Torquay’s other history: Pubs, bands & us ordinary folk, Kevin Dixon on Torquay’s RA Records and Harry H Corbett’s singing career
Torquay’s RA Records produced a number of singles and albums in the early ’70s. RA’s studios later became Swan Street Studios, now lost beneath Fleet Walk.
Among them was a 1973 album by Steptoe & Sons’ Harry H Corbett, ‘Only Authorised Employees to Break Bottles: Harry H Corbett sings a collection of songs from all over Great Britain’. Brixham’s Faraway Folk provided backing and a nationwide tour followed.
Harry was best known for Steptoe & Son and Carry on Screaming. However, early in his career he was recognised as a serious actor, even being dubbed ‘the English Marlon Brando’ by the press.
Steptoe & Son came to an end in 1974 after 21 years. During his time as Harold, Harry had recorded five singles and wanted to cut an LP to continue his earlier recording career. However, as the major record companies weren’t interested, he used a small independent label, Torquay’s RA.
Harry died in 1982 at the age of 57.
From the Torquay-produced album, here’s Harry and The Faraway Folk singing The Sweet Nightingale.
Giving an idea of the bands and performers around in the early ’70s, here’s a list of those that had LPs or singles recorded at RA’s Studios:
Aardvark; The Argyll Squad; Backstreet Stars; Dick Edwards; The Gandolf Folk; Sid Gately and his Music; The Teign Valley Stompers; Faraway Folk; The Trevor Burgess Trio with Suzanne Brown; Valerie Way; Rev John Young; The Pennylanders; Sweet Life; Mike Johnson Trio; The Vic Palmer Combo; Contrast; Bodmin Town Band & Treviscoe Male Voice Choir; John Allen & his Orchestra with Wynna Evans and Robert Pitman; Ginger Hobby Horse & Friends; Subdued Hubbub; The Reflections; South West Brass Band Association; Choir of St Paul’s Church, Preston; Sharon Whitbread & Fred; The Torbay Gospelaires; Norris Leslie; Frank Yonco & the Everglades; Harry H Corbett; The Pete Wilson Showband; Indiana Highway; Hombre; Ted Young
(Image: © Copyright Stephen McKay / CC BY-SA 2.0)
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