'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)

Subject: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 06:30 AM

Just been listening to a skiffle compilation album, and most of the stufff was pretty predictable cotton-fieldsy sort of stuff. But there was one seriously odd track, "Let me lie" by the Imps, an outfit I have never heard of. Children, by the sound of it. Does anybody remember anything about these Imps? Perhaps we even have an Imp among us now, who could reminisce a little?
The only info on the liner notes is
Let me lie
The Imps
(S. Stewart)
1958

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:51 AM

greg,
Chas McD in his book Skiffle says:[I paraphrase]
The Imps were a group of 5 12-year-olds (plus one dad on guitar)discovered by Carrol Levis.They appeared on his show; on 6-5 Special and at the National Skiffle Competition. They came from Miles Platting in Lancashire.Their only recording for Parlophone was Dim Dum Blondes(!) and a cover of the Sonny Stewart recording of Let me Lie. They disappeared as swiftly as they arrived. Record Mirror said "Imps leave me Limp" and ended "The only buyers can be the Imps' friends and relatives. The line-up was Danny McGee with his granny's washboard; Don Ainsworth with his father's fishing line attached to an old soap box and his mother's broomhandle; Geoff Wood, Jeff Tranter and Howard Tonge each played a miniature thirty-shilling* plastic guitar
Michael Dewe's The Skiffle Craze only mentions them in passing.

*that's one pound fifty pence, children

RtS
(they would have been about my age so would be 60/62 by now!)

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 03:22 AM

Well i think they sound great! I am now on a mission to locate them and arrange a reunion. Can anyone help....Roger the S has kindly supplied some names.

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 03:26 AM

Which compilation did you find them on, greg?

RtS

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:19 AM

They performed "Let me lie" in the 1950s movie "The Golden Disc".
Skifflish Greetings from Germany,
Lutz
www.lutz-eikelmann.de

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:23 AM

P.S.
In the same movie you can also watch Nancy Whiskey, and Terry Dene.
I have to see it again, but I believe the Imps performed there as "Sonny Stewart & His Skiffle Kings".

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Skiffler
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 02:11 PM

Very interesting! You should ask german Skiffle expert Holger Lührig (Unna) for details!

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:37 PM

The compilation is called "The Best of Skiffle". It's a 3 CD set. Disky seems to be the name of the company, code CB 793762 Contains all the usual suspects, plus some obscurities such as this Imps track.

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Klaus Müller
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:11 AM

It´s a dutch based company ( Disky )

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:29 AM

I've got 2 Disky 2-CD skiffle compilations "As good as it gets: Skiffle 1 & 2"), I wonder if this duplicates anything? (The Imps aren't on those).
RtS

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:58 AM

Check out Raucous Records www.raucousshop.co.uk search under "Skiffle" there are some fine skiffle CDs by contemporary UK skifflers and also by original skifflers. A good CD is "Freight Train - the Skiffle Explosion" but with many duplications of the 2 Disky CDs.

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 04:34 PM

re the the imps the skiffle group from manchester.i can help you as jeff tranter is my dad.please get in touch on 01162603192 my name is melanie

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 10:07 AM

Hi Greg, the chap RtS is right only friend and relatives purchase this song (I am the daughter of an Imp) and I just bought this to show to my dad. I have a original record but is has a crack in it.
Drop me an email [e-mail]

Regards

Lou

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Don Ainsworth of THE IMPS
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 04:29 AM

Hi, I was a member of THE IMPS skiffle group 1957-1961.

If you would like any information re The Imps, please email me at

[e-mail]

Thank you for your interest.

Best Wishes,
Don.

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 03:05 PM

Hi, This is a great record, we still have the original Parlophone 45rpm record of this, and it still gets played often.

Cheers Rick

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 12:49 PM

Wonderful thread.... Greg, did you have any luck in reuniting former Imps?

Kitty

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 02:53 PM

I should have put a tracer on this thread. Only just seen it now and found that former Imps and relatives have turned up. I must make contact

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Carole Robinson
Date: 29 Aug 14 - 11:39 AM

Hi... I am the cousin of an Imp .. Don Ainsworth...I remember watching them playing and rehearsing in my Aunties front room..I even had a go at the washboard myself once or twice, but it was definitely a male only group.!
..

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,from howard tonge of the imps
Date: 15 Jul 15 - 07:30 AM

Hi only recently looking at the writings after making contact with don ainsworth and geoff wood i played the base (wooden box pole and string) we all sang we were a group of kids having a good time and i am delighted that at 70 to be reminded of that time.

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Linda Kenwyn Street
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 07:59 AM

Just discovered wonderful Spotify and remembering old favourites to add to my playlist. " Let me Lie/ Dim Dum Blonde" came into my mind- Jeff Tranter lived in our street and my mam bought the record, Don't know what happened to it, but I really liked it when I was eleven and now I've heard it again thanks to Spotify, at nearly 69, I still think it's great - the Imps are a Supergroup that slipped through the net😉

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens
Date: 24 Jan 16 - 05:05 PM

wow some history turning up here. When's the reunion gig?

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Sara Wood
Date: 14 May 16 - 05:05 AM

Loved all the positive comments My dad is Geoff Wood!

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 16 - 06:53 AM

Howardtonge a member of the imps i have been reading comments with interest some inaccuracies no family member playing guitar with us the sound you got was us 5young lads playing skiffle and having a good time happy memories

Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Sylvia Of Kenwin Street (Linda,s sister)
Date: 11 Dec 17 - 11:07 AM

Just got Spotify and found the record .Memory lane stuff as I,m now 76 ! and remember the excitement when the Imps appeared on tv.Well done lads! My dad was a friend of Jeff Tranters dad and they lived in our street.