Guest Giles Walker Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 It is something that i have been meaning to ask on here for a while.About 7 or 8 years ago i visited a friend's flat on South Mount street and he mentioned that the basement was used a rehearsal spot for an Aberdeen soul band called 'Lemon Soul' and that his father had a picture of them chilling out in the garden. Apparently the line up was Gordon Lemon, Gordon Ross, Graham Spry, Kevin Henderson, Ed Mocgovern and Alisdair Mackenzie.Has anyone got any information about them?Did they record an album or singles?The only bit of information i have gleaned from the internet is this, from Alisdair's Myspace page"Played with the Hyland League, one of Scotland's first ever jazz/blues bands then Lemon Soul, Aberdeen's pre-emininent Atlantic Soul Band under the lead of the now, sadly no longer with us, Gordon Lemon. with Muso's like Gordon Ross, Graham Spry, Kevin Henderson and Ed McGovern, we created the Aberdeen soul movement at the Dive, the 4-Mile House, the Marischall and all the student venues. "It would be interesting to know more about this 'Aberdeen Soul Movement' and the band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tam o' Shantie Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 you could try asking John Aggasild whose dad would probably be a fairly good authority on anything soul-related in Aberdeen's past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giles Walker Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 you could try asking John Aggasild whose dad would probably be a fairly good authority on anything soul-related in Aberdeen's past.Good shout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Jack Posted January 17, 2013 Report Share Posted January 17, 2013 I don't have a copy of Fit Like New York (an indispensible tome for anyone interested in the history of Aberdeen/North East bands) handy to checkI do. Once I get coffee number 3 down me I'll find it and have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Owl PhD Posted January 17, 2013 Report Share Posted January 17, 2013 Best punning band name ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted January 17, 2013 Report Share Posted January 17, 2013 Don't think Lemon Soul ever put anything out, but Gordon went on to front the Squibs, who had at least 2 singles out on Oily records. He died a good few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giles Walker Posted January 17, 2013 Report Share Posted January 17, 2013 I don't have a copy of Fit Like New York (an indispensible tome for anyone interested in the history of Aberdeen/North East bands) handy to check, as I'm sure these acts got a mention, but I've got a hunch the Hyland League may have involved Al Hyland, local blues/jazz musician who also happens to be the father of Richie Wolfe of The Needles. Might be an avenue worth exploring?That makes sense, and i know Richie and his dad.I think a lot of my detective work should probably start in my own mind...Thanks btwDon't think Lemon Soul ever put anything out, but Gordon went on to front the Squibs, who had at least 2 singles out on Oily records. He died a good few years ago.Yeah i think i spoke to Howard about him when i was doing some research on Oily a long time ago.I didn't know him, but it sounded pretty sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Jack Posted January 17, 2013 Report Share Posted January 17, 2013 I found my copy of Fit Like New York, and there is a whole chapter about Lemon Soul. There's a huge amount of background stuff about the various members and other bands they were in, but the key paragraph about Lemon Soul is this -The time was a-coming. Things were stirring on the soul front, and (Graham) Spry would soon hear the righteous call... Following his conversion (With Kevin Henderson) to North Sea Stax, the duo were in on the start of Aberdeen's inaugural brass-driven ensemble, The Hyland League. Al Hyland himself denies any responsibility for the name, claiming the idea came from the other guys: Stewart 'Otis' Kemp fronted a horn section of Al and Alisdair McKenzie, with Rossi on guitar, and a back line of Kevin on bass and Spry on drums. At The Place on Albyn Terrace, the band's repertoire gob-smacked the young, spectating Gogsie Lemon. "I wasn't too familiar with the music, but it knocked me over. Up until then, I hadn't done any singing in public. But I thought I would give it a go. He soon replaced Otis as the HL became immensely popular purveyors of their own brand of Atlantic-Stax and Spencer Davis material, on the North East student dance circuit. The seeds were sown for the second soul spasm: within the year, The Lemon Soul kicked into action.As Hyland blew for jazzier fields, the horn section was consolidated by trumpeter Graham Smith, and trombonist Eddie McGovern (Pete's big brother). With a repertoire familiar to owners of the This Is Soul sampler, LS primarily covered popular material from Sam and