Fleur de Lys – Circles – The Ultimate Fleur de Lys

Fleur de Lys, between 1964 and 1969, recorded a number of significant (to the evolving Mod scene) singles. Released in March, this compilation consists of all their singles, highly prized by collectors on original 60s vinyl, along with several demo recordings, taken from the band’s Immediate, Polydor and Atlantic Records back catalogues. Fleur de Lys’ musical CV includes involvement with a whole host of 60s names and faces, some of whom had integral involvement with the original Mod scene. Which is no surprise as Fleur de Lys began in the vibrant and productive south coast Mod scene in Southampton. Before joining Immediate for two singles, Fleur de Lys won a competition, the prize being to record with legendary producer Shel Talmy. But after discovering the financial side of the ‘prize’ was less than favourable, the band declined. Relocating from the south coast to London, Fleur de Lys played regularly in all the main Mod venues. House sitting for Chas Chandler, when The Animals were away on tour in America, resulted in, when Chandler returned, the band hanging out with a young Jimi Hendrix. Additionally, after moving to London, Fleur de Lys encountered singer Sharon Tandy, who was the girlfriend of Frank Felder, MD of Polydor. Fleur de Lys joined the Polydor roster, releasing three singles – Mud In Your Eye, I Can See A Light, Going With The Luminous Noise – between ’66 and ’68. When the Stax Revue visited the UK, Isaac Hayes sat in on one of their recording sessions, and Fleur de Lys jammed with legendary duo Sam And Dave. It was Sharon Tandy’s involvement with the Memphis soul label that brokered the band hooking up with Stax artists when they were in the UK. Fleur de Lys performed live alongside The Herd and supergroup Cream. Frank Felder saw Fleur de Lys as ‘his’ UK-based version of Booker T and The MGs, with his girlfriend Sharon Tandy as the UK’s version of Carla Thomas. When the head of Atlantic Records in America, Ahmet Ertegun, visited the UK, Frank Felder took him along to see Fleur de Lys live, the eventual result of which was Fleur de Lys signing to Atlantic. Fleur de Lys did a short UK tour supporting The Beach Boys, as well as accompanying Sharon Tandy on the same bill as the Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin. First single with Atlantic was the blue-eyed soul anthem Stop Crossing The Bridge, followed by Liar/ One Girl City and with Tony and Tandy, Two Can Make It Together. All Fleur de Lys original singles are sought after by collectors, this handy compilation has all of them and a few demo recordings too. Extensive, informative and in-depth sleeve notes, penned by Paul Smiler Anderson, are a bonus to this must-have slice of original Mod history.