John Buckley
- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Just going through some of my old vinyl lp's and came across one I had forgotten about. It was a live recording of the Freddy Mack Show at Toft's club in Folkestone. Brought back many happy memories of my "mod" days around '66 to '69 and visits to that club where there were some fantastic acts/groups to be seen and enjoyed. My favourite though had to be Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, absolutely outstanding. Those guys had more talent in their little fingers than the so called "talent" paraded in front of us on X-Factor!
At that time in my life I had just started working in London but still preferred Toft's to most clubs my friends and I used to frequent.
Back to the LP mentioned above, I heard from a friend that a copy of a live recording at Toft's could be purchased from some small back street office in London where I set off hot foot to one lunchtime in order to obtain my vinyl treasure. I'm pretty sure that you could not purchase this record from a normal outlet and was told ( don't know how true it was ) that only about 100 copies were ever pressed.
Pics of the LP in question shown below, anyone else remember these guys or visited that club?
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John Buckley- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Sorry, posted on wrong forum!
Could this be moved please?
Thanks!
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I remember Chris Farlowe and his classic "Out of Time" and it was put about at the time that he was related to someone in the Rolling Stones but just checked his Wikipedia entry and doesn't say anything of the sort.
Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
It was relatively common for albums from less well established bands to be made at that time in quantities of 99 to avoid purchase tax so your account is very plausible. I've no recollections of your particular acts, John, but I do have a friend who was a regular performer at Tofts (he was in their house band) and I'd be happy to ask him if you're particularly keen.
John Buckley- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
That's kind of you Stuart, thanks and much appreciated.
Very interesting point about the avoidance of purchase tax, never thought of that one!
Any info' or interesting snippets about the acts, bands or the club itself for example would be welcome but especially if he actually remembered " the fantastic " Freddy Mack!
Incidentally that's a great LP, full of atmosphere just like being there, well almost!
Wish I could go back in time......happy days!
Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
No problem. I think the best I can do is to send a link to this page to my pal (his name is Mick Morris) and await his response, if any. He's a mine of information about the music scene in East Kent in the late 60s and early 70s. Your album sounds interesting. It's an entirely new one on me.
John Buckley- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Thanks again Stuart, any info' would be interesting, they certainly had some good acts at that club but can't imagine that they were paid a fortune ?
I'm really surprised though that not more forum members have commented on this, perhaps they're too young!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
My teenage years were spent in the music pubs of East London John, one in particular in Canning Town was the first in this country to have Rock n Roll bands, then the first to have heavy metal and underground rock.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,058
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:I remember Chris Farlowe and his classic "Out of Time" and it was put about at the time that he was related to someone in the Rolling Stones but just checked his Wikipedia entry and doesn't say anything of the sort.
Chris is still gigging with Van the Man (though no longer a world ambassador for WeightWatchers!) :-
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,817
Where abouts in Folkestone was the club and what year did it run to?
Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
The original club was a dance club, I believe Andy, which was located somewhere in the West End of Folkestone. Unsurprisingly, it was a business run by Mr and Mrs Toft! In its heyday it was located in Grace Hill not far from the old satellite building of the Harvey Grammar School where I spent my school years. I was too young to be part of its "glory" years such as they were, but with older siblings I was well aware of its importance to the local music scene. My brother was briefly employed as door man there together with a local character by the name of Bruno Brunt!
I'm sure I can recall some very popular acts having played there amongst them was Chris Farlowe whom Howard mentioned. Many of us used to wonder how the club attracted such big names and how much it was able to pay them.
Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,817
John Buckley- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Gosh! Is that really Chris Farlowe? I think I prefer to remember him like this and pretend that time has stood still!
( thanks for the link Andy, very interesting. )
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Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
My thanks too, Andy. Very interesting link.
Andy B- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,817
I,m amazed so many famous names played there,seems Folkestone was the place to be back then.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
It was all about smaller venues in those days Andy, my local Granada had the Beatles and Stones 3 times each, most of the "Liverpool Sound" and even "Little Stevie Wonder" as he was known then.
Nowadays it is all about 02 arenas and stadiums.
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Guest 2424- Registered: 19 Dec 2017
- Posts: 1
Hi ,
I´ve googled for "disco Folkestone", because I´ve been there in the late sixties for school summer hollidays from Hannover, Germany.
Reading "Toft´s" and Your article made me feel 50 years younger.
I´m 61 now and have a member card from Toft´s somewhere between my LP´s.
Last week a met a guy from Manchester, 62 now, who told me, he has been a hooligan at that time, we drank some beer here in Hannover (now he works here) and loughed a lot.
Has been a great time, in Folkestone too, I often remember the ferry when I hear "In the summertime" from Mungo Jerry.
Best regards from Germany
Guenter Rohde
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Guest 2584- Registered: 25 Apr 2018
- Posts: 1
John Buckley, we’re you married to Zena? I was Vicki Callister .... not sure if you remember me from Halifax?!
John Buckley- Registered: 6 Oct 2013
- Posts: 615
Hi Vicki!
Gosh, that was a surprise but yes, that’s me, I was married to Zilna until about 1982 I think.
Of course I remember you, together with some of the antics that some of our work colleagues got up to at the “Halifax”.
( remember the counter hopping?? )
Hope that you’re well and that life has not treated you too badly since those days?
Guest 3411- Registered: 12 Aug 2019
- Posts: 1
Hi, new to this site. Lived in Folkestone during the summer of 1966 and was a frequent visitor to Toffs. Lived in Shellon Street which l found out on a recent visit is no longer. Worked at Martin Walter in Sandgate Road and earned the vast sum of 4.17.6d per week. As l remember, one of the guys l worked with at the time played in local group The End. Was over 50 years ago but I think his name was Cyril. As a mod coming from London, Toffs was a home from home, great atmosphere and featured many of the acts that l used to see in the west end clubs. Best acts were, as mentioned in an earlier post, Geno Washington (He is still performing to this day), Zoot Money and his Big Roll Band, Chris Farlow. Worst act seen there was Roy C who had a massive mod hit with Shotgun Wedding. He only sang about 10 numbers and 3 of them were shotgun Wedding !! Happy days indeed. Loved living there and only returned back to London due to family bereavement.
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