Dave, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Packed houses ensued during 1967 and 1968 at the Beach Ballroom, the Four Mile at Kingswells, city student dances and throughout the NE.They only lasted two years, their last gig being the Cowdray Hall in 1968, and as far as I can see they never recorded anything. But apparently in 1993 a chance telephone call by Kevin Henderson from his home in Frankfurt to the Dutch Mill got them all talking again, and a reunion gig came about on April 3rd 1994. It seems this gig was recorded from the mixing desk, but God knows if it still exists anywhere.As I say there's tons more about the whole scene at that time in the book, if you want I can scan the whole chapter for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giles Walker Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 I found my copy of Fit Like New York, and there is a whole chapter about Lemon Soul. There's a huge amount of background stuff about the various members and other bands they were in, but the key paragraph about Lemon Soul is this -They only lasted two years, their last gig being the Cowdray Hall in 1968, and as far as I can see they never recorded anything. But apparently in 1993 a chance telephone call by Kevin Henderson from his home in Frankfurt to the Dutch Mill got them all talking again, and a reunion gig came about on April 3rd 1994. It seems this gig was recorded from the mixing desk, but God knows if it still exists anywhere.As I say there's tons more about the whole scene at that time in the book, if you want I can scan the whole chapter for you.That would be amazing.I think i might treat myself to this book in the near future, i'd better finish the pile next to my bed first though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Jack Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 That would be amazing.Ta-daa!http://imageshack.us/g/1/9973064/(sorry page 1 is a bit squint, never noticed at the time. Think it's still readable though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giles Walker Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Ta-daa!http://imageshack.us/g/1/9973064/(sorry page 1 is a bit squint, never noticed at the time. Think it's still readable though)Thanks! I really appreciate this.(Don't worry about it, i struggled through the dodgy kraut rock sampler scans just fine, so this will be a breeze) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcb Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Hi! I was just looking for "Lemon Soul" and this thread popped up. I'm a friend of Kevin Henderson, recorded some of his albums.I was the engineer for the Lemon Soul reunion gig in the Lemon Tree in the nineties, and yes I did record the event, great gig, lots of family & friends of the band were there.If anybody is interested in a copy, just let me know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Giles Walker Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Yeah i would quite like to hear this recording if possible. PM me for my email address, or i can meet you in a carpark after dark. (I made an account to post this) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lins000 Posted April 27, 2018 Report Share Posted April 27, 2018 On 29/04/2015 at 11:10 PM, dcb said: Hi! I was just looking for "Lemon Soul" and this thread popped up. I'm a friend of Kevin Henderson, recorded some of his albums. I was the engineer for the Lemon Soul reunion gig in the Lemon Tree in the nineties, and yes I did record the event, great gig, lots of family & friends of the band were there. If anybody is interested in a copy, just let me know. Gordon Ross is my father in law, would you still have this recording? We’d be interested to see it. Where did it take place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcb Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 Hallo, yes I do still have this recording, and Gordon should have it, as I recall all the band members got a copy. It was recorded at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. Dave Bell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lins000 Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 Aah, ok thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcb Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 You‘re welcome please say hi to Rossi for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trikelops Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 Gordon Ross and Kevin Henderson played together in a few bands throughout the 60s, including The Triads and The Delinguents. I played with Gordon briefly in the late 70s in a short-lived band with young Mike Chalmers on drums and the late Yvonne Forbes on keys. Last time I saw Gordon was at my mate Billy Allardyce's funeral about five years ago. Graham Spry was a really good solid drummer but I canna remember for the life of me who he played with, maybe The Jive Bombers with Gordon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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