The “gangsterish” charm of Andrew Loog Oldham and Immediate Records, by Simon Spence

The godfather of British independent labels, Immediate, was started in 1965 by the Stones’ manager Andrew Oldham and Tony Calder, its winning slogan: “happy to be part of the industry of human happiness”. As Simon Spence correctly puts it, “it all got very messy”. Oldham tended to fall out with people and then threaten to kill them. Simon’s excellent book, ‘Immediate: the Rise And Fall of the UK’s First Independent Record Label’ has the details (he also co-authored Oldham’s two memoirs, ‘Stoned’ and ‘2Stoned’). Immediate has been a touchstone ever since and their roster included the Small Faces, PP Arnold, the Nice, the Who, Fleetwood Mac, Twinkle, Scott Walker and various others discussed here. Also includes …

… “no Andrew Oldham, no Rolling Stones.”

… the part played by Tony Hancock’s doctor.

… “if you didn’t want to be ripped off, why are you in the music business?”

… the range of Immediate’s catalogue from Nico and Rod Stewart to the Turtles and Jimmy Tarbuck.

… an advert for the Nice involving three assassinated politicians.  

… the time Oldham left his hairdresser in charge of A&R.

… Don Arden, the Small Faces and £25,000 in a paper bag.

… a secretly recorded blues album and why Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page fell out.

… why Oldham wanted to poison the Nice and murder Amen Corner.

… invaluable advice from Phil Spector.

… and why Immediate finally fell apart.

Order Simon’s book here …

https://www.backstage-books.co.uk/

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