The V.I.P.'s

Artist:  The V.I.P.'s
Origin:  Carlisle, England
Genre:  R&B, British Blues, Psychedelic Rock

Original line-up:

Mike Harrison:  Lead Vocals (1963-1967)
Greg Ridley:  Bass (1963-1967)
Frank Kenyon:  Rhythm Guitar (1963-1967)
Jimmy Henshaw:  Lead Guitar (1963-1967)
Walter Johnstone:  Drums (1963-1967)

Other Band Members:

Keith Emerson:  Electric Organ (1966-1967)
Luther Grosvenor:  Lead Guitar (1967)
Mike Kellie:  Drums  (1967)

The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B Band from Carlisle, Cumberiand, (North West England), formed in 1963 by Mike Harrison (Lead Vocals Ex Dino And TheDanubaes, The Dakotas, The Ramrods), Greg Ridley (Bass Ex Dino And TheDanubaes, The Dakotas), Frank Kenyon (Rhythm Guitar Ex The Teenages, The Ramrods), Jimmy Henshaw (Lead Guitar Ex The Ramrods), and Walter Johnstone (Drums Ex The Teenages, The Ramrods).

 Keith Emerson (Electric Organ Ex Gary Farr & The T-Bones), joined the band in 1967, Luther Grosvenor (Lead Guitar) replaced Jimmy Henshaw in 1967, and Mike Kellie (Drums) replaced Walter Johnstone in 1967.  When Keith Emerson left in early 1967 to form The Nice, Mike Harrison, Greg Ridley, Luther Grosvenor and Mike Kellie changed their name to Art, and then became Spooky Tooth.  Greg Ridley left to join Steve Marriott (Guitar, Vocals Ex Small Faces) to form Humbie Pie.  The V.I.P.'s were one of the leading R&B in the 1960s.

Title:   The Complete V.I.P.'s  (2006)
Genre:  R&B, British Blues, Psychedelic Rock
Label:  Repertoire Records
Rating:  ****

Tracks:

Disc 1:  

 1.  Don't Keep Shouting At Me  (2:26)
 2.  She's So Good  (2:22)
 3.  Mercy Mercy  (2:48)
 4.  That's My Woman  (2:12)
 5.  Wintertime  (2:11)
 6.  Anyone  (2:18)
 7.  I Wanna Be Free  (3:15)
 8.  Don't Let It Go  (2:38)
 9.  Straight Down To The Bottom  (2:10)
10. In A Dream  (2:26)
11. Smokestack Lightning  (6:44)
12. Back Into My Life Again  (2:34)
13. Every Girl I See  (2:55)
14. Stagger Lee  (3:15)
15. Rosemarie  (3:21)
16. Late Night Blues  (5:36)

Disc 2:

 1.  I Wanna Be Free (Stereo Version) (3:15)
 2.  Smokestack Lightning (Stereo Version) (6:44)
 3.  You Don't Know Like I Know (Live) (2:32)
 4.  Stagger Lee (Live) (3:28)
 5.  No Use Crying (Live) (3:33)
 6.  I Wanna Be Free (Live) (3:12)
 7.  Fannie Mae  (Live) (3:15)
 8.  Talk About My Babe (Live) (3:38)
 9.  grapes Of Wrath  (3:44)
10. I Got A Woman (Live) (6:36)
11. Blue Feeling  (2:35)
12. Sad Story  (2:24)

Personnel:

Mike Harrison:  Lead Vocals (1963-1967)
Greg Ridley:  Bass (1963-1967)
Frank Kenyon:  Rhythm Guitar (1963-1967)
Jimmy Henshaw:  Lead Guitar (1963-1967)
Walter Johnstone:  Drums (1963-1967)

Other Band Members:

Keith Emerson:  Electric Organ (1966-1967)
Luther Grosvenor:  Lead Guitar (1967)
Mike Kellie:  Drums  (1967)

The Complete V.I.P.'s is the Compilation Edition in 2 CD by The V.I.P.'s, was remastered and released in 2006 by Repertoire Records.  All Tracks recorded in Mono, except CD 2 Tracks 1 & 2.  For Music Collectors.