Ted Chippington

"After a series of low-key UK school bands, Robert Lloyd (b. 1959, Cannock, Staffordshire, England) formed the Prefects - one of the earliest punk bands - who toured with the Clash. They split up in 1979 and Lloyd assembled the Nightingales using the best of the musicians who had passed through the ranks of the Prefects. The first of many subsequent line-ups comprised Lloyd, Alan and Paul Apperley, Joe Crow and Eamonn Duffy. They were ably championed by BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel, for whom Lloyd recorded more sessions under various guises than any other artist. The Nightingales' debut single, "Idiot Strength", was released in 1981 on the band's own Vindaloo label in association with Rough Trade Records. Joe Crow then departed and his replacements, Nick Beales and Andy Lloyd, brought a totally different sound to the band. Cherry Red Records picked them up and the band's career began in earnest. Lloyd soon established himself as one of the more interesting lyricists on the independent chart. Most of his tirades were draped in humour: "I'm too tired to do anything today, but tomorrow I'll start my diet, and answer some of my fan mail ('Elvis: The Last Ten Days'). The lack of success of subsequent releases led Lloyd and friends to the new Red Flame label started by Dave Kitson, the promoter of the Moonlight Club in London's Hampstead. Still unhappy with the way record companies were handling his band's career, Lloyd decided to reactivate the Vindaloo label. Ironically, this led to the demise of the Nightingales as Lloyd needed to spend more time as songwriter, producer and label boss for his relatively successful roster of artists such as We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It and comedian Ted Chippington. When Fuzzbox toured America, taking the Nightingales' keyboard player with them, Lloyd dissolved the band and concentrated on a solo career. The Nightingales" legacy was wrapped up in 1991 with a compilation album for Mau Mau Records with sleeve-notes written by a still devoted John Peel."

A cassette from 1986 that I found down Brick Lane market I think. The Nightingales, Fuzzbox etc. help Ted out on the first rendition of "Rocking With Rita" and the second version is by Ted on his own. I used to have a wonderful version of him doing Dion's "The Wanderer" but I can't find it.

Find out more about The Nightingales HERE.

Find out more about Ted Chippington HERE.

Vindaloo Summer Special - Rocking With Rita

Ted Chippington - Rockin' With Rita

Ted Chippington - She Loves You

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