The Square Set
The Square Set was a 1960s rock band from Cape Town South Africa, known for their songs Silence is Golden (SA number 1 Hit (1967)) "Carol Corina" (SA number 10 hit (1968)), and "That's What I Want" (international number 1 hit in Brazil, Argentina, and Portugal (1971-1972)).
The Square Set | |
|---|---|
| Origin | South Africa |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock, blues rock, hard rock, jazz-rock, acid rock |
| Years active | 1966–1974 |
| Labels | Epic |
| Associated acts | Des and Dawn Lindberg, Settlers, Sandpipers, Nol Klinkhamer, Sounds Of Brass, Impi, Niki Daly, Ronnie Singer Sound, John E Sharp and the Squires, Gene Rockwell and the Falcons |
| Past members | Neville Whitmill Keith Moffat Derek Marks Mercia Love Nol Klinkhamer Don Robertson Malcolm Postlethwaite Mike Faure Johnny Boshoff Tony Moore |
The band formed in March 1966 and was called Neville Whitmill and the Humans. Founder members Nol, Neville, Derek and Keith rehearsed daily for 6 months composing new songs and covers before contracting their first professional gig at the Clifton Hotel.
Nol Klinkhamer hailed from the Conservetoire of Music in Holland having a degree in Jazz played piano, organ and the vibraphone. Neville Whitmill a Soul singer from Cape Town had influences from Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, Ottis Redding, Marvin Gaye. Derek Marks from Cape Town enjoyed rock bass playing with influences from bands like The Beatles, Small faces, Dave Clark 5 and Keith Moffat from Cape Town also enjoy playing Rock music. During the rehearsal stage they landed a gig at the "Stables nite Club" in Church Street Cape Town which gave them a venue to hone and perfect their craft. The venue was usually packed to capacity to hear the band. At this time the band decided to record their music and in August 1966 met Ian Martin (recording engineer) and Lindsay du Plessis (owner) of A.V.S studios Bree Street CT. It was at this time that a name change was much needed. During a studio break the four got together to thrash out names and it was Nol Klinhamer who suggested "The Square Set".
The band combined soul vocals and jazz organ (with the Hammond organ growing in popularity at the time) with rock bass and drums. The Hammond sound can be heard on most of The Square Set songs.
The previously unreleased 'Silence Is Golden' had a makeover with Graham Beggs at the helm and was released on Gallos Continental label in or about March 1967. It reached number 1 on the Springbok radio charts around July 1967. This led to the release of the band's first full album, 'Silence Is Golden'.
'That's What I Want', a song first recorded by UK group The Marauders in 1963, was also recorded by The Ronnie Singer Sound, a Cape Town band Marks had previously worked with. The latter version was given to The Square Set to record. The song was changed to accommodate the lineup and added to the 'Silence Is Golden' album. This song was later released in South America on the Decca label and rose to number 1 in Brazil, Argentina 1971 and number 1 in Portugal in 1972.
The band went on to record a follow-up album, Loving You is Sweeter than Ever, with the original members, but then the band took a break. Nol Klinkhamer went to study jazz at Berklee college of music in California, after which Nol Klinkhamer and Neville Whitmill were joined by Johnny Boshoff and Tony Moore on Bass and drums to record Those Many Feelings in 1972, an album influenced by contemporary jazz rock musicians like Michael Colombier.
Members
- Nol Klinkhamer, Dutch born Jazz piano/organ, left October 1968, rejoined 1972
- Neville Whitmill, Cape Town born lead vocals, left October 1968, rejoined 1972
- Keith Moffat, Born Port Elizabeth drums on first album
- Derek Marks, bass on first two albums, Carol Carina. Left October 1968
- Mercia Love, vocals, joined November 1967
- Don Robertson, drums, left September 1967, ex Gene Rockwell and the Falcons
- Malcolm Postlethwaite, drums, joined September 1967
- Mike Faure, sax, 1968
- Johnny Boshoff, bass, 1972
- Tony Moore, drums, 1972
Discography
Albums
- Silence Is Golden, Continental ZB 8167, 1967
- Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, Gallotone GALP 1573, 1968
- That's What I Want, Continental/Sony SZB 8221, 1969
- Those Many Feelings, Gallotone SGALP 1657, 1972
Singles
The Square Set
- "Silence Is Golden"/"It's A Man's World", Continental PD 9222, 1967; SA no. 3
- "Carol Corina"/"U", Continental PD 9284, 1967
- "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"/"Georgia (On My Mind)", Continental PD 9348, 1968
- "That's What I Want"/"Come On", Jazzville SL.5, 1968
Neville Whitmill
- "Have Mercy On Me"/"Get Me Some Help", Continental PD 9773, 1971; SA no. 2
- "That's Why"/"Gone Those Days", Continental PD 9796, 1971
- "Silence Is Golden"/"One More Tear, One More Heartache", Continental 9982, 1974
Nol Klinkhamer
- "The In Crowd / Critics Choice", Smanje Manje SJM 12, 1967
Some pressings of SQUARE SET 45's/ singles: (there may be more who knows)
SOUTH AFRICAN pressings: 1. Carol Corina/U – Pic Sleeve, Continental label (black label) 2. Carol Corina/U – Pic Sleeve, Continental label (blue label) 3. Silence is Golden/It's a Man's World – Pic Sleeve, Continental label (Blue Label – Triangle center piece) 4. Silence is Golden/ It's a Man's World, Continental label (Red Label) 5. Silence is Golden/ It's a Man's World, Continental label (Red Label – Triangle center piece) 6. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever/Georgia, Pic Sleeve, Continental label 7. That's What I Want/ Come On, Jazzville label 8. That's What I Want/Gone Those Days, Gallo label 9. Silence is Golden, with Neville Whitmill, Gallo label 10. Have Mercy on Me / Nevill Whitmill - Get Me Some Help, Gallo Label
BRAZILIAN pressings: 1. Esto Es Lo Que Quiero track featured on 4 track EP also featuring tracks by Chicory Tip, Sidney Elliot & Redbone Pic Sleeve, CBS label 2. That's Why/Gone Those Days, RBR label 3. That's What I Want/Come On, Epic label (33rpm single)
ARGENTINA pressing: 1. Es Por Eso/Esto Es Lo Que Quiero, CBS label
ANGOLAN pressings: 1. California Dreaming/I Knew I'd Want You, Pic Sleeve, N’Gola label 2. Hi Lili Hi Ho/ Message Understood, Pic Sleeve, N’Gola label
PORTUGUESE pressing: 1. California Dreaming/ I Knew I'd Want You/ Message Understood/ Hi Lili Hi Ho, Pic Sleeve EP, Roda label 2. That's What I Want / Come On Pic Sleeve Roda label RS 501
A big heads up and thanks to Marq Vas for the above information