I recently discovered that Mike Hurst was to release a new CD which would include 3 bonus Sundance tracks, I contacted him and he kindly agreed to an interview for the website, so here it is
Thanks a lot for agreeing to do the Interview lots of people have sent questions in, so here goes...
Q "Silver Threads..." reached the American top 20 in 1962, I understand this was pretty unusual for a British act. How did it feel to be riding high in the States? And why do you think this was The Springfield's only 'big' US hit.
A. This was the FIRST ever hit in the USA for a British vocal group! In a sense you could say we set the ground for the British 'invasion' that followed. I was only 19, and as you can imagine I felt like I was living a dream. Touring the States was fantastic, but the confusion was that evryone there thought we were American! We played Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ol' Opry, and all points west. Silver Threads was essentially a country song, and has since become a standard, but that actually explains its success. We were taking coals to Newcastle.
Q. "Island of Dreams" then "Say I wont be there" are big hits here in the UK in 1963 then the Springfield's split, with a final concert at the Palladium in London, how emotional a night was that for you?, How did you really feel about the split?
A. I was still only a kid, 21, so it kind of passed me by. When the subject was raised, by Tom, at the Blackpool Winter Gardens, Dusty said 'fine', and then asked me. What did I know, or at that age, care? I said fine too, and that was that. The London Palladium was an anti climax. We were paid peanuts, hence the infamous Dusty quote as we were presented with silver cigarete boxes by Bruce Forsyth, ' whats in it? Money ? With all the optimism of youth, I don't think I realised it was the end of something great
Q. During 1964 you had a band called "The Method" below are some songs / 45's I believe you released, are any of these still available? what was the history of the band?
- The Banjo Song/Any Chance For Me
- Carol Anne/Anytime That You Want Me
- Half Heaven Half Heartache/Look In Your Eyes
- Last Time You'll Walk Out On Me/Something Told Me
- Show me around / I am running away
A. This was some band. Jimmy Page ( Led Zeppelin), Albert Lee, probably one of the greatest guitarists of the last 25 years, Tony Ashton, keyboards, and one of the Crickets drummers ! We played Country Rock, six years before Elton John. The only one of the above tracks that fit this category and that I loved was the last, Show Me Around. The others were foisted on me by the record company. They are all apparently, collectors items.
"Home" / "In my time" is your new CD which is to be released on 12/11/01 here is the URL for us all to place our orders .... http://www.angelair.force9.co.uk/news.htm I was really surprised and very, very pleased when I saw there was to be 3 bonus "Sundance" tracks on there
Q. Would you ask Mike Hurst for me just how he got involved with Angelair and if he was in charge of picking the material and deciding how it was marketed? Was this his idea or theirs?
A. I had an album I produced in the 70's by Fancy, released on Angelair. When I mentioned I owned many tracks with varous stars guesting on them, they immediately wanted to release it as a double album. I had a host of old photos and archive info, which I suggested to Angelair that they might use. They have, but the marketing is their strategy, thankfully. The songs, bar three, are all my compositions, and some of them are, I believe, really good songs. I would appreciate it if anyone would like to suggest individual cuts for radio and/or single release material.
Q. In your opinion do you think Mary Hopkin works better as a solo artist, or with a group?
A. I think Mary is equally good solo or in a group. I think however, that the company of others was really good for her. Its a very lonely life otherwise.
Q. How many tracks/songs did you record as Sundance? And can you list them?
A. Whats Love, Smile On Your Face, Take Your Time, So Sad, Never Going Back/ Silver Threads, Walk Right In, Jealousy, A Song, Heart To Beat.
Q. "What's Love" was a good pop song and I suppose an obvious choice as a single, but so many of the other songs in my opinion were far, far superior, who ultimately made the decision to release "what's love" and were all 3 of you in agreement.
A. Bronze Records made the decsions, unwisely in my opinion as a producer. I believe both So Sad and Smile On Your Face, were vastly better. Mike De and Mary always left it up to me to argue with the record company, which I spent most of my time doing !
Q. Apart from Mary and the other Mike who were the other musicians who played live with you?
A. My oldest friend Ray Fenwick on guitar, Steve Price on bass and Steve Dimitri on drums
Q. There is in existence a DJ recording or a demo with "take your time" as the b side to "What's Love" how do records like this 'slip' through the net so to speak?
A. Pass. I wish I knew, and indeed where I can get a copy!
Q. You used to open up your live set with "Lovin' up a storm" an absolutely great song, who did this originally?
A. Jerry Lee Lewis, and as a lifelong old rock fanatic, I had to persuade Mary that this was a great opener. I am glad you agreed.
Q. Is there any chance of a whole CD of Sundance songs?
A. If I can find enough outakes, we might possibly muster a dozen.
Q. Mike what's your favourite musical instrument for messing around on at home for your enjoyment?
A. A 1959 Gibson Country and Western Jumbo.
Q. How do you feel about the use of computers these days in creating songs/music.
A. They have their place, but the substitution of these for real instruments is rather sad. I have no objection to them, and lets face it, you can't get rid of them, but they do inhibit live performance, and the construction of truly good songs.
Q. I understand you have recently worked with "Belle and Sebastian" what was that about?
A. They wanted to sound like 60's band, Love, so they asked me if I would produce their next single, I waking Up To You, released this month
Q. What's next Mike, will you be promoting this new CD?
A. I tour the country lecturing on pop history and occasionally doing gigs, when I can find a theatre that will book us! I will, and have always done, anything and evrything to promote product. Thats why I have spent a lifetime in this business.
Thanks so much in agreeing to do this interview for us, we wish you well with the new CD.
Pat Richmond
November 8th 2001Mike has an absolutely amazing website called themusikmakers.com a visit is highly recommended.
www.themusikmakers.com is the 'one stop' for all popular music research and includes the A-Z of ALL the main movers and shakers of pop from Abba to Zappa. It is the only music site that attempts to deal with the history of English speaking popular music, from 1500 AD to the present day. Above all, it is educational, dealing with political and socio-economic issues that have been responsible for pop’s development from folk to rap.
