Holdin' On With Geno Washington

The Rare Mod series has had a chance to take stock following Acid Jazz Record’s recent box-set of the first seven Rare Mod EPs - and Acid Jazz Records have come up with an absolute corker of a dance-floor EP from the mod/soul master.

Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band - a name synonymous with the handclappin’, footstompin', funky butt, live sound of sweaty mod Soho in '66.

Following the well-established route of an American serviceman turning his hand to singing in the London clubs, Geno took the London scene by storm; handsome, with the physique of a light heavyweight and the sartorial style of a Carnaby Street Modernist, The Ram Jam Band, originally formed by Geno and the guitarist Pete Gage, peppered the charts with a whole host of 45s and two hit albums for Pye Records. By the time The Ram Jam Band recorded this hitherto unheard session, the personnel had been through numerous changes. Colin Davey and Dave Greenslade had come in from Chris Farlowe's Thunderbirds, Pete Carney was on bass with Lionel Kingham and Buddy Beadle on saxes. Importantly, Dave Tedstone had moved across from Geno's Pye rivals The Vagabonds to play lead guitar and added an authentic 'British' soul sound.

The tracks presented here date from early '68. They were recently rediscovered by Dave Tedstone on the original quarter inch tape and have never before been heard. Take in another genuine slice of Rare Mod history; as Geno himself said on hearing the tapes for the first time, "Hey, I never heard us sound so damn good!”

Released as a limited edition 7” vinyl in an authentic sixties style sleeve and as a digital download. Release date is 28th Jan but advanced copies are available, right now, from the Acid Jazz store.