Little Spirit

Danny who hadn’t said anything suddenly found himself unable to speak when Tia looked at him.’

  ‘Great,’ Raphael said on his behalf. ‘What would you like to know?’

  ‘Have you read about us in Smash Hits?’ Calvin asked Tia.

  ‘No. We read about you in Sounds.’

  Danny not wanting to be excluded grabbed Smash Hits from his guitar case.

  ‘Here,’ he said passing her the opened magazine.

  Taking it she said, ‘Suggests you’re the hardest working band in the UK.’

  Wearing an impressed expression she turned to her two colleagues busying themselves setting up the camera.

  One guy nodded back and told her they could proceed. Tia fluffed her hair and flipped a vanity mirror open. Danny watched wishing he could have chance to check his image.

  ‘Ooh, could we just borrow that?’ Raphael asked.

  ‘Sure,’ she said and Raphael shot Danny a cheeky grin accepting it.

  ‘Ready,’ Raphael said when all three lads had manipulated their hair.

  A cameraman nodded to Tia who said, ‘I’m here in Leicester Square with the band Smash Hits this week advocate could be the hardest working band in the country.’ She turned to them. ‘Little Spirit – hello to you.’

  They introduced themselves and Raphael talked about his djembe and earning a crust before Danny finding his tongue took the lead.

  ‘We’re getting well known for our live street performances. You can see that by the crowd here today.’ Danny gave a wave and received a cheer back though felt somewhat fraudulent given that half of them had appeared at the sight of TV cameras. ‘But I have to stress that we are a live electric band first and foremost. The single, Only When it’s Saturday features electric guitars and drums.’

  They told Tia all about selling out gigs and where they’d be that night. She asked how they’d arrived at their style and Calvin told her about Katherine. Tia asked to hear them perform the single.

  Raphael said, ‘We’ll play it for you on condition you come and see us at Ze Marquee tomorrow night.’ She laughed and said she’d see.

  Danny readied himself to play but both Raphael and Calvin folded their arms until she agreed she’d be there.

  With Calvin and Raphael willing to play Danny said, ‘Thanks for sticking around. We said we’d play the single after Come Around. Here it is, Only When it’s Saturday.’

  Tia stood behind camera whilst the cameramen shot the entire song. Afterwards Tia thanked them and confirmed she’d be at The Marquee. They played the next song and the cameramen filmed Tia signing off with them in the background.

  * * *

  In her room Katherine put a Stella lager T-shirt on readying herself for work and rolled a mascara brush across her lashes when the phone rang. Putting the brush down she went to the landing and answered the call.

  ‘Hiya Katherine,’ a chirpy voice said.

  ‘Loretta, hi, are you in England?

  ‘Heathrow, yes. I got your letter this morning. You sounded desperate.’

  ‘Did I?’

  ‘A bit. Let me tell you the wedding’s in hand. What’s got you so worked up?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Katherine said no longer knowing what had worried her. ‘I just want to hear someone say that the venue has been paid for. Everyone seems to avoid telling me. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to England, I heard it from John?’

  ‘I thought I had told you. Sorry. And don’t worry Château Hôtel de la Messardière is all taken care of.’

  ‘Oh thank God. So will I get to see you?’

  ‘Yeah, I want to see this band John won’t shut up about and meet the bass player. I’m here for two weeks then I’ll be back to help out with the wedding.’

  Tuesday 01st May 1984

  The band generally had little time for TV and even missed Tia’s broadcast. Richard taped it but as the flat had no video player only Raphael would be able to see it when next visiting his parents. Richard described how Thames News had played an edited version of the interview and part of their performance. In the studio after the VT Drew Bush had asked Tia whether she’d be attending The Marquee the following night.

  * * *

  On Friday Tia stepped onto The Marquee’s stage and introduced Little Spirit.

  Dave Whitaker managed to squeeze into the club. He’d have been refused entry given the number of people being turned away had he not been on the guest list.

  The following Monday night the band relaxed enjoying their first night off in weeks. Raphael had suggested nightly meditative relaxing focusing on the larynx to counter the stress of constant singing. Each band member had been practicing this and had found it an effective way of keeping the voice fit. Nevertheless they had busked that day and sitting in the living room sipping tea Danny felt his throat aching. ‘I know we’re penned as the hardest working band in the UK but at this rate we’ll be the deadest.’

