The Merton Parkas

The Merton Parkas were a British mod revival band formed in the mid-1970s in the Merton area of South London. The group consisted of Danny Talbot on vocals and guitar, his brother Mick Talbot on keyboards, Neil Hurrell on bass, and Simon Smith on drums. They were discovered playing in a pub in Clapham by punk journalist Alan Anger and subsequently signed with Beggars Banquet Records. Initially known as The Sneekers, the band released several moderately successful singles, including "You Need Wheels", "Plastic Smile", "Give it to Me Now" and "Put Me in the Picture". Their most notable track, "You Need Wheels", reached Number 40 on the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1979. The Merton Parkas released their only album, Face In The Crowd, in October 1979. Rick Buckler of The Jam played with the band at Ronnie Scott's, and Mick Talbot contributed to "Heatwave", a track on The Jam's 1979 album Setting Sons. Despite contractual disputes that prevented them from featuring on the 1979 album Mods Mayday, an unreleased recording of their set at the Bridge House in Canning Town became available online. The Merton Parkas disbanded in 1980, with Mick Talbot going on to play with Dexys Midnight Runners and The Style Council, Simon Smith joining Mood Six, and Danny Talbot becoming a chemistry teacher.

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