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At
one time, Stu almost became a member of The Undertakers. He rehearsed
with them for three days, but Geoff Nugent threatened to leave if the
group employed Stu. As The Nomads they appeared with The Beatles at
the Cavern on Sunday 3rd February 1963 and recorded on the ‘This Is
Mersey Beat’ album. When they discovered that a London group had registered
the name The Nomads, they changed the band's name to The Mojos, due
to Muddy Waters and the record ‘I’ve Got My Mojo Working.’ The band entered the Lancashire & Cheshire Beat Group Contest at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool and, although the group didn’t win, they were awarded a songwriters contract with Carlin Music. It was ironic that Carlin leased their tapes to Decca because The Escorts, the group who won the competition, failed to be given the promised Decca recording contract. The Mojos were joined by Terry O’ Toole on piano and Stu became lead vocalist. Now managed by Spencer Lloyd Mason, they saw their first record, ‘Forever,’ released in October 1963 and also gained a residency at the Blue Angel club in Liverpool. Adrian left to join The Mastersounds and was replaced by Nicky Crouch (born Aintree, Liverpool, on 9th February 1943), former member of Faron’s Flamingos. They appeared for a five-week season at the Star Club in Hamburg and, while in Germany, they recorded ‘Everything’s Alright’, which became a Top Ten hit. |
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name was changed to Stu James & The Mojos. This line-up continued until
September 1966. Lewis Collins was to join other bands before becoming
an actor and starring as Bodie in ‘The Professionals’ while Dunbar joined
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Mojos finally disbanded in January
1967 after a short spell backing singers Paul & Barry Ryan. Stu James was to recall, “We made our name in Liverpool as Blues specialists but were persuaded to do all sorts of lightweight pop stuff. After our initial success, we just stumbled on in a fairly aimless way. The acclaim we got was for our live performances which remained loud and raucous.” The group also appeared in the film ‘Every Day’s A Holiday’, known in America as ‘Seaside Swingers.’ |
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Their
singles were: ‘They Say’ c/w ‘Forever’ on Decca F11732 in 1963; ‘Everything's
Al'right’ c/w ‘Give Your Lovin' To Me’ on Decca F11853 in 1964 which
reached No 9 in the charts; ‘Why Not Tonight’ c/w ‘Don't Do It Any More’
on Decca F11918 in 1964 which reached No 25; ‘Seven Daffodils’ c/w ‘Nothin'
At All’ on Decca F11959 in 1964 which reached No 30 in the charts; ‘Comin'
On To Cry’ c/w ‘That's The Way It Goes’ on Decca F12127 in 1965; ‘Wait
A Minute’ c/w ‘Wonder If She Knows’ on Decca F12231 in 1965 (which was
the only single issued under the name Stu James & The Mojos); ‘Goodbye
Dolly Gray’ c/w ‘I Just Can't Let Her Go’ on Decca F12557 in 1967; ‘Until
My Baby Comes Home’ c/w ‘Seven Park Avenue’ on Liberty LBF15097 in 1968.
Their eponymous EP, issued on Decca DFE8591 in 1964 reached No 12 in the EP charts and comprised the numbers: ‘Everything's Al'right’, ‘I Got My Mojo Working’, ‘The One Who Really Loves You’, ‘Nobody But Me.’ 
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