  ‘I know what you mean. I wanted to spend ze night at home in my own bed.’

  ‘You could’ve done if only we knew what Richard’s cooking up for us tomorrow,’ Calvin said.

  With Amy locked away studying, Katherine joined them after her shift.

  Calvin made room on the settee for her. ‘How was work?’

  ‘I got through it.’

  ‘You sound like I did working at the printers.’

  ‘It’s just getting a bit samey,’ she said snuggling into his arms. ‘D’you find out why tomorrow’s gig’s been cancelled yet?’

  ‘No. It could be Vanquar it could be something else.’

  ‘Maybe one of the other record companies?’

  ‘Doubtful. Island and Polydor haven’t come back so far as Richard’s led us to believe. EMI have been in touch as has CBS but Richard told them to make their offers by tomorrow lunchtime or we’re going with Vanquar.’

  ‘Even though you don’t know if you are?’

  ‘Correct. We’ll be there twenty-four hours after the charts are announced so we’ll know where we are in the Top-100. Might make a difference.’

  ‘Maybe Dave’s already decided?’

  ‘That’s what worries me,’ Danny said.

  Raphael pulled a face. ‘That’s what excites me.’

  ‘Roll on Wednesday,’ Calvin said.

  Katherine didn’t believe Raphael’s positivity this time. She excused herself from the atmosphere that had just become tense.

  ‘Right behind you,’ Calvin said. ‘I fancy an early night.’

  * * *

  On Tuesday morning the telephone rang. Raphael rolled off the settee, stretched his back and went to the landing.

  ‘Raphael?’ a voice barked.

  ‘Morning Richard.’

  ‘You got a pen?’

  He found one and some white space within a Melody Maker advert.

  When Richard hung up Raphael banged on Calvin and Danny’s doors and shouted, ‘We need to get to Manchester by 4pm.’

  Calvin’s door opened first. ‘What?’

  ‘Tuesday’s assignment, we’re on Ze Whistle Test tonight but we need to be there by 4pm.’

  Danny’s door opened. ‘How long does it take to get there?’

  ‘Richard thinks four hours in ze van.’

  ‘Couldn’t he have told us sooner?’

  ‘We were on ze reserve list. You know how he doesn’t like to get our hopes up.’

  ‘I wonder who’s hosting it tonight. Not Randy Earnshaw I hope.’

  ‘He likes his guitary pop doesn’t he?’

  ‘I don’t think he’d like us and he’s cheeky,’ Danny said.

  ‘Well if he’s cheeky with me he’ll get it right back,’ Calvin said.

  Danny looked at his alarm clock. ‘If we get ready and leave now we should be there before half two.’

  ‘What’s all the noise?’ Amy asked sulkily emerging from her room in a sloppy oversized T-shirt.

  ‘Morning gorgeous,’ Danny said. ‘We’re on The Whistle Test tonight.’

  ‘
Congratulations,’ she said but didn’t seem to have woken up and ignored the mumbles Danny sent after her.

  The lads breakfasted, showered and changed inside of thirty minutes.

  Amy apologised for being grumpy and blamed her upcoming exams.

  Calvin cleared the van of empty Coke cans and Wimpey wrappers.

  ‘I don’t want to miss ze charts again,’ Raphael said.

  ‘Isn’t there a radio we can take with us?’ Calvin asked.

  Danny ran back inside and came back with Amy’s single speaker radio. ‘She’s studying in my room so shouldn’t miss it.’

  After filling the tank with diesel and the radio with Evereadies, the van headed north; Calvin at the wheel, Raphael in the middle reading his scribbled directions and Danny on his left double-checking the road atlas whilst trying to locate Radio1.

  On the M40 before Banbury the chart rundown began. All three thought Only When it’s Saturday must now have some hope of charting.

  Pedro Powers introduced the charts saying that there’d be six new entries coming up. Though they hadn’t left the slow lane Calvin dropped the revs to better hear the radio’s tinny sound.

  The boys fell silent and leaned towards the speaker. ‘Falling eleven places to 40 is Marillion—’

  ‘Well, we’re either in or out,’ Raphael said.

  Danny shushed.

  The next six numbers passed with no new entries. Pedro Powers played whichever track had climbed to 33. Calvin straightened and sighed.

