Thursday 19 May 2011

JOHN MORAN - HOME & ABROAD

When John Moran began singing in Dundee in the early 60's, he opted to have a pop star kind of name, and became known as Johnny Hudson (top pic). He soon teamed up with established local band The Hi-Four and they in turn changed their name to the Johnny Hudson Hi-Four.
The band toured around Scotland and were the first Dundee pop group to work in Germany, approximately the same time as The Beatles famously resided there.
The Johnny Hudson Hi-Four hung out with guys like Long John Baldry, Willie Wilson, Tony Sheridan, Bobby Patrick and a young Alex Harvey! This experience in Germany was rewarded in 1963 on the band's return when they found out they were to be supporting The Beatles in the Caird Hall.
Quite a high to finish on - because in 1964 the band were transformed into the Poor Souls.
I've already written a couple of items about the Poor Souls on Retro so no need to repeat the info here, but around 1967, after a couple of record releases, the band split up.
However, it wasn't to be the end of the Poor Souls name because at the tale end of the 60's when John Moran moved to Canada, he resurrected the Poor Souls name in Toronto, albeit, obviously, with a completely different line-up. This incarnation of the Poor Souls released a 7 inch single on the Canadian Quality label in 1970 - A side "Lookin' Around", B side "Scarecrow".
John also made a solo album of self penned material the same year, a track from which you can hear below. The song is called "Something You Said", and although it dates from 1970, it does sound like the kind of thing that was popular in the UK in the mid 70's. Wings meets Gerry Rafferty! In fact if this had been released in the UK back then, I reckon it could have been a top ten chart contender.
See what you reckon.
Big thanks to Mac.

26 comments:

  1. Thats a right pair o butterskelpers yon boy on the stools wearin...is it no?

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  2. johnny hudson j.r23 May 2011 at 11:08

    fn brilliant band

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  3. great to hear this,lots of good times at the top ten with the poor souls always wondered what happened to johnny hudson

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  4. thank you for this, the swing sixties

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  5. John Moran Rebel

    http://www.thesweeney.org/music/KPM/rebel.mp3

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  6. More John Moran
    http://www.thesweeney.org/music.php

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  7. Anybody know how I can get a hold of John, I,m a mate from Vancouver, my name is Alan Evans.mralanevans@hotmail.com...thanks

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    1. im his son in t.o.

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    2. I'd like to get your dad's autograph on a Chum Chart. Can you help with contact info?
      Richard Mills
      Milton, ON
      rmills4@cogeco.ca

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  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyrLzcKRyBM&fb_source=message

    J.Moran - Rebel [1974 KPM 1135 Music Library - Discotheque]

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    1. Not the same John Moran singing there, aka Johnny Hudson, John and I were playing together at that time in a duo in Toronto , Canada. After he left the Poor Souls (Canadian version} around 1969-70, we met and worked together as studio musicians/vocalists for a recording project called "Wishbone" (no not Wishbone Ash) for 2 years and at the same time formed a duo initially called John and Peter. After Wishbone I worked with John on his original material as I was a keyboardist/arranger and we recorded a number of songs together which we included in our sets along with material from Cat Stevens, Beatles, Rod Stewart, and other popular artists of the day. we worked together between 1969 to 1974-75 on three different occasions within a 6 year period. We were good friends at the time and when we broke up it was difficult but I had an opportunity to join a very successful Canadian band called Fludd and was with them for 4 years. John eventually moved out to Vancouver and I lost touch with him. I'd like to know where he is now. I hope he's well. Peter Rochon.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Hello Rocky, Bugsy here, hope your well. surprised to see your comments on retro page. Keep in touch.

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    4. Long time no hear you haggis basher haha, hope you're well, give me a shout at hmltfa@gmail.com and let's catch up shall we?

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  9. Hi, I played with your dad between 1969 and 1975, we had a duo for a few years and I think I met you once and you were just a young lad. Is your dad still around? Have you been in tough? I'd like to know, he was a part of my life, let me know if you can I'd appreciate it.

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    1. Peter

      Like to get your autograph on a "Wishbone" Chum Chart.

      Richard Mills rmills4@cogeco.ca

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    2. hes gone now

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  10. Replies
    1. Hi there Young John. I was just looking people from my past and wondered if your dad Bugsy was still in Dundee?

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    2. hi John Jr... when did he pass RIP.. have been wondering how he was doing and very sad to hear. My condolences to you & the family. Always in my heart. Lady George...

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  11. Lady Loves Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1X4iaBeG98

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  12. The Beatles Thing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPYgUYM5i48

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  13. Come Join Me on 45 available in UK 10quid https://lilleysvinyl.co.uk/shop/john-moran-7-come-join-me-2/

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  14. Come Join Me online album https://citizenfreak.com/titles/292732-moran-john-come-join-me

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  15. Poor Souls - Comin' Round https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P57ULc2etS0

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