The ShadowMusic Web Community

Who was playing with Hank on Midnight Cowboy?

The Norrie Paramor Orchestra. Bass: Herbie Flowers or Dave Richmond, Drums - Rex Bennett (no relation to Brian!), Guitars: Hank, Alan Parker, Vic Flick. This information came direct from Hank personally when I interviewed him at length in 1998.

Bests....Rob

Was that the interview for the reissue of the 'Hank Marvin' album on CD?
That track is one of my personal favourites, it sounds like a lot of special effects pedals were used on that track!

Hello Roy,
I was lucky enough (courtesy of Brian Goode!!!) to be able to spend a few hours with Hank. It was a general interview covering his 1990s solo career to date plus info that could be used for a variety of sources and projects. The 1998 EMI reissue was a happy coincidence so I took the opportunity to ask Hank a few questions about the 1968 - 1970 period. I also recall that, shortly before I met Hank, "Record Collector" used to run a little feature about obscure retro tracks becoming popular on the underground (no, not the tube!) club scene. One such track at the time (1998) was "Sunday For Seven Days" -which, I think, was described as being all "raging stratocaster and brutish strings"!!! (or something like that). Hank was delighted when I told him about it and also found it somewhat bemusing / amusing too.

Bests...Rob

Thanks Rob.

Hi Rob

Never wanting to contradict you or indeed Hank on this but when I discussed it with him, shortly after it's release, in 1969 at the Stockton Fiesta Club, I specifically asked him who played Bass on Midnight Cowboy and he relied that it was either Russ Stableford or Eric Ford!! He did state Rex Bennett on Drums

Regards

Stu

Hello Stuart,
Well....I don't see that information as contradicting me per se...but rather what Hank told us both...nearly 30 years apart!! He was talking about his solo material (singles & album) 1968 - 1970. I believe what he actually said was that Herbie Flowers played bass on most of those sessions (note: most - not all), but that Dave Richmond played on some of the tracks. Of course, post - 1970, he worked with those two quite a bit. So, I wouldn't rule out Russ Stableford (the fantastic bassist on "Everlasting Love" for example - who, I believe, died tragically young). He could well have played bass on "Midnight Cowboy" (Eric Ford was most definitely not ever a session bassist - guitarist, yes, bass player - no), Hank's memory playing tricks when he spoke to me 30 yrs later. Certainly Russ Stableford was a great friend of Vic Flick as I recall. Short of asking Hank again (not easy nowadays!!) - I could always ask Mo Foster to listen to "Midnight Cowboy" (as he's brilliant at recognising the slight nuances between all of the great session bass palyers) and see if he reckons it was Russ Stableford, Herbie Flowers or Dave Richmond!! I think that we can rule out Eric Ford (for bass duties), but - of course - he could well have been on "Midnight Cowboy" as an extra guitarist.

Bests....Rob

Isn't there any paperwork available to reveal the musicians on Hank's solo recordings from 1969 and 1970? After all, Malcolm Campbell has listed recording dates for all of these tracks, so there must be some paperwork available.

I may be wrong (someone will correct me if I am) - but I believe that a lot of paperwork relating to who played on which sessions (esp late 60s onwards) was either lost or destroyed during various EMI moves in the last 40 odd years. It was a major headache, for example, with "Shades Of Rock" (if you recall). Between them Hank, Bruce and Brian remembered that Herbie Flowers, Brian Odgers, Dave Richmond and John Rostill played bass on the 12 tracks between them. None of them could recall which bassist played on which tracks. Brian (confirmed by Bruce) stated that John played on 2 tracks. Mo Foster is of the opinion that John's two tracks were very likely "Lucille" and "Satisfaction".

Bests....Rob

Hi Rob

It was a really interesting time for the Shadows with Bruce leaving and Alan Hawkshaw being recruited. It wasn't long before MWF was formed but there was a considerable amount of output from Hank at this time.

Regards

Stuart