-This is the cover of Time Magazine dated Sunday 10 April 1966. It was thought to be the main catalyst & inspiration for the creation of "Swinging London" which lasted until the end of the 1960s. Other sources of 'Swinging London' were Roger Miller's pop hit: 'England Swings' from late 1965. Also the 'Lucy Special' T.V. show in September 1966 when Lucille Ball visits London. The whole genre is bizarre because it is doubtful that 'Swinging London' ever existed at all.(Like President Kennedy's: 'Camelot').Life went on in the 50's spirit of public/private capitalist stop-go economic policies.Nothing was for free.No liberation in any spirit other than increased consumer spending power. Nonetheless 'Carnaby Street' was the most famous fashion street in the world at that time.'Mary Quant' clothes modelled by 'Twiggy'. Music provided by 'The Beatles' & 'The Rolling Stones'.'Habitat' London design centre stores run by Sir Terrence Conran.The papparazzi photography of David Bailey.The 'Indica Bookshop' & the 'Granny Takes A Trip' Kings Road shop.The 'Hungry Horse' restaurant.The 'Ad -Lib' discotheque.(situated above the 'Prince Charles Cinema' off Leicester Square).The 'Bag O'Nails'(in Kingly St. adjacent to Carnaby St.) & 'Scotch Of St.James' nightclubs.'The Marquee Club' pop venue in Wardour Street Soho.No end of Gambling Casinos which led to the crime underworld rival gang warfare of the Krays & the Richardsons.But on a more sedate note:the opening of the Mayfair 'Playboy Club' in June 1966.'Men about town' drove their 'dolly birds' in coupe & roadster E-Type Jaguars:an entirely British road-sports car-yours for the mere price of £800-£1000.This iconoclastic,almost phallic car added to the aesthetic look of London from 1961 onwards. It seems that the original swinging perspective took place in 1960-64 & the cashing-in pay off reproduction took place from 1965-70. So it was a rollercoaster ride to nowhere.Or has it left a more permanent legacy?. Here are some 'Swinging London' films:'A Hard Day's Night' 1964. 'Catch Us If You Can' 1965.'The Knack,& How To Get It' 1965.'Tonite:Let's All Make Love In London' 1967. 'Blow Up' 1966. 'Smashing Time' 1967. 'Georgy Girl' 1966 . 'Modesty Blaise' 1966.'Bedazzled' 1967. 'Charlie Bubbles' 1967.'Sebastian' 1967. 'Duffy' 1968.'The Italian Job' 1969 . Anyone,please feel free to add any additional info on 'Swinging London': Below is a link to the seminal meeting of sixties Brit culture;in attendance The Beatles,Sean Connery,future Prime Minister Harold Wilson,Julie Christie,Patrick MacNee,Honor Blackman,Dirk Bogarde-all attending the 'Variety Club' awards:The Dorchester Hotel,London,Thursday 19th March 1964: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VoCevkWrUU ***********************************************
Nigel Weymouth and Michael English owned a trendy boutique that helped contribute much to the hip culture of the London scene, later released their own psychedelic Lp as Hapsash and the Heavy Metal Kids, and also produced art and posters for well known performers. Very much a part of the swinging scene!
Interesting!.Thankyou for that. Here's a cover of 'Private Eye Magazine' from 18 August 1967.The cynicism of the era is obvious!: 'Private Eye' was one of Peter Cook's pet projects in 1961. Peter Cook & Dudley Moore Were the two foremost 'Swingin' London' comedians. For free downloads of their songs & sketches from the 1960s Please click on: http://stabbers.truth.posiweb.net/stabbers/html/discography/singles.htm#singles & scroll up or down.
Radio London 1964-1967: 'Radio London is SUNK by the Postmaster-General on Monday 14th August 1967': Free Downloads of recordings of Radio London from 1964 to it's metaphorical 'sinking' on Monday 14th August 1967.Please click on (& scroll down): http://www.vintagebroadcasting.org.uk/biglrn.htm These recordings bring back the magical feel of 'Swingin' London' . Particularly good is:John Peel on Saturday 1st July 1967.
interesting read hippy london itchycoo park .......what did yer do there WE GOT HIGH ........small faces were certainly part of swingin london ........another tune springs to mind ....yellow river -christie ........yeah man have that on video .
Thanks mate!.'The Small Faces' were probably more 'Swingin' London' than any other band at the time.Unless you travelled 'underground' to an obscure club in the Tottenham Court road called 'The UFO Club' to see a mirky band,playing to a dyed oil-slides backdrop called 'The Pink Floyd'. I actually remember playing a scratchy 45rpm on the 'Immediate' label' called Itchycoo Park' at the time of it's release in 1967- & I was only 3 years old!!!. -A nice place to 'chill out' on the evening of Friday 21st July 1967.
itchycoo park 3 years old (far out ). is the ufo club still fuctioning ? (hope so ) did"nt hawkwind play ufo club in the sixties ? .man got this video steve marriott packet of three called tin soldier ( cool ) .
The UFO Club was in Tottenham Court Road London.It was a traditional dance/social club in the daytime but the venue was an underground freak-out haunt at night!. Ice Lolly & Dolly (Bird).
for a good look into Swinging london CHeck OUt the DVD Pink Floyd: London 1966-1967 some really good video and talks about the UFO club
Great album: 'Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac' 1968.Also thanks for the tab on the 'UFO Club'. More swingin' in London,1968: ****BBC-2: Wednesday 23rd October 1968 'Colour Me Pop' British t.v. show: The Mothers Of Invention perform 'King Kong' at BBC Television Centre, London:**** -The Mothers Of Invention. -BBC2 Wednesday 23rd October 1968. ********
Oh, I love the Swingin' Sixties era! Mods are gear. Small Faces, Kinks and Who: yes please! I also love the 5-point geometric Vidal Sasson haircut... obviously
Thanks. 'The Small Faces' were the 2nd Mod Band after 'The Who':-talking of which; a BBC-TV documentary is currently being made about them. 'The Kinks'were Mods of course & Ray Davies still gigs today. I dig your 'Vidal Sassoon' haircut!. Vidal Sassoon got his bob-fringe hairstyle to public attention because he styled Mary Quant with one.
Yeah, I know... I showed my hair dresser that ever-infamous pic of her having just got the do. I'm addicted to mod clothes, but the unfortunate thing is I'm lacking cash and I've better things to spend it on. And Ray is amazing! "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" : great mod song! Of course, all members of the Who had their own solo things, but I won't talk about that here (Entwistle's solo venture was good - Pete was a little whiney).
Fabulous 'way-out-in-London' photo.Thanks Charles. Hendrix had a regular fixture at 'The Saville Theatre' in London & The Who were regulars at 'The Marquee Club' in Wardour Street,London. Two men ,I think , epitomised the new r 'n' b talent surfacing in Swingin' London's music scene: One was Jimmy Page, the other:............. Syd Barrett. (1946-2006). So long crazy diamond!. -Piccadilly Circus . London. Spring 1967. Not the 'in crowd' but 'way out'.
talkin out my ass but pinball wizards great.london center mercury. freddy. then picadilly circus got mercury. change. mickael moorcock.in the bag right now. spent 4 months in london hostels or streets. most wernt british i drank with.banker asked me to get him heroin n coke. i did. why ask a tourist? lotta outta towners.got carnival in that part. that i lived.hill. hill. nmsumthin hill.my own name sum days.
The Mary Poppins movie is a interesting visit back to early 60's London, Superficially its very straight, Victorian.Bbut has all kinds of subversive, trippy asides. The Cartoon sequences are cool too.
