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'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)

14 Feb 05 - 06:30 AM (#1409067)
Subject: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens

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


14 Feb 05 - 09:51 AM (#1409251)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Roger the Skiffler

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!)


15 Feb 05 - 03:22 AM (#1410181)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens

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.


15 Feb 05 - 03:26 AM (#1410184)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Roger the Skiffler

Which compilation did you find them on, greg?

RtS


15 Feb 05 - 04:19 AM (#1410224)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann

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


15 Feb 05 - 04:23 AM (#1410229)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Lutz Eikelmann

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".


15 Feb 05 - 02:11 PM (#1410741)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Skiffler

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


15 Feb 05 - 04:37 PM (#1410931)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens

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.


16 Feb 05 - 03:11 AM (#1411546)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Klaus Müller

It´s a dutch based company ( Disky )


16 Feb 05 - 03:29 AM (#1411556)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Roger the Skiffler

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


16 Feb 05 - 03:58 AM (#1411580)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST

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.


17 Aug 08 - 04:34 PM (#2416264)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST

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


15 Sep 10 - 10:07 AM (#2987215)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST

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 louwood29@hotmail.com

Regards

Lou


25 Jun 11 - 04:29 AM (#3176112)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Don Ainsworth of THE IMPS

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

don.ainsworth@talktalk.net

Thank you for your interest.

Best Wishes,
Don.


28 Jul 14 - 03:05 PM (#3646051)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST

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

Cheers Rick


29 Jul 14 - 12:49 PM (#3646352)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: Herga Kitty

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

Kitty


29 Jul 14 - 02:53 PM (#3646387)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens

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


29 Aug 14 - 11:39 AM (#3654935)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Carole Robinson

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.!
..


15 Jul 15 - 07:30 AM (#3723764)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,from howard tonge of the imps

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.


24 Jan 16 - 07:59 AM (#3767683)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Linda Kenwyn Street

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😉


24 Jan 16 - 05:05 PM (#3767808)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: greg stephens

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


14 May 16 - 05:05 AM (#3790207)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Sara Wood

Loved all the positive comments My dad is Geoff Wood!


17 Sep 16 - 06:53 AM (#3810221)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST

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


11 Dec 17 - 11:07 AM (#3893356)
Subject: RE: 'Let me lie'The Imps(skiffle group)
From: GUEST,Sylvia Of Kenwin Street (Linda,s sister)

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.