Colin McCourt

              Write Up On Faron

Faron Rides In!

When I was looking for singers to record the vocals on my musical version of ‘The Devil Rides Out’ I was lucky enough to go to the Pacific pub in Birkenhead on the Wirral to see the sax player Brian Jones who was playing in the group Faron’s  Flamingos. I needed someone to sing the part of the satanist Damien Mocata. He had to be able to sing rock for the big black magic songs but also be able to be sensitive and charming for a hypnotic seduction song. When Faron began to sing I couldn’t believe the talent of the man. He was able to belt out rock songs with power and passion and also sing gentle love songs that almost had one in tears. I asked him would he do the songs for the album and thank God he said yes.

I arranged to meet him at a club he was playing in New Brighton on the Wirral and I remember sitting in his guitarist’s car and playing him a cassette of one of the songs for the album. I had previously lived in London  and had written and recorded the song, ‘I Want You’, with  session musicians and myself singing. Faron learnt the song and came to Paul Brook’s studio a week or so later. It was a hot summers day and I stood at the mike with Faron guiding him thru the song. He put so much effort into singing that he was dripping in sweat after the two takes it needed to get the song down. He was a dream to work with, being very positive about the project, even refusing payment for the session.

I wrote and recorded many more songs from the album with him and he was always thoughtful, kind and hard working throughout the sessions. His wonderful voice and personality brought the character of Mocata to life and captured the exact  feeling I needed.

I must also say that I believe him to be one of the greatest live performers I have ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot! I don’t think even Rod Stewart would dance on tables whilst singing or follow girls (almost) into the Ladies while rockin’ and rollin’!  He’s a hell of a musician and songwriter as well.

I feel privileged to know the man and, seriously, regard him as one of the living legends of music.

Colin McCourt

www.thedevilridesoutmusical.com

Colin McCourt was born in Wallasey in the Wirral and after playing in various rock groups in his teens he began writing songs and moved to London, eventually becoming a staff writer with Screen Gems/Columbia Music. He has written with Neil Sedaka, Mike Batt, Roger Greenaway, Barry Mason and Jeff Daniels, who   co – wrote the Cliff Richard musical ‘Time’ with Dave Clark. Colin’s   songs have been recorded by such artists as The Drifters, Charlie Pride, Isla St, Clair (his ex girlfriend!) , Our Kid (Colin wrote the follow up to their hit record ‘You Just Might See Me Cry’), Liverpool comedian Johnny Hackett, Diane Soloman and the Bristol girl jazz  vocal group ‘Sweet Substitute’ who’s single, ‘I Give In’,  written by Colin, received extensive Radio 2 airplay from Terry Wogan . Also, with Roger Greenaway, he wrote the theme song for B.B.C. T.V.’s ‘Seaside Special’.

Through his contact with Roger, Colin became Assistant Label Manager with Decca Records and was part of the  a & r team that signed up Adam And The Ants. He also worked with the Moody Blues, being responsible for the release of their worldwide hit ‘Stepping In A Slide Zone’ and   was involved in the release of   the Justin Haywood single ‘Forever Autumn’ from the album ‘War Of The Worlds’ (Justin was signed to Decca   at the time and the Jeff Wayne album was to be released on C.B.S. Records).

He left Decca to work for   B.B.C. television in Contracts and Finance then decided to return to Wallasey. He wrote the musical version of ‘The Devil Rides Out’ which has had rave reviews in Europe and America -  Bernie Nolan appeared as  the satanist Tanith in the stage version,  a musical version of the novel ‘Valley Of The Dolls’ and a young peoples anti drugs musical called ‘Love, Dreams And Rainbows’

He also adapted, produced and directed the Elvis film ‘Jailhouse Rock’ for the stage, wrote, produced and directed the musical ‘Elvis – The Sun Sessions’ and produced a Billy Fury Concert Show. His last project   was ‘Stand By Your Man’, the story of country music women for The Moreton Community Players – having written, produced and directed the shows ‘One Moment In Time’,  ‘Hollywood Nights’ and an Elvis Concert Show for them. Colin has also appeared in the film ‘In The Name Of The Father’ and the t.v. series ‘Soul Survivors’.

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