The Hotshots was a ska band which had a hit single in the UK singles charts with a cover of "Snoopy Vs The Red Baron" in 1973.
The Hotshots | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Ska |
| Years active | 1973 |
| Labels | Mooncrest Records |
| Past members |
|
History
editIn Spring 1973, the head of Mooncrest Records, Clive Crawley, decided to record a cover of the Royal Guardsmen's hit "Snoopy Vs The Red Baron" as a counter to the heavy metal that was becoming popular. Crawley got together with the label's regular session keyboardist, Brian Bennett, and, in order to create a lilting ska sound, hired an Anglo-Jamaican band, The Cimarons,[1] to provide the appropriate rhythm.
The recording, released on 4 May 1973[2] under the group name The Hotshots, entered the UK singles charts for the week ending 2 June 1973, and peaked at no. 4 for the week ending 14 July 1973.[3] However, rather than use The Cimarons to promote the single, Crawley recruited a different band - Wild Country - which twice appeared on Top of the Pops performing the song.[4]
As the single dropped out of the charts, Wild Country, which did not have the rights to the Hotshots name, recorded a follow-up single ("Here Come The Three Bears") under the name The Hi-Shots, with Cliff Bennett as lead singer.[5] Brian Bennett recruited a new band, Albatross, to be The Hotshots; this different combine recorded four further ska singles as The Hotshots, as well as an album, but none was a hit, and Albatross reverted to recording under their own name.[6]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Snoopy Vs The Red Baron | – |
Singles
edit| Year | Song | UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Snoopy Versus The Red Baron" | 4 | |
| 1973 | "Battle of New Orleans" | – | |
| 1973 | "Yesterday Man" | – | |
| 1974 | "Caribbean" | – | |
| 1975 | "Mellow Yellow" | – | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
References
edit- ^ "Discography". The Cimarons. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Record details". 45cat. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "HOT SHOTS (sic)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "08/06/1973". Top of the Pops Archive. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Top spots for Hi-Shots?". Middlesex Chronicle: 2. 24 August 1973.
- ^ "Albatross/The Hotshots". Bournemouth Beat Boom. Retrieved 20 February 2024.