Contributed by tyronetieclip
Eric Delaney (born 22 May 1924, Acton, west London) is an English drummer and bandleader, popular in the 1950s and early 1960s. Aged 16 he won the Best Swing Drummer award and later joined the Bert Ambrose Octet which featured George Shearing on piano. During 1947-54 he appeared with the Geraldo Orchestra and filled his time with regular session work in recording studios and on film, TV and radio. In 1954 he formed his own band and later signed with the new Pye Records label. He made three Royal Variety Show appearances, the first in 1956.
Delaney specialised in up-tempo dance hall music, often carrying a rock n' roll label but closer in spirit to that of Geraldo and Joe Loss. As with many similar artists, the music Delaney performed moved out of vogue after The Beatles. Nonetheless, Delaney remained active touring in the UK, notably in holiday resorts.
Fuller details of Delaney's life – he's still touring – along with photographs and comments from Kenny Ball, Elkie Brooks, Terry Lightfoot, Humphrey Lyttelton and others - are in Eddie Sammons' biography.[2]
Eric's grandson, Jake Delaney, is also a talented drummer. He will probably inherit Eric's drum kit.
Although best known as a jazz drummer, Eric is a talented multi-percussionist. As well as the drums he plays xylophone, glockenspiel, timpani, military side drum, tubular bells, a variety of Chinese gongs and tam tams and has incorporated many everyday items such as brushes and whistles into his shows over the years.
This American 12" LP "Mainly Delaney" sold very well and was an extended version of his 10" Nixa LP in UK.Freshly ripped vinyl , enjoy!!
We have had some discussion about the appropriateness of this album to the blog. There are tracks which almost no-one would say are jazz but others which indubitably do qualify. Anyway, as was mentioned, it is "fun" so here it is.
Albert Hall - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Eric Delaney - drums, tympanis
others unknown
01 Oranges And Lemons
02 Cockles and Mussels
03 Roamin' In The Gloamin'
04 Say Si Si
05 Mainly Delaney
06 Rock An' Roll King Cole
07 Ain't She Sweet
08 Hornpipe Boogie
09 Truckin'
10 Rockin' The Tymps
11 One O'Clock Jump
12 Ripe Cherry Rock
Label: Mercury MG 20258
Recorded: 1954-1956
Lineage: LP>FLAC
Great band, excellent recording and well digitised. Many thanks, tyronetieclip.
ReplyDeleteJazz? Probably not but fun and of its time. Besides, if BJ doesn't archive it, who will?
Better to cast the net a little too wide than not wide enough.
@DaveB. Exactly - well put.
ReplyDeleteI love his drumkit on the cover of this LP!
ReplyDeleteThe precursor to Keith Moon perhaps!?! ;)
Delaney is a familiar name to me but I'm not that familiar with his music, so this is very interesting. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks TTClip ... I too have heard of EDelaney but have not heard any of his records. Baron
ReplyDeleteSame for me....know the name, not the music. All part of the education. Thank you tyronetieclip.
ReplyDeleteinteresting thought... :) .
ReplyDeleteThanks for this and for the note about my biography (THE MAGNIFICENT ERIC DELANEY). A few points - the 1956 Royal Command Performance was cancelled due to the Suez crisis but that takes nothing from the fact that Eric was invited.
ReplyDeleteThe recordings on the disc are taken from two sessions - one in March, the other in October, 1956 (One O'Clock Jump, Rock'n'Roll King Cole and Ripe Cherry Rock). The personnel had changed slightly by the October session
THERE ARE NO 1954 0R 1955 RECORDINGS ON THIS. The titles common to the earlier Mercury 78rpm recordings are REMAKES.
I am currently working on a Delaney discography and personnel is based on memories, programmes, label issue dates and work schedules. Example: Kenny Ball told me that he was on One O'Clock Jump but not the drum solo. Thus he was with the band post March session until the end of the year. Thus I guess the tenor battle is between Alan Nesbitt and Jimmy Skidmore, and the trumpet one between Albert Hall and Kenny Ball (he replaced Bert Courtley who had formed a new band with Jack Seymour). The discography will soon be ready.
I had a drink with Eric in Benidorm last Wednesday. He is well and still playing - he sat in with the house band for a couple of numbers.
Thanks
Eddie Sammons
@Eddie Sammons. Thank you for your input. Especially glad to hear about Eric's present well-being. Alan Nesbitt's name has been inserted but we hope to learn a lot more when we can get hold of the your discography.
ReplyDeleteFrom Eddie Sammons
ReplyDeleteIt is with a sad heart that I have to report the passing of Eric Delaney aged 87. He appears to have died last Thursday (14/7) but was discovered this morning (16/7)when friends had not been able to contact him. He was supposed to be at the Wigan Jazz Festival and his absence caused suspicion.
To the end he was still drumming occasionally playing at Ronnie Scott's and helping young drummers.
British music has lost another great character.
Thanks for letting us know, Eddie - sad indeed.
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