Joe Brown

  • Real Name: Joe Brown
  • Birth Date: May 13th 1941
  • Birth Place: Swarby Lincolnshire
  • Joe Brown was actually born in Lincolnshire, but his upbringing in London's east end assured his acceptance as a genuine cockney. Joe had begun his musical career like so many of his generation as a member of a skiffle group. His natural ability with the guitar made him popular both with his audience and other musicians who wanted him to back them. Joe's big break came on Jack Good's third TV music show 'Boy Meets Girl', although Jack had actually found Joe as his previous show 'Oh Boy!' came to the end of its series. The programme was meant to portray the romantic side of rock and roll, but was later declared a big mistake by Jack Good himself. Although it may not have had the rock and roll credentials of his previous shows, 'Boy Meets Girl' was still very popular and hosted some of the best American acts to visit the UK during the late 1950s. Through his involvement with the show- and his great skill- Joe got the opportunity to play with artists like Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent who he backed on tour. Joe was even invited to join Ronnie Hawkins band in the US, but fortunately he turned down the offer because it would have taken him away from his British girlfriend.

    Sleeve of NEP34026
    You can argue that the Christmas carols on this EP (NEP 34026) were unusual material for a teenage rock and roller. Whatever you may think in that respect, it didn't prevent this seasonal offering at the end of 1962 from being one of Joe's best EP successes.

    Joe's chart career was slow to start, and it took him two years before he achieved a major placing. However, his skill with a guitar and his cheeky cockney humour made him a popular performer and a sought after backing musician. Although Joe's career in some respects mirrored that of his friend Marty Wilde he did not suffer quite the same level of decline as Marty during the late 1960s, even achieving a chart entry with the Lennon and McCartney penned 'With A Little Help From My Friends' during 1967. However, like Marty he married one of the Vernons girls (Vicki Haseman) and had a famous singing daughter, 'Sam Brown'.

    Joe's chart career is probably over (he last charted in 1973), but he is now loved as much for his personality as his music. It may even be that Joe's cockney humour has reduced his credibility as a serious musician, but he is undoubtedly one of the greatest (and certainly one of the tallest!) of the popular guitarists to have emerged from the 1960s.

    1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

    • Listings include UK 45 singles releases only
    • Collector's Items are shown In Red

    Decca F11185 1959 People Gotta Talk/ Comes The Day  
    Decca F11207 1960 Darktown Strutter' Ball/ Swagger #36
    Decca F11246 1960 Jellied Eels/ Dinah  
    Pye 7N15322 1960 Shine/ The Switch #33
    Piccadilly 7N35000 1961 Crazy Mixed Up Kid/ Stick Around  
    Piccadilly 7N35005 1961 I'm Henery The Eighth I Am/ Good Luck And Goodbye  
    Piccadilly 7N35024 1962 What A Crazy World We're Living In/ Popcorn #37
    Piccadilly 7N35047 1962 A Picture Of You/ A Layabout's Lament #2
    Piccadilly 7N35058 1962 Your Tender Look/ The Other Side Of The Town #31
    Piccadilly 7N35082 1962 It Only Took A Minute/ All Things Bright And Beautiful #6
    Decca F11496 1962 Come The Day/ People Gotta Talk  
    Piccadilly 7N35106 1963 That's What Love Will Do/ Hava Nagila #3
    Piccadilly 7N35129 1963 Nature's Time For Love/ The Spanish Bit #26
    Piccadilly 7N35138 1963 Sally Ann/ There's Only One Of You #28
    Piccadilly 7N35150 1963 Little Ukelele/ Hercules Unchained  
    Piccadilly 7N35163 1964 You Do Things To Me/ Everybody Calls Me Joe  
    Piccadilly 7N35194 1964 Don't Just Like That  
    Pye 7N15784 1965 Teardrops In The Rain/ Lonely Circus  
    Pye 7N15888 1965 Sicilian Tarantella/ Thinkin' That I Love You  
    Pye 7N15983 1965 Charlie Girl/ My Favourite Occupation  
    Pye 7N17074 1966 Sea Of Heartbreak/ Mrs. O's theme  
    Pye 7N17135 1966 Little Ray Of Sunshine/ Your Loving Touch  
    Pye 7N17184 1966 A Satisfied Mind/ Stay A Little While  
    Pye 7N17339 1967 With A Little Help From My Friends/ Show Me Around #32
    MCA MU1003 1968 Bottle Of Wine/ Blue Tuesday  
    MCA MU1030 1968 Davy the Fat Boy/ Katerine  
    MCA MU1082 1969 Sweet Music/ Suzanne  


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