This time Toomorrow will come
HARRY SALTZMAN and Don Kirshner are at it again. What, you may well ask-and quite rightly so in this permissive age.
But it is all very harmless, albeit very promising, and in view of their past record, a sure fire winner.
Harry Saltzman made the Battle of Britain film. and helped to create two of the superstars of the 60’s, the fictional James Bond, and the factual Michael Caine.
Don Kirshner, the “man with the golden ear,” was the force behind “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies and also responsible for The Monkees.
Now these two commercial wizards are aiming to produce the group of the 70’s. I know - we’ve heard that one before,but this venture must stand more than the average dog’s chance.
with two Toomorrow o’s, it’s not a misprint - is the name of the group, Toomorrow is the name of the film, and the name of their first single is yes, you’ve guessed it, “You’re My Baby Now.”
Line-up
The members of the group line up as follows: Olivia Newton-John (Livvy to her mates), Karl Chambers, Vic Cooper, and Ben Thomas. And they are all very interesting characters.
Livvy’s pedigree measures up remarkably well. Her father was head of Kings College, Cambridge, Master of Ormonde College in Australia, and vice-chancellor of two universities in Sydney and Melbourne, Her a Nobel Grandad was Prize-winning physicist.
Although born in sunny England, Livvy can be considered an Aussie (good on you cobber, sport, tie me kangaroo down and all that). I don’t know a great deal about her prowess with the boomerang but she is a fully-qualified singer. actress and jigger about.
Karl is cool - it says here - and took three days to decide whether or not he wanted to be made into a millionaire superstar. Karl goes down in my estimation immediately.
But he too appears to have an impressive pedigree in the drum world. He has played with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and The Intruders, whoever they are. He is 6ft. 4in., so we will not argue about The Intruders. His Mummy sang with Duke Ellington in the early days, which can’t be bad, and Karl has also jammed with Jack Bruce and Steve Winwood.
Vic Cooper is a Cockney from Devon, has undertaken world tours as Tom Jones’ pianist, does impersonations and is a karate expert. (What with one guy 6ft. 4in. and another on the karate kick, this group will never need bouncers). Vic played with dear old Chris Farlowe for a while, motorcycle raced on a Norton Manx, and then joined Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. He has a passion for Miami and money. Vic Cooper goes up in my estimation.
Ben Thomas is from Cairo - Cairo, Georgia, that is. Visions of a pop singer complete with fez and camel just for one horrible minute. Inspired early on by Elvis Presley - remember that guy? he joined a band called the Swing Kings. It was his first mistake. After they folded in six months, Ben went solo and, I am reliably informed, was a smash hit in Japan.
He was discovered at Rocky Lee’s Restaurant in New York and is now waiting to burst forth with Toomorrow. Meanwhile, he continues reading Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, George Bernard Shaw and other mind-blowing individuals. So there you are then, watch out for Toomorrow - and remember folks, you read it first in the “Sentinel.” (Pause for cheers and riotous applause).
Pop Spot with Mick Wormald