Label: Philips
Year of Release: 1967
Romford's The Chasers grafted their way around the British gig circuit in the sixties. Consisting of Roger Pincott on vocals, Len Tuckey on guitar, Jack Chambers on bass and Lenny Butcher on drums, they were formed in 1960, beginning by performing straight-ahead beat pop before hardening their sound to an R&B approach in 1963. This gave them many more opportunities to break out of the local Romford area and perform in clubs nationally, achieving notable support slots with other R&B acts of the day such as the Downliners Sect.
While apparently being a strong live proposition, they failed to break through with any of their three releases across three different record labels during that period. "Hey Little Girl", issued by Decca in 1965, and "Inspiration", issued by Parlophone in 1966, were largely ignored by the public and poorly promoted by both institutions.
Top songwriter (and recording star in his own right) Chris Andrews was friends with the band, and produced all their work. By 1967 Pincott had jumped ship and the band replaced him with Bobby Rio, and there might have been a sense that if they couldn't strike it lucky with a third single, the goose could be cooked. It would certainly explain why Andrews chose that moment to step in and give them an original and powerful composition of his own to work with.
"The Ways Of A Man" is much poppier than the previous singles and lacks a brittle R&B edge, instead sounding very identifiably like a melancholy Andrews track. The delicate nature of the song makes for a compelling listen, but the style doesn't quite suit the band who sound noticeably hemmed in, and as a pop ballad it's crying out for Sandie Shaw's mournful tones to raise it to another level. Unsurprisingly, it followed their other far stronger singles into the dumper, and remains one of Andrews' less frequently heard and undeservedly unappreciated tunes as a result.
Rio also abandoned The Chasers after the failure of this single, and the group limped on as a trio for a few months before giving up when Tuckey joined The Riot Squad.
Excuse the pops and clicks on both sides of this single - it's not a perfect copy, I'm afraid.
13 comments:
This is a real collectors gem !!!
Many thanks again
All the best, Albert
Is that Len Tuckey as in Suzi Quatro's guitarist and erstwhile husband? Mind you, never did like his fried chicken!
The very same man, yes!
I've been looking for this track for years! The Chasers appeared at my school's social night one Thursday back in October 1966. They were all unknowns back then and, as far as I know, only one of the guitarists went on to bigger things. The guitarist is Len Tuckey, who also went on to marry Suzi Quatro and he was also part of her backing group. He was a big bloke. I did have The Chasers' autographs but sadly my autograph book went AWOL many years ago.
The Chasers appeared at my school's social night one Thursday back in October 1966. They were all unknowns back then and, as far as I know, only one of the guitarists went on to bigger things. The guitarist is Len Tuckey, who also went on to marry Suzi Quatro and he was also part of her backing group. He was a big bloke. I did have The Chasers' autographs but sadly my autograph book went AWOL many years ago.
Thanks for uploading and I've enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane!
I loved this song when I heard it being played on good old pirate Radio London one hot summer afternoon. Unfortunately I only ever heard it that once and it's taken me almost five decades to find it again.
That's really interesting, Annie, and thanks for sharing that. The Chasers were known as being a strong live group, so I'm assuming that would have been an amazing experience.
The only group who ever turned up to my school were a preachy Christian rock band. (*Grumbles*)....
Oh wow, I can't believe I've found it!! I was about 15/16 when I saw the Chasers at a gig about 20 miles from my home (I lived in a small village out in the sticks, near the M1). Somehow, they found out I was going to hitch hike home (we all did that back in the 60s otherwise we were stuck in the village with nothing to do!) and offered me a lift because my home was just a couple of miles from the A1/M1. (How naive it could have gone so horribly wrong if they were not nice guys!!). Anyway, when we got to my house (about half past midnight) I went in and asked my mum and dad if I could bring someone who'd given me a lift home in for coffee.........they agreed and in walked the whole band !!....my mum's face!!! Then being my mum, she asked if they had eaten and proceeded to make them all food - bacon, eggs, beans and toast!! It was just after they had released The Ways of a Man......I remembered the tune and most of the words to this day. They were listening to my records ....but the only ones they really liked were the Nat King Cole ones of my mums! I wonder if they are all still alive and kicking?
That's a great story! Len Tuckey is certainly still alive and well, and I haven't heard anything to suggest the others aren't.
What was the gig like? I get the impression they were probably a very strong live band.
I played in a band called The Act and we often shared a stage with The Chasers and they were a great live band.The Ways of a Man in no way reflected their live performances.
I played in a band Called The Act and we often shared a stage with The Chasers,they were a great live band and The Ways of a Man in no way reflected their live performances.
The same "The Act" who released "Remedies of Doctor Brohnicoy"? Oddly, I was listening to that only a few days ago!
That's the one! The Remedies of Doctor Bronichoy was fun to write and record. The title comes from the four writers.BR from Brian,OHN from John,IC from Mick and OY from Roy.
Yes, I was wondering where that name might have come from! A pleasure to have you visiting the blog, sir.
I don't own any singles by The Act, mind you, I just have tracks on compilations... I don't think I've seen any at an affordable price so far.
Hi Daves.
I,m sorry I,m a bit late responding to your message!!!!!!
Great to meet you too.
Michael.
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