1969–1970: Transition from The Flower Pot Men to White Plains

White Plains evolved from the late 1960s pop/psychedelic band the Flower Pot Men, composed of Tony Burrows, Pete Nelson, and Robin Shaw together with Neil Landon (who went to Fat Mattress). The Flower Pot Men was initially a 1967 studio project led by John Carter.^[1]

In early 1969, Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook, in place of John Carter, became the group's new producers. The last single of the Flower Pot Men for Deram Records was “In A Moment Of Madness”, composed by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook, with Pete Nelson on lead vocals. It was an attempt at a hit single in the style of the then popular Love Affair. The single did not chart and for the next single the band's name was changed to White Plains. The band's songs were mainly produced and written by Greenaway and Roger Cook.^[1] With idea of having White Plains be a professional band, all but Neil Landon were on board to do so, as he left to form Fat Mattress. Ricky Wolff, who was originally a backing band member, replaced Neil Landon and became a new main vocalist.

1970: My Baby Loves Lovin’ fame

White Plains released several hit songs, starting off with 1970's "My Baby Loves Lovin'" (No. 9 in the UK, No. 13 on the US charts and No. 4 in Canada). The group's top-selling song "My Baby Loves Lovin'", was recorded on 26 October 1969, and was released on 2 January 1970 on the Decca Records imprint, Deram Records. It was written and produced by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook. The song has been featured on many CDs, including various White Plains compilations. During early 1970, Ricky Wolff was unable to attend concerts or television appearances, meaning Roger Greenaway would usually step in as lead singer. Of the group's many appearances on Top of the Pops, only one, a performance of My Baby Loves Lovin’ on 26 February 1970, is known to have survived the BBC’s Wiping process. In this performance, and their first appearance on the show two weeks prior, Roger Greenaway can be seen in Ricky Wolff’s place as lead singer.

White Plains performing My Baby Loves Lovin’ on 12 February 1970. From left to right: Roger Greenaway, Pete Nelson, Robin Shaw, Tony Burrows. Due to Ricky Wolff being unavailable to attend the taping of the show, Roger Greenaway stepped in as lead singer.

1970–1973: New personnel changes and other hits

White Plains' second single, "I've Got You on My Mind", which featured Pete Nelson on lead vocals, was a UK hit, reaching number 17. "Lovin' You Baby" featuring Ricky Wolff on lead vocals reached number 35 in Canada in mid to late 1970. "Julie Do Ya Love Me" featuring Pete Nelson on lead vocals reached number 8 on the UK singles charts.

In mid 1970, original backing band members Roger Hills and Robin Box were added to the line-up. This new personnel of Wolff, Nelson, Box, Shaw, and Hills would become their most recognisable line-up, as well as the line-up that preceded Wolff's departure in mid 1971, that included newcomer Ron Reynolds on organ and keyboard. From the spring to the autumn of 1970, Scottish musician Brian Johnston (born 3 March 1945, Bathgate, Scotland) (not to be confused with the AC/DC singer), was a keyboardist for the group.^[4]

The White Plains line-up of Wolff, Nelson, Box, Shaw, Hills, and Johnston performed "My Baby Loves Lovin'" at the NME Poll Winners concert on 3 May 1970.^[5]

One of their next big charting songs was 1971's "When You Are a King" featuring Pete Nelson on lead vocals (number 13 on the UK Singles Chart)^[2] that was translated to Hebrew and covered by the Israeli singer, Shlomo Artzi. When You Are A King has been covered by a large numbers of acts in the following years.

1973–1976: Step into a Dream and disbandment

The 1973 hit "Step into a Dream" was used in the British television commercials for Butlins' holiday camps. Featuring Pete Nelson on lead vocals. "Step into a Dream" peaked at number 21 in the United Kingdom, and was a top 10 in Ireland, landing at number 9. Their sudden burst into the limelight again gave the group new appearances on television, including Top of the Pops, their first appearance on the show in nearly two years. In late 1973, Shaw left the group and was subsequently replaced by Edison Lighthouse member David Kerr-Clemenson (born 1951).^[6]

With a line-up of Pete Nelson (vocals), Ron Reynolds (keyboard), Robin Box (guitar), Roger Hills (drums), Tex Marsh (percussions), Dave Fulford (guitar) and Tony Sullivan (bass), White Plains disbanded in 1976.

Reunions

In 1978, Pete Nelson and Robin Box briefly reformed the group to record two more singles for PVK records.^[7]

A reformed version containing Roger Hills, Robin Shaw and Box was active from 2004 to 2006. In the Spring of 2013, another reunion for touring took place with Tony Burrows, Robin Shaw, and Roger Hills.

Former members later lives

Tony Burrows in concert. Taken on 17 May 2008.

Burrows and Shaw met again in 1974 in First Class, another John Carter project that scored worldwide with their single, "Beach Baby". As of 2023, Burrows remains active as a solo artist.

David Kerr-Clemenson joined rock group Fast Buck in 1975, and toured with them for another thirty-nine years.^[6]

Ricky Wolff later joined Harley Quinne and lent his lead vocals on their UK Top 20 hit single, “New Orleans”. Harley Quinne was an UK act created by British songwriting and production team, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, as a promotional vehicle for a 1972 song entitled ”New Orleans”, a cover of the Gary ‘U.S.’ Bonds original. It was originally recorded by a phalanx of session players with Ricky Wolff as the session singer. Wolff worked as a musician and produced a few albums in his own groups after he returned to his country of origin, South Africa, in the mid 1970s and produced a few solo singles in 1981.^[8] Wolff would go on to work as a record producer and songwriter and in 2013, released the single “Goodbye Nelson Mandela”, in tribute to the South African president Nelson Mandela who had passed away at the time. On 1 October 2023, Wolff died in South Africa, at the age of 78.^[9] A speaker at Wolff’s funeral gave his cause of death as septicaemia.^[10]

From 1988 to 2002, Robin Shaw and Robin Box were members of Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.

Julian Bailey died in July 2001, aged 58. Pete Nelson retired from the music industry in the late 1970s. He died on 23 October 2005 aged 62 from cancer.^[11] Neil Landon moves to Germany and sang as a solo artist. He died on 26 March 2020 aged 78, also from cancer.

Crucible

In 1971, a music project began production in London. The project contained many members of White Plains; those being Ricky Wolff, Robin Shaw, and Robin Box, and later Julian Bailey. Several tracks were recorded at AIR Studios in London under the production of Roger Cook. The songs were shelved after being deemed not commercial enough by the production company and an album was never released. In late 1971, filmmakers Tony Klinger and Michael Lytton, searching for music for an upcoming documentary, visited several publishing companies and overall publishers on Denmark Street, one of them being Dick James, who had recently acquired Cookaway Music. Three of Ricky Wolff’s tracks were included on the documentaries soundtrack, along with one by Robin Shaw.^[12]

A few additional songs were recorded at Morgan Studios and involved former White Plains drummer, Julian Bailey. At some point, the decision was made to combine the recording at AIR, with the ones recorded at Morgan Studios into one and was given the name Crucible. The soundtrack, was originally released on LP in 1972. On 7 April 2017, the soundtrack was released for the first time on Compact Disc.^[12]

Member history

The first line-up of White Plains consisted of Ricky Wolff, Tony Burrows, Pete Nelson, Robin Shaw, Robin Box and Roger Hills. Tony Burrows left in early 1970 to focus more on his works with Brotherhood of Man and Edison Lighthouse. In mid 1970, Brian Johnston joined on keyboard. Johnston left after a few months, and Ron Reynolds joined in 1971, giving the group their most well known line-up. Ricky Wolff left the group in mid 1971, and lead vocals were now split between members. The following two years would contain the stable member line-up of Shaw, Nelson, Box, Reynolds, and Hills. When Shaw left in late 1973, he was briefly replaced by Derek Burgess (later member of Vanity Fare), before he was succeeded by David Kerr-Clemenson, and then Tony Sullivan. Also in 1973, Dave Fulford, Tex Marsh were added into the band. With Pete Nelson and Robin Box the longest serving and original member, the group ended in 1976.

In 1978, Nelson and Box recreated White Plains to release two new singles, although it is not known if any other musicians were in this brief line-up, and if so, were likely left uncredited. The two revivals of the group in the 2000s contained Burrows, Shaw, Box, and Hills.

Personnel

Key members are texted in Bold

• Pete Nelson, vocals, piano (1969–1976, 1978) (born Peter William Lipscomb, 10 March 1943, Uxbridge, London – died 23 October 2005, Ealing, London)
• Robin Shaw, bass (1969-late1973, 2004–2006, 2013) (born Robin George Scrimshaw, 6 October 1943, Hayes, Middlesex)
• Ricky Wolff, vocals, guitars, keyboards, flute, saxophone (1969–1971) (8 July 1945, Pretoria, South Africa – 1 October 2023, South Africa)^[9]
• Tony Burrows, vocals (1969–1970, 2004–2006, 2013)
• Ron Reynolds, organ (1971–1976)
• Robin Box, lead guitar (1969–1976, 1978, 2004–2006, 2013) (born 19 June 1944)
• Eamonn Carr, Vocals, lead guitar, keyboards. (1973)
• Roger Hills, drums (1969–1976, 2004–2006, 2013) (born 1948)
• David Kerr-Clemenson - bass guitar (1973–1974) (born 1951)
• Roger (Tex) Marsh (percussion) (1973–1976)
• Tony Hall, tenor sax (1971–1972)
• Brent Scott Carter, tenor sax (1971–1972)
• Derek Burgess - bass (1973) (born 4 April 1950, Sheffield)
• Julian Bailey, drums (early-mid 1970)
• Brian Johnston, keyboards (1970) (born 3 March 1945, Bathgate, Scotland^[4])
• Dave Fulford, lead guitar (1974–1976)
• Tony Sullivan, bass guitar/vocals (1974–1976)

Albums

Singles