JAMES LAST STORY - 1976
New Releases
2371 637 Sing Mit 4
2371 643 Freut Euch Des Lebens
2371 658 Happy Summer Night
2371 668 Non Stop Dancing 76/2
2371 711 Classics Up To Date 4
2371 723 Non Stop Dancing 77 (No 18)
2371 724 Sing Mit 5
January
The year opens with Make The Party Last still in the UK album charts at number five, sales are in excess of 400,000 copies, Hansi gains gold disc number one hundred and thirty.
The Dutch honour Hansi, a new bulb is named after him, the Partyking.
The James Last Story by Bob Willox is published, initial sales exceedingly good.
February
Six James Last Sing Mit Parties:-
February 6th, 7th & 8th Hamburg
February 10th Munich
February 11th Berlin
February 12th Innsbruck
Derek Watkins makes debut with the band in Hamburg, Friday February 6th
UK journalist Bob Willox completes his book, the James Last Story.
March / April
UK TOUR
Friday March 26th: Arrive In London
Saturday March 27th: Eastbourne, Congress Centre
Sunday March 28th: Leicester, De Montfort Hall
Monday, March 29th: London, Royal Albert Hall
Tuesday, March 30th: London, Royal Albert Hall
Wednesday, March 31st: London, Royal Albert Hall
Thursday, April 1st: London, Royal Albert Hall
Friday, April 2nd: Sheffield, City Hall
Saturday, April 3rd: Manchester, Belle Vue
Sunday, April 4th: Glasgow, Kelvin Hall
Monday, April 5th: Glasgow, Kelvin Hall
Tuesday, April 6th: Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Wednesday, April 7th: Newcastle, City Hall
Thursday, April 8th: Southport, Theatre
Friday, April 9th: Bristol, Colston Hall
Saturday, April 10th: London, BBC Television Theatre (record tv show)
Sunday, April 11th: Bournemouth, Winter Gardens
Tuesday, April 13th: Dublin, National Stadium
Wednesday, April 14th: Dublin, National Stadium
Thursday, April 15th: Dublin, National Stadium
Friday, April 16th: Travel to Hamburg via London
A DAY RETURN TO EASTBOURNE
My first excursion on the bands bus
Friday, March 26th, 1976, the James Last Orchestra arrived in London, to spend three weeks on the road, for their fourth United Kingdom & Ireland Tour. Their base for the first few days, the Mayfair Hotel, London. To relax after their journey from Hamburg, they spent the evening in the Beachcomber Nite Club at the Mayfair, relaxing until the early hours of Saturday morning.
The bands bus was leaving for Eastbourne at two o'clock. I took along a handfull of copies of our magazine number five, which was hot off the press, before I could find a seat, all the musicians were reading our latest publication. The bar was now open, Borni (Herbert Bornhold) offered me a beer or pink champagne, I settled for a beer.
Hansi came and sat next to me for a few minutes, we chatted about the Orchestras activities, plus the Societies activities. I noticed that Lennart Axelsson (trumpet) was not on the coach. Hansi explained that he could not manage the first week, so he promptly introduced me to his stand in, Kenny Wheeler.
We arrived at Eastbourne soon after four o'clock, Jurgi Mayer (Road Manager) and Peter Klemt (Sound Enginer) had the stage and sound system all set up. Fifteen minutes after arrival, a full rehearsal was to take place.
Hans Werner Funke (Orchestra Manager) and myself grabbed a seat in the stalls for an extra concert. Even the rehearsal was electric. So many new numbers we were hearing for the first time, and when the choir rehersed, Hans Werner and myself could hardly restrain ourselves, and we had to get up and clap along to Secret Love and Jealousy.
The rehearsal concluded after seven, leaving everybody with less than one hour to prepare for the concert. I managed to find a local cafe, and enjoyed a plate of eggs and chips, I noticed most musicians heading for a nearby Chinese take away, and then scurrying back to the theatre to change into their brand new suits, for the first concert of the 1976 tour.
Prior to the concert, and again during the interval, it was nice to meet up with so many Appreciation Society members. In the theatre foyer, three new James Last albums were on sale, and we noticed sales were exceptional. Oh how lucky we were back in 1976. Three new releases on sale, Classics Up To Date 3, Non Stop Dancing 17 and In The Mood For Trumpets. Wow.
I took my seat, in the back row, here I could observe the reaction of the whole audience. The Eastbourne audience, perhaps a little reserved, appeared to enjoy the concert. Not so many dancing in front of the stage, towards the end, still it was Eastbourne, it was the first night, and without a doubt, better things were still to come.
As i didn't need to change from my stage costume, I was first on the coach for the return journey to London. Peter Klemt soon followed. He handed me two slices of bread, a slice of ham, a piece of cheese and a beer, that was my supper, or so I thought.
Hansi was detained by a very long line of autograph hunters, finally around midnight, some sixty minutes after the concert came to a close, we were on the move. As the musicians settled down for the two hour journey, the television ws showing an old Alan Ladd movie, which soon gace way to a variety of music from the coach sound system.
Hansi asked me what I thought of the concert, my reply, virtually as always, absolutely brilliant. He hinted at one or two minor changes before the second concert, at Leicester on Sunday.
Back at the Mayfair Hotel, with the time approaching two in the morning, dinner was being served in the Hotel restaurant, scampi for starters, a fillet steak, plus trimmings and a fruit cocktail. Needless to say, the bar was open, and Hansi was behind the bar making Hansi's Special Cocktails. I coughed, Hansi noticed, and told me I need his cocktail, a Throat Clearer. Throat Clearer? It blew my head off.
