Monocled Alchemist

Great Uncle Fred – ”I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen” (Strike JH-324) January 1967

Great Uncle Fred | I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen | Strike | 1967 | The oddly named and obscure group Great Uncle Fred are believed to have their origins in Great Yarmouth and the small East Anglian beat scene. At that particular period they were calling themselves The Millionaires.

Sometime in 1966 a decision was made to turn professional. They relocated to London for a shot at the big time. Sadly, all that came from their endeavours was this lone single on Strike. It’s gotta be said that the Strike label design is one of mod beauty.

In London they changed their name to Great Uncle Fred and recorded a Harvey Freed pop art number ”I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen”. This, by all accounts almost made the Top 40 in the Disc & Music Echo Chart during February 1967.

”I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen” is an odd little number combining a mod beat with a Russian style sound. Very Cossack au go go. It sounded different and unique enough to be a hit. Shame then that this one shot at stardom was Great Uncle Fred’s last.

The single was compiled in the 90s on the vinyl only compilation ”Incredible Sound Show Stories – Volume 14” also known as ”Candy Coloured Dreams.” The B-Side is an instrumental of the same song but with a slightly different mix, some echo and a louder guitar part.

Line-up:
Terry Mansi (vocals)
Dennis Ward (vocals)
Brian Roberts (guitar)
Tony Collier (bass)
Terry Rouse (drums)

Poor Great Uncle Fred. “I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen,” they cry. At least I THINK that’s what they’re saying. (Disc & Music Echo, 28/01/67)

A cantering gallop-pace rhythm and a touch of gypsy music dominate “I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen” by Great Uncle Fred – a title which has little or no bearing on the contents. (NME, 05/02/67)

Great Uncle Fred: ‘We beat the Stones’

WITH A NAME like Great Uncle Fred, you’d feel that Dennis Ward, Brian Roberts, Tony Collier and Terry Rouse, who form this group from Great Yarmouth, had done enough to be noticed.

Not so. The group that’s been given the subtitle “Troggs of ’67,” proceed to put down the Stones as inferior to themselves on record, pontificate on putting purity back into pop, and are highly critical of the Beatles.

Of the Stones, they say: “We’ve got a good, dirty sound back into pop music. (hear it on ‘I’m In Love With An Ex-Beauty Queen”), which the Stones have not been able to do even though they go to Nashville and all over the place trying for a better sound.

“We admire their stage act, but we’ve achieved more on one record than they have on all of their records which are diabolical. These days they don’t seem bothered. They are just taking the mickey out of the public.”

Great Uncle Fred | I’m In Love With An Ex Beauty Queen | Strike | 1967

Of the Beatles they say: “When you listen to the Beatles, they’re not really progressing musically. They’re too influenced by other people’s records.

“Anyway, pop can’t go forward. It’s got to go back. People like the Monkees and the Troggs are putting simplicity back into pop music.

The public have had too many groups trying to copy Geno Washington. Now they want simplicity. And we are doing this by just using two guitars.

the Troggs of ’67? “That’s correct. The Troggs are diabolical but very commercial. We’re very commercial too, both on sound and visually.”

Great Uncle Fred are also anxious to improve pop’s image. For them, no wild drug parties and sexual excesses after gigs. “We’re putting purity back into pop. After a gig we’re always away within 15 minutes. If you don’t believe us, come along and you’ll see. We treat pop as a business and behave accordingly. We only lark about in our spare time. After all, we do like girls, you know.”

Should they become successful they are pleased to think it will end other people’s notions that “people in Norfolk live in upturned boots.”

It might also give Premier Harold Wilson second thoughts. He politely turned down an invitation to be Great Uncle Fred’s fan club secretary. “He had too much on his plate, according to the letter we got.” (Disc & Music Echo, 04/03/67)