Skiffle by Beryl Bryden and Cyril Davies to Blame for the British Invasion

Beryl Bryden

Source: Sandy Brown Jazz

Cyril Davies

Source: Wikipedia

Cyril Davies was largely a harmonica player, though also used banjo and guitar. Born on 23 January 1932 in Denham, Buckinghamshire, to launch this project's examination of the UK Beat heading toward to the British Invasion of 1964 (Beatles). With the exception of Tommy Steele, none of the groups or musicians profiled in UK Beat at the VF History toured to the United States. Those of the period who did are at British Invasion. Davies never stepped foot in the United States either, but is a major figure in the early rumble of R&B in England known as the UK Beat which prepared the way to the British Invasion of 1964 (though the Beatles pumped out a fresh style of rock called Mercy Beat, the Rolling Stones were R&B oriented). The earliest recording known by Cyril Davies, is 'KC Moan', recorded at his home in 1954. A composition by Tewee Blackman, that was released several decades later in 1997 on a CD titled 'Knights of the Blues Table'.

Davies' next recordings were commercially issued, playing banjo in 1955 with Steve Lane's Southern Stompers: 'Heah Me Talkin' and 'Tennessee Twilight' on Vortex Vx 1001. Davies also formed his own group in 1955 with Alexis Korner, a skiffle and blues ensemble. The partnership between Davies and Korner for the next seven years fairly epitomized rhythm and blues in the UK. "Skiffle" had a strong part in that, being a term for jug band music that had originated in the deep South of the United States. Jug bands often used makeshift instruments such as cigar boxes, saws, kazoos, washboards, combs and, well, jugs. A good example of an American jug band is the Memphis Jug Band. "Skiffle" was also a slang term for rent parties: social gatherings with a fee toward the purpose of paying the rent. Among its first known uses is in 1925 by jazz clarinetist Jimmy O'Bryant who had a band called the Chicago Skifflers. Blues artist, Ma Rainey, also used the term to describe her repertoire. By the forties the term had largely fallen out of usage in America, "jug band music" what stuck. But the term came to revival in the fifties in the UK. Though not especially popular the more homemade the instruments, either in America or Britain, no small number of British musicians associated with the UK Beat and later British Invasion began their careers performing country skiffle that merged with other forms like R&B or rock. In America singer James Brown put together a skiffle band while in jail for stealing a car as a youth, utilizing such as tubs for instruments.

On 9 Nov 1956 Davies recorded a couple of songs with Beryl Bryden's blues and skiffle group, the Backroom Boys: 'Casey Jones' and 'Kansas City Blues' issued in December on Decca F-J 10823. Bryden (b 11 May 1920) was a hep jazz and R&B artist who had made her debut recordings in 1948. Unlike Davies, she toured internationally including the United States. Filling out her ensemble below, other than Davies at harmonica and guitar, was Korner at guitar, Frank Cash on bass and Dave Stevens on piano. The East Anglian Music Archive has this band documenting 'Rock Me' and 'This Train' in January of 1957, gone unissued.

'Casey Jones'   Beryl Bryden's Backroom Boys   1966

Recorded 9 Nov 1956   Issued on Decca F-J 10823 A in Dec 1966

Composition: Traditional

'Kansas City Blues'   Beryl Bryden's Backroom Boys   1966

Recorded 9 Nov 1956   Issued on Decca F-J 10823 B in Dec 1966

Composition: Jim Jackson   1927

'Rock Me'   Beryl Bryden's Backroom Boys

Recorded Jan 1957   Unissued

'This Train'   Beryl Bryden's Backroom Boys

Recorded Jan 1957   Unissued

Davies also recorded at least nine songs in 1957 with the Alexis Korner Breakdown Group: 'Leaving Blues', 'Rotten Break', 'Alberta', 'Roundhouse Stomp', 'Skip to My Lou', 'Good Morning', 'Bol Weevil', 'Ella Speed' and 'Streamline Train':

