TAKE 5

Take 5, formed early in 1967 out of the ashes of The Playboys, was first and foremost a vocal harmony group. Dave English who had left The Playboys the previous year agreed to rejoin Pete and me in the new group. The addition of Jack Castle gave us not only the fourth voice we wanted but also a second lead guitarist. The group's first line up was completed by Mike Lord on drums. Take Five specialised in covers of ‘big’ vocal sounds - Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Four Seasons etc. One single was recorded in 1968 (‘In The Meantime’ written by Jack and me b/w ‘Ride My See-Saw’, a Moody Blues number) but was never released.

Mike Lord left after a year and was replaced by Howard Oliver who had just finished a spell on the road with Them fronted by a young Van Morrison. Jack moved away from the area so Pete took over his role on guitar and a new bass player, Mick Tracey, joined. Later, Howard left and was replaced by Bernie Shaw. Pete Inwood who was a carpenter by trade lost his shore-based day job and was forced to take work as a ship’s carpenter. Sadly this made it impossible for him to commit himself to regular gigs and he told us he had no choice but to leave the group. Luckily, by this time however Jack had returned to live in the area and rejoined to restore the line up. When Bernie left his place was taken by Tony Lister who played with the group throughout 1970, but by the end of the year things had run their course and the group folded.

Dave English - lead vocals, Mick Morris - guitar & vocals, Pete Inwood - bass & vocals (1967-68) guitar & vocals (1969), Mick Tracey (bass (1968-70), Jack Castle - guitar & vocals (1967 and 1969-70), Mike Lord - drums (1967) Howard Oliver - drums (1968) Bernie Shaw - drums (1968-69) Tony Lister (1970).