THE NEW VAUDEVILLE BAND - Finchley Central

(Alan Klein / Geoff Stephens)

The New Vaudeville Band - 1967

Finchley Central is two and sixpence
From Golders Green on the Northern Line
And on the platform, by the kiosk
That's where you said you'd be mine

There we made a date
For hours I waited
But I'm blowed, you never showed

At Finchley Central, ten long stations
From Golders Green, change at Camden Town
I thought I'd made you, but I'm afraid you
And it let me down


The New Vaudeville Band could almost be described as the band that never was- or at least nearly never was. They were almost entirely the brainchild of Tin Pan Alley songwriter Geoff Stephens. He had written a good song, 'Winchester Cathedral' and thought it would sound best if played in the fashion of a 1930s dance band. So he hired a group of session musicians and recorded it. The idea of an old jazz band wasn't new; an established band- the Temperance Seven- had played similar old time music four years or so earlier, but Geoff's record was an enormous success. In fact it was so successful that it reached #1 in the USA, and #2 in Germany. Unfortunately, following this sudden high profile, Geoff was expected to take his band on concert tours!

Musicians were quickly gathered together largely through the efforts of Henri Harrison- including a vocalist, Alan Klein, who had not been on the original hit (sometimes alleged to be John Carter from the Ivy League/ Flowerpot Men, but I am assured that it was John Smith that did this session, a singer who called himself Bobby Dean at the time- nevertheless probably better known as 'John Smith and the New Sound' especially in France and Germany where they had some success on vinyl in their own right). To cloud the issue the new singer was cast as 'Tristram- Seventh Earl Of Cricklewood'. This was presumably designed to sound ultra-English for the American market. Alan Klein and the band went on the road, while Geoff stayed in his office in Denmark Street to keep writing the songs (he probably did so with an English travel book by his side!) and the band managed to squeeze out a few more hits before the novelty wore off. The band became a particular success in America and spent most of its later existence there, finally breaking up during the 1970s.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• British pop
• easy listening
• Jazz
• 1967
• 20's

[MrHosepipe123]

I was lucky enough to have a ride over this section of line in the cab of my friends train just before he retired. For film of this go to GOOGLE type in...mrhosepipe123.....(all one word) and see this along with other videos of mine.

[lindyhoppers]

@MrHosepipe123

loved your films taken on the first car so you can see all --- any chance to film Finchley Central as it is today?

[nickelback1955]

Nicely done for a roman. lol.

[lindyhoppers]

@nickelback1955

ah ah, thank you very much!

;-)

this is a little hommage of mine to the NVB, I have this 45 rpm since I was a kid...

[nickelback1955]

AAAAH MEMORIES... FUCKING EXCELLENT..!

[lindyhoppers]

@nickelback1955

glad you liked it!

:-)

[lindyhoppers]

@clockwise770

You're very welcome!

I was wondering why there wasn't a video posted yet of this great song so, I made it. But I'm from Rome, not from Northern London, I hope I captured the atmosphere...

[nickelback1955]

I just watched this again...for old times sake.

[gosurf2air]

I can barely waltz with my walker tripping over my feet to this one. How does it go again?

[The99Gambo]

I agree with the sentiments - very good piece - but no need for the language old chap. Simply not done.

[mdejoslin]

Swinging 60s-tastic!

[TheSatoruuu]

i lived there for 2 years and now i listen this song making me i am dipped deep in this dramatic song.

[Blackhawk0069]

Just love the NVB have the cd with all their songs on. A brilliant group, something different, wish they were still around now.

[MrHosepipe123]

@lindyhoppers I think the film on the music video is up to date as the traffic island outside the station has been removed as can be see in the film. I have just retired after driving buses around Luton for 34 years. At weekends i did Railway Replacement Buses using blue buses from Luton Depot, and often visited Finchley Central Stn. As i live in Luton it is unlikely that i will get any pictures of the station.

[Braun30]

Still have the 45 record in my stack.

Bloody hell must have been about 9 or 10 when this came out.