Barry Class is an entrepreneur, former music store chain owner, band manager, record label founder, musical director, producer and recording studio owner. His greatest success as a manager was with the soul group The Foundations. He also managed the group The World of Oz, Swegas and others.
Background Barry Class has been credited with the discovery of The Foundations.AllMusic - The Foundations, The Foundations Biography by Bruce EderThe Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Edited by Colin Larkin, 27 May 2011 - - 1213 The Foundations However, there are sources that say it was Ron Fairway, manager of The Ways and Means who discovered them.The Strange Brew - The Ways and MeansIt's Psychedelic Baby Magazine, July 22, 2011 - Pluto interview with Paul Gardner & Alan Warner
Prior to venturing into band management, he ran the Disci chain of record stores.British Record Shop Archive - Disci Records He purchased his first store in 1962.Disc & Music Echo, April 27, 1968 - Page 19 Bob Farmer's Gossip, FOUNDATIONS There were eleven stores. The locations included, 100 Westbourne Grove W2 5RU Bayswater, London, 23 Watford Way NW4 3JH Hendon, London, 84 The Broadway UB1 1QD Southall, London, 90 Bletchley Road, Bletchley Bletchley, Buckinghamshire and 36 High Street, Rugby CV21 3BW Rugby, Warwickshire.Billboard, April 26, 1969 - Page 43 The Men Behind The Foundations, Barry Class In addition to Disci, his Class group of companies included Trend Records, Class Destination Inc., Class Management, and Class Theatrical Agency.Billboard, July 6, 1968 - Page 54 International News Reports, All- Purpose Service for Acts Touring U.S. Is Given Name In later years he ran a recording studio.Music Connection, Vol. XVII, No. 3 2/1 to 2/14/93 - Page 6 CLOSE-UP, Hollywood Boulevard Studios By Karen Orsi
Personal life Barry Class' wife is Sylvia Class.Billboard, April 26, 1969 - Page 41 Foundations' News Reports, Foundations Embark On U. S. Tour No. 2 They had a daughter Tania born around 1962 and another daughter Gail born in 1968.
Career 1960s According to the 26 April 1969 issue of Billboard, Barry Class had been hearing music daily through his record stores. Below his office was a coffee shop which had The Foundations playing. They were renting the premises from him. It's possible that the group that Class heard was The Ramong Sound which was fronted by Raymond Morrison. In August 2023, Alan Warner was interviewed by Jack Hodgins of the Australian radio station, 2NUR FM. The interview appears to suggest that Raymond Morrison was still in the group when Ron Fairway approached them.2NUR FM103.7, Wednesday 23 August 2023 - Vinyl Vibes by Jack Hodgins - Alan Warner - Original Guitarist of the Foundations 15:50 - 17:00 The February 4, 1967, issue of Melody Maker shows that the group (misspelt as The Ramog Sound) had a booking at the All-Star Club at 9a Artillery Passage, London E1 on Sunday, February 5, 1967.Melody Maker, February 4, 1967 - Page 13 CLUBS, THE NEW ALL-STAR CLUB The Ramong Sound evolved into The Foundations.Noise 11, March 28, 2017 - R.I.P. Clem Curtis of The Foundations 1940-2017 by ROGER WINK, VVN MUSIC
Prior to getting to know and manage The Foundations, he wasn't involved in that aspect of the music business. His association with the group paid off when they had the hit "Baby, Now That I've Found You" with Clem Curtis on lead vocals.Billboard, April 26, 1969 - Page 60 Barry Class * Continued from page 43The Sydney Morning Herald, March 31, 2017 Clem Curtis, original singer with the Foundations
According to Foundations guitarist Alan Warner, Rod Stewart's girlfriend, Dee Harrington, had ended up being secretary for The Foundations' management (Class) in the 1960s.Alice Randall RadioShows channel, 4 February 2022 - Alan Warner original guitarist of The Foundations interview by Alice Randall 9:00Mixcloud - The3decadesshow - Alan Warner radio feature part 2
Following the success of "Baby, Now That I've Found You" there was what rock historian Roger Dopson referred to as a behind the scenes struggle. Ron Fairway was "pushed out" and his partner, Class, remained as sole manager of the group.The Foundations, Baby Now That I've Found You Sequel Records CD NEECD 300, liner notes by Roger Dopson Fairway later attempted to sue the band, with the allegation that he was wrongfully dismissed as the group's co-manager. The band said that he had resigned of his own accord. The December 2 issue of New Musical Express wrote that it was likely to be several months before the case would be heard.New Musical Express, December 2, 1967 - Page 10 FOUNDATIONS SUED According to the 8 November issue of Melody Maker, Class said that it was a friction of personalities which had been going on for about four months.Melody Maker, 18 November 1967 - Page 1 Foundations rocked by management split
By 23 December 1967, four bands under Class Management Ltd. were The Foundations, The Ways and Means, The Ranglers and Don Drake.Melody Maker, December 23, 1967 - Page 21 Class Management Ltd. ad