  Danny did too. ‘Guess we’re out then.’

  ‘Suppose we only had an outside chance,’ Calvin said.

  Raphael rubbed his eyes. ‘You’re right it’s easy to forget how long ze journey is amongst ze excitement of interviews and ze few sell-out gigs we’ve done. Maybe it’s best we don’t chart.’

  ‘What the hell are you on about?’ Calvin said, ‘that’s not you talking Raphael.’

  He didn’t say more.

  The radio said, ‘At 31 the first of our new entries … ‘ Calvin stepped on the clutch quietening the engine. Danny huddled close, ‘… Helen Terry with Love, Lies, Lost.’

  ‘Damn it,’ Calvin said. Engaging third gear he floored it as Pedro Powers continued through 30 and 29.

  ‘You’ve gotta wonder—’

  ‘Hang on,’ Raphael said.

  ‘… Another new entry,’ Pedro Powers said into the van’s cab. ‘This time from a band I’ve not even heard of.’ The lads looked at one another daring to believe the impossible. ‘With Only When it’s Saturday Little Spirit enter the charts at Number-28.’

  ‘Oh my crapping word, we did it!’ Calvin yelled. Keeping an eye on the road he passed a hand in front of Raphael. Danny grabbed it in both of his and yelled too. Danny hugged Raphael and Calvin leaned over hugging them both. In the outside lanes cars and lorries streamed passed. Calvin slid his window open and told the traffic they’d just charted. ‘Top-30!’

  * * *

  By the time they reached Manchester they felt like they’d won Eurovision. On time but starving they parked at Oxford Road and searched for food and payphones. They found two phone boxes so Danny headed to the newsagent for pasties whilst Calvin and Raphael got dialling. Calvin heard the engaged tone. He hung up and leant out of his phone box. ‘Mate, are you ringing GMD?’

  ‘Yeah, Richard said to ring ze moment we arrived.’

  ‘No wonder it’s engaged.’

  ‘Alight, leave Richard to me. You ring Ze Dog and Parrot.’

  Calvin dialled. The phone picked up on second ring. ‘Katherine, we did it babe, Number-28.’

  ‘I know, the juke box has been playing the single all day, well done babe. Kev wants you gigging here ASAP.’

  ‘Tell him we’ll do it.’

  After Katherine, Calvin’s fingers hovered wondering whether to ring his parents in Coventry. He put the handset down.

  ‘You done?’ Danny asked him. ‘I need to let my mum know.’

  ‘I’m done.’

  ‘Have you rung the flat?’

  ‘Amy’s all yours,’ Calvin smiled.

  Raphael said, ‘Richard’s delighted with ze result and says Phonogram have come in with a preliminary offer so no matter what happens with Vanquar we should have something. Oh, and Austin rang to congratulate us. When Richard told him about Ze Whistle Test he said to tell Calvin no jumping on ze springboard.’

  * * *

  In New Broadcasting House the producer, a man called Mike, rebuked them for being late even though they’d arrived an hour before the deadline.

  Afterwards an un-deodorised stagehand in headphones led them into a room.

  ‘We’re ready so if you would set up here,’ he said pulling a headphone off one ear.

  ‘Not in the studio?’ Calvin asked.

  The stagehand smiled. ‘This is the studio.’

  Calvin looked around the room little bigger than a living room and noted its black walls and high ceiling and stage lights.

  ‘If you think this is small, you should’ve seen Pres B where they used to film in London,’ the stagehand said. ‘Where’s your gear?’

  ‘In the van.’

  ‘Okay can you be set up in five minutes?’

  ‘Five minutes?’ Raphael said. ‘Who sets a drum kit up in five minutes?’

  ‘Sorry man, I just figured with you being acoustic musicians you’d maybe only have one or two drums.’

  ‘We’re not acoustic musicians,’ Danny said. ‘Well, we are, but only because we have to.’

  ‘Hold on,’ the stagehand said and called the producer over.

  Once the problem had been explained Mike said, ‘We’ve got you in because we’re told you’re an exciting band making your living busking the streets of London – acoustically.’

  ‘That’s, kind of right,’ Calvin said. ‘But we’re an electric band first and foremost. We’ve sold out The Marquee; though we were technically only the support band.’ His voice trailed off.

  ‘Yeah,’ Danny said. ‘We’re a rock band with a rock album, rock single and rock video. Haven’t you heard the single?’

