So who were Bud Ashton and his group

[captainhaddock]

Whilst having a look at you-tube today, I came across a series of postings of Shadows tracks on the Embassy label all played by Bud Ashton and his group. Three examples are "Genie With the light brown Lamp" http://youtu.be/vN56tlB-ys0
"The Savage" http://youtu.be/MrkudAL_Vjc. and "Shindig" http://youtu.be/J7AXWNHhiww
As far as I can gather there wasn't actually a Bud Ashton and the tracks were played by various session musicians. Are there any suggestions as to who played on these tracks and how much cheaper than the original disc was an Embassy disc ?

[noelford]

My memory could well be playing tricks on me but I seem to recall that normal singles and LPs cost around seven shillings and thirty shillings respectively back in those days, whilst the Woolworths Embassy label 45s and 78 were about four shillings.

[Ian Miller]

Hi,

Have a look at this site, bags of info here.

http://www.embassyrecords.co.uk/

Ian

[dusty fretz]

Another informative site on this subject can be found here: http://www.spanglefish.com/TheWonderofEmbassyRecords

I too recall Embassy singles being four bob in the early/mid-'60s, when the 'real thing' cost 6/4d I believe. Regarding the identity of Bud Ashton and other instrumentalists on the Embassy label, the following may be of interest:

Last year I interviewed Bob Rogers, who was guitarist with The Ted Taylor Four back in the '60s. The group recorded for Oriole and were also employed on Embassy recordings. Ted Taylor's distinctive clavioline featured on various keyboard-orientated instrumentals, while Bob Rogers confirmed his alter-ego of axe hero Bud Ashton, or as he said, "One of them".
He told me other session players performing under that pseudonym included Judd Proctor, Eric Ford and Ernie Shear (the latter responsible for the intro on 'Move It'). He emphatically stated that Bert Weedon was never employed in Ashton guise, although there is some evidence that seems to suggest otherwise.

The same selection of six-stringers also appeared on instrumental covers credited to 'Steve Stannard', which explains their very similar sounds and playing styles. It was a case of "what's in a name" back then and even the two aliases were equally interchangeable. For example, Steve Stannard was shown as the artist on the singles: Man Of Mystery, Rocking Goose, Riders In The Sky and Ja-Da, while these recordings were instead attributed to Bud Ashton on the Embassy LP 'Play Man Play'.

I hope this snippet helps to clarify as much as confuse!

[Uncleboko]

Whoever it was playing guitar - it was pretty awful

[dave robinson]

Probably the reason that some thought it was Bert Weedon was the style of playing, which although musically correct didn't have the 'feel' and 'attitude' of Hank and Co.
These guys at the time were 'old school' and other than Ernie Shear's work on 'Move It', the playing and sound was to me as a kid, very un-inspiring.

[captainhaddock]

My memory could well be playing tricks on me but I seem to recall that normal singles and LPs cost around seven shillings and thirty shillings respectively back in those days, whilst the Woolworths Embassy label 45s and 78 were about four shillings.

From what I've heard so far, i would rather spend the extra three shillings, or go without!

[dave robinson]

My memory could well be playing tricks on me but I seem to recall that normal singles and LPs cost around seven shillings and thirty shillings respectively back in those days, whilst the Woolworths Embassy label 45s and 78 were about four shillings.

From what I've heard so far, i would rather spend the extra three shillings, or go without!

That's what we did, why are we raking it all up 50 years later?

[noelford]

I agree. You can't imagine anyone today buying cover versions to save a few bob.

[JimN]

I agree. You can't imagine anyone today buying cover versions to save a few bob.

Especially not now that almost anything can be found free online.

JN