Mother's Club Carlton Club Ballroom Erdington

[A Sparks]

Was Barmy Barry a bouncer? If it was him, he was a nasty piece of work He only the little fellas out!

The only Barmy Barry I can remember was a DJ who played records at the Ritz and the Plaza in Old Hill!
Not sure if he was ever at the Carlton - could have been I suppose?

 

[Richard the STAX]

Carlton

I must beg to differ with you when you say there were no bands at the Carlton as I went there quite a lot before it was Mother's and saw a lot of bands including my mates band The Exception with Roger Hill,Dave Pegg and Alan 'Bugsy' Eastwood.I remember when it changed to Mothers and saw everybody there including John Mayall,Deep Purple,Pentangle,Savoy Brown,Rory Gallagher and many others.

Ginger baker sitting over the road in the acorn in the interval knocking back whiskey when cream appeared there and the who ( Keith moons drum solo at the end of the act ( unforgettable) and many other artist’s RJP pype hayes

 

[Moor End Lad]

I'd like to share a story while I'm still around to tell it, but there is a language warning for those of a sensitive disposition.

Firstly, it was a rite of passage at school on your 16th birthday to overstate your age and sign up for a Mothers membership card. Some of the guys even managed it at 15, and were able to see the Nice at the back end of 1968. That was how I became one of the Mothers crowd and a particularly keen follower of the Edgar Broughton Band, who had a regular slot there.

The first time that I saw them was Wednesday 6th August 1969. My friends and I lived in Erdington, so it was easy to get there early to be at the front of the queue. Sure enough, we got seats in the front row, and sat there in our school macs with me on the left. Beside me was a very county looking lady in her 50s wearing a smart trouser suit and pearls, and beyond her was an elderly chap in a Gannex raincoat. Looking behind, I could see a sea of tie-dye vests and a group of heavies in nazi helmets leaning against the bar. I thought to myself what a mixed crowd were there.

At 9:00 pm the band came on, and Edgar launched into a tirade about putting a motherf pig up for election in Warwick. In fact every other word was motherf. After 15 minutes of this we started to get a bit restless, and one of my mates asked me what the guitar was that Edgar was holding. I replied confidently that it was a Fender Telecaster. Quick as a flash, the lady next to me leaned over and corrected that it was a Stratocaster. I looked at her as if to say "You know about these things do you?", but she anticipated and said proudly "I'm his mother!". Sure enough, they were always there in the background whether the band was appearing at Mothers, the Town Hall or Cannon Hill Park.

After Mothers closed, I last saw the EBB at the Fiesta Club in Gorton, which is like the railway stop at the end of the world. By then they had Victor Unitt back with them, and they played following two support bands to just my crowd and the underutilised bar staff. We traded a few words about the old days, but they were not happy bunnies. Following that they seemed to disappear into history.

However, fast forward 37 years, and I saw that they were due to appear at the Assembly Rooms in Leamington on 7th August 2009. So, I took my wife down there for what was the 40th anniversary of seeing them for the first time. We were all a lot older, but it a was a great evening. Again, there were two support bands, and the original EBB trio were reinforced by a second guitarist and Edgar's son Luke on keyboards. I thought it was a nice touch that the original trio were given the stage to themselves for the essential rendition of "Love in the Rain". Regrettably, I've heard nothing of them since.

 

[Alberta]

I have just looked at the history of Mothers and it states opened 1969 , it also states in the same venue as the Carlton which opened in 1963.
i find this very puzzling as I married,( had my reception at the Acorn) in 1961 and I used to go to the club before this possibly 1959/1960.

 

[A Sparks]

The Carlton and Mothers were the same venue, when I first went there it was still called The Carlton, there used to be mainly local Midlands bands who played there.
Later they changed the name to Mothers to bring their image up to date with the latest music I guess and they started booking well known bands which drew a bigger audience - even people from London came up sometimes.