  ‘Guys, until last week none of us had heard of you at all.’

  ‘We’ve just hit the charts at 28.’

  Danny suspected Mike didn’t believe them and sent the stagehand to check the particulars.

  Looking at his fact sheet Mike said, ‘Signed to GMD, distributed by Vanquar.’ He snorted adding, ‘Given none of us have heard of you, Vanquar can’t be doing much to promote you.’

  ‘They’re not. That’s why we’ve been doing the acoustic street stuff,’ Calvin said.

  ‘We don’t have the resources to research things as thoroughly as we’d like, I’ll get someone on it. What to do,’ Mike said. ‘There’s still a bit of time. Just bring your gear in and set up double quick.’

  The band raced to the car park and opening the back doors looked at their gear.

  Raphael said, ‘He meant ze electric instruments didn’t he?’

  ‘Not sure,’ Danny said. ‘Let’s set up double quick like he said and if he doesn’t like it it’ll only be more work for him.’

  When they lumped the equipment into the studio the first stagehand said, ‘Were you told to set up electrically?’

  ‘Of course,’ Raphael said. ‘Weren’t you researching us?’

  ‘Mike’s sent someone else.’ He set about pointing mics into the amps and around the drums.

  ‘What d’you think of our backdrops?’ Raphael asked.

  ‘You mustn’t obscure the Whistle Test one. But you can keep the named banner hanging from the drum riser.’

  A few minutes later Mike appeared waving a copy of the single.

  ‘Right,’ he said but stopped seeing the stage setup.

  Danny readied himself to let Calvin argue the toss but mike said, ‘Good, you’re set up. You’re story checks out, sort of.’

  ‘Only, sort of?’ Calvin said.

  ‘Nothing to worry about I’m sure. We sent someone in a taxi t
o pick up your single.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘The shop owner told our guy that this is the first copy he’s sold since the first batch of just three units came in. Needless to say he’s as confused as we are as to how you’ve reached Number-28.’

  Danny cast his mind back over the past few seven-day weeks of exclusively busking near Gallup-participating record shops. ‘We’ve exposed our name and music over the last few months, and particularly the last few weeks, to thousands upon thousands of people in London.’

  Mike held his hands up. ‘I’m sure you have. Anyway, here’s what’s happening. We’ll record your single and one other track now – just the backing mind you. Then when we go live Randy Earnshaw will introduce you.’

  Danny caught Raphael’s eye and nearly laughed knowing Raphael had seen his nostrils flair at the thought of having Randy Earnshaw presenting.

  ‘Something funny?’ Mike asked.

  ‘No. Sorry.’

  ‘You thought you’d be playing it all live on national TV didn’t you?’

  ‘Err,’ Danny said. ‘Yeah we did actually.’

  ‘We do it this way to guarantee a decent live sound. Anyway, Randy will introduce you and you’ll sing live but mime your instruments to the backing tracks. You got a second song in mind?’

  The three bandmates looked at one another. Danny shrugged confident that all the album tracks had sufficiently rehearsed strength. ‘Of course.’

  ‘Good. Once you’ve played, there’ll be a few features then Randy will conduct a brief interview and, if it’s not too much to ask, you’ll perform a song acoustically and we’ll record it on the fly.’

  ‘Okay, great,’ Danny said.

  ‘Good stuff lads. Start playing and we’ll get your sound sorted.

  The lads took their place on stage. After a couple of runs through the songs with stagehands baffling the sound with boards used from other sets Mike recorded them.

  As the lads hadn’t practiced the songs without singing both Calvin and Danny opened up confident the sound wouldn’t be picked up by the instrument mics. Danny’s throat felt like sun-perished rubber.

  * * *

  On Mike’s say so they made for the canteen with a couple of hours before show time. Sitting at a dirty table with teas Danny asked Calvin, ‘How’s your throat?’

  ‘Not bad, not good,’ he said wafting drifting smoke away.

  ‘Raphael are you up for singing out tonight?’

  ‘Mine’s straining a bit too.’

  ‘Fingers crossed we’ll be alright. Now, how do we handle Kershaw?’

  Calvin drummed his fingers on the table. ‘I reckon our stage performance will speak for itself but if he doesn’t want to hear us perform acoustically his attitude could affect viewers.’