The Singles, 1967 - 1969

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I'll Always Love You

The A-side is a 60's American soul/R&B number (Detroit Spinners), with Ollie's vibes playing a key role in the sound.  The B-side is a vibes-based instrumental.

"I'll Always Love You" was included on the "Piccadilly Story" CD from Sequel/Castle (1993, Cat.# NEDCD 240).    It was also included on the "Dance Like The Devil" compilation CD from Sequel Records/Castle (1998, Cat. # NEMCD 972).

Pictured left to right are the A and B sides of the UK promo single.  Thanks to David Couldridge for kindly providing the images.
         

Soul Sauce

The lineup on this single was Kevan Foggerty (guitar), Peter "Ollie"  Halsall (vibes), Clive Griffiths (bass), Chris Holmes (keyboards), and Ronnie Verrell  (drums).

"Soul Sauce" was included on the "Soul For Sale" compilation CD from Sequel Records/Castle (1998, Cat. # NEMCD 975).  "Soul Sauce" is also available on "Jump and Dance - Doin' The Mod Vol 2" (2001, Castle CMRCD097).   "I Wish I Could Jerk Like My Uncle Cyril" was included on the "The Go-Go Train (Doin' the Mod! Vol 1)" compilation CD from Sequel (2000, Cat. # NEMCD 479).

Pictured left to right are the UK stock label, the UK promo label, and a rare one-sided Pye Records acetate for "Soul Sauce".
   

Don't Make Promises

Produced by Michael Aldred
Deram DM 153, released October 20, 1967

The first single for Deram.  The A-side is the first Timebox track to feature Mike Patto on vocals.  Ollie sings lead on the B-side.  John Halsey confirms that he did not play drums on this single.  In the absence of a regular drummer, their manager, Laurie Jay, actually played the drums.   This was the last single with Kevan Foggerty on guitar.

Side A is a slower R&B number, but it includes a vibes solo, swooping bass lines, female backup singers, twangy guitars, and sitars!  The promo copy has a very different version of the song: same rhythm section but an alternate vocal take, alternate vibes 'solo', no sitar, and no backing vocals.

Side B has the 60's American R&B sound with a dominant vibes riff in the chorus, string arrangement, and wind chimes.

Lineup for this single was Mike Patto (lead vocal on A-side), Peter "Ollie" Halsall (vibes, lead vocal on B-side), Clive Griffiths (bass), Chris Holmes (keyboards), Kevan Foggerty (guitar), and Laurie Jay (drums).

Pictured left to right are the UK stock label, UK promo label, Mike Patto's personal copy of the promo single, and a picture sleeve from France.  Note that "Walking Through the Streets of My Mind" was the A-side in France.
      

If the release date is correct, this is the first single with John Halsey on drums.  A France-only release of a cover version of the Young Rascals tune.  Early guitar solo from Ollie -- not bad for a guitarist of less than a year!  Chris takes the opportunity to showcase his organ playing as well.  Fine vocals and rhythm section too.

The B-side is one of my favorite Timebox recordings.  It features a lavish orchestral arrangement and distant, reverberated backing vocals.  It is a fine tune written by Ivan Zagni and Mike Patto (McCarthy).  Ivan played in Jody Grind with Tim Hinkley, who was in various bands with Mike including the Bo Street Runners and Chicago Line Blues Band.

Lineup for this and successive singles was Mike Patto, Peter "Ollie" Halsall, Clive Griffiths, Chris Holmes, and John Halsey.
    

Beggin' (Farina, Gaudio) c/w
A Woman That's Waiting (Zagni, McCarthy)
Produced by Michael Aldred
Deram DM 194, released May 30, 1968
(USA: Deram #45-85031)

The first UK single with Halsey on drums.  "Beggin'" was the band's only single to achieve minor chart success.  It peaked at #38 in August, though some accounts indicate it sold more copies and received more airplay than its chart position suggested.  

The song is a finely produced remake of the Four Seasons song with an extravagant orchestral arrangement.  Note the reversal of writing credits on "A Woman That's Waiting" from those listed on the  "Come On Up" single.

