Biography
At first glance, Carnaby appeared to capture the fleeting spirit of Swinging London, a rock group assembled from five sales clerks employed in shops along the street that gave them their name. The concept earned the band a modest amount of media coverage, yet the actual recordings demonstrated greater substance. Their lone Pye single placed “Jump and Dance” on the A-side, where a thick, distorted guitar riff, a “Louie Louie”–style rhythmic break, an insistent beat, and competent harmony vocals supported a lead singer whose ability matched that of countless other hopeful frontmen. Had the musicians hailed from the United States, they might have earned recognition among garage-rock enthusiasts; instead, their English origins left them as minor historical references. John Cahillane on vocals, Steve Miners and Kip Smith on guitar, Andy Andrews on bass, and Ronnie Ross on drums received no further opportunity to pursue mainstream success.
Singles