Bo Street Runners "Never Say Goodbye" The Complete Recordings 1964-1966

Why it's taken so long for the Bo Street Runners (BSR) to have their music reissued is a mystery. This legendary mid-60's Mod era band played some pretty tough R&B/Mod style music, even winning the first televised "Ready, Steady, Go!" contest for new bands. This edition (43+minutes) has the band's singles and their rare EP originally issued on the Oak Records label from 1964-1966. The remastered sound is very good. The booklet has an informative essay on the band (including a 'where are they now' section), along with period photos and other ephemera. Tracks 1-4 comprise their rare EP, plus all the band's singles are here including both versions of "Bo Street Runner" (original single and the "Ready Steady Win" version), plus Mick Fleetwood's first recording experience on the single "Baby Never Say Goodbye/Get Out Of My Way", two tracks featuring vocalist Mike Patto (tracks 13-14) with BSR as his backing band, and finally, two tracks (16-17) taken from rare radio sessions......The BSR were similar to other bands of that period like The Artwoods, The Action, and other R&B style bands that were so popular. Besides R&B/blues, BSR played more contemporary covers and singles, most all of them still having their tough, no-nonsense sound. The band had a number of personnel changes but no matter who was in the band their sound never really changed that much except for a few singles that edged into a smoother type of sound. But a single was issued ("Tell Me What You're Gonna Do/And I Do Just What I Want") using studio musicians that altered the the band's sound greatly. Players like Tim Hinckley, Mike Patto, and Mick Fleetwood were in the band at various times, but BSR always tried to keep some of that edgy R&B sound on many of their singles. But for something outside of the R&B mold try "So Very Woman", with it's flute work setting it apart from the band's usual fare. The band always had a solid rhythm section with some good solos from the sax, guitar, or keyboards on various singles. The vocals were pretty similar to other bands of the period when bands were emulating blues/R&B performers. But on songs like "Love" they actually had a lighter, more pop style sound that was a refreshing change--even if the lyrics were typically boy-girl-l love you stuff. What an innocent age.
But for fans of '60s Mod/R&B/blues bands this is well worth adding to your shelf of mid/late 60's English bands. Check out the two versions of "Bo Street Runner" to hear how the band's sound changed compared to Willie Dixon's "I Want To Be Loved", which is a tough harmonica/organ-driven workout. And then listen to the radio version of "Baby Never Say Goodbye" for a slice of period Mod/pop/R&B. If bands like The Artwoods, The Action, The Sorrows, and others from that era are your cup of tea, the BSR should be next to them on your music shelf. (Stuart Jefferson, Shindigtrax:

01 Love to You 02 Lonely Avenue 03 Bo Street Runner (Oak EP Version) 04 Shame, Shame, Shame 05 Bo Street Runner (Single Version) 06 Tell Me 07 Tell Me What You're Gonna Do 08 And I Do Just What I Want 09 Baby Never Say Goodbye 10 Get out of My Way 11 Drive My Car 12 So Very Woman 13 Can't Stop Talkin' About My Baby 14 Love 15 Bo Street Runner (Ready Steady Win Version) 16 I Want to Be Loved (Radio Version) 17 Baby Never Say Goodbye (Radio Version)

…served by Gyro1966...