As with past UARB the Sons of Fred, I learned about this month’s Under-Appreciated Rock Band, the Soul Agents through the albums in the English Freakbeat Series. The English Freakbeat, Volume 2 CD includes a song made famous by Muddy Waters, “I Just Wanna Make Love to You” plus the flip side of a later single, the organ-driven instrumental “Gospel Train”. The English Freakbeat, Volume 4 CD has three more songs, “Don’t Break it Up”, “Mean Woman Blues” and “I Just Wanna Make Love to You” again. Apparently the intention was to include “Let’s Make it Pretty Baby” on the earlier CD (it was included on the English Freakbeat, Volume 2 LP); Greg Shaw says that it was his favorite among their songs in the liner notes for the English Freakbeat, Volume 2 CD.
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February 19, 1965 marked the appearance of the third single (on Pye) by the Soul Agents, “Don’t Break it Up” b/w “Gospel Train”. The British songwriting team of Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley wrote “Don’t Break it Up”; they are probably best known for the U.K. Number One hit (and U.S. #5) by the Honeycombs, “Have I the Right”.
The same night that their third single was released (February 19, 1965), the Soul Agents (but without Rod Stewart) appeared on the storied British music television program, Ready Steady Go!. They performed their new song “Don’t Break it Up” and then backed blues legend Buddy Guy on two songs.
The Soul Agents and Buddy Guy had joint appearances at several British clubs in the coming weeks after the Ready Steady Go! show, often with Rod Stewart.
(May 2014)
