AUGUST 2020
THUNDERBOLT #89 (COVID-19 UPDATE)
UPDATE. The issue is nearly ready – it will be the LARGEST issue ever!
Dear JMS Members / Readers….
Fear not! JMS Thunderbolt #89 is underway and on its way. Covid 19 has affected many areas, walks of life. For some crazy reason, your editor found himself (somewhat incredulously) placed upon the National ‘Most Vulnerable and Seriously at Risk’ Register. My wife insisted that we should try to follow the guidance to the letter. To be honest…it has been awful and it has had an effect with its ultra – restrictiveness. Yes….I have had access to my laptop etc., but that in itself is nowhere near enough when trying to write / compile a Thunderbolt. And, yes…being shut into just one room of your house for over three months does take its toll in various ways. Happily, the supposed reason as to why I was placed on the wretched register has now run its course, so I am now as ‘free’ as any other 67 – year -old, but this is a period of readjustment.
Beavering away at Thunderbolt has at least kept me sane – but the situation has caused delays. Happily though, things are now proceeding apace. What I can promise you is that this ‘Post Lockdown’ Thunderbolt is going to be something special. A bumper issue. Here are some of the things to look forward to: RGM Sheet Music – The result of over twenty years’ work collecting and compiling. The result? The most comprehensive ever listing, together with analysis of the Sheet Music Charts – which has never been done before. / RGM Acts on TV. The result of over six years’ (on and off) research. This is not simply lifted from Peter Checksfield’s book. Well over 20 other artistes are featured who are not included in that publication. This is the definitive article on the subject. / The ‘Lost Outlaws ‘ – Lorne Greene and Ed Hamilton. A huge feature with lots of new, previously unknown facts and information. Plenty of previously unseen photographs too. Plus – the life and career of Ken Lundgren, who is overlooked compared to more well – known members of the group / A detailed survey of all of Joe’s Triumph / RGM releases for the first six months of 1960. All of this…..and more!
Rob Bradford editor Thunderbolt
NEWENT 2021
We intend to set 10th April 2021 as the date for our AGM and entertainment at Newent.
To purchase go to our Merchandise link
NEW TRIUMPHS ALBUM AVAILABLE
THE TRIUMPHS – MEEK AND WILD
CD 24 Tracks with 12-page booklet
1. Meeksville 2. Telstar 3. Runaway 4. Husky Team 5. North Wind 6. Eye Of The Storm 7. Wild Wind 8. M25 9. Green Jeans 10. All Shook Up 11. Wipeout 12. Here Come The Good Times 13. He’ll Only Hurt You 14. Loneliness 15. Sunday Date 16. Dreaming Of You 17. Heart Of A Teenage Girl 18. Teardrops Fall Like Rain 19. Big Jim 20. The Coalman’s Lament 21. Night Of The Vampire 22. Jack The Ripper 23. Little Sister (Live) 24. Have I The Right (Live) This is The Triumphs’ tribute to the work of famed record producer Joe Meek. Joe recorded many styles of music and ‘Meek and Wild’ offers a ‘jukebox’ full of great sounds, both vocal (15 tracks) and instrumental.(9 tracks).
In addition to popular chart toppers like Telstar and Have I The Right, the spotlight also falls on rarities such as Ray Dexter’s The Coalman’s Lament and, from the Tea Chest tapes, Geoff Goddard’s Here Come The Good Times. There are five original tracks, all inspired by the work of Joe Meek.
The Triumphs (Rob Bradford, Trev Faull, Ken Ledran and Ray Liffen) have as their special guest Dave Kaye, who recorded with Joe Meek. One of Dave’s tracks is He’ll Only Hurt You, a powerful ballad which he recorded with Joe, but which was never released at that time. Now you can hear it in a brand new arrangement with Dave backed by The Triumphs.
The album’s 12-page booklet includes descriptions of all the tracks and pictures of the band with many of the original Joe Meek artists that they have had the privilege of working with, including Clem Cattini, Dave Kaye, Malcolm Lenny (The Packabeats), Ray Dexter, Bobby Rio and Danny Rivers.
UK £9.99 including postage and packing Europe £12.50 including postage and packing Americas, Africa, Asia £13.50 including postage and packing Australia, New Zealand £13.80 including postage and packing
Go to The Triumphs web site to purchase securely through 
Now also available on-line at Bim Bam Records and Leo’s Den
Other methods of payment:
Pay by cheque (drawn on UK bank) made payable to ‘R. Liffen’ and sent to 24 Dalmeny Road, Carshalton, SM5 4PP U.K Pay manually Paypal to rayliffen@compuserve.com
The album is also available as a digital download at many outlets including
I Tunes UK I Tunes US Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Google Play and also Spotify
BACK ISSUES OF OUR NEWSLETTERS
All our Newsletters are still available as back issues and they have now been reduced to 10p (plus postage) – the same price as digital copies. Special rates available if you buy in bulk. There is a lot of information in these – especially the early ones edited by John Repsch and he used to answer letters in these too. Contact us if you are interested in back issues.