Stakes & Chips

I was taking a trip down memory lane the other day, listening to some of the lesser known (though good!) English bands from the 60's (KALEIDOSCOPE, THE ATTACK, GRAPEFRUIT, THE ACTION, THE EYES, THE ARTWOODS, THE PEDDLERS, LES FLEUR DE LYS, TOMORROW, THE BIRDS, THE SORROWS, etc.), when I came across this album. Fans/collectors of mid 60's Merseyside/beat music may want to check this out. THE ROULETTES (as a stand alone band) were around for only a couple of years or so ('65-'67) before disbanding. But in that time they recorded an album and a few singles (all here) that are (depending on the tune) interesting or pretty good.Were they as good as the best of the above named bands? Probably not. This is a good example of a second tier band that only fans of this era (like me) would find worthwhile. Is this a long lost classic? No. But it is pretty good in spots, and better than some other mid level groups of the era. The best of these songs may rise to 3 1/2 "stars", depending on your likes/dislikes of both this period of music and the band itself.The band consisted of John Rogan-bass guitar, Peter Thorpe-rhythm guitar, Russ Ballard-lead guitar/keyboards, and Rob Henrit-drums. Of course most fans know that both Ballard and Henrit went on to fame and fortune in ARGENT. The band was both vocally and instrumentally proficient if not pretty good. But they never seemed to settle on one style of music. Throughout this set you'll hear bits of THE BEATLES ("Bad Time"), GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS ("What You Gonna Do?"), THE KINGSTON TRIO (!) ("Settle Down"), a jazzy instrumental ("A Taste of Honey"), some mid tempo instrumentals ("Junk", "Jackpot"), a few soul covers ("Tacks of My Tears", etc), a Neil Sedaka tune ("I Hope He Breaks Your Heart"), and some band originals.Perhaps if the band had settled on a style of music and had stuck it out a little longer they might have "made it". Nevertheless, this has some pretty good songs-along with some good/great Ballard guitar/keyboards solos, and some pretty fair vocals from the band. As I said, if this era of music is your thing-you might want to check into this. It's a good example of that whole era of British music before everything became serious in the late 60's.

I listened, in my car, to this CD once--but that wasn't enough. I blasted this thing 3 times in a row: my ears and heart were in glorious "beat boom" heaven. The LP, "Stakes and Chips," was considered undistinguished at the time of its' release, but now the rare LP commands a three figure sum. The fact that this album is now on reasonably priced CD, (with 8 great bonus tracks), is a blessing!My particular favs are the songs penned by CHRIS ANDREWS: check out, "Bad Time" and others on this CD written by him.I also love the unusual "The Long Cigarette" (written by Parker/Moeller). I had heard THE ROULETTES rock out on Adam Faith's raving "It's All Right" and thought the band really rocked as his back-up band. But I had no idea how outstanding these guys are on their instruments and I love their voices. Each band member brings a lot to the table. The Roulettes, on this CD, are amazing and a thrill to listen to. That's why once was not enough---I had to listen 3x's in a row to this CD, and I heard something new with each listen. A GREAT CD!

Picture a dreary wet winter evening in Brighton (UK) around January 1966. A lonely and frustrated student is sitting in a coffee bar not far from the sea front. He is making his appallingly weak cup of coffee last as long as he can before he has to walk to the depot and jump a bus to his even more unappetizing digs in a monotonous suburb. He has started smoking; a luxury well beyond his county grants and allowance. The coffee bar is almost empty. As our hero takes expensive drag after drag and contemplates the wasteland the juke box starts to play 'The Long Cigarette' by the Roulettes. It is a miracle he does not leap up and throw himself into the frigid grey waters of the English Channel. The song starts with sadness and ends with some resolution. But there is none for our hero. Who much to his credit and character, does go back to his digs, does give up smoking, does do something with his life, and for a long time wondered where he could find a copy of that song. And here it is. And it still has the power to whisk me back forty four years. I hope these guys made some money; at least as much as Adam Faith, for whom they played. As to why they never became as big as other groups of the time...I don't know, except that apart from the track I mentioned there were none that made me sit up and go.."wow". Sure, well made and played, but no sizzle. As for Unit 4+2; loads of potential, but after Concrete and Clay, nothing happened, at least from where I was standing. But as other reviewers have remarked this album is essential to understanding how broad the wave of rock music washing over the UK in the sixties really was. So glad to have been there. I'm so glad..I'm so glad..I'm so...OK that's enough!

Good british group and songs except for Tracks Of My Tears which was poorly done and ruins the cd

Plain and simple, if you love the British Invasion and the Mersey Beat sound you must listen to the Roulettes. Why they are not a bigger name in music history I will never know. They are definately one of the more eclectic groups that came out of Liverpool in the 60's. Do not hesitate to pick up this album.

It was great !

First heard this, Bad Time, in 1964 and found this CD of the Roulettes that showcased their unique talent that led to superbands of the 70s. Thank you Russ Ballard. I enjoyed this CD and thanks for the Label for reissuing such an important selection of 60s pop history.Highly recommended

Great music from the 60s

i remember russ ballard with adam faith in the early 60's. this compilation shows his skills and that he made the right choice when the band went on their own. I saw argent with rod argent on keyboards in the 60's/70's at a club in kent. It was Russ that stole the show - brilliant memories.

A band that should have gone a lot further but were tied to a contract - great typical 60's sound

I remember this band as the backing group for Adam Faith in the 1960s but they also did some very good work in their own right. I was very pleased to find these songs are now available on CD. The service I received from the Seller was very good.