Phillip Goodhand-Tait
Phillip Goodhand-Tait (born 3 January 1945, Hull, Yorkshire[1]) is a singer-songwriter, record producer and keyboard player.
Life and career
Goodhand-Tait is his real surname, although at school and into the mid 1960s, he was known as Phil Tait. His mother taught piano and his father was an active Trades Unionist. In 1957 the family moved south to Guildford, Surrey where Goodhand-Tait attended Pewley school. Before long, he was singing in beat groups several nights every week under names such as Phill Tone and the Vibrants. In 1961, they renamed themselves Phill and the Stormsville Shakers, a group formed with Paul Demers on drums, Ivor Shackleton playing guitar, and Kirk Riddle on bass. "Stormsville" was the title of a 1960 Johnny and the Hurricanes album and "Shakers" was meant to indicate the frantic nature of their performances.
In 1964 the Shakers played the Ricky-Tick club circuit, (famous for engaging Cyril Davies, Alexis Korner, The Yardbirds and The Rolling Stones) and backed U.S. blues pianist, Memphis Slim. He toured in the early 1960s as Phillip Goodhand-Tait and the Stormsville Shakers (his backing band from Guildford) supporting the likes of Larry Williams.[2]
He wrote songs for Larry Williams; Roger Daltrey ("Oceans Away" - on the LP, Ride a Rock Horse - and "Parade" and "Leon" - both on the One of the Boys album); Gene Pitney ("You Are" and "Oceans Away"); Zoot Money ("No One But You") and Love Affair ("Bringing on Back the Good Times", "A Day Without Love" and "Baby I Know").[3]
By 1971, he had branched out, and wrote the soundtrack for the film, Universal Soldier. In 1976 he played the harmonium on Chris De Burgh's album, Spanish Train and Other Stories.[4]
Goodhand-Tait has also produced live albums by Magnum, Venom, Climax Blues Band, Kid Creole and the Coconuts and The Lords of the New Church.[3]
Discography
Singles
- "Love Has Got A Hold of Me" / "Too Pleased to Help" (Decca F12868 - 1969)
Albums
- Rehearsal - 1971 - DJM
- I Think I'll Write a Song - 1971 - DJM
- Songfall - 1972 - DJM
- Phillip Goodhand-Tait - 1973 - DJM
- Jingle-Jangle Man (compilation album) - 1975 - DJM
- Oceans Away - 1976 - Chrysalis
- Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks - 1976 - Chrysalis
- Good Old Phil's - 1980 - Gundog