AMBASSADOR ADS - 1977

Here's some of the entertainment that was going on at the Ambassador during the course of 1977.
March saw ex Ivy League singer, Paul Edison, doing a 2 night stint one weekend, and was supported by a band called McDonalds Farm.
In stark contrast, November had punk band, Eater, who were no doubt creating a more chaotic scene in the hotel rather supplying an evening of cabaret!
December in the Cabaret Suite featured local band, Mafia - a pretty familiar act with Dundonians by then.
But Samantha Shay? Glamorous recording star?? Who she???!!

 

Thanks to Yvonne.

LONDON GIG FOR DUNDEE DUO - 1980

This ad appeared in Sounds music paper in August 1980.
2 Dundee bands in action on the same night at the Lyceum in London - AWB & Mafia.

ON THE ROAD WITH MAFIA - #2

As a consequence of parking the Mafia-mobile outside this establishment, the band received a stiff fine..!!
Thanks to Mac and DC.

ON THE ROAD WITH MAFIA - #1

A rather unusual venue for a gig..!!

This was the band on their travels in June 1980.

There is no truth in the story that Mafia sacked their manager after he failed to negotiate a residency at this place..!!

Thanks to Mac and DC.

MAFIA - RESCUE ME - 1980

This single by Mafia was released in 1980. It's their take on the R&B classic "Rescue Me" (1965 original by Fontella Bass).
Mafia's band line-up did go through a few changes in personnel in their time but the musicians involved in this session were - Donnie Coutts - Dougie Martin - Gerry McGrath - Gordon Dougall - Allan McGlone & Peter McGlone.
The extra bit of Dundee interest on this vinyl 45 is that it came out on Groucho Records. It has on the back of the cover that Groucho was at 89 Perth Road at the time.
The B-side, incidentally, is a track called "Hold On" and was produced by AWB's Alan Gorrie.

AVERAGE WHITE BAND IN 1979

Exactly 30 years ago, I, along with a big squad fae Dundee, hired a bus to go through to Glasgow to see Average White Band do their thing live on stage at the Apollo.
And a funky night had by all, with a full house dancing the night away in the theatre!
Dundonians like to claim AWB as their own of course, but the fact is they are from all over Scotland, with only 2 of the original members hailing from Dundee when they formed in 1972. Robbie MacIntosh, the Dundee drummer, died in 1974 so that just left Roger Ball, from Broughty Ferry, as Dundee's representative, birth-wise. Molly Duncan and Alan Gorrie went to Dundee Art College with Roger, but Molly was born in Montrose and Alan, Perth, the others, Hamish & Onnie are from the Glasgow area.
Dundee trivia-wise - AWB once played at The Ambassador in Clepington Road.!!
Their mate, Dougie Martin, whose band Mafia, were playing there that night, and needless to say, by the end of the evening both acts ended up jamming together on stage.
This Ambassador event was also captured on film by a BBC tv crew who were doing a documentary on AWB at the time, following the band around, showing how the group spent their time when back home, away from life in USA.
The programme (see above) was broadcast on 31 March 1979.
The footage below is not from the documentary but is from the 1979 tour, although not the Glasgow gig.
The track is "I'm The One", a song of theirs that, along with a bucket load of other AWB tunes, has since gone on to be sampled by dozens of hip hop acts!