”The Flee-Rekkers were a sax-led unit with a full, aggressive sound. The spelling of their name was never consistent. The group was named after their leader, Peter Fleerackers, whose father was Dutch. On the Triumph pressings of their first single, this became “Flee-Rakkers”, which evolved into “Flee-Rekkers” when they moved to the Pye label. The Flee-Rekkers were probably the first instrumental group recorded by Joe Meek in his studio on Holloway Road and their first record, “Green Jeans” (an adaptation of Greensleeves) was released on Meek’s own, short-lived Triumph label. Acute problems arising from the inability to press sufficient copies and distribute them adequately meant that “Green Jeans” stalled at # 23 in the charts, where it had a 13-week run, from May until August 1960. When Triumph folded, the record was reissued by Top Rank, which also went into liquidation, before it was taken over by EMI. Notwithstanding this bad luck, the group went on to cut six collectable singles and an EP on Pye/Piccadilly, but they would not enter the charts again.”
”Apart from Fleerackers, who played tenor sax, the group consisted of Dave Cameron (lead guitar), Alan Monger (rhythm guitar, occasionally baritone sax), Doug Henning (bass), Derek Skinner (drums, soon replaced by Mickey Waller) and a second tenor sax player, Elmy Durrant. Fleerackers liked the Johnny and the Hurricanes sound, whilst Cameron was a great Duane Eddy fan. These were the main influences of the group, though on some recordings they also remind me of the Piltdown Men, another group with twin saxes out front. Their material was a mix of original compositions, old folk tunes in the public domain and covers of little-known instrumentals, like “Stage To Cimarron” by Santo and Johnny. The Flees turned professional after being discovered in West London’s “Hive of Jive” Putney Ballroom. They toured Britain extensively during the period 1960-1963. By all accounts they were a wild live act. Joe Meek certainly managed to capture the group’s pulsating sound in his studio. As usual with his liberal use of echo, reverb, compression, distortion and other unusual effects, he was able to make the group sound even more full-blooded. “Fireball” was the Flee-Rekkers’ final single in 1963. The group broke up after a summer season at Blackpool in August 1963.” [This Is My Story]
Discography:
Triumph RGM 1008 – Green Jeans / You Are My Sunshine (4/60)
Top Rank JAR 431 – Green Jeans / You Are My Sunshine (8/60)
Pye N 15288 – Sunday Date / Shiftless Sam (9/60)
Pye N 15326 – Blue Tango / Bitter Rice (2/61)
Piccadilly N 35006 – Lone Rider / Miller Like Wow! (6/61)
Piccadilly N 35048 – Stage to Cimarron / Twistin’ the Chestnuts (5/62)
Piccadilly N 35081 – Sunburst / Black Buffalo (10/62)
Piccadilly N 35109 – Fireball / Fandango (2/63)
Pye NEP 24141 – The Fabulous Flee-Rekkers (5/61)
(Isle Of Capri / Brer Robert / Hangover / P.F.B.)
Pye Records PYEP 2048 – X-L-5 (Fireball) (1963)
Solid collection of 45’s by these Joe Meek’s instro rockers influenced by Duane Eddy, The Champs and stuff, recorded from 1960-63. Check-em out! Gid!!!
SURFADELIC 