Tribute page for
THE LOVING AWARENESS BAND
John Turnbull says 'Yes I believe in Loving Awareness' (Blockheads forum)
This page is dedicated to the members of the Loving Awareness Band,
Ronan O'Rahilly and Peter Moore (Radio Caroline directors) and all staff
members -past and present -within the Caroline family who made it come true
-who have passed on the message of love combined with good music- and
ofcourse to you the listener - who might think it is a very idealistic idea in
Western eyes, but we can assure you it is a very practical idea in Far Eastern
eyes. Just try to understand this paradox in full: A change of yourself is a
changed world.
SMC records CD 920701 (1992):
Loving Awareness Band members (later Ian dury's Blockheads) : left to
right side with hands up: JohnTurnbull (gtr, vcls), Norman Watt-Roy
(gtr.vcls) , Charley Charles (drms, vcls) and Michael Gallagher (keb'ds).
Also Ronan O'Rahilly (in the back with telephone) , photo's of The Beatles,
a poster of the Radio Caroline ship and philosophic books on the desks in a
school classroom setting :
The picture above is the inside of the gatefold sleeve of the landmark
concept album out of the year 1976 -Loving Awareness by The Loving
Awareness Band.
A short history of the group
Several members from groups 'Bell and Arc'(former Skip Bifferty band)
and Glencou formed in March 1974 The Loving Awareness Band. The
group was managed by Radio Caroline. Chillie Charles, Mark Singer and
Simon Phillips were drummers before Charley Charles completed the
definitive line up. The musicians did session work for other artists and
concentrated on the recording of Loving Awareness jingles for Radio
Caroline and this resulted in the LA - album.
The album was recorded during a six weeks visit to California USA. After
the studio sessions the tour of the band ( the LA trip ) was delayed and
distribution of the album in the UK was hampered for various reasons while
promotion was already going on. The qualities of the band were beyond any
doubt but the comparison with the Beatles at the launch of the album -
although very true in theory - was met with cynism by the press. This made
it easy for the public at large to confuse the message of loving awareness
with false sentiments. Whatever the opinion on LA - musically it was widely
recognized for being an attractive album.
The band soon lost momentum in the opinion of the record company and
had to stop. Nevertheless about 10.000 official copies of the album were
originally sold and the re-issues on CD are still selling. More important
among many Radio Caroline listeners the album reached a cult status.
Now , 20 years later the jingle package and /or the tracks of the album are
still used - making it all worthwile. How many would have imagined at the
start of it all that Radio Caroline would continue to promote Loving
Awareness for decades - giving airplay to the album and the band forever?
Early issue with black sleeve and white letters on the cover:
For a closer look at this album
Click here
The first release was in Holland on More Love Records (marked 001) and
distributed by Phonogram (ML 6812008). The single taken from the album
was "Love you to know" (ML 6198087) - a remake of an earlier Skip
Bifferty recording with the title "Guru".
We don't know why there are black and white sleeves. Could be that
the first batch was in black, followed by the white version. This would be
consistent with info that the promo serie reached the radio ship in black
sleeves. Many persons only seem to know the white version.
Early issue with glossy white sleeve and black letters on the cover:
Both albums included two posters. They both measure 36"x24". The first
is a mural featuring some naked girls sprawed over a rock with flags. The
second, a pair of breasts featuring the commentry used by Tony Allan on a
promo at the time which begins with "The loving idealism that the Beatles
projected (All you need is love) was equalled in the 60's only by the
idealism of ....etc" plus pictures of Mick, Norman , Charlie and John at the
bottom.
Later (UK) re-issues of the LA album were not distributed by Phonogram
and contained no posters anymore. After the raid on the Ross signed copies
with "LA Ronan" on it were available. These were not in a proper LP cover
but the sort most record shops kept the L.Ps in behind the counter. So, stiff
cardboard with an insert but no artwork on the cardboard sleeve -plain white.
(Sources: Chris B/ent, Paul Welton
, Mark Andrews, Ross Macfayden, and Nigel's offshorememories page)
The launch of the album
On the 15th of May 1976 Radio Caroline expanded its night time service
into a 24 hrs service on a new frequency of 192 meters AM. Clearly budget
was now available for the intensification of the Loving Awareness campaign.
A few weeks later a bunch of mysterious albums without printed labels on it
reached the radio ship Mi Amigo - it turned out to be a promo serie of The
Loving Awareness Band. The album was to be launched on the 23rd of June.
