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Friday Brown
The Willows
1973

Well before my time this. It was around these years that The Willows social — in Weaste, Salford — was voted the best in club land. The club was largely financed by brewers Greenall Whitley and Brian Snape, chairman of Salford Rugby League Football Club.

The featured advert is in an November 1973 issue of 'Salford Scene'; the match day programe for Salford RLFC (now known as Salford City Reds). As you can see from the cover, Salford were the reigning Rugby League champions.

Snape, also used his wealth to bring the best players to The Willows. The player pictured with the First Division Championship trophy is David Watkins, a cross–code international and a legend in both Rugby League and Rugby Union.

The instantly recognised names here are Billy J. Kramer and comedians; Bernard Manning, Ken Goodwin and The Grumbleweeds.

Friday Brown was a local artist and well known on the Manchester Beat scene. Kennedy Street Enterprises (who also promoted Herman's Hermits) scored Friday Brown a deal with EMI/Parlophone in 1966. Her first single on the label — “Getting Nowhere” — did just that, however, it was later covered by P.J Proby and Toni Basil.

In 1970-71, Friday Brown recorded an easy–listening album for Philips, which included covers of Nilsson’s ”Everybody’s Talking”, The Beatles’ ”Let It Be” and Simon & Garfunkel’s ”Sound Of Silence”.

In 1973, she recorded a cover of ”Groovy Kind Of Love” [The Mindbenders], again on Philips. On the flip was the selfpenned ”Salford”, a song about her howntown. The single was recorded at Strawberry Studios, Stockport with members of 10cc guesting on the sessions. [thanks to manchesterbeat.com]

The Fontains are also listed. They were a gigging bluesy cabaret band through the 1960s and 1970s who notably supported The Kinks and Eric Clapton.

More about some of the other acts on the following artefact: