Pop Archives

The Sundowners - Baby Jane (1964)

(Pete Dello -Ray Cane)
New Zealand New Zealand

Single on Zodiac by Sonny Day And The Sundowners, Auckland band formed in the late 50s by Sonny Day, John ‘Yuk’ Harrison and Bob Wynyard with drummer Alphonso Keil.

Initially known as Sonny Day And The Sharks, resident band at Auckland’s Tijuana Coffee Lounge, they went through numerous line-up changes: there were nine members at one point. The Sundowners recorded for Zodiac and Viking, appeared in Australia, and served a four-year residency at Auckland rock’n’roll venue The Jive Centre before breaking up in 1964.

Thanks to Terry Stacey for spotting this one.
References: 1. Sundowners page at Garage Hangover which includes mp3s of this single and recollections by Sundowners drummer Lionel Kennedy.
2. Bruce Sergent’s page on Sonny Day and the Sundowners.


The Applejacks - Baby Jane (1964)

(Pete Dello -Ray Cane)
UK UK
Original version

B-side of debut single by former skiffle/instrumental band from Solihull, near Birmingham. The A-side, Tell Me When, was the Applejacks' biggest hit (#7 UK).

Baby Jane was written by Pete Dello and Ray Cane before they formed Honeybus (I Can't Let Maggie Go, 1968, #8 UK).

See also: FlakeUnder The Silent Tree.

Further reading: 1. Applejacks page at Brum Beat. 2. Applejacks page at 45-rpm.org.uk. 3. Pre-1967 history at Honeybus official site.