Day 11 - Mr Scrooge - The Orchids

The Orchids could probably lay claim to being Britain's first girl group. Formed in the early 60s in Coventry and consisting of three 14-year-olds from Stoke Park Grammar School, Georgina Oliver, Pamela Jarman, and Valerie Jones found themselves with a Decca recording contract and in the orbit of people like Kinks manager Larry Page, who heard them at a talent contest and brought in top producer Shel Talmy - later to produce The Kinks, the Who and the Easybeats - to work with them.

Sadly, despite accumulating an enthusiastic following, the Orchids never made the big time, but despite some marketing techniques that would be considered unsuitable today - getting the girls to only perform in their school uniforms - their small legacy has endured mainly because their records owe a lot to early Tamla and 'Wall of Sound' Spector.

In 2016, the Orchids met up again as part of the celebration of the Coventry Music Museum providing us with a wonderful visual reminder of the passing of fifty years.

There's another reason I've added this to the Calendar though. When I found it originally, I was a bit puzzled by the quality of the video considering its age, but then discovered it's a clip from a film called 'Just For You' and I have a strong memory of my mum taking me to see this film when I was a small lad. So this is dedicated to anyone who hasn't got their mum with them this Christmas.

I'm thinking the Orchids should reform and tour with similarly-returning Girls Aloud and The Sugarbabes next year. Who wouldn't want a ticket for that?