorgio Gomelsky and engineer Carlos Olmes of Marmalade Records. Among these sessions was the experimental track "Brain," notable for its innovative phasing effects and chord-driven guitar work. This new direction risked distancing their core mod audience.

By mid-1968, with no progress toward a release, these demos were shelved indefinitely. Reg King departed to pursue solo ventures following work with Gomelsky on Gary Farr's productions. Ian Whiteman returned to share vocal duties with Alan King. Briefly renamed Azoth before reverting to The Action, they recorded five demos reflecting a transition toward mid-tempo West Coast psychedelic ballads and early folk rock; these recordings were eventually issued in 1985 as The Action Speaks Louder Than Words.

1969–1971: Mighty Baby

In January 1969, following their contract with Head Records, the Action permanently changed their name to Mighty Baby. Under this new identity, they released two albums: Mighty Baby in 1969 and A Jug Of Love in 1971. During 1971, they also participated in a solo project by former member Reg King. As practicing Muslims, the group dissolved by the close of 1971.

After the split, Martin Stone went on to co-found Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, Alan King established Ace, which achieved a US chart success with "How Long" in 1975, while Roger Powell, Mike Evans, and Ian Whiteman formed the band Habibiyya.

Legacy and reunion

The release of The Ultimate Action in 1980—a compilation featuring the band's Parlophone recordings with liner notes by Paul Weller—significantly enhanced their reputation. Weller lauded Reg King as one of the finest white soul vocalists. King's distinctive voice was instrumental in shaping the concept of "blue-eyed soul," a term originally associated with The Righteous Brothers. Notably, the Action distinguished themselves by refraining from covering songs by white performers.

The reissue of the Rolled Gold demos during the 1990s received acclaim as rediscovered masterpieces. In 1998, the original members reunited for performances at the Isle of Wight’s New Untouchables Mod Rally and subsequently held additional concerts in London.

Phil Collins, an admirer of the band for many years, joined them on stage at the 100 Club in 2000, likening the experience to playing alongside the Beatles. He also supported the production of the documentary In The Lap Of The Mods (2000), which includes footage from reunion shows and archival content. In 2012, Ian Hebditch and Jane Shepard authored a biography titled The Action: In The Lap Of The Mods, receiving endorsement from Sir George Martin.

Following their 1998 reunion, the band performed intermittently until their final show at Modstock 2004—an event commemorating four decades of Mod culture.

In a 1986 interview, Steve Marriott acknowledged the Action as a "genuine band," drawing parallels with the Small Faces for their authentic origins within the 1960s Mod scene. Marriott emphasized that among mid-1960s groups aiming for a Motown style, "the best ones at it were the Action... They were an amazing band."

Band members

Classic line-up:

  • Reg King – lead vocals (1963–1968, 1998–2004; deceased 2010)
  • Alan "Bam" King – rhythm guitar, vocals (1963–1971, 1998–2004)
  • Pete Watson – lead guitar, vocals (1964–1966, 1998–2004)
  • Mike "Ace" Evans – bass guitar (1963–1971, 1998–2004; deceased 2010)
  • Roger Powell – drums (1963–1971, 1998–2004)

Additional members:

  • Ian Whiteman – keyboards, vocals, saxophone, flute (1967, 1968–1971)
  • Martin Stone – lead guitar (1967–1971; deceased 2016)

Singles

as Sandra Barry and The Boys
  • "Really Gonna Shake" / "When We Get Married" (R. King) (March 1964, Decca)
as The Boys
  • "It Ain't Fair" (R. King/Evans) / "I Want You" (R. King/Evans) (November 1964, Pye)
as The Action

The Ultimate Action

(features singles and additional recordings by the original lineup from 1964 to 1967)

Alongside this 1980 compilation, Edsel issued four singles derived from the same sessions:

  • "I'll Keep on Holding On/Wasn't It You?" – E5001, 1981
  • "Since I Lost My Baby/Never Ever/Wasn't It You?" – E5002, 1981
  • "Shadows and Reflections/Something Has Hit Me" – E5003, 1982
  • "Hey Sha-Lo-Ney/Come On, Come With Me" – E5008, 1984

Brain/Rolled Gold

(Consists of tracks recorded during late 1967 and throughout 1968; released in 1995)

Action Speaks Louder Than (EP)

(Recorded around 1968; issued by Castle Music in 1985)

Uptight and Outasight

(Collection of radio and television performances; the 2004 CD edition includes a live show from 1998, released by Circle Records)

CD1 – Television and BBC Radio Performances from 1966–1967

CD2 – Live at The Boston Arms, London, 1998

Shadows And Reflections: The Complete Recordings 1964–1968

(Remastered studio, radio, and TV tracks; released jointly by Grapefruit Records and Cherry Red Records in 2018)

CD1 – The Parlophone Sessions

CD2 – Abbey Road Recordings

CD3 – Rolled Gold Plus: Sessions from 1967–68

CD4 – Additional Action Material

Further Reading

  • Ian Hebditch, Jane Shepherd: The Action – In the Lap of the Mods (2012, co-authored with Mike Evans and Roger Powell, foreword by George Martin)

External Links

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