4 MYSTERY ACTS - 1980's

Here we have a sequence of photos that were taken at various venues in town around the mid/late 80's period, the acts of which managed to slip through the net undocumented. So I thought I'd throw this one open to you lot out there to see if you can identify any of the above - whether from memory or by research.

The top one featuring somebody sporting the cowgirl look - both the act and the venue needs to be known. Any ideas?

Next one down with the female trio, was taken at Sessions. Were they backing singers or the main act?

Third image is also at Sessions, this time featuring a jazz quartet. Recognise any of the musicians?

Lastly, this picture of another group of jazz musicians was snapped at The Rep. Difficult to tell from the back but I was wondering if the saxophonist on the left might be a young Tommy Smith? Can't say for certain though because of the camera position. Do you know who's in the line-up?

See how you get on anyway.

Photos by The Bear.

STAN URBAN AT SESSIONS - 1980'S

Dundonian, Stan Urban, is an old-school rock 'n' roller. He was hooked on the music at a young age - and I mean young - playing in a local band called The Mystery Men when he was only 13 back in the 50's, when rock 'n' roll was as fresh as he was. By the early 60's he had progressed to providing piano backing for Gene Vincent & Chuck Berry and was also part of the bustling Hamburg scene at the time. In the 70's, when he had a residency in Ibiza, he even found himself jamming with Jimmy Page & Robert Plant!

Since the 80's he has released many records as a solo artist - with one of the albums called "Dundee Jivin' "

Performing live is what he likes doing best though and the above picture is him playing a home gig at Sessions in 1989.

He lives in Denmark now and you can find out more about what he's up to from his own website here - http://www.stanurban.dk/ (remember and click the union jack if you don't understand Danish!).

And so as Stan brings the house down - it's time now for Retro to bring the curtain down on the present music theme and head off to pastures new...

Photo by The Bear.

ALAN PRICE GIG AT SESSIONS - 1989

Alan Price had a 2 night stint at Sessions in June 1989.

I can remember when Alan was a regular on the telly in the 60's when he was in The Animals, a band who had some serious chart-busting singles in the hit parade, as it was called back then.

Alan then departed The Animals in the mid 60's to pursue a solo career - he actually played a gig at the Palais (Top Ten Club) in 1966.

Around the early 70's, he kind of became a lightweight all-round entertainer appearing on naff variety shows.

I never saw or heard him again after that.

So obviously, as this picture shows, he went back to doing what he was doing in the mid 60's, playing the pub & club circuit again.

His 2 female backing singers appear to be sharing a joke behind his back rather than providing vocals!

Photo by The Bear.