Lyttle People Feature (1972 - 1973)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

Editor's note: Every care has been taken to present only factual information in this story based on newspaper articles and photographic archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story, please email us and let us know.

In 1970, Bill Morrison left Chips to pursue his civil service career, and he was replaced by Paul Lyttle. Paul soon established himself as a major player in the band and in January 1972, Paul and girlfriend (original Chips singer) Linda Martin quit to form a new band which early reports said, "wouldn't be another Chips." While rehearsals were underway for the new band, the only thing known was that they would be managed by Jim Hand, who also managed Chips and The Gentry. The name of the new members and the band's name was kept a secret for weeks. In a recent conversation with Paul, he told me "Linda and I just wanted to go in a more progressive pop direction from the rest of the band and after a band meeting we just left."

In mid February, they announced the new outfit would be known as the Lyttle People. The band's original lineup included Mike Brown (Sunshine - bass), Joe Traynor (Candy - drums), Gerry O'Neill (Gentry - keyboards), and Billy McCoy (guitar). In explaining the move Paul said, "We left Chips because they had changed. Linda and I couldn't go along with the way things were going. Lyttle People are going to do what Chips could have done." 

Meanwhile, Chips found replacements with Ken Wilson taking over on guitar, and Eleanor Cave replacing Linda as the second female vocalist and the addition of the late Damien O'Reilly as a second keyboard player (although it was reported in Spotlight that Damien was replacing Paul). Later, Nicola Kerr would join the band. The band expanded to a seven piece for the only time in their history. They were back on the road less than a month after the departure of Paul and Linda.

With Linda and Paul as two of the biggest pop stars in the country at the time, the band hit the ground running and were playing many of the top venues around the country within weeks. The summer of 1972 was very for the band and their brand of "progressive pop" (as Paul labeled their style). They were also playing some modern country and the likes of Kris Kristofferson and Tom T. Hall.

In July, the "Bits and Pieces" column in the Evening Herald announced that Billy McCoy (guitar) had left the band to returned to Teddie Palmer's Rumble Band. We think he was replaced by Perky Boggins, but we're not sure and will keep checking to update our information.  

By September, the band had changed management, moving from Jim Hand to the Tommy Hayden office where they would be managed primarily by newbie, 17-year-old Louis Walsh. A few years later Louis would also look after the Duggan Brothers of Sligo, among many others. In December, they released their first single which song "Let's Dance" (not the Chris Montez song, but a hit for the Dutch group, The Cats). The other "A" side featured Linda singing Roberta Flack's hit, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." (Other reports say Let's Dance is not the Chris Montez version, we will continue to check it out).

As 1973 started, the band was riding high and getting noticed something very different as they continued to experiment with their progressive pop sounds, often playing lesser known, but more challenging album tracks from the era's biggest stars. In March, they had a major upheaval when Mike Brown and Gerry O'Neill left the band and were replaced with most of the lineup of Northern band Sunshine, including Ray Toal (bass), Stuart Bingham (guitar) and Sammy Johnson (keyboards), they were now a seven piece outfit. 

Throughout early and mid-1973 the new outfit with the bigger sound (and intricate harmony vocals) started winning over new fans with their unique brand of music. In July of 1973 there was, again, a major line-up change in the band. Gone were Stuart, Ray and Joe Traynor (we think), and the new members were Barry Woods (keyboards) and Joe Hanratty (drums) from the Newmen, along with Allan Holland (bass) and Liam Taggert (guitar) from The Friends. Stuart Bingham would end up joining the revamped Sands Showband but eventually end up back with Sunshine.  

Eighteen months later, a report in Top Rank News of July, 1973 reported that Robin Lavery had left Chips and he was replaced by Renaldo "Reno" Smith from Chicago who had met Robin Irvine after playing with the group Truth some years earlier.  It was reported that Robin Lavery was going to form his own band in the Sept. 6, 1973 issue of Spotlight, but this never happened. Joe Hanratty was soon replaced by Jimmy Compton. Meanwhile, Robin was replaced in Chips by drummer Reno Smith. In the October 11, 1973 issue of Spotlight it was reported that Robin Irvine had left the band and was being replaced by Frank Boylan. 

However, all the changes made little difference as apparently Lyttle People disbanded in October, 1973. Paul took up the story, "we were playing a gig and Robin and a few of the members of Chips came to hear us and we all realised it would be great to get back together." A blurb in the October 25th, 1973 issue of Spotlight announced the launch of "Original Chips." The band was reformed with Paul, Linda and Robin Lavery rejoining Robin Irvine, Adrian and Annie. Despite the name, only 4 of the 6 members were actually "original" as Adrian and Paul were not part of the original lineup of the band. The band was now being managed by Peter Bardon.    

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Discography

Let's Dance / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Unknown Records - Unknown Number - December, 1972

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?