Class launched his Trend label in February 1968 and had entered into a deal with Associated Records. The promotional side of the business was handled by Richard Eddy who was employed by Trend and Andrew Vere of Saga Records. All of the acts that had been signed to his company Barry Class Management would have their recordings issued on the label. However, The Foundations who he managed would not have their recordings issued on the label. Prior to the February launch, Class was speculating on issuing budget records.Billboard, January 20, 1968 - Page 40 International News Reports, Barry Class Starts Label He was pictured in the January 17, 1968, issue of Record Retailer with Saga Records executives, John Britten and Les Cook.Record Retailer, January 17, 1968 (45Cat) - Trend Single Switch He had also recruited Foundations trombonist Eric Allandale to come on board as a producer.Beat Instrumental, February, 1968 - Page 24 INSTRUMENTAL NEWS, BARRY CLASS STARTS TREND RECORD LABEL Curtis Clements (Clem Curtis) was also employed as an assistant.Billboard Buyers Guide, 9TH ANNUAL EDITION, August 31, 1968 - Page 31 Trend, Classic House, 113 Westbourne Grove, London
Class had somehow arranged for Ron Fairway's group, the Ways and Means to record for his label. It was reported by The New Musical Express in the 30 March issue that Class had been in New York that week, setting up a tour for The Foundations that was to commence on the second week of May. While there he was setting up a distribution deal for The Ways and Means for their Trend label debut, "Breaking Up a Dream".New Musical Express, March 30, 1968 - AMERICA CALLING * The Foundations
Class became the manager for The World of Oz and they had been signed to Sparta Florida Music since February 13. 1968.Marmalade Skies - World of Oz, Tell us about the beginning? With The World of Oz now in Class' stable, he and Decca Records held a party for the group and the launch of their new single at the Mayfair Bistro Club. As reported in the 18 May 1968 issue of Cash Box, in attendance were people in the music industry and celebrities.Cash Box, May 18, 1968 - Page 72 Cash Box Great Britain Sadly for the World of Oz, Barry Class went to the United States with The Foundations and left Michael Levi in charge of the group. The first thing Levi did was cut the publicity budget for the World of Oz. And as a result, the group missed out on getting on the Top of the Pops.Marmalade Skies - World of Oz, How was it recording for Deram? (I've always been fascinated by that label!)
It was reported in the 6 July 1968 issue of Billboard that he had just six record shops at the time and was concentrating less on them and more on the aspects management and recording. He was also in negotiations for the set-up of office sites in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney and the U.S. West Coast. He had also set up a company, Class Destination Inc. which was an all-purpose service for overseas acts who were touring in the United States. In New York, Jim Gibbons of Town & Country Travel was named as the man who would handle travel arrangement and equipment hire. Janis Murray of Rogers & Cowan was in charge of publicity and was to run the New York branch of Class Overlord Publicity Billboard, July 6, 1968 - Page 54 International News Reports, All- Purpose Service for Acts Touring U.S. Is Given Name
The September 14, 1968, issue of Melody Maker wrote that Clem Curtis was leaving The Foundations. Warren Davis of the Warren Davis Monday Band was trying out for the role. Curtis said he would not leave the band until they found a replacement.Melody Maker, 14 September 1968 - Page 4 Clem finally Quits The successful replacement turned out to be Colin Young. He joined the group in late September / early October. He had been rehearsing with them for the week of October 5 and was ready to make his debut on Friday October 4 at Aberdeen University.Time and Date - Calendar for Year 1968 (United Kingdom)Melody Maker, October 5, 1968 - JOEY REPLACES CURTIS
Class produced the Macaulay, McLeod composition "Marie Take a Chance" which was recorded by Clem Curtis. The song was also arranged by Des Champ. It got a fairly good review by Derek Johnson in New Musical Express.45Cat - Clem Curtis - Discography, UK, Marie Take A ChanceNew Musical Express, January 18, 1969 - Page 6 TOP SINGLES REVIEWED BY DEREK JOHNSON, CLEM CURTIS: Marie Take a Chance (United Artists). Stu Ginsberg of GO YMCA also gave it a good review.GO YMCA, Number 150 January 31. 1969 - Page 8 Stu Ginsburg reviews the NEW singles..., MARIE TAKE A CHANCE (UA) Clem Curtis With reviews by Record World and Cash Box, the song appeared to have good potential,Record World, April 19, 1969 - Page 8 record world FOUR STAR PICKS, CLEM CURTIS-Imperial 66374Cash Box, April 19, 1969 - Page 22 Cash Box Record Reviews, Newcomer Picks, CLEM CURTIS (Imperial 66374) and it did get airplay in the US.Record World, April 26, 1969 - Page 108 Money Music (Continued from page 107), Clem Curtis on Imperial "Marie Take A Chance," KIMN, WAKY, KCPX. It was also recorded and released as a single by Almond