Neat Change
NEAT CHANGE   

Peter Banks joined the Neat Change after he left Mabel Greer's Toyshop in late 1968. Neat Change were already a well established group. Their look was not hippy-Swinging London at all; it was the opposite. Banks eventually got fired because of not wanting to adapt to their look, but not after recording on the B-side of their sole single, I Lied To Aunty May. Peter Frampton plays guitar is on the A-side, which was one of his compositions.

Personnel:
Brian Sprackling Guitar
Ian McLean Drums
Steve Smith Bass
John Lumley-Saville Keyboards
Jimmy Edwards Vocals, Guitar

Ian McLean Drums
Steve Smith Bass
Peter Banks Guitar (last 8 weeks)

 Singles

I Lied To My Auntie May Listen / Sandman Listen  (DECCA, UK 7.12.68)
 Compilations
We Can Fly WE CAN FLY featuring I Lied To Auntie May

 
 Photos/Memorabilia
Rare Neat Change promo shot before Peter Banks joined. Courtesy of the original guitarist, Brian Sprackling.

When Neat Change took over The Herd at the Marquee for Saturday night residency.  
Courtesy of Brian Sprackling.
 
 Fan Recollections

The Neat Change made 40 appearances at the (Wardour Street) Marquee Club between December 1966 and August 1968.

As teenagers my mates and I virtually lived in the Marquee for much of that time and we quickly "discovered" the Neat Change when they arrived on the scene.

They were without doubt the best Soul / Motown / Mod band of that era, combining the image of (for example) the Small Faces with the excitement of The Who.

But both musically and visually as a live act they could blow both the Small Faces and The Who off the stage .

And they had the gimmick of the "neat change" - a complete change of clothing at the interval (which seemed deeply significant at the time !!)

The Action were perhaps the only comparable group musically of that genre and era in London.

We quickly became addicted to the band (strobe lights and all) and rarely missed any of their Marquee appearances.

Also saw them at the Flamingo one evening as their "guests".

As I recall they had a "lighting manager" (whose only job seemed to be to work the strobe lights).

I got to know a couple of the lads a little bit - Jim Edwards and the keyboard player (name escapes me) - and I managed to book them for our School Dance at Salesian College Battersea in 1967 !!! Those were the days.

Towards the end of their time together (when like everyone else they were moving away from the soul/motown covers) I recall a track called "Armies Emperors and Kings" which they were promoting as their next single (possibly with "Forever Amber" as the B-Side)?? Does anyone know if this was ever released - the only recorded reference I have ever found about them is the single "I Lied to Auntie May".

We still talk about them from time to time. I always wonder why they didn't make it - perhaps it was poor management or perhaps they were a little too late coming on to the scene, who knows.

Peter's onward career is well documented of course, but I would be very interested to know what happened to the other members of the Neat Change.

Best Regards,

Bernard Kiernan
London England
bernard.kiernan at ic24.net