The Staccatos - The South African Rock Encyclopedia

The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1960s / 1970s > The Staccatos

Legends Of South African Pop & Soul

Sometimes styled as The Staccato’s and Staccatos

Biography

The Staccatos were formed in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1961 by Brian Le Gassick while he was studying at Damelin College. The original line-up featured singer/rhythm guitarist Brian Le Gassick, lead guitarist John Leach, drummer Ian Miller, and bassist Willie van der Walt.

In the latter part of 1963, the Staccatos won a competition that earned them a recording contract with EMI and the title of the “Beatles of South Africa,” marking the beginning of their significant musical journey in the South African rock scene.

The band achieved their first major success with “Come Back Silly Girl,” which entered the charts in December 1965 and peaked at number two on the Springbok Hit Parade. This success solidified their status as a major force in the South African music industry.

The Staccatos’ most monumental achievement came in 1968 when they recorded “Cry to Me,” which became a record-breaking hit spending an unprecedented 38 weeks on the charts in 1969. The song’s popularity soared after The Staccatos performed it live in the movie “Katrina,” and it went on to achieve phenomenal sales, earning a 4th Gold Disc for exceeding 400,000 units sold in South Africa.

The band’s influence extended internationally, with “Cry to Me” also entering hit parades in Germany and the UK. Their song “Butchers and Bakers” was released internationally under the Fontana label and was covered by artists in England and America.

Throughout their career, The Staccatos supported major international acts including Peter and Gordon (1965), the Byrds (1970), and Chris de Burgh (1979) on their South African tours. The band featured numerous talented musicians over the years and remains an important part of South African rock history.

The band was formed in 1961 by Brian Le Gassick. An early line-up would include Billy Andrews who would go on to work with Billy Forrest in The Dream Merchants. They would regularly perform around Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand until 1964 when they disbanded due to study commitments and military service. However within 9 months they were back together and got a recording deal with RCA Victor.

They released a few singles before cracking the charts with ‘Come Back Silly Girl’ which was the title track from their 1965 debut album. Steve Lonsdale would join the band after this and would perform the lead vocals on ‘Cry To Me’. The song would initially spend 12 weeks on the charts, but after the band appeared in the movie ‘Katrina’ (starring Jill Kirkland in the title role) playing the song it went on to see another week 26 run in the charts and the total of 38 weeks would be the most any song would see on our charts.

Lonsdale would move on to have a successful solo career. Other members of the band at later dates would include Wanda Arletti (who would marry the band’s lead guitarist, Richard Crouse) and Peter Vee who would see success as a solo artist and as part of the band Buffalo. The Staccatos would continue to perform right up to 1999 when they disbanded. They would, however reform in 2019 and released a new album called ‘The Boys Are Back’ in 2021.
John Samson, SA Singles Charts, September 2022

Discography

Singles

KEY:
A-side / B-side (Year) – Label, Catalogue Number (comments)

Skinny Minny / Ain’t That Just Like Me (1964) – Parlophone, 45-PD 322
Will Ya Or Won’t Ya / She’s Gone (1965) – Parlophone, 45-SPD 334
Darlin’ / She’s My Girl (1965) – Parlophone, 45-SPD 347
Come Back Silly Girl / My Mom (1965) – RCA Victor, 41. 811
Bless You / Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (1966) – PYE, PY 69
Sounds Of Glory / Thou Shalt Not Steal (1966) – PYE, PY 115
Spicks And Specks / Everybody Knows (1967) – PYE, PY 143
New York Mining Disaster 1941 / All The Winds (1967) – PYE, PY 156
I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing / My Girl (1968) – NEM, TOS 3001
Butchers And Bakers / Imitations Of Love (1968) – NEM, 3002
Cry To Me / Why Care About Today (1968) – NEM, 3003
Cry To Me / Why Care About Today (1968) – NEM, 3003 (limited edition)
Hold On To What You’ve Got / Another Place – Another Time (1969) – NEM, TOS 582
Another Place – Another Time / Hold On To What You’ve Got (1969) – NEM, TOS 582 (alternate pressing with the A- and B-sides swopped over)
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby / Soothe Me (1969) – NEM, TOS 610 (The Staccatos with Wanda Arletti)
Cry To Me / I Shall Be Released (1970) – Polydor, PD 2-15013 (US release credited to The Staccatos featuring Steve Lonsdale)
I Shall Be Released / A Place In The Sun (1970) – NEM, TOS 671
Cinnamon Girl / The Journey (1973) – RTS, RTS.29

