User:Vaxvax123

MAKIN' TIME

Makin' Time were a band from the late 80's whose members included Mark McGounden(Guitar & Vocals), Martin Blunt(Bass), Fay Hallum (Vox/Hammond & Vocal) & Neil Clitheroe (Drums).

Their style, look and sound was a combination of the R&B Mod bands of the 1960's such as The Action & The Artwoods, plus some strong soul and jazz influences for good measure.

Barely out of school, and playing the local pubs and clubs in the Black Country area, they recorded a 5 track demo at the studio of Graduate Records, (UB40, The Maisonettes).This was to be a crucial turning point for the band when the demo found its way in to the hands of Eddie Pillar.

Eddie Pillar who at the time was one of the more influential Mod DJ/Promoters on the scene, offered the band a support slot with the recently reformed The Purple Hearts at the Ilford Palais, and later with Fast Eddie at the 100 Club.

With their obvious and shameless commercial sensibilities (they were one of mere handful of bands that didnt owe their look and sound to The Jam), the London Mod scene very quickly took them under their wing and amassed a large and loyal following.

Eddie, along with Maxine Conroy formed the Countdown Records label, which was licensed through Stiff Records. Their first release was on a compilation album (5,,3,2,1..GO) featuring the bands on the scene which included a contribution from Makin' Time... Martin Blunt's "Only Time Will Tell".

The band's reputation was growing, including very favourable reviews of their track. This lead to the band being given an Album & Single deal with Countdown/Stiff, which resulted in the now widely accepted classic "Rhythm And Soul". The single pulled from it was the Mark McGounden penned "Here Is My Number", and like the album was produced by Pat Collier (The Vibrators) and Will Birch (The Kursaal Flyers/The Records).