THE ACTION – THE ULTIMATE ACTION LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK 1980 MOD

The Action – The Ultimate Action
(Edsel Records  1980  ED101)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing

Sleeve in Very Good+ condition
– some wear to edges/corners & sticker mark top right
Inner Sleeve has discolouration, number stamped in corner but no splits

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are some light surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

The Action were an English band of the 1960s, formed as The Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London. They were part of the mod subculture, and played soul music-influenced pop music.

The band was formed as The Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London. After Peter Watson (born 18 October 1941, Romford, Essex) joined them as an additional guitarist in 1965, they changed their name to The Action. The original members were Reg King (lead vocals) (born Reginald King, 5 February 1945, Paddington, West London, died, 8 October 2010, Belvedere, Kent), Alan ‘Bam’ King (lead guitar, vocals) (born Alan King, 18 September 1945, Muswell Hill, North London), Mike “Ace” Evans (bass guitar, vocals) (born Michael Evans, 10 July 1944, Henley, Berkshire, died 15 January 2010, London) and Roger Powell (drums) (born 4 July 1945, Camden Town, North West London).

Shortly after their formation, they signed to Parlophone with producer George Martin. “Land of a Thousand Dances” b/w “In My Lonely Room” was well received by critics, but sold poorly. None of the Action’s singles achieved success in the UK Singles Chart.

After disastrous experiences with the Rikki Farr management, Peter Watson left the band in 1966. They continued as quartet, but were dropped from Parlophone in 1967. In the late 1960s keyboardist Ian Whiteman (born 18 May 1945, Saffron Walden, Essex) and guitarist Martin Stone (born 11 December 1946, Wokingham, Surrey) joined the band and the Action moved toward a mid-tempo psychedelic ballad style, and then into folk rock. Reg King left the band in 1967, and Alan King took over as main lead vocalist. In 1969, when signing to John Curd’s Head Records, the band was renamed Mighty Baby.

Alan King later went on to form Ace.

Notably, they are one of the favourite bands of Phil Collins, who performed with the reunited band in 2000. “For me it was like playing with the Beatles”, he later commented on the experience.

The Ultimate! Action

(singles and other material recorded by the original run of the band, 1964–1967)

1. “I’ll Keep Holding On”
2. “Harlem Shuffle”
3. “Never Ever”
4. “Twenty Fourth Hour”
5. “Since I Lost My Baby”
6. “In My Lonely Room”
7. “Hey Sha-Lo-Ney”
8. “Wasn’t It You?”
9. “Come On, Come With Me”
10. “Just Once in My Life”
11. “Shadows and Reflections”
12. “Something Has Hit Me”
13. “The Place”
14. “The Cissy”
15. “Baby You’ve Got It”
16. “I Love You (Yeah!)”
17. “Land of a Thousand Dances”