'Roundhouse Stomp'   Alexis Korner's Breakdown Group

Recorded 13 Feb 1957

Issued on 'Blues from the Roundhouse'   77 Records 77 LP/2   Nov 1957

On 29 March 1957 Davies recorded 'Kid Man', 'County Jail' and 'Easy Rider' with the Alexis Korner Skiffle Group. Those saw a second rendition on 22 July of 1958 with the additional title, 'I Ain't Gonna Worry No More', according to Trobridge. Perhaps that's a typo (if I've not read Trobridge wrong entirely) meaning July of 1957, since it's universally agreed that it was issued in 1957 on Tempo EXA 76. 45Cat has that in December:

'I Ain't Gonna Worry No More'   Alexis Korner's Skiffle Group

Recorded 22 July 1957 ?

Issued on Tempo EXA 76   Dec 1957

Composition: Sleepy John Estes  1935

On 29 April 1958 Davies contributed to Korner's Blues Incorporated on 'Sail On', 'National Defence Blues', 'Go Down Sunshine' and 'Death Letter'. He performed with the Roundhouse Jug Four in 1961: 'KC Moan', 'Hesitation Blues', 'It's the Same Thing' and 'Short Leg Shuffle'. Blues Incorporated recorded Jody Williams' 'She Fooled Me' for the first time on 17 January 1962. Willie Dixon's 'Hoochie Coochie Man' went down for the first time at the Marquee on 8 June 1962, issued later that year by Decca. Also on that album recorded that day were 'Gotta Move' and 'Keep Your Hands Off':

'Gotta Move' w 'Keep Your Hands Off'  Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated

Recorded 8 June 1962

Issued by Cedda on 'R&B from the Marquee'   Nov 1962

'Gotta Move' written by Korner   'Keep Your Hands Off' written by Davies

It was Alexis Korner & His Band in October of 1962, consisting of Davies (harmonica), Dick Heckstall-Smith (tenor sax), Johnny Parker (piano), Jack Bruce (string bass) and Ginger Baker (drums). The flip side of that was Blues Incorporated with Nancy Spain:

'Up Town'   Alexis Korner & His Band

Recorded Oct 1962   Issued on Lyntone LYN 298 & LYN 299

Composition: Traditional

'Blaydon Races'   Blues Incorporated w Nancy Spain

Recorded Oct 1962   Issued on Lyntone LYN 298 & LYN 299

Composition: Korner / Davies

Upon leaving Blues Incorporated in 1962 Davies formed the All Stars, first recording in April of 1963: 'Country Line Special' and 'Chicago Calling'. Later that year they appeared on 'Hullabaloo' a couple times in Sep and Nov of 1963 [Dec broadcast per IMDb]. Davies' 'Preaching the Blues' below is not to be confused with Bessie Smith's 'Preachin' the Blues' of 1927 nor Robert Johnson's 'Preachin' the Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)' of 1939:

'Country Line Special'   Cyril Davies & the All Stars w Long John Baldry

Issued April 1963 on Pye 7N 25194 A

Composition: Davies

'Chicago Calling'   Cyril Davies & the All Stars w Long John Baldry

Issued April 1963 on Pye 7N 25194 B

Composition: Davies

'Preaching the Blues' w 'Sweet Mary'   Cyril Davies & the All Stars

Issued Sep 1963 on Pye International 7N 25221 A & B

'Preaching the Blues' composed by Davies

'Sweet Mary' composed by Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) 1947

'Preaching the Blues'   Cyril Davies & the All Stars

Live w Long John Baldry and the Velvettes on 'Hullabaloo'   9 Nov 1963

Composition: Davies

'Got My Mojo Working'   Cyril Davies & the All Stars

Live sometime 1963   Venue and date unknown

Composition: Preston Foster

'Someday Baby'   Cyril Davies & the All Stars

Sometime 1963   Issued on 'Blues Anytime Vol.3'    Immediate IMLP 019   1968

Davies died of endocarditis (or possibly leukemia) at the young age of 31 in London on 7 January of 1964. Long John Baldry then took charge, changing the band's name to the Hoochie Coochie Men.