The New Vaudeville Band Winchester Cathedral ...plus (CD)

(RPM Records) 33 tracks 1966/67 with 16 page booklet

When ‘Westminster’ became ‘Winchester Cathedral’, pop single master Geoff Stephens struck gold when his 1920's styled track became an international no. 1. It even won a Grammy award beating the Beach Boys ‘Good Vibrations’!

Voiced in a session by John Carter, Stephens then hastily assembled a live band to continue the promotion. During an eighteen month peak (1966 / 1967) the band were managed by Peter Grant , released two LPs (recorded by a mixture of band members and session musicians) , scored 4 hit singles, and played residencies in Las Vegas to thousands.

Musically rivaling contemporaries the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The New Vaudeville Band dressed in 1920’s outfits and adopted the 1920’s swing time style to their perky 60’s pop brand. It fitted in perfectly with the Carnaby Street fashions of the time.

Collected here are the complete recordings credited to The New Vaudeville Band, including unreleased tracks and song writing demos (including John Carter’s demo of ‘Winchester Cathedral’). The package includes input from Stephens, Carter, and band members Henry Harrison and Alan Klein.