Record #0006: Telstar / Jungle Fever – THE TORNADOES

London 9561 (original), USA, 1962
Music by:  Side A – Joe Meek; Side B – Geoff Goddard
Musicians:   Clem Cattini (drums), Alan Caddy (lead guitar), Roger LaVern (keyboards), George Bellamy (rhythm guitar), Heinz Burt (bass)
Recording session:  Joe Meek’s studio, London, UK 1962
Highest chart positions:  US #1, UK #1 (also #1 in Belgium, Ireland & South Africa … #17 in Finland)

TheTornados (the “e” was added to their name in the US) were London-based session musicians and also Billy Fury’s backing group in 1962-63.
The title song of this record was named after AT&T’s communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit on July 10, 1962. This single was the first US #1 by a British group. Indeed, they did it well before the Beatles had theirs. It is also the only instrumental single that has hit #1 in both US and UK weekly charts.

Joe Meek, who could be called the British Phil Spector, wrote and produced Telstar. A movie about his life was released in 2008.

Heinz Burt left the band and went solo in 1963. He had one big hit as “Heinz” with his single “Just Like Eddie” (UK #5). I’ll come back to this record later, when it comes up.

List price:  “Very Good+” is $12.50 and “Near Mint” is $25.