Abba Meet Guys 'N' Dolls In There's A Whole Lot Of Lovin

In 1975 Guys 'n' Dolls looked set to step into the New Seekers' shoes, emerging with their first hit, There's A Whole Lot Of Loving, less than a year after the New Seekers had disbanded. Although they had another Top 10 hit in 1976 with a cover of Dusty Springfield's You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, Guys 'n' Dolls were unable to sustain their chart career. Originally a six piece group (three boy / girl couples), Guys 'n' Dolls continued as a foursome after David Van Day and Therese Bazaar (both soon to become more famous as Dollar) left the group in acrimonious circumstances.




In October 1974 I answered an advert in Melody Maker where a company were looking for three girls and three boys for a new vocal group. It didn't sound the sort of thing for me but I rang the number and secured an audition. I should have had my audition on Tuesday 29th October but when the day came it was pouring with rain and I decided as it probably wasn't what I was looking for I would not go. I phoned the office and made an excuse. This is where fate or whatever took a hand. If Jenny the secretary had said OK thanks for letting me know and left it at that, I would not have got the job and my life would have taken a completely different course. As it was she said could I make the following night at 6 o'clock. For some reason I said "yes".The following day it was still raining and all day I was saying to myself I won't go, but when it got to 4.o'clock I thought "Oh I might as well". I threw my old accoustic guitar into the back of my beaten up Ford Cortina and had a miserable drive in the rain to Green Street near Marble Arch. I breezed in with more a hint of annoyance than nerves, gave a quick rendition of "I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane" and got the job.

The original six of us, Dominic Grant, Martine Howard, Julie Forsyth, David Van Day, Thereze Bazar and myself, met for the first time at Verreys Restaurant in London's Regent Street, at 8.00pm on Friday 8th November 1974. I was the first to arrive then Thereze closely followed by Julie, Dominic and David. Martine was about half an hour late (this was to be a regular habit) as she was a member of "THE YOUNG GENERATION" Dance Group and had been working on the "LES DAWSON SHOW".

I got on well with Dominic straight away as we had a love for football in common and we had both previously been in groups. The others had all been to stage school but seemed OK. At the meal there were just the six of us and our three managers to be, Chris Arnold, David Martin and Geoff Morrow, they had been a chart group themselves a few years earlier called "BUTTERSCOTCH". During the meal AMMO, as their company was called, said that they had decided to call the group "GUYS n' DOLLS". I was horrified, how was I going to back and tell all my "Heavy" friends that I was in a group called "GUYS n" DOLLS".

We signed a letter of intent and then AMMO gave each of us a demo record of a song called "There's a Whole Lot of Loving" and told us "This is your first record".We asked when we were going to record it and thats when they dropped the bomb shell. Ammo told us that it was a finished record that had been recorded by session musicians, (David Martin had sung the boys lead line himself) and they were convinced that it was a hit record as it stood, they called it a "magic mix" they did not intend to re - record it but they wanted us to be the group. I went away from this meeting with mixed feelings, I was unhappy about us not singing on the record, having had a similar situation with "KINCADE", and I wasn't sure if the group was going to suit me. I liked the group as people so I thought that I would go along with it and see what happened.

Ten days after we first met we had our first photo session as Guys n' Dolls and went to Magnet Records to meet the boss Michael Levy ( Now the infamous Lord Levy, Tony Blairs mate). We decided that we would meet socially so we could get to know each other, so we spent a couple of days at Julie's house in Whetstone North London. We also had rehearsals with our Choreographer called "Brookie". Another problem for Dominic and myself was that we had to learn dance routines to the songs and this was something Dominic and I had never done. Where it would take the other s about half an hour to learn a routine it would take Dominic and myself about a week. I had never sung before without playing a guitar.

"There's a Whole Lot of Loving" was to be released on Friday 10th January 1975 and a week before it had it's first plays on Radio 1.Tony Blackburn played it on his breakfast show, raved about and said that he would play it again before the end of the show, which he did.The same day it was reviewed on "Round Table" by an old friend of mine Les Gray of "MUD"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ABBA
• GAY
• MUSIC

[mrtrashcan]

I don't understand why a video of ABBA was superimposed on this song--maybe it's because I'm not European. Anyway, this song is one of my faves. Back in the 70s in the US the MOR and AC stations would play promos of songs like this because they didn't have to adhere to the strict Top 40 format. This song only charted on the AC charts here was essentially unknown. Seems my musical tastes have always been more European. Anyway thanks so much for posting this great song.

[TIBBSY]

Just did it for fun as explained on some of my other videos if your familiar.

There is no real reason, other than those that I think have an essence of ABBA be it in harmony, melody, or anything else.

I pick music that has meant something to me through my life when I had very little else.

The songs might just give me a flutter in the heart whenever I hear it or take me back to another time, I'm rambling now, hope that helps and thanks for the comment.

[a2dsmusic]

Nice song!!

** please check out my version and let me know what you think ;)

Peace

[TIBBSY]

You havent done a version that I can see.

[TIBBSY]

I loved it too it was number one for ages I think, when the extra voice comes in about 1.58 of the video, I distinctly remember that on the record and I thought I really like this and couldnt wait to hear it again.

[TIBBSY]

The real guys can be found on youtube under,

Guy's 'n Dolls There's A Whole Lot Of Loving

[talentlover]

One of the co-authors of "There's a Whole Lot of Loving" was Geoff Morrow.... Geoff wrote another really lovely song called "You are My Lover" sung by Lawrence Gray who has a really amazing voice. This song is found on you tube.... watch it and enjoy!

[zorrodondiego1]

LAWRENCE GRAY is fantastic!! Thanks for uploading " You Are My Lover". it is superb!!

[maccafan10]

This is like mixing mashed potato with Caviar.

Why ?

[wieslawl59]

I don't think it can be compared to ABBA at all. The melody line is just too simple(and boring)

[klisher]

totally agree with mrtrashcan

[mazzakins]

Could have been an ABBA song really!

[theoldiesman]

I'm looking to contact Geoff Morrow, does anyone have a contact for him

Regards

Kenny

Radio Six

[54spiritedwill54]

Nice song!!

[CMob09]

Abba's way better than them

[coachdavidlevy]

Paul.....David in North carolina....just found this video with your Dad singing. I remember your Dad giving me a signed album of Guys N Dolls....around 1975. regards to your Dad and Fleurie.