The Applejacks were the first local band to make an impact in the music industry, with a number seven hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1964.
Members:
*Al Jackson (vocal) born Harry Llewellyn Jackson on 21 April 1945, Birmingham
*Martin Thomas (lead guitar) Baggott born 20 October 1947, Birmingham
*Philip Peter Cash (rhythm guitar) born 9 October 1947, Birmingham
*Megan Kelso Davies (bass guitar and vocal) born 25 March 1944, Sheffield, Yorkshire
*Gerald Ernest Freeman (drums) born 24 May 1947, Solihull
*Dan Gould (piano and organ) born 23 March 1947, Solihull
The group formed in Solihull in 1961, and were originally known as The Cresta and then The Jaguars before becoming The Applejacks. All were members of the 1st Olton Scouts Troop in Shirley, accept for Dan who was added to line-up at the end of 1961 and Al who joined in 1962.
The band regularly appeared at Solihull Civic Hall playing American style rock ‘n’ roll and were unusual for having a female bass guitarist.
In late 1963, The Applejacks were signed up by talent scout, Mike Smith from the Decca Record Company. Shortly after they released their first single, ‘Tell Me When’ which peaked at number seven and remained in the charts for 13 weeks. The single’s success was followed by numerous TV appearances on shows like ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ where the band became friends with the Beatles who they met during a rehearsal.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney provided The Applejacks with the song, ‘Like Dreamers Do’ which the band released as their next single.
1964 saw The Applejacks record a self-titled album for Decca Records under Mike Leander. They appeared in the British pop music film, ‘Just For You’ which featured Freddie and The Dreamers and Peter and Gordon. The band also performed live on the New Musical Express annual poll winners concert at Wembley. In the same year, Megan and Gerald married in a high profile wedding attended by hundreds.
The band had become very popular and were booked to appear at dance halls all over the country throughout 1964.
By 1966, the band had signed a lucrative contract in cabaret to perform on the luxury Trans-Atlantic ocean liners R.M.S. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I and II.
Discography:
*The Applejacks (1964)
*Tell Me When (1990 re-issue of The Applejacks)
There Are Currently 10 Comments for this Post
I had an audition as drummer with them sometime in the 70s, I think. They had their own rehearsal room attached to one of their houses in Erdington, South Road I believe. I didn’t get the gig!
That was the recording studio owned by Quill I believe.
Interesting article thanks. I just discovered this band recently as part of my research into The Honeycombs.
Al Jackson the lead singer was the landlord at The Great Stone Public House Northfield around 1971 .
someone told me his dad was the licencee of The Moonraker Pub in Gospel lane, Solihull
Moonraker pub is now gone.
Al was a barber in Birmingham in his day job before quitting to go pro with the band
How did Megan Davies get to join the band …she was from up here in Yorkshire [Sheffield] and other band members were from down south …also a lot of people THINK she was sister of Ray out of KINKS …NO TRUTH IN THAT WHATSOEVER ….
Megan was involved with the cubs and scouts in Hobs Moat, Solihull
She was a leader of the pack.
She lived in Solihull
Ive met all members of the group and researched the band fully
Megan married drummer Gerry Freeman in Solihull in Nov 64
Dan shpuld read as Don
hi I was wondering about Megan Davis as I’m sure she used to be our school head prefect, can you tell me if I’m right,what’s she doing now,???my young son is a endorsed drummer with paisty symbals & Yamaha drums of Japan he,been in the band called catch 22,,, of new Zealand they have been together for over 20 years & still going…..back to megan,
I have a later photo of the band that came in a white folder with “Applejacks” printed on the cover. The photo is mounted on the inside of the cover and all of the band members autographs are to the left on the opposite side of the folder. It was obviously taken around 1967 because several in the group are wearing Neru shirts/jackets and Megan has a stunning pair of white Go-Go boots and a floppy hat. Surprisingly, most of the original members were still in the Applejacks at this late date. I bought it when Facebook was in its infancy. The seller said he obtained it with a group of autographs that came from the estate of a wealthy heiress and that the photo and signatures were obtained while she was on a cruise ship as a teenager. I have 3 of their original U.S. singles (none charted) and recently purchased a mint copy of their original album (expensive) through a private collector. I also have several versions of the album on compact disc. One is an obvious bootleg with some additional tracks.