Deep Feeling
WORCESTER
Updated February, 2023
Jim Capaldi lead vocal
Luther Grosvenor lead guitar, vocal
Gordon Jackson guitar, drums, vocal
Dave Meredith bass guitar, vocal
John "Poli" Palmer drums, vibes, flute, vocal
During the mid 1960s when pop music styles were radically changing, there were a number of West Midlands groups leading the new revolution. Though short-lived, Deep Feeling were without doubt, one of the bands at the cutting edge of this new revolution. Despite the talent and obvious potential of this line-up, events would terminate the group before they found major success.
"Pretty Colours"
Deep Feeling were previously known as The Hellions, a well known Worcester-based band who had included guitarist Dave Mason. The Deep Feeling were fronted by former Hellions drummer/vocalist Jim Capaldi with the other members comprising of lead guitarist Luther Grosvenor, Gordon Jackson on rhythm guitar, bass guitarist David Meredith and drummer/vibes player John "Poli" Palmer. The band started using the name "Deep Feeling" in 1966. NOTE: some sources claim Dave Mason was in the group but Dave was never part of the Deep Feeling line-up.
Deep Feeling concentrated on performing around the Birmingham area and managed to build up quite a following. They also started playing a heavier, psychedelic-influenced style of music with Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson and Poli Palmer all writing original songs for the group. All the band members shared vocal duties and Gordon Jackson would substitute on drums when Poli Palmer was playing vibes or flute. Jim Capaldi often fronted the band as their lead vocalist.
Yardbirds manager/producer Giorgio Gomelsky became interested in the group after seeing them perform in Cheltenham. He arranged for them to make an album in London and a number of tracks were recorded in the studio by the band but the only one issued at the time was the Capaldi/Jackson/Palmer composition 'Pretty Colours' that saw limited release in France and the USA.
The Deep Feeling made regular trips down to London. Gordon Jackson recalls a night when the band were playing at a London club called "Knuckles". They were approached by former Animals bass guitarist Chas Chandler who had just arrived back from the USA with a young black guitar player whom he now managed.
Chas persuaded the members of Deep Feeling to let the American guitarist go on stage with them to play a set. The band reluctantly agreed but were soon amazed by the skill and brilliance of the unknown musician and later discovered they had participated in the first performance of Jimi Hendrix on a British stage.
Meanwhile, former Hellions guitarist Dave Mason, drifted in and out of various bands, eventually getting a job of road manager/roadie with his old friends The Spencer Davis Group.
"Traffic"
There was a hip new club in Birmingham called "The Elbow Room" (operated by Don Carlos and Malcolm Hearn) on Aston's High Street in Birmingham next door to the old Hippodrome theatre. It was there where Jim Capaldi and Dave Mason along with Steve Winwood from the Spencer Davis Group would sometimes get together on stage with saxophone/flute player Chris Wood from Cradley Heath who had played in an early line-up of the Stourbridge-based group Chicken Shack and was currently in a Brum band called Locomotive.
In this way, the Elbow Room became the setting for the formation of a new band and by early 1967, Steve Winwood had left the Spencer Davis Group and along with Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, and Chris Wood, had formed the first line-up of "Traffic" (see Traffic).
Jim Capaldi's departure came as a shock to the other members of Deep Feeling, particularly as they were recording tracks for a proposed album. They decided not to continue the band without their front-man and so went on to other musical projects.
Poli Palmer joined a band called "Blossom Toes" and later became a member of the highly acclaimed progressive rock outfit "Family". Luther Grosvenor went on to become a founding member of the influential group "Spooky Tooth" and also played in the hit group "Mott The Hoople" during the early 1970s under the alias of "Ariel Bender".
Gordon Jackson recorded a brilliant but under-promoted solo album in 1968 which had musical contributions by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Dave Mason. After spending time in various other bands he went on to work in a non-performing capacity for Steve Winwood.
Thanks to Gordon Jackson for assistance in writing this feature.
Sunbeam Records has done a great job in re-issuing Gordon Jackson's solo album - also adding five extra tracks not included on the original release. For an exclusive in-depth review of Gordon Jackson's Thinking Back CD, click HERE or visit the Sunbeam Records web site at at: www.sunbeamrecords.com
An amazing CD of 1960s Deep Feeling recordings is available from Sunbeam Records. An exclusive review of this can be seen at: www.brumbeat.net/revdeepf.htm. For more information go to the Sunbeam Records web site at: www.sunbeamrecords.com or click HERE.