Music at the Witches

The Frugal Sound

One of the bands that were regular at the Witches were the Frugal sound - a psychedelic folk trio.  Here is one account based on Brian Brown

Just Ouside The Door/ I’m On Your Side ( 1966). The story started in 1961 in South Africa when Brian and the Five Teens recorded the song ‘Baby you said no’ for the various artists album ‘Rock and Roll’. Later, Brian relocated to the UK and founded Frugal Sound Formed as a folk trio, they began playing in North London’s smaller clubs such as ‘The Witch’s Cauldron’. Their debut single was a cover of the Beatles’ ‘Norwegian Wood’ b/w ‘Cruel to be kind’, February 1966. When their second Pye single, ‘Just outside the door’ b/w ‘I’m on your side’, June 1966, failed, they signed with RCA. Their first release with RCA was a Jagger/Richard composition, ‘Backstreet girl’ b/w ‘Reason to believe’, the Tim Hardin classic recorded by many artists including Rod Stewart, who took it into the Top 20 in 1971. Two more failed singles followed in 1967 and 1968. The Trio disbanded in late 1968 or 1969. 

Line-up : Rosalind Rankin – vocals; 

Brian Stein – guitar and vocals; 

Mike Brown – bass and vocals. 

Frugal Sound Discograpy (UK Pressings): 

Norwegian wood/Cruel to be kind – PYE 7N 17062, 1966 

Just ouside the door/I’m on your side – PYE 7N 17129, 1966  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH5Og2HH_sQ

Backstreet girl/Reason to believe – RCA Victor 1556, 1967 

Abilene/Love is a new face – RCA Victor 1595, 1967 

All strung out/Miss Mary – RCA Victor 1659, 1968