Chart History of "Beggin'" (according to Record Mirror's "Britain's Top 50" charts):
July 27, 1968 - Enters charts at position #49
August 3, 1968 - Highest chart position at #38
August 10, 1968 - Position #48
August 17, 1968 - Position #48

Pictured left to right on top row are the UK stock label, the UK promo label, and the US stock label.  Pictured on the second row are two variations of the US promo label and a picture sleeve from Holland.  Pictured on the third row is the French picture sleeve, a title sleeve from Belgium, and the promo label from Australia.  Pictured on the fourth row is the Italy picture sleeve (courtesy of Marc Verschooris).
      

Girl Don't Make Me Wait (Huff)
c/w Gone Is The Sad Man (McCarthy/Halsall)
Produced by Michael Aldred
Deram DM 219, released November, 1968

     
The A-side was an attempt to follow the "Beggin'" formula with another extravagant orchestral arrangement, this time with more of a 60's American R&B feel.  Mike's vocals, as usual, are great, but the record buying public made it clear that the song was not of the same caliber as "Beggin'".

The B-side is perhaps second only to "Beggin'" in terms of historical recognition of Timebox's recordings.  "Gone Is The Sad Man" has popped up on various psychedelic compilation albums over the years.  It was the first song released by the Patto/Halsall writing team.  Indeed, Ollie's distorted solo in the middle break gives it a psychedelic feel, but most of the song has a more straight-forward piano/vibes arrangement.  A great tune with fine harmonies and a very catchy chorus.

Pictured left to right on top row are the UK stock label, UK promo label, and a rare one-sided Decca acetate featuring an early mix of "Girl, Don't Make Me Wait."   Pictured left to right on the second row are picture sleeves from Belgium and Holland and the promo label from Belgium.
    

Baked Jam Roll In Your Eye (Patto, Halsall) c/w
Poor Little Heartbreaker (Patto, Halsall)
Produced by Patto & Bruce
Deram DM 246, released March, 1969

The band's first self-produced single and the first A-side written by the band.

The A-side is a novelty song about a failed Martian invasion where the Martians, led by Klaus, unleash their secret weapon which fired baked jam rolls at the unsuspecting Earthlings. "Are you trying to kill or feed me?"

The B-side is a great rock tune, closest to the rock material done later with the bands Patto and Boxer.  Ollie's leads (12-string or is he playing octaves?) are much more prominent in the mix released on the 1998 CD, "The Deram Anthology".

Bruce, who is given co-production credit, was not actually a person.  Band manager Laurie Jay's partner was Laurie Boost.  He owned a bingo hall where the band practiced called the Club Noreik.  He also owned some greyhound betting shops which he for some reason called Bruce.  So, that is where Bruce comes from, but Laurie Boost actually had nothing to do with producing the single.

Pictured left to right on the first row are the UK stock label, UK promo label, and a picture sleeve from Holland.  Pictured left to right on the second row are the Danish picture sleeve, Belgium picture sleeve, and the Belgium promo label.
         

Yellow Van (Halsall, Patto) c/w 
You've Got The Chance (Halsall, Patto)
Produced by Wayne Bickerton
Deram DM 271, released October 3, 1969

The final Timebox single, featuring two more original compositions.  The A-side is a fun rocker with prominent guitar and brass section.  The lyrics about a "woman-crazy" salesman prompted the BBC to ban the song from the airwaves.  The B-side is a slow, bluesy number with interesting production,  particularly the distorted guitar and clavinet mixed with heavily compressed vocals in the chorus.

Pictured left to right are the UK stock label, the UK promo label, and the Holland picture sleeve.
     

You're The One

The source of this odd single indicates it is from the 1970's.  The Timebox side is a stereo mix (sounds like mono reprocessed for stereo) of the song and is incorrectly credited to C. Dice instead of Farina/Gaudio.   

The A-side is a track by Little Sister, a female trio organized by Sly Stone consisting of Vaetta Stewart (Sly's little sister), Mary Rand and Elva Melton.  They sang backups on many early Sly & the Family Stone records.  "You're the One", released in the US on Sly's Stone Flower label, reached #4 on the US R&B charts in the early part of 1970, so perhaps this single is from that year.