The Styrous® Viewfinder: The Temperance Seven

December 2, 2021

20,000 Vinyl LPs 320: The Temperance Seven ~ A Christmas Baby

The Temperance Seven ~ Those Popular Gentlemen

vinyl LP front cover detail

cover photographer unknown

detail photo of album cover by Styrous®

The Temperance Seven was a British group that specialized in 1920s-style jazz music. It was founded at Christmas in 1955 by students at the Chelsea School of Art: so, it seemed appropriate to feature their album at this time of year. They were also known for their surreal performances and this album is on my "Deseert Island" list (link below).

The Temperance Seven ~ Those Popular Gentlemen

vinyl LP front cover

cover photographer unknown

photo of album cover by Styrous®

The group was in the 1962 British musical comedy film, It's Trad, Dad!, with performances by a variety of dixieland jazz bands and rock-and-roll singers; some of the singers were Del Shannon of Runaway fame, Gary U.S. Bonds, Gene Vincent (Be-Bop-a-Lula), Gene McDaniels, The Paris Sisters of San Francisco and many others. Links to complete cast and plot below.

It's Trad, Dad! movie poster

Those Popular Gentlemen album, by The Temperance Seven, is a delight with songs from the twenties with their whimsical, wacky and carefree abandon!

The Temperance Seven ~ Those Popular Gentlemen

vinyl LP back cover

back cover photographer unknown

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Home In Pasadena is my favorite song from the album. It charted at #4 on the UK Singles chart in 1961. The vocal by Paul MacDonald is flawless! This was the follow-up to You're Driving Me Crazy which was a #1 hit. The song was originally recorded in 1924 by Al Jolson and also Billy Murray and Ed Smalle.

Another favorite of mine, á la the 20's, is Vo-Do-Do-De-O Blues, written by Adrian Rollini who is also known for introducing the goofus in jazz music. The song was also recorded by The California Ramblers (which I used in one of the fashion shows I produced for Obiko link below). Some of the members of the Ramblers included Red Nichols, Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey.

The Temperance Seven ~ Those Popular Gentlemen

vinyl LP front cover detail

cover photographer unknown

detail photo of album cover by Styrous®

The Temperance Seven is listed as the band for the Spike Milligan and John Antrobus stage play The Bed-Sitting Room, which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963, with a subsequent production opening on 3 May 1967 at the Saville Theatre.

A film based on the play was released in 1969. The film was directed by Richard Lester and the cast included Ralph Richardson, Arthur Lowe, Rita Tushingham, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Michael Hordern, Marty Feldman, Harry Secombe and Milligan; I remember seeing this film, it's a doozey!

The Temperance Seven

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1     That Certain Party
A2     Hard-Hearted Hannah
A3     Dinah
A4     Sugar
A5     Black Bottom
A6     Chili Bom Bom

Side 2:

B1     Everybody Loves My Baby
B2     Home In Pasadena
B3     Vo-Do-Do-De-O Blues
B4     Falling In Love Again
B5     The Charleston
B6     Tiger Rag

Credits:

    Arranged By – Josef Kronk
    Producer – George Martin

The Temperance Seven ‎– Those Popular Gentlemen
Label: Kapp Records ‎– KL-1287
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: Jazz, Pop




Viewfinder links:
Jimmy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey

Red Nichols
Obiko

Adrian Rollini

The Viewfinder 'desert island' vinyl LP list

Net links:

It's Trad, Dad! ~

Cast

Plot

Smart ~ The Temperance Seven

YouTube links:

The Temperance Seven ~

Charleston & Black Bottom

Chili Bom Bom