I don't know how familiar readers from outside the UK will be with Mr Bloe. The group was the alias of a bunch of guys involved with a small London label called DJM (Dick James Music). In 1970 they released 'Groovin' with Mr Bloe', a stripped down soul instrumental with producer Zack Lawrence on piano and Harry Pitch on harmonica. I don't know who was drumming, but it could have been either Bo Gentry, Bernard Cochrane, P. Naumann or K. Laguna, who all share songwriting credits.It's a taut and memorable little workout, which found a ready market in the burgeoning northern soul scene and was eventually propelled to number two in the UK charts. As I've mentioned, I don't know whether it charted elsewhere, but I do know that Mr Bloe never bothered the charts again, ensuring 'Groovin'' attained the dubious honour of 'one-hit wonder' status.
1 comment:
The band name is a false lead... this was originally recorded one year earlier in the United States by the band Wind (hear their version) as a quick filler B side to their hit "Make Believe". The songwriting credits are people having to do with the Wind version, of course; no idea who played drums on the Mr. Bloe version.
Post a Comment