# Where were the British horn bands of the 60s and 70s? (If any....) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 5, 2021, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097 "2021-08-05T12:38:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/21 "2021-08-05T16:50:25Z")
Osibisa! [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ_IRK944YY) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/V5JPHNRrIiQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Osibisa - The Warrior") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5JPHNRrIiQ) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-T-hTmqLuMI/maxresdefault.jpg "Osibisa The Coffee Song 1976") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T-hTmqLuMI) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/22 "2021-08-05T19:28:40Z")
Bo! - you just used up ten minutes of my life! Here’s my revenge… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IALpmwOm8Vs/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gNSgTMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDtSQjS83Qpot_3NkY7-RTH5dDFeQ "Osibisa - Music For Gong Gong") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IALpmwOm8Vs) But…great call, and it raises an interesting question. Osibisa wre playing African music; the Bonzo’s were a weird one-off; Soft Machine were jazzy. The one other “horn” band I can think of right now is Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen. I’m wondering if, at that time in Britain, horns = jazz (for the most part). There wasn’t really a well-founded soul or funk tradition to draw on. Just speculating… j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/23 "2021-08-05T19:41:09Z")
Just thought of another example - The Bedrocks. But they came from a West Indian tradition. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/op9SM9u2OqA/maxresdefault.jpg "The Bedrocks - Ob La Di, Ob La Da (1968)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op9SM9u2OqA) j ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/24 "2021-08-05T21:58:47Z")
Supertramp was heavy on Sax (John Anthony Halliwell), but they also toured with a horn section and featured them in some songs. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/25 "2021-08-06T05:43:08Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Bo! - you just used up ten minutes of my life! > > Here’s my revenge… 🤨 “used”? . 😉 Aye; they’re good, aren’t they? They’re still a band; 52 years running now! ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/26 "2021-08-06T06:57:31Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Did the British have a similar affection for horn bands and horn sections in that period? I’m really straining to name some. Have Americans ever had an affection for the British tradition of brass bands? They normally play classical music, not pop or jazz, but there’s a strong tradition in the north of England of working-class brass bands, originally associated with the coal mines. See the movie Brassed Off (1996) with Ewan McGregor and Tara Fitzgerald - a wonderful movie, particularly if you like brass instruments. Clip: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zo8hIc7DpuE/maxresdefault.jpg "Brassed Off - Concierto d'Aranjuez 720p HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo8hIc7DpuE) ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/27 "2021-08-06T07:41:42Z")
[Traffic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_(band)#Members) had Chris Wood who played sax and flute for the original line-up. Is that enough for the group to be considered a British horn band? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mDwbO_aWu9Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Glad") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDwbO_aWu9Q) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/28 "2021-08-06T07:55:24Z")
I, too, thought of Van Morrison, which led me to Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames: > **[Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgie_Fame_and_the_Blue_Flames)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames were a British rhythm and blues group during the 1960s whose repertoire spanned jazz, soul, ska, and calypso. > They were originally the backing band for rock and roll singer Billy Fury. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/29 "2021-08-06T10:38:39Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Have Americans ever had an affection for the British tradition of brass bands? Americans prefer marching bands. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/30 "2021-08-06T13:19:55Z")
I totally forgot AWB. My bad. The thread started because I was listening to The Electric Flag’s _A Long Time Comin’_ and recalled how they specifically referred to themselves as “An American Music Band.” Of course, Chicago and BS&T were also quite popular in the late 60s and early 70s in the US. I can’t even begin to count the funk bands of that era. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/31 "2021-08-06T18:09:14Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > So far I’ve been unable to find information about the horn players on The Beatles’ “Got To Get You Into My Life.” Were they a bunch of individual musicians who were brought together to play on that particular record, or were they already an established horn section? According to wikipedia, it looks like the former :- > **[Got to Get You into My Life | Personnel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Got_to_Get_You_into_My_Life#Personnel)** > > According to Ian MacDonald: > The Beatles > 1.Paul McCartney – double-tracked lead vocal, bass | > 2.John Lennon – rhythm guitar (although MacDonald was unsure if Lennon played the rhythm guitar part) | > 3.George Harrison – lead guitar | > 4.Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine Additional musicians ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/32 "2021-08-06T18:27:46Z")
Well, then they should’ve started a British horn band called Additional Musicians. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/33 "2021-08-06T19:05:19Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Have Americans ever had an affection for the British tradition of brass bands? Do Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass count? The Blues Brothers had a number of successes, and they had a complete horn section. Or are we talking a out some uniquely British type of band? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/34 "2021-08-06T19:23:46Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Have Americans ever had an affection for the British tradition of brass bands? > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Or are we talking a out some uniquely British type of band? i think we’re talking about this sort of thing :- (which i personally can’t stand) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/USeBRoTC0lw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Floral Dance - Wakefield Metropolitan Brass Band") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USeBRoTC0lw) ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/35 "2021-08-06T19:42:36Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Or are we talking a out some uniquely British type of band Yes, totally different. > **[British brass band](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_brass_band)** > > In Britain, a brass band (known regionally as a silver band or colliery band) is a musical ensemble comprising a standardized range of brass and percussion instruments. The modern form of the brass band in the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around communities and local industry, with colliery bands being particularly notable. The Stalybridge Old Band (still in existence) was formed in 1809 and was perhaps the first civilian brass ban...   Historically, they emerged in the 19th century as community bands of amateurs, usually associated with specific villages, factories, and mines. A strong tradition of amateur brass bands still continues today, and there is a National Brass Band Championship, with different ‘leagues’, and about 600 brass bands entering. Probably the Grimethorpe Colliery Band is the most famous. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KigDxUQ_hgY/maxresdefault.jpg "Grimethorpe Colliery Band") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KigDxUQ_hgY) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/36 "2021-08-06T20:12:34Z")
This got a lot of airplay in 1965. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6XK_ZtqJP1E/maxresdefault.jpg "Hall Of The Mountain King") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XK_ZtqJP1E) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/37 "2021-08-06T20:32:34Z")
I wonder if that’s where The Who stumbled upon that tune. [The Who Hall of the Mountain King](https://youtu.be/hW7NocWs0Zg) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/38 "2021-08-06T23:57:45Z")
Thanks for going into detail. How are these different from typical high school bands? Just the fact that they keep playing when not in school? Most high school bands around here are almost all horns, woodwinds and percussion. There is an American Brass Band association: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1oVp9Ky21l8/maxresdefault.jpg "North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Championships") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oVp9Ky21l8) The only ‘brass’ band I can think of commercially in North America is Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZhEmtlpExUo/maxresdefault.jpg "Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass - Spanish Flea") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhEmtlpExUo) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/39 "2021-08-07T00:03:07Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > This got a lot of airplay in 1965. I can’t imagine why, that was an awful rendition. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097/40 "2021-08-07T04:12:16Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I can’t imagine why, that was an awful rendition. I loved it in 1965, still enjoy it immensly. BUT only to the halfway point after which the uninspired middle break and the ever-accelerating reprise indeed render it awful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-were-the-british-horn-bands-of-the-60s-and-70s-if-any/948097.md?page=3)