Guide to British Music of the 1960s
November 2022
Book Review: In the Lap of the Mods by Ian Hebditch & Jane Shepherd with Mike Evans & Roger Powell
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The Action were one of the best live bands of the 1960s.
In the Mod homeland of the south it is said, by those who saw them live, that
they were even better than the Small Faces or the Who. Like the
Small Faces the Action were true mods. Their repertoire evolved from
rock & roll and the addition of Pete Watson on 12 string Rickenbacker was the
final link that made the Action such as amazing live band. Reggie King's
voice suited perfectly the Motown and soul covers that formed the backbone of
the set. They picked up on many of the lesser-known tracks and made them their
own in the UK. Just listen to the Marvelettes' I'll Keep on Holding On
and their debut single Land of 1,000 Dances was released before the
well-known Wilson Pickett version.
This book is more than an Action biography; it is an Action encyclopaedia. It traces the band's story from Kentish Town roots. I never knew that Mike Evans had been playing in a group with Keith Moon prior to the latter joining the Beachcombers, for example. All members of the band make a contribution to the book along with fans. Reminiscences of Action gigs at the Birdcage in Eastney are illuminating. There are also "celebrity" fans. Paul Weller wrote sleeve notes for the The Ultimate Action LP which brought the band to a whole new audience, your reviewer included, in 1981. Robert Plant was a fan. Superfan Phil Collins was a regular Action gig-goer and based his drumming style on that of Roger Powell. Collins also joined the reformed band as second drummer at the 100 Club a few years ago. George Martin saw the band's potential and offered to produce them. This helps to explain the quality of the records the band released. However, despite the obvious quality and the backing of Martin, the singles failed to chart and an LP was not released (until 1981). Possibly the records did not capture the live atmosphere of an Action gig or, maybe, playing covers was not appropriate when bands were writing their own original material. When Pete Watson left the band the loss of the trademark 12-string left a hole but the Action continued to make great records and moved towards more original material. Shadows and Reflections, for example, is a great track that should have been a huge hit. With new members joining the band spluttered and were not the same as before. They struggled to adapt to a new musical environment before transforming into the more progressive Mighty Baby. This book is an excellent and fascinating read. Not only is it about one of the best bands of the 1960s not to have a hit but it also provides a great insight into the club scene of the 1960s. It is extensively illustrated with photographs, gig posters and more. At least the Action have an enduring legacy with all their recorded output available nowadays on LP or CD. They may not have compiled the chart compiler but they still have a strong following and remain the ultimate Action. Published: 2012 |