‘The Full Indepth Story’

Vanity Fair is a literary classic by the great English novelist W.M. Thackeray (1811-1863). Such was his far-flung influence that his best-known work inspired the name of a much-love pop group that called themselves Vanity Fare.

They scored a trio of Top Twenty hits in the late Sixties, all featured on this splendid CD collection of tracks that highlight the group's many musical attributes.

The word 'Fair' can, of course, mean many things; freedom from discrimination, something that is lovely to look at, or a travelling entertainment with sideshows.

'Fare' can mean a sum charged for a conveyance in a bus, or a range of food and drink. In this case, we can safely assume that our pop group meant their name to imply they were vain enough to conceive of providing a wide range of musical 'fare' for our delectation. This is how Mr. Thackeray himself might have mused upon the topic, in one of his many droll and diverting articles published in Punch magazine from 1842 onwards. Perhaps there are parallels with the decadent London society of the early 19th century that Thackeray described and the swinging London of the Sixties inhabited by Vanity Fare. Every reader of a sentimental turn (and we desire no other) must be pleased with this tableau of conjecture.

But whence came Vanity Fare, the true subject of our discourse? The roots of a group that placed its main emphasis on vocal harmonies and lilting melodies can be found amidst the turbulent music scene that once existed in the towns that bestride the river Medway in Kent. Here, the itinerate traveller comes across such salubrious settlements as Rochester, Chatham and Strood.

In the Sixties there were many young pop groups in these towns, vying for attention and hoping to seek their fortune. One such was The Avengers, comprising school friends from the Medway towns. They included; Dick Allix (drums), born May 3, 1945, Gravesend, Kent, Trevor Brice (vocals), born February 12, 1945, Rochester, Kent, Tony Goulden (guitar), born November 21, 1944, Rochester, Kent, Tony Jarrett (bass), born September 4, 1944 Kent, Barry Landemen (keyboards), born October 25, 1947 Woodbridge, Suffolk.

The Group began gigging at local clubs and one night found themselves supporting the more experienced Candy Choir, a group fronted by Eddie Wheeler (vocals, guitar). As well as doing their own gigs, Candy Choir also acted as the backing band for pop stars Crispian St. Peters and Barry Ryan. The young Avengers were highly impressed by the group. They became friends and also followed their example by concentrating more on vocal harmonies than on instrumentals.

During there early days, The Avengers attracted the attention of a local entrepreneur Roger Easterby, who subsequently became their manager. He found them a song called 'I Live For The Sun' which had been a minor hit in America for The Sunrays, a group from California managed by Murray Wilson, father of The Beach Boys. It was deemed eminently suitable material that would take advantage of the British group's love of harmony and cheerful tunes. Before the song could be recorded and released, it seemed like a good idea to find a new name for The Avengers (which made them sound like an old-fashioned rock'n'roll outfit). During a meeting with their manager, one of the group spotted a copy of 'Vanity Fair' on a bookshelf. With a judicious change of spelling, The Avengers became Vanity Fare. While heavy rock groups Cream, Free and Jethro Tull dominated the scene, it might not have been a good time to launch a vocal harmony pop group. However, their first record 'I Live For The Sun', released on Page One, was a surprise hit and got to Number 20 after entering the U.K. singles chart in August 1968. The public clearly warmed to the group's alternative musical fare and fresh new sound.

The record received lots of radio airplay and the group appeared on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' chart show. One week Vanity Fare were still playing at working men's clubs. The next week they on TV and booked for a nationwide tour, billed as the country's latest pop sensations. It was an exciting time and although they had to wait a year, they consolidated their success with another hit single. To everyone's relief, 'Early In The Morning', written by Mike Leander, finally got to Number 8 in U.K. in July 1969. Even more encouraging, the record was a huge hit in America and got to Number 12 in the U.S. Billboard chart. It eventually sold a million copies and earned the group a gold disc.

Around this time it was decided to expand the band's musical capabilities - important if they were to spend more time in the studio and on the road. They bought in virtuoso keyboard player Barry Landeman, who had previously played with a group from Margate called Kippington Lodge. Interestingly, this group also featured future stars of the Seventies, Nick Lowe and Brinsley Schwarz.

The group's next major single release was 'Hitchin' A Ride', which featured the new keyboard player in action, as well as the band's celebrated vocal sound. The song would have a tremendous impact on the band's career. It was a U.K. Top Twenty hit in January 1970 and peaked at Number 16. More importantly, it shot to Number 5 in the U.S.A. and, once again, Vanity Fare enjoyed over a million sales. It seemed golden opportunities lay ahead and the group flew across the Atlantic to start their first American tour. They appeared on prime-time TV and were special guests on the Mama Cass Show. Around this time, 'Hitchin' A Ride', with its bouncy tune and catchy hook phrase, was taken up by backpackers and become a cult hit in California. It was the tune the hippies most liked to sing along to, as they hitched rides to rock festivals. Caught up in their own scene, the pop group and their manager were not fully aware of these developments on the West Coast. Instead of heading West and checking out the rock venues, Vanity Fare stayed mainly on the East Coast, playing in small clubs to 'middle-of-the-road' audiences.

Although the group worked hard, it seemed their chance of major stardom in America was slipping away. When the group returned home to England, they felt somewhat disillusioned. Lead guitarist Tony Goulden quit, followed by drummer Dick Alix. Their old pal from Candy Choir, guitarist and singer Eddie Wheeler, replaced Tony and the Fare was beefed up by the inclusion of rock drummer Mark Ellen, from another local band The Canterbury Tales.

The next Vanity Fare single was 'Better By Far', a ballad co-written by Tony Macaulay, the celebrated hit writer. Tony had produced The Foundations 'biggie' 'Baby Now That I've Found You' and was reputed to have the 'Midas touch'. Alas, 'Better By Far' was not so successful. It got some radio plays and 'bubbled under', but failed to bubble into the chart.

Now that the band's discs were slipping they decided to concentrate on 'live' performances on the lucrative Northern Cabaret club circuit. They worked hard and the pace to take its toll. Bass player Tony Jarrett decided to leave and Bernie Hagley, another former member of The Canterbury Tales, replaced him.

Vanity Fare began recording material for the European market and had hits in Germany and Austria. They also toured extensively throughout Europe during the Seventies and visited Australia and Ireland. During a trip to Scandinavia, singer Trevor Brice decided to get married and settle down to a new life in Denmark. Over the following years Vanity Fare continued working, albeit with new replacement members, including multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Phil Kitto, Kevin Thompson and most recently Steve Oakman, a vocalist, keyboard player and music teacher.

Vanity Fare remains a busy touring band, active on the pop nostalgia circuit, with a line up that includes Eddie Wheeler, Mark Ellen and Bernie Hagley. They regularly tour Germany, Denmark and often entertain aboard the luxury QE2 cruise liner. Trevor Brice is still writing and performing in Scandinavia, while their former guitarist Tony Goulden has been Mayor of the Medway Towns, where the Vanity Fare story started.

The group have left a strong musical legacy, reflected in the bright and melodic songs featured on this CD, typified by the sunny optimism of 'I Live For The Sun', 'Carolina's Comin' Home' and, of course, 'Hitchin' A Ride'. What would William Makepeace Thackeray have made of it all? 'What a beautiful, byoo-ootiful song that was you sang last night. It made me cry almost; 'pon my honour it did.
Do sing it again…'

"Best of Vanity Fare" sleeve notes
Written by Chris Welch 2003

"THE BEST OF VANITY FARE" CD now available on Repertoire Records REP 5015
Available through all major record outlets

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