Most musicians opted for an early night, around four o'clock in the morning. A few of us remained a little longer, Lyn Cornell (vocals), Gunter Platzek (keyboards), Konny Bogdan (trombone), Detlef Surmann (trombone), Benny Bendorff (bass guitar) and Barry Reeves (drums) had another drink or three. When the Hotel staff arrived with hoovers and cleaning materials, we decided that 7.30am, was late enough. And so to bed.
What happened to Sunday? I made breakfast, did anybody else? I don't think so, soon after lunch time, it was on the road again, this time to Leicester. At least we could sleep on the coach, so I thought. Regretably, one of Hansi's rules, no sleeping on the coach.
THE CONCERTS
Royal Albert Hall Concerts - Out Of This World
James Last brought his Orchestra to the United KIngdom with almost a brand new programme. Gone were old favourites such as Soley Soley, I'm On My Way To Amarillo and She's Too Fat For Me, in came The House Of The Rising Sun, Exodus, Granada, Jezebel, American Patrol and In The Mood.
Scenes at the Royal Albert Hall, were reminiscent of the Last Night Of The Proms, during the finale, hundreds danced in the aisled, those who couldn't dance for lack of space, stood up, they sang, they clapped their hands, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Opening the concert with The Way We Were, the spark of class showed through brilliantly, highlighting Hansi's talent as an arranger. Next came the Hustle, things were really swinging, and we are only into the second number.The talented trumpet section, leaning forward towards the microphones, told us to "do it," the Hustle that is. Making the party last, the party mood continued with Cracklin' Rosie and Rose Garden.
From Hansi's new album, Happy Summer Night, we heard Granada, Dolannes Melody, Secret Love, Jealousy and The Summer Of 42. This Granada is the third arrangement we have by Hansi, and wow, what an arrangement it is. Superb brass and strings combine to get the audience clapping with appreciation, this this arrangement has a false ending, and the orchestra give us one extra chorus.
Russell & Joanne Stone, from the James Last choir, gave this tour a miss, to promote their own single chart success's We Do It and One Chance, but Hansi invited them to the Royal Albert Hall, to sing them just for us.
To conclude the first half, Hansi brought back Exodus, and what a fitting finale to the first half, with Barry Reeves (drums) and Herbert Bornholdt (percussion) providing one of the highlights of the show.
Journalist David Longman, from the Music Week, the trade newspaper, compared the show to a bottle of matured wine, once the cork was removed, the flavour really came through.He went on to say numbers such as The Hustle, The Way We Were, Games That Lovers Play, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Exodus and The Summer Of 42 just demonstrated the variety of music that the orchestra could play with complete confidence. One of the highlights was an inspired version of the Animals, The House Of The Rising Sun.
This year, Hansi chose Ravel's Pavane as his good night song, but this was followed by a good fifteen to twenty minutes of party music, which helped to creatic an electrifying atmosphere.
The Royal Albert Hall is Hansi's favourite venue, and one venue where the fans make every effort to attend. You walk in the Royal Albert Hall, and the atmosphere is already being created, something that doesn't happen elsewhere. But other venues to have their moments, and reports from around the country suggest this tour was the best James Last tour ever. We will not dissagree.
Laurie Henshaw, writing in the Melody Maker, said the show lasted a good two and a half hours and was an education in musicianship alied to superb stagecraft.
Programme:
Intro
The Way We Were
The Hustle
Cracklin' Rosie / Rose Garden
Dolannes Melodie
Granada
Secret Love
Jealousy
Romance
Hora Staccato
Deep In The Heart Of Texas / Manana / Sugarbush
interval...
Theme From S.W.A.T.
Summertime
Hansi Introduces The Musicians
Rodrigo Guitar Concerto
Jezebel
Games That Lovers Play
Happy Heart
Superstar
Summer Of 42
House Of The Rising Sun
American Patrol / In The Mood
Pavane
Jubilation / You Are The Sunshine Of My Life / Never Can Say Goodbye
Can't Give You Anything / Brazil / La Paloma Blanca
Rock Around The Clock / See You Later Alligator / Hound Dog
Sportspalast Polka
Get Back / Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da / La Felicidad
At the Royal Albert Hall:
R & J Stone: We Do It & One Chance
At Eastbourne:
I'm On Fire / Fly Robin Fly / Lady Bump
Requested at some concerts:
The Wedding Song (There Is Love)
May
May 1st, Dancing Into May, Carnival party in Munster.
August
James Last In Scandinavia
left to right: Sunny Leslie, Susie Glover, Kay Garner & Lyn Cornell
Thursday, August 12th Stockholm
Friday, August 13th Copenhagen
Saturday August 14th Copenhagen
Sunday August 15th Odense
Monday August 16th Randers
Tuesday August 17th Herning
Wednesday August 18th Vejle
After Vejle,August 19th, back to Germany, to Bremen for another ZDF Star Parade.
And one concert:
Sunday August 22nd Verden/ Aller
September
More concerts in Germany
Sunday September 12th Wolfsburg
Monday September 13th Hildesheim
Tuesday September 14th Hannover
Wednesday September 15th Hamburg
Thursday September 16th Dusseldorf
Friday September 17th Siegen
Saturday September 18th Lauda
Sunday September 19th Nurnberg
Monday September 20th Mainz
Tuesday September 21st Mannheim
Wednesday September 22nd Recklinghausen
Thursday September 23rd Wiesbaden
Friday September 24th Russelsheim
Saturday September 25th Munchen
Sunday September 26th Stuttgart
Monday September 27th Hannover
Tuesday September 28th Berlin
Wednesday September 29th Braunschweig
Thursday September 30th Bremen
October
More concerts and TV from Austria
October 14th to 16th: Star Parade for ZDF TV from Vienna
October 17th: Concert from Viena
October 18th: Concert from Linz