Otis Redding climbs to #10 in the Fab 40, with 'My Girl' – a '65 chart-topper in the States for the Temptations.

By March '67, Radio London was promoting the 'Hit the Road Stax' tour. (See Fab Forty 26/03/67) Visitors to Soulsville USA – the superb Stax museum in Memphis – can spot a shot of a Radio London tour poster in the museum's introductory film!

In the UK, Otis reached #11 in the Nationals with 'My Girl' and graced the chart again in February 1968, when it was reissued following his tragic death in December '67.

Photos of the Otis Redding Memorial Statue unveiled in Macon, Georgia, in 2002, are here.

(Right) NME feature shows Otis promoting his appearance at the Upper Cut club.

Dateline, Saturday, January 22nd, 1966 – The Radio London Club Afternoon

January 22nd 1966 was the date of my first visit (with friend and Knees Club Official #4, Lynn Belcher) to London's Marquee Club in Wardour Street, for the Radio London Club Afternoon. The main reasons I had not been before were that I had been too young and had nobody to accompany me. In January 66 I had just turned sixteen and was still at school. Not having any income beyond my pocket money, it was hard to find the train fare and the entry fee, even though I got reduced-price admission to the Marquee! Radio London Club cardholders were admitted for 3 shillings and six pence (current equivalent, 17.5 pence); non-members had to pay 1 shilling (5 pence) extra.

A portion of the show, which featured the week's number one Fab Forty act, Pinkerton's Assorted Colours, was sponsored by Inecto hair products. I believe the band mimed to the single, rather than performing live. My diary does not record why I failed to take the opportunity to enrol the Pinkertons in the Knees Club, but as Flavour of the Month, they may well have had to rush off to another gig. The Inecto Show was recorded for broadcast on Radio London one week later, on January 29th.

The afternoon was enhanced by meeting the Patron Saint of Knees and our Club President, Tony Windsor (member #11), who unfortunately, was too bashful to show us his patellae.

Lynn and I got a lift back home to Wycombe with local duo Des & Dave. Dave Collier (#49), is left of the picture, Des Cox (#48), right. Is that a wheelbarrow between them? We have no idea. They were at the Marquee to promote their single Tumblin' Down. An undated recording exists of Tumblin' Down being announced as a Big L climber, but for which week and for how many weeks, is unknown. Des's Website.