Chart History

source: SA Singles Charts

Date of entry	Song	Peak (weeks at 1)	Weeks
29 October 1965	Come Back Silly Girl	2	17
17 March 1967	Spicks And Specks	10	9
21 July 1967	New York Mining Disaster 1941	18	3
09 August 1968	Butchers And Bakers	7	10
24 January 1969	Cry To Me	1 (3)	38
10 October 1969	Hold On To What You’ve Got see comments	12	6

Albums

Come Back Silly Girl (LP 1965)

Label: RCA Victor, 33, 042

Tracks

Come Back Silly Girl
Sloop John B
Mr Tambourine Man
Crying In The Rain
Just Like Romeo And Juliet
My Mom
Ain’t No Way I’m Gonna Change
You Were On My Mind
Houston
Little Girl
The One To Lose
Don’t Ask Me

The Second Sin (LP 1966)

Label: PYE, PL 2091

Tracks

Bless You
Thou Shalt Not Steal
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Everybody Loves A Lover
What Have They Done To The Rain
All The Winds
Sounds Of Glory
Everybody Knows
Secret Love
Power Of Love
Summertime
It’s Just Gotta Be

Here and Now (LP 1968)

Label: NEM, NEMS 300

Tracks

Cry To Me
My Back Pages
A Place In The Sun
Shake Your Money Maker
Why Care About Today
I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing
Butchers And Bakers
You Ain’t Going Nowhere
Respect
Hold On To What You’ve Got see comments
I Get So Excited
Imitations Of Love

Comments

“Hold On To What You Got” is a cover of a Joe Tex song from 1964, titled “Hold What You’ve Got“. Also covered by The Dream Merchants in 1967. This was a different song to the similarly titled “Hold On (To What You’ve Got)” by The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, which was a cover of a 1971 track by a UK duo called Bill & Buster.

“Cry To Me” was originally by Solomon Burke in 1962, and has been covered by a number of artists over the years.
Brian Currin

He Was A Friend Of Mine (LP 1969)

Label: NEM, NEMS 302

Tracks

He Was A Friend Of Mine
For What It’s Worth
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
I Got You
Stormy Monday Part 1
Cry To Me
I Shall Be Released
My Heart Beats Like A Hammer
Police On My Back
Stormy Monday Part 2

Steve Lonsdale (Solo)

Hard To Handle (LP 1970)

Label: NEM, NEMS 303

Tracks

Hard To Handle
Do Right Woman
Both Sides Now
The Love You Save
A Whole Lotta Woman
Rainin’
Change Your Ways
The Long Black Limousine
Send Out Love
(It’s All Over Now) Baby Blue

Various Artists Compilations (Selected)

Dance Party Spectacular Vol. 3 (LP 1966)

Label: PYE, P 163, 16⅔ RPM
Tracks: Bless You, Sounds Of Glory
More info: Discogs

Summer Blonde Beach Party (LP 1967)

Label: Clairol Inc.
Track: Secret Love
More info: SARockMusic.com

Double Date (LP 1967) with The Falling Leaves

Label: PYE, PL 2106
More info: Discogs

Tracks

Spicks And Specks
Come Back Silly Girl
Bless You
Sounds Of Glory
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Thou Shalt Not Steal

The History Of Rock – The South African Connection (LP 1987)

Label: Teal Record Co, HRLSA 100
Track: Cry To Me
More info: SARockMusic.com

Billy Forrest And Friends (LP 1988)

Label: Trutone, MMTL 1461
Track: Cry To Me
More info: Spotify, Discogs

The Best Of South African Pop (3CD 1994)

Label: Gallo, CDSAPOP1,2,3
Track: Cry To Me
More info: SARockMusic.com

Soul Meeting – The Ultimate Soul Collection [CD 1997]

Label: Gallo, CDRED 617
Track: Cry To Me
More info: SARockMusic.com

Return Of The Tokoloshe Men! (Demented Sounds From The 60s Teen Scenes Of Jo’burg, Cape Town, Durban And Beyond!) [6CD Set 2020]

Label: Rubble, RUB6CDBOX13
Tracks: The One To Lose, New York Mining Disaster 1941, Spicks And Specks, Butchers And Bakers, Imitations Of Love
More info: SARockMusic.com

24 Golden Oldies Vol. 1 Mixcloud | Spotify | Discogs
Astral Daze 4 – More Snapshots Of The South African Rock Underground Discogs | Spotify
The Best Of SA Pop Volume 3 Discogs | Spotify
Cry To Me And Other Great Hits Discogs | Spotify
The History Of Rock – The Best Of Discogs | Spotify
Memories Are Made Of This – Best Of SA Pop
Quality Moments – Love Songs 1 Discogs
Quality Moments – Love Songs 2 Discogs
Top 40 Hits Of All Time Vol. 2 Discogs
Yesterday’s Best Vol. 3 Discogs