Mr. Bloe
Encyclopedia
Mr. Bloe was the name given to the musicians who performed the single "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" which was a hit for Dick James Music (DJM)
. These included Harry Pitch or Ian Duck on harmonica
, and Zack Laurence on piano
.
The tune "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" was written for the US studio group
Wind by Bo Gentry, Bernard Cochrane, Paul Naumann and Kenny Laguna. They released it as the B-side for their single "Make Believe" which, with Tony Orlando
as lead singer, was a chart success in the US.
Stephen James, of Dick James Music, wanted to release the tune in the UK but could not obtain the rights. He had the tune covered by other musicians including Elton John
on piano but didn't like that version. It was then rearranged by Zack Laurence and re-recorded with Zack Laurence replacing Elton John on piano. The tune was then released in the UK on 9th May, 1970, reaching number 2 on 4th July, 1970. Zack Laurence then appeared to perform on Top of the Pops
with the other musicians — Ian Duck (harmonica), Dee Murray (bass), Roger Pope (drums) and Caleb Quaye (guitar) who went on to form the band Hookfoot
. The harmonica part is somewhat mysterious and some sources credit it to Harry Pitch - the harmonica player who went on to perform the theme tune for Last of the Summer Wine
.
Other singles, "Mr. Bloe" and "Curried Soul" were then released. The Mr. Bloe single contans two instrumentals written by Elton John — "Get Out Of This Town" and "71-75 New Oxford" and he performed the piano piece on both. The US group Wind then released "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" in the US in August 1970 under a new name of Cool Heat.
In total, "Groovin' With Mr Bloe" spent 18 weeks in the chart
. The lack of an obvious performer made it mysterious and it became a favourite of Morrissey
who was then 11 years old.
A follow up single, "Curried Soul", failed to chart, and an album
, also entitled Groovin' with Mr. Bloe, was released in 1970 but flopped, leaving the act as a one-hit wonder
.
"Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" is also a lyric in the song
, "I Was a Mod Before You Was Mod", by the band Television Personalities. The B-side to Madness
' "Our House
" single was "Walking With Mr Wheeze", another instrumental with occasional scratch
mix effects. The tune's title was an asthmatic parody of "Groovin' With Mr Bloe". The song was partly recorded by The Fall in 2003, for a Peel session as the beginning of their song, "Green Eyed Loco Man". The tune was also covered by Robert Johnson and the Punchdrunks
in 2002.
"Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" was used as the theme music to the 2009 BBC TV series, Oz and James Drink to Britain
. It was also used in the early seventies Argentine television as the intro music for football broadcasting.
DJM Records
DJM Records was the record label set up in the 1970s by British music publisher, Dick James, distributed by Pye Records in the UK and various other companies around the world, including the USA...
. These included Harry Pitch or Ian Duck on harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, and Zack Laurence on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
The tune "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" was written for the US studio group
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
Wind by Bo Gentry, Bernard Cochrane, Paul Naumann and Kenny Laguna. They released it as the B-side for their single "Make Believe" which, with Tony Orlando
Tony Orlando
Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis , better known as Tony Orlando, is an American show business professional, best known as the lead singer of the group Tony Orlando and Dawn in the early 1970s. Discovered by producer Don Kirshner, Orlando had songs on the charts in 1961 when he was 16, "Halfway to...
as lead singer, was a chart success in the US.
Stephen James, of Dick James Music, wanted to release the tune in the UK but could not obtain the rights. He had the tune covered by other musicians including Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
on piano but didn't like that version. It was then rearranged by Zack Laurence and re-recorded with Zack Laurence replacing Elton John on piano. The tune was then released in the UK on 9th May, 1970, reaching number 2 on 4th July, 1970. Zack Laurence then appeared to perform on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
with the other musicians — Ian Duck (harmonica), Dee Murray (bass), Roger Pope (drums) and Caleb Quaye (guitar) who went on to form the band Hookfoot
Hookfoot
Hookfoot was a British rock band, active from 1970 to 1974.Formed by Caleb Quaye and three fellow DJM session musicians, Ian Duck , Roger Pope and David Glover , the band were also backing musicians for Elton John, appearing together on most of his early recordings for DJM...
. The harmonica part is somewhat mysterious and some sources credit it to Harry Pitch - the harmonica player who went on to perform the theme tune for Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
.
Other singles, "Mr. Bloe" and "Curried Soul" were then released. The Mr. Bloe single contans two instrumentals written by Elton John — "Get Out Of This Town" and "71-75 New Oxford" and he performed the piano piece on both. The US group Wind then released "Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" in the US in August 1970 under a new name of Cool Heat.
In total, "Groovin' With Mr Bloe" spent 18 weeks in the chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. The lack of an obvious performer made it mysterious and it became a favourite of Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
who was then 11 years old.
A follow up single, "Curried Soul", failed to chart, and an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, also entitled Groovin' with Mr. Bloe, was released in 1970 but flopped, leaving the act as a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
.
"Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" is also a lyric in the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "I Was a Mod Before You Was Mod", by the band Television Personalities. The B-side to Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
' "Our House
Our House (Madness song)
"Our House" is a single by English ska/pop band Madness, from their UK album The Rise & Fall and their US compilation Madness.-About:...
" single was "Walking With Mr Wheeze", another instrumental with occasional scratch
Scratching
Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used...
mix effects. The tune's title was an asthmatic parody of "Groovin' With Mr Bloe". The song was partly recorded by The Fall in 2003, for a Peel session as the beginning of their song, "Green Eyed Loco Man". The tune was also covered by Robert Johnson and the Punchdrunks
Chips Kiesbye
Chips Kiesbye is the guitarist and vocalist for the Swedish rock band Sator formed in the late 1980s in Borlänge. Kiesbye is also successful music producer and have worked with several of Swedens most successful rock bands and artists such as The Hellacopters, Millencolin, Thåström, Sahara...
in 2002.
"Groovin' With Mr. Bloe" was used as the theme music to the 2009 BBC TV series, Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and James Drink to Britain is a BBC television series in which wine writer Oz Clarke and motor journalist James May travel through Britain and Ireland to discover the array of available alcoholic drinks...
. It was also used in the early seventies Argentine television as the intro music for football broadcasting.