Dave Berry
						Dave Berry joined Vince on the show on Monday 5th May 2008
		A unique, and charismatic performer, Berry performed a mixture of hard R&B and pop ballads. He was extremely popular in Britain, and on Continental Europe. His early hits name checked his backing band, The Cruisers who at that time were made up of John Fleet (bass & piano), Roy Barber (rhythm guitar), Frank Miles (lead guitar) and Kenny Slade (drums). Berry parted company with this line-up around the time of "The Crying Game". He recruited four more local musicians - Frank White, Johnny Riley, Pete Cliff and old friend Alan Taylor to be the second generation of Cruisers,[2] with lead guitarist White eventually replaced by Roy Ledger until around 1965, when personnel changes began to be more frequent. "The Crying Game" (1964), B. J. Thomas' sentimental "Mama" (1966)[2] and "This Strange Effect" (1965) - the latter written by Ray Davies, are among his best remembered hits. Indeed, "This Strange Effect" became a Number One hit for him in Holland and Belgium, countries where he still enjoys superstar status, resulting in a Special Award from Radio Veronica, Holland, for their best selling pop single of all time. His 1965 hit "Little Things" was a cover version of Bobby Goldsboro's Stateside Top 40 success.[3] Another one of his songs, "Don't Gimme No Lip Child", was covered by the Sex Pistols.[3] His stage act, drawing largely on Elvis Presley, and Gene Vincent, provided an inspiration for Alvin Stardust. Such was his enigmatic, and unconventional presence, that several punk rock acts, such as the Sex Pistols, later acknowledged him as an inspiration. Berry used sessions guitarists Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Big Jim Sullivan extensively.[3] The Geoff Stephens penned song, "The Crying Game", brought Berry's voice to his biggest international audience ever in 1992, when it was used as the theme song for one of that year's most successful films - Neil Jordan's The Crying Game.[3] Berry also regained some, much-overlooked recognition, when he was the surprise hit of the annual Alexis Korner Tribute in 1995. In 1998 "This Strange Effect" was covered by the Belgian band Hooverphonic, on their album, Blue Wonder Power Milk. [edit] Discography [edit] Singles * "Memphis, Tennessee" / "Tossin' And Turnin'" - October 1963 UK #19 * "My Baby Left Me" / "Hoochie Coochie Man" - January 1964 UK #37 * "Baby It's You" / "Sweet And Lovely" - April 1964 UK #24 * "The Crying Game" / "Don't Gimme No Lip Child" - July 1964 UK #5 * "One Heart Between Two" / "You're Gonna Need Somebody" - November 1964 UK #41 * "Little Things" - March 1965 UK #5 * "This Strange Effect" - July 1965 UK #37 * "I'm Gonna Take You There" - November 1965 Did not chart * "If You Wait For Love" - February 1966 Did not chart * "Mama" - July 1966 UK #5 * "Picture Me Gone" - November 1966 Did not chart * "Stranger" - March 1967 Did not chart * "Forever" / "And I Have Learned To Dream" - August 1967 Did not chart * "Just As Much As Ever" - February 1968 Did not chart * "Do I Figure In Your Life" (Dello) - 1968 Did not chart * "Oh What A Life" - 1968 Did not chart