I remember watching this show when it first hit the TV screen in 1976 with a bit of lusting in mind particular for Anna. ‘Rock Follies’ was a really biting satire for its time starring Dee (Julie Covington), Anna (Charlotte Cornwall), and Q (Rula Lenska).
Wallowing in the nostalgia of TV, and my youth I decided to seek out the series on YouTube. The girls met at an audition for a 1930s musical called Broadway Annie and after being unsuccessful formed a band. There were two series, the first was my favourite where we see how ruthless the world of the music business can be with all its ups and downs. The show was produced on a shoestring and watching a few episodes, you could see not much money was in the sets etc. Dee and Anna were the only two who could actually sing according to the script with Q as the eye candy looking fantastic.
The three girls become The Little Ladies, dreaming of gigging at Wembley as the greatest female rock group in the world. In search of stardom, they tour pubs, bingo halls, discos and clubs and they meet Stavros Kuklas, a Greek millionaire who has decided to diversify from shipping into rock ‘n’ roll.
Stavros doesn’t like their style, their look, their clothes, their songs, or their arrangements – but he does like their raw material. He has big plans, big ideas and an image change for the girls, which results in them becoming a sensation at ‘Idols’ nightclub. Rock Follies won the BAFTA Best Drama Series award in 1976.
In the second series, the dynamic and splendidly outrageous American Kitty Schreiber (Beth Porter) now manages the group in Follies of ’77. During the series, a Welsh singer, Rox, joins the group making them a quartet.
They hit the recording studio, where their newfound success becomes a reality along with the drugs, sex and high life, with their success begins to create tensions. They tour which is critically acclaimed in the media and by the fans there is talk of a Wembley gig which was always a goal for the band “if you play Wembley you have made it” but the cracks widen and the possible Wembley performance slips through their hands. When Anna discovers that her voice had been re-recorded behind her back by Dee, she leaves the band.
Q realizes that her vocals are far too weak and leaves the band as Dee and Rox plough on and a gain more success leading to a tour of the United States (and an appearance at Madison Square Garden) later in the year. Dee tries to get Anna to re-join the band but she wasn’t interested.
Overall, it was a good series much enjoyed at the time.
The original Rock Follies series aired between February 24th and March 30th, 1976. The Follies of ’77 series aired between May 4th and June 8th, 1977. Two albums of surprisingly good music from the series were released, mostly composed by Andy Mackay of Roxy Music.
There were three singles released: "Glen Miller is Missing", "Sugar Mountain" (both on Island Records in 1976); and "O.K.?" (on Polydor Records in 1977). The latter of these became a hit, reaching No.10 in the UK Charts. In addition, the second album reached No.13.
After Rock Follies Dee (Julie Covington), went on to fame with the single Don’t Cry for Me Argentina which reached 1 in the charts.
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