On that day the following announcement could be heard many times on Radio
Caroline:
'In the Amsterdam Hilton hotel today a press conference is being held that
will be directly receivable in New York as well - by satellite connection. At
the press conference a group will be launched with the name Loving
Awareness, a name for a group named after the philosophy which you the
Caroline listener has been teached for already three years by Radio Caroline.
Loving Awareness reflects a clear experience of philosophy and love. Can
you imagine what a pieceful world it would be if everyone would happily turn
to LA.'
The press conference was presented by the first ever Caroline dj Simon Dee
and the content of the message was that the group would be a new kind of
Beatles. The group was presented to have the same potential for future
success as the Beatles- aiming to continue the line of 'love' which the Fab
Four had started.
A letter was red out in which the Beatles - in case they wouldn't rejoin
anymore -were asked for permission to their name being used for the 'LA
trip' of the band. After the appearance of a message board saying 'Meet the
Beatles' a movie was shown with the Loving Awareness band playing. The
cover of the Loving Awareness album was white refering to the Beatles
White Album.
The press conference was covered by the three major USA TV networks.
The album became 'album of the week' on Dutch Radio Veronica and
Belgian Radio Mi Amigo payed attention. Even the BBC did by the ever
loyal ex-caroline dj Johnny Walker. On Radio Caroline in the meantime
Tony Allan introduced the listeners to the new album. From then on it got
a lot of direct and indirect exposure as elements of the songs were also
used in Caroline LA - promo's. So the album gave Radio Caroline a more
peculiar sound - and it still does.
(several sources: e.g. Hans Knot, Karel Gerbers, Jelle Knot , Tom de Munck a.o. 20 jaar
Radio Caroline - Groningen, 1984 - 5e druk, The Blockheads internet forum, Caroline
Newsbeat, John Turnbull info (the Musician's Olympus), and the webmaster's own memory )
The album itself
Judged on its own qualities and purpose this Loving Awareness recording
deserves more than the cult status it has. It's as unique as the radio station it
sustained in passing on the message: Concentrate on Love and Piece and
meditating will help you. So, enough reason to give the album a listen.
(E-mail SMC Amsterdam Holland on how to obtain your copy):
Click here
On this page you will find the words of all the tracks for the CD has no
booklet. For those who never heard it: musically it's soft rock with rhythm,
funky and reggae influences, plus several tracks reminiscing of and inspired
by George Harrison. It's a must for persons interested in LA , Radio Caroline,
The Beatles and for those seeking the musical heritage of excellent musicians
as John Turnbull, Norman Watt-Roy, Michael Gallagher, Charley Charles -
who became world famous as The Blockheads around 1978 as by then the
dismantled Loving Awareness Band was fully assimilated in Ian Dury &
The Blockheads on tour.
Also "Loving Awareness - the update" is available with four instrumentals in a
New age style with sea sounds and seagulls (tracks marked with an asterix) on
SMC Records 9910. Below you'll find all the words:
Words LA-Track 1: Let us get to know you*
Let us get to know you -
cause we wanna be in touch
All we wanna tell you is that
we love you all so much
When you're giving off good vibrations
there's nothing your friends won't do for you
But when you're giving off bad vibes baby
there's nothing that they can do for you
Words LA-Track 2: Free your soul
Free your soul
Let goodness take control
The devil's getting old
The masses must be told
Free your soul - oh yeah
Let the music tan your hide
Dance together side by side
Let lovin' be your guide
Free your soul - oh yeah
Here's a new dance but you do it in your head
There's no steps you just do it
Free your soul
Turn your darkness into light
I said free your soul I said we've all got the right
But don't give up your fight no no no
Free your soul -oh yeah
I wanna be free - I wanna be -
don't get up tight - let yourself go -
won't you hang it loose
Words LA-Track 3: Love you to know
I will love you to know what it's all about
The effects that it has upon me
There is something within you without a doubt
Do you know what it's like to be free?
Something I'd like you to know
If you knew would you cease to deceive
Something I'd like you to see
If you see will you believe?
There is nothing deceptive behind your lies
What the truth is you cannot conceive
Of all the friendship and trust that are placed in you
Now it's gone and I cannot believe
Maybe it will come in time
But for time I have waited too long
Perhaps it will make itself known
But by then you'll see who was wrong
I love you to know I love you to know
I will love you to know what it's all about
The effects that it has upon me
And do you know what it's like to be free
Do you know what it's like to be free
Words LA-Track 4: No other high
Get together love is calling
Can you hear it
Do you feel it
Do you know well love is close to you
But can you feel it
As once you get started
Once you spend time
Once you get started - started
There ain't no other high - high yeah!
