Wayne Fontana was christened the more mundane Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, but eventually changed his name, in homage to Elvis Presley's drummer DJ Fontana - and he took his backing bands moniker from a horror film of the same name starring Dirk Bogarde. Like many beat bands of the era, they specialized in serving up revamped US R'n'B covers, achieving a breakthrough with soul singer Major Lance's "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um".
This, their fifth release, charted appropriately at number five but it was their next release 1965's "The Game Of Love", which earned the band a prominent place in the Sixties pop pantheon. The song peaked at number two on the UK charts (it was held off the coveted top spot by The Seekers "I'll Never Find Another You"), but more impressively it soared to the top of the US charts as the British invasion took a stranglehold on the US pop charts. The peerless "The Game Of Love" followed other hits such as "Just a Little Bit Late" and "She Needs Love".
Watch Wayne Fontana - "The Game of Love" video from Solid Silver 60s Show UK 2004:
Wayne Fontana
Wayne Fontana
In 1965, Wayne left the group to pursue a solo career in which the tracks "Come On Home" and "Pamela" proved to be the most successful. After retiring from music in the early 70's, Wayne returned to the stage in the 90s, making regular appearances on the revivalist circuit and successful tours like the Solid Silver 60s where he is currently to be seen.
"The Game Of Love" has been used in countless Hollywood movies, most memorably Good Morning Vietnam. Wayne now runs a very successful agency and with his New Mindbenders he's packing them in on revival shows world-wide.
The Best Of Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders is released on UMTV March 16, 2009.
Track Listing:
1. The Game Of Love
2. Um Um Um Um Um Um
3. Pamela Pamela
4. A Groovy Kind Of Love
5. Stop, Look and Listen
6. The Letter
7. Come On Home
8. It Was Easier To Hurt Her
9. Goodbye Bluebird
10. Storybook Children
11. Something Keeps Calling Me Back
12. The Words Of Bartholomew
13. She Needs Love
14. I Want Her She Wants Me
15. Long Time Comin'
16. Like I Did
17. Where Have You Been?
18. Schoolgirl
19. Ashes To Ashes
20. Uncle Joe The Ice Cream Man
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My husband saw the new mindbenders last night at the springfield fairbourne in wales. He says they were brilliant worth the money that he paid to have the night off work. Welcome back
Saw The New Mindbenders in Whitby last Saturday, they were brilliant, great vocals and super musicians.
Saw this amazing group on Saturday night in Folkestone.
The compere introduced them as one of the best groups on the 60's circuit.
OK, my wife and I both thought.
We were absolutely blown away.
The Mindbenders well 'New' Mindbenders were brilliant.
Songs, vocals and great musicians were fantastic to watch and hear.
If they are near to you reading this, go and see them.
I was at Folkestone, too last weekend and I thought they were terrific! I have never seen them before, nor do I know anything about them but I thought they were not only great performers but really nice, unassuming guys, as well!