@Moor End Lad that's a great story!
I remember the EBB and saw them a couple of times at Mothers - I don't remember seeing his parents though!!
Like you, I joined when I was 16, maybe still 15?, there never seemed to be any problem with things like that back in those says!

 

[Moor End Lad]

I have just looked at the history of Mothers and it states opened 1969 , it also states in the same venue as the Carlton which opened in 1963.
i find this very puzzling as I married,( had my reception at the Acorn) in 1961 and I used to go to the club before this possibly 1959/1960.

Mothers as a club name opened on Friday 9th August 1968. The opening performance was by Duke Sonny.

 

[Tidd]

Hi Alan.

As you say, a fantastic place for progressive music. The highlight of my numerous visits to Mother's was seeing John Mayall's Bluebreakers. Having said that, the old tale about the 1960's was that "if you remember them, you weren't there!"

I remember seeing The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown at Mother's, and his flaming head-dress set the ceiling alight!

I've got a question for you, Alan: do you happen to know if Derek And The Dominoes ever played Mother's? I have this vague memory that they did...but all my memories of those days are vague...

Cheers,

Big Gee

According to this site : https://www.songkick.com/artists/78437-derek-and-the-dominos/gigography?page=2 Derek & The Dominos played Mothers on 9th August 1970. I remember their gig at the Town Hall on 5th October. .

 

[David Quick]

According to this site : https://www.songkick.com/artists/78437-derek-and-the-dominos/gigography?page=2 Derek & The Dominos played Mothers on 9th August 1970. I remember their gig at the Town Hall on 5th October. .

Re the 1960s, I suppose you could say, 'if you remember them you're lucky to be still here' or 'if you're still here you're lucky to remember them'. Great posts everybody, got to be so much more locked away in our memories. Now, where did I put that damned Melody Maker?..........

 

[TommoCo]

As you say, 'locked away in our memories'...I remember with pleasure the Carton which then became 'Mothers'. I went there first to see Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - Wonderful!
After that came so many, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with various lineups and when the new lead guitarist was the subject of discussion, The Nice with Keith Emmerson performing acrobatics while digging a nasty-looking knife into the top notes on his keyboard while playing the finale to 'America', Peter Greene's Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack Stan Webb on lead guitar, with Christine Perfect on keyboard, the Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscol etc.
Having read other posts here, I can add that the famous cheap cider mentioned was, when I bought it, very cheap (10p old money a pint) cloudy, acidic and very alcoholic, so consumed in as many pints as I had 10p's to spend (not a lot)!
For me, the DJ was Erskine, the record 'Suzanne' by Leonard Cohen, the place full (after queuing along the entry to get in), very hot and smelling of smoking things. Resident band on Thursdays (a quiet day so it was cheap -I didn't go!) were 'Free' (until 'All right Now' came out). We went to see Pink Floyd who had lights like traffic lights (no one else had thought of a light show), an enormous cymbal behind the drummer, and who sat of the floor to play and sing.
As 'progressive' music went mainstream, so the entrance price went up... we saw Joe Cocker and the Greaseband sing 'With a little help from my friends' and the 'The Who' with Keith Moon (just the three of them, very professional).
(Also worthy of note was the Bulls Head at Yardley who regularly had Jimmy Cliff performing)
Wonderful live music in places where you were literally near enough to touch the stars!!!

 

[Vivienne14]

Been having a look at the advertising placed for Mothers. It illustrates the astounding number of talented bands and performers that appeared at Mothers. Shall post a cross-section of adverts. The Club frequently advertised throughout 1968 - 1970, sometimes with two ads on one page. Below are some of those that appeared in Birmingham papers in 1968.

As well as the familiar strap-line : "the home of good sounds" used in all Mothers ads, the terminology in the ads reflects 1960s common expressions like "very groovy", "late split", "spinning discs", "swingin", "hot sounds" and "all night rave". They went further to use the phrase : " The Midlands' Home of Blues and Progressive Sounds." The soul night seemed good value at 25p entrance. And you could get food - vital if you were drinking the rough - sorry draught ! - cider.

I notice 'old Carlton cards' could be changed at the desk at no extra charge. And the 1968 ads started to offer free entrance for girls. And even when there was a weekend all-night rave, the regular sessions still ran. At the rave you could get pies and watch movies - groovy ! (Source : British Newspaper Archive)

 

[Vivienne14]

A few smaller 1968 ads summarising up-coming bookings. So many very familiar names - should generate a few memories. John Peel had a very busy Christmas weekend in 1968.
(Source : British Newspaper Archive)

 

[A Sparks]

Aaaah memories
I remember seeing many of those bands!

 

[Vivienne14]

Moving on to 1969 the club had folk sessions as well as disco nights. Didn't realise you could go disco dancing there on Thursdays and Fridays.

Source : British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

Some of line-ups in 1969, some real scoops, and big names.

Source : British Newspaper Archive

 

[A Sparks]

I was at the Led Zeppelin night, was not very long after they had formed.
The place was packed, partly I think to many people knowing Robert Plant and John Bonham from local Midlands bands.

 

[Vivienne14]

A view of Mothers

Source : British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

And finally 1970. The ads show that the Club was actively promoting bands who were booked to appear at the Town Hall.

Source : British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

And sadly by 1971

Source : British Newspaper Archive

 

[A Sparks]

It really was a legendary club, when I moved to London I met someone who said he used to travel to Birmingham to go to Mothers - that says it all!

 

[Vivienne14]

Absolutely. It was irreplaceable.

 

[Vivienne14]

In March 1968 the Club was still the Carlton. In April 1968 it had become Mothers.

Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[David Quick]

What an amazing concentration of talent that was. I love that ad that says Mississippi Fred MacDowell was not coming but you got Sabbath and Groundhogs instead. How bad was that! If that wasn't to your liking, don't worry, Humble Pie and Pink Floyd next weekend! Come on! Another one I picked up on was Taste followed the next night by Yes. I still listen to all this stuff today but the grandchildren look a bit puzzled. How could you ever explain it?

 

[Vivienne14]

The Carlton Ballroom advertised in early 1963 had shortly afterwards started referring to itself as the Carlton Club. As part of this modern image it jumped on the 'Twist' craze. It's advertising image was far from the traditional 1950s ballroom, and was obviously out to attract the younger generation in mid - 1963 Most performers I don't recognise as I was too young to go to clubs, but was allowed to go ballroom dancing (probably seen as more 'respectable' at the time). But of course I recognise Carl Wayne and the Vikings and Gerry and the Pacemakers !

Source of adverts: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

By 1964 bookings of more nationally familiar bands were appearing at the Carlton. Note the (Midland) "Reds" from Town conveniently stopped outside the club

Source of ads : British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

1n 1965 occasional references to the 'Ballroom' , but definitely a "pop" venue. And one event with slapstick comedy on stage.

Source of all ads : British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

In 1966 they hired dancers - were they go-go dancers like Pans People ? And there was a fashion show as a special attraction.

Source of all ads : British Newspaper Archive

 

[Astoness]

thanks viv some great names appeared there...if only i had been about 4 years older

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

Things were starting to hot up in 1967, some big names being booked and a clearer lean towards blues and soul.. They went fron 2s 6d (special offer) entrance fee, to 3s then to 3s and 6d. Still much cheaper than other similar venues, and nowhere near the price of the big venues in Town. One Carlton ad allowed entrance for 1s if you produced their newspaper ad.

Wonder if the 1967 appearance of Arthur Brown is the one referred to earlier in this thread when he set fire to the ceiling ? ! It was no place to have a fire get out of control.

Source of all ads : British Newspaper Archive

 

[A Sparks]

Went to a couple of the 1967 nights

 

[Vivienne14]

More established bands seem to be appearing in 1968 and so prices increased. The Carlton line-ups were starting to look like those of Mothers in later 1969