If you feel it takin' over you
Don't you worry no no no
Love will stop you going under
Don't you worry
Cause once you get started - oh baby
Once you spend time - changing your mind
Once you get started started
There ain't no other high - no other high -
sweet feelin' - no other high - Sing it again -
I wanna see it - I wanna feel it - I wanna hear it
Words LA-Track 5: It's Allah's movie
It's Allah's movie Allah's picture show
No one believin' - There's love for all you know
We don't need no fighting - hatred and cruel war
Today is for planning tomorrow isn't far
Come on and be part of Allah's movie show
Don't you wanna be part of Allah's picture show
Who needs black magic, green, blue or white won't do
Show us your color - we know what's good for you
Don't need no dogma - we know what we know
Love is our answer - that's the way to go
Political teachers we got good plans for you
Religious instructors you've done the damage too
It's Allah movie Allah's picture show
O what believin' - there's lovin' all you know
Don't be no fighting and cruel war
Today is for planning tomorrow isn't far
Political teachers we got good plans for you
Religious instructors you've done the damage too
Come on and be part of Allah's movie show
Don't wou wanna be part of Allah's picture show
Be a part of - Be a part of - Allah's picture show
Words LA-Track 6: The vibes inside*
In my morning cup of tears. Crying over all the years
I have been untrue to you -oho- untrue to you
Breathing out and in again - letting go of all the pain
I have been keeping inside - here by your side
Keeping inside -oho- here by your side
I touch your body. You touch my Psyche
You lay it on me - right down the line. Right down the line
In a sunlit golden room. Feelings buried in a tombe
The vibes are hidden inside, so right oh yeah, here by your side
In a silent night so deep. Something watching in as I sleep into
the world of my dreams World of my dreams.
World of your dreams.
World of my dreams -oho-World of your dreams
I hear you watching .You outlive time
I feel you caring.You're always there -oho- You're always there
You are myself. You are myself. My higher Self.
I bow to you - to you.
Words LA-Track 7: Voice of love
Keep on towing the line for the loving kind of awareness
Me and my friend - He's an Amigo going up the river - Love is growing
What is love.Love is what you make it.Is what you make love.
Love is learning. Love is turning.
Love is turning me on - drop us a liner
Keep on towing the line for the loving kind of awareness
Love is living - Love is giving - Love is singing in song
So, keep on towing the line for the loving kind of awareness
Words LA-Track 8: Be in touch
Let us get to know you - cause we wanna be in touch
All we wanna tell you is that we love you all so much
When you're giving off good vibrations
there's nothing your friends won't do for you
But when you're giving off bad vibes baby
there's nothing that they can do for you
There's nothing that they can do for you - again
Words LA-Track 9: Close the gate*
I'm gonna tell you bout what I feel is right
Hold on tight cause it might be a bumby flight
The vibes inside are working for you too
There must be some way I can comfort you honey
But first we gotta close the gate - come on people - you gotta close the gate
won't you close the gate - I said close the gate of hate
You always know something goes against the grain
Something just doesn't feel right - you know about it
heard it on TV and seen it on your radio?
