The Fortunes
The Fortunes began life as a Birmingham-Welsh vocal trio
fronting The Cliftones - whose repertoire was based around
easy-listening songs (including Maria from West Side
Story).
With the coming of the Beat Boom the singers, Rodney Allen,
Glen Dale and Barry Pritchard - now sporting electric guitars and
bass - began auditioning for an organist (David Carr) and a
drummer (Andy Brown).
Under the watchful eye of manager Reg Calvert, they retained
their smart suits and haircuts while scrutinizing the latest
material by the likes of Gene Pitney and Dionne Warwick for
inclusion in their act.
Their debut single (Summertime Summertime) passed
without notice, but after their second single, Caroline,
was adopted as the theme tune of the Pirate Radio station of the
same name, it was only a matter of a year before You've Got
Your Troubles.
Their second hit, Here It Comes Again, was once more
heavily orchestrated by Les Reed and characterised by an
overdubbed vocal counterpoint by Barry Pritchard near the finale.
It was unfortunate that on this occasion, it seemed to fade in on
a flatulent vulgarity which rhymed with 'heart' at the end of the
next line . . .
Before their chart run ended with This Golden Ring in
April 1966, The Fortunes chose to reveal that, though they were
competent instrumentalists in concert, session players had been
used in the studio. This mattered little in itself as their
records relied heavily on massed strings and overdubbed vocals
anyway. But the realisation that Glen, Barry and Rod were the only
members of the band actually heard on their A-sides certainly
damaged their career.
Though there were other exposes of British bands not playing on
their own records (such as Hedgehoppers Anonymous and Love
Affair), the media gave The Fortunes' confession much unwelcome
coverage, which could be linked with their failure to make the Top
50 again until 1970. To make matters worse, their manager was shot
dead in a dispute over the ownership of the UK pirate station,
Radio City.
Their 10th single, The Idol, was a fundamental departure
from the orchestral backings that made them. Even aired by
'underground' DJ John Peel, it was an intelligent effort in the
style of The Hollies - and played by The Fortunes themselves this
time.
By 1980 though, they were singing the praises of a fizzy drink
in a TV commercial and these days sustain themselves on the
cabaret circuit, albeit with extremely changed personnel.
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