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This page documents a walk
"Ghosts of Swinging London" which I participated in as part of Openhouse
London on September 20, 2020. It was led by Frank Molloy. You can
follow the route, see maps, pictures and notes, together with a spoken
description and relevant music
from here.
The book on which it is based can be
purchased here |
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| The walk started in Denmark
Street (technically in Camden not Westminster). For many years this was
the home of the UK music industry and was known as "Tin Pan Alley" |
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| No 27: Hanks Guitars
BLB |
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No 26 (car
outside): Previously the
"12 Bar Club"
a
small live music venue with a capacity of about 100 people which was
established in 1994.
Some people who played there in their early careers were Adele, Katie
Melua, James Blunt and Keane. |
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No.4 Regent Studios: this tiny recording facility was
established in 1963. A year later, the Rolling Stones were the first
major band to record an album here. They were followed by the
quintessential Swinging London band, the Kinks. Elton John also recorded
covers here for the Woolworth’s label |
| No 5: Formerly offices of New Musical
Express (published first charts from
1952)
BLB |
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No 6 is used for the entrance to Cormoran Strike's office in the
BBC
series "Strike" based on the
books by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
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No.11: Rose Morris Music was the first music shop on
Denmark Street, established in the 1920’s. The Moody Blues were regular
shoppers here. It is now in 2 parts with guitars in No11 and
pianos/keyboards next door but one. |
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No 20:
Formerly
Mills Music publishers.
Elton John (as Reg Dwight) worked here as an office junior (paid £5 a
week in 1965)
.Mills Music rejected
Paul Simon’s Sound
of Silence and Homeward
Bound. So
he started his own publishers, Charing Cross Music, named after the
nearby street. He has owned his music rights ever since |
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Charing Cross Road |
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Cambridge Circus |
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| The Palace Theatre *at the time of the
walk was closed due to Covid-19 pandemic but otherwise would host the
"Harry Potter" stage show. Tucked in by its right side is the
"Spice of
Life" pub. It is still a music venue.
In the 60s it was a folk venue with artists such as
Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, The Strawbs and Sandy
Denny (of Fairport Convention). |
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LITCHFIELD STREET |
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Not a music venue,
but a well known London restaurant is The Ivy. In the background is St
Martin's Theatre which is where the world's longest running play "The
Mousetrap" normally plays. |
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In the early 1960s,a folk club called Bunjies opened in the basement of
no.27 Litchfield Street. The venue would later feature the likes of Paul
Simon, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and Al Stewart watched by audiences that
included Phil Collins, David Bowie, and Rod Stewart. |
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Great Newport Street |
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No 11:
the site of the basement jazz club ‘Studio 51’ which opened in 1951. In
the mid-50s, a skiffle section was introduced to club nights, with music
played on home-made instruments, such as a washboard, spoons and a
tea-chest. Skiffle had a major impact on UK rock’n’roll – forming the
roots of many bands such as the Beatles, the Who and the Rolling Stones.
Indeed, the Rolling Stones became the resident band at this spot,
playing over 40 gigs here in 1963, more than they have played at any
other venue.
Paul McCartney relates a episode that occurred in 1963. He had shared a
taxi here with John Lennon and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the
Rolling Stones. The Stones were recording a demo and asked for songs.
John and Paul offered them the unfinished I
Wanna Be Your Man.
The Stones rehearsed it at Studio 51. However, they complained there was
no middle bridge. John & Paul wrote one out in five minutes and
performed it for the Stones, who were dumbstruck. The Stones later cut a
strident rendition of the song which went onto become their first top 20
hit. It was also the first song ever performed on Top
of the Pops. |
| The Porcupine Pub
Frequented by people using Studio 51 which did not have an alcohol
license
It's possible the "middle 8" mentioned above were written in here.
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| Leicester Place |
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No.6 Leicester Place was a basement venue
known as the Cavern in the Town, based on the Cavern Club in Liverpool
A London-based group, the Small Faces, became the resident band here in
1965 |
| Wardour Street |
| The O’Neill’s pub was once the location
for the famous Flamingo Club. later known as the ‘Temple’ and the ‘Wag
Club’.
Georgie Fame did a three-year stint as the resident artist from 1962.
An incident of a fight over Christine Keeler led to the Profumo
Affair |
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| MACCLESFIELD STREET |
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