The Peddlers


The Peddlers were a British jazz/soul trio of the 1960s and 1970s. They had hits with "Birth" and "Girlie".

History

The Peddlers formed in Manchester in April 1964, as a trio of

1960s

The Trio's history began The Song Peddlers which with addition of Trevor Morais, they became a trio. The lineup also included Tab Martin and Roy Phillips. The Song Peddlers were managed by Alan Lewis. A single "Rose Marie" bw "I'm Not Afraid" was released on the Philips label in 1964. The group then changed its name to The Peddlers. Also in 1964, and now known as The Peddlers they had some minor success with their debut single, "Let The Sun Shine In" which was written by Teddy Randazzo.
In 1966, the group began a residency at Annies Room in London also playing the Scotch of St James and The Pickwick where the group's first album Live at the Pickwick, including an introduction by Pete Murray, was recorded.
The trio released six singles and an EP on the Philips record label before joining CBS in 1967. Their cover of "Let the Sunshine In" charted on the UK Singles Chart. In 1968 they released the album Freewheelers, consisting of standards arranged by Keith Mansfield. The follow-up, 1968's Three in a Cell, included a version of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", from the 1965 musical of the same name, which was later sampled for its bass and Lowrey Berkshire Organ riff. The third and final CBS album, Birthday, followed in 1969, and brought the band two UK Top 40 singles in "Girlie", and "Birth" which reached No. 17.

1970s

The single "Girlie" did well in New Zealand, hitting the no. 1 spot in May 1970. Following Birthday, the Peddlers returned to Philips, where they released Georgia on My Mind in 1971 and Suite London.
On Philips they released Three for All in 1970 including "Tell the World Were Not In", "Working Again", "My Funny Valentine" and "Love for Sale".
Trevor Morais left the trio during an Australian tour in 1972, and was replaced on drums by New Zealander Paul Johnston. The Peddlers disbanded in 1976. The anthology How Cool Is Cool... The Complete CBS Recordings was released by CBS in 2002.
Electronic record producer Luke Vibert sampled their "Impressions " for "The Premise", a track which featured on his album, Musipal.

After the Peddlers

Trevor Morais joined Quantum Jump. He later opened the El Cortijo studio in Málaga, Spain, and has worked with David Essex, Howard Jones, Elkie Brooks and Björk.
Tab Martin lives in Portugal.
Roy Phillips now lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, and performs live shows around the country. He contributed lead vocals for the track "Closer" on the 2007 Lord Large album, The Lord's First XI.
Paul Johnston returned to New Zealand and became a chiropractor. He died in 2013.
A Peddlers reunion gig was held on 25 May 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand.

In popular culture

Singles

TitleCatalogueYearNotes #
Live At The Pickwick!Philips SBL 77681967
FreewheelersCBS SBPG 631831967
Three In A CellCBS S 634111968
BirthdayCBS S 636821969
Three For AllPhilips 6308 0281970
Georgia on My MindPhilips 63820661971Re-issue of "Live at the Pickwick
Suite LondonPhilips 6308 1021972with The London Philharmonic Orchestra
Live Concertgebouw Amsterdam 19721972Bootleg
'Live' In LondonEMI EMC 30221974
Live In AmsterdamGemini GEM101979New Zealand release

TitleCatalogueYearNotes #
The Fantastic PeddlersFontana SFL130161966
The Peddlers On TourEmbassy EMB 300031976
The Peddlers: Live At The Pickwick / Three For AllSee For Miles SEECD67319982 CD
How Cool Is Cool
Columbia 509740 22002
Suite LondonEclipse2006with bonus tracks

Citations