you've got a part to play you can't say you don't know
Close the gate hey come on close the gate of hate
won't you close the gate - close the gate of hate
there's a better world and can find it soon
don't just sit there gapin' at the moon
Nostradamus didn't mean to frighten us
to just enlighten us was all that he wanted to do
If ever we wanted a chance to make it good - by groovin' now
Just be yourself no more no less
There will always be greater and lesser beings
Gandhi, King and the Kennedy's too
They all close the gate of hate -
It's so easy
let us all close - I've seen it on the Radio -
heard it on the Tv show - capping cloud on audio
Words LA-Track 10: like what I like*
I have lived for years inside my head - please wake me up
I didn't know I had a heart
I cut my thoughts like they were flower stems - right off
I didn't know that I could own my own emotions
And all this time I have been thinking about loving
I have a habit of ignoring everything
That I dislike and like so many others - I like what I like
Even though it rubs me up the wrong way
Even though it brings me down a long way
Even though it brings me down
I like what I like - I like what I like
I have lived for years inside my head - I'm waking up
I didn't know that I had a heart
I cut my thoughts like they were flower stems - right off
And all this time I have been thinking about loving
I have a habit of ignoring everything
That I dislike - and like so many others - I like what I like
Even though it brings me down
Even though it makes me cough
Even though it makes me puke
Even though it breaks my heart
Ohhh
Words LA-Track 11: Jarold
You got the world at your feet
Sittin' in your hot seat
You got the frontpage news
What's it like to be in your shoes
Talking piling up the sky
Wasting everybody time
Making sure that you never lose
Always keep the shine on your shoes
Who who would love us yeah really love us
Oh if you really loved us you would sing our song
Substituting fiction for fact
I think it's time to clean up your act
Why you always have to refuse
To whipe away the shit from your shoes
You who would lead us don't even hear us
What do you need for a reason to change right from wrong
Those who will teach us don't even reach us
Oh oh oh why do they fear us - where has freedom gone
You got the world at your feet
Sittin' in your hot seat
Why you always have to refuse
To whipe away the shit from your shoes
Who would love us yeahh really love us
Oh if you really love us You need singing our song
Words LA-Track 12: Let yourself go
Go go go
Just let yourself go - just let yourself go
Disguised your ways in very fine tweed
But back in your house you're smoking the weed
Your taxman's taking -He's playing the game
but lines his saville suits with capital gain
I said He's got to let himself go
He's got to let himself go go go
Listen
Bounced your ideas round and around
In seamated shoes you can't feel the ground
I saw you dancing out of sight
Your steps all wrong but you're sure you're damn right
Hey Loui's back there - "drop the gun"
The feeling is right the time has just come
I never knew I could feel this way
until I heard a little voice say
You've got to let yourself -you've got to let yourself go
Just let yourself go -hey- just let yourself go
Just let yourself go - well well go - just let yourself go
Disguised your ways in very fine tweed
But back in your house you're smoking the weed
Just let yourself go - etc
Words LA-Track 13: In a movie
Feel that I'm in a movie
Feel that I'm in a play
There's no way that I can run away
Cause it's everywhere I am
And it's everywhere I go
And it's everything I do
I guess it must be true
Do you feel that you're in it too
I sleep in between the covers
reading between the lines
There's no one that I can tell a lie to
I want the truth to set me free
You'll go on lying till you see
That the love is there for you and me
So it must be true
Do you feel that you' re in it too
There's no way that I can run away
This life is real
Sometimes you dream when you're awake
Ever onwards for the good of all
Ohh this life is real
Sometimes you dream when you're awake
I feel like I'm in a movie
Feel that I'm in a play
There's no way that I can run away to
Cause it's everywhere I am
And it's everywhere I go
Yes it's everything I do
I guess it must be true
Do you feel that you're in it too
Then it must be true
Words LA-Track 14: Existence
Time is right to find one another
There is love in all to discover
Don't you ever wonder what you're really here for
Don't you ever wonder what you're really here for
And what's it to you if I love you
What's it to you if I love you -oooh
All want existence
Don't want not to be
All want a consciousness
Don't want not to be free
All want loving
Don't want not to be loved
We've got to rid ourselves of fear
-and doubt, and pain and insecurity
You see - I aimless used of energy
All want loving - You know
Don't want not to be loved
Why can't we live a life of love
In harmony and piece, equality
Understand the oneness in all life
What's it to you if I love you
What's it to you if I love you
Lets make love all nights
Let's make up our minds forever
Just stop this telling lies whatever
Happened to the Flower Power
Hiccup on the sulphur power
Power for the wrong desire
Power for the wrong desire
How got such a good ideal
turn so sour
All want existence - you know
Dont want not to be
All want a consciousness
Don't want not to be free
All want lovin'
Don't want not to be loved
We've got to rid ourselves of fear
-and doubt, and pain and insecurity
You see - I aimless use of energy,
Hatred raised, shameless faces of hypocrisy
When all we want is love
All want loving
Don't want not to be loved
Why can't we live a life of love
and harmony - piece - and piece, equality
Understand the one there's in all life
The one there's in our life
The fear, the doubt, the pain and insecurity
You see - I aimless use of energy,
Fear and doubt and pain
All the bullshit going down in Spain
All we want is lovin'
All we want is love
When are we going to find this loving habit
When are we going to find it
Reach out and grab it !
You only get the goodies you really need
and you really need them now
You only get the dirties you really dig
and you release them
You only get the goodies you really need
and you really need them
You only get the dirties you really dig
And you releave them
Everything is going out tonight
when we dig Y(our) plan
One thing to remember loving is a habit
to get into in this incarnation
fallin' to the feelin'
true love reappearing
overflowing like a recreation
Day by day
In every way
Life is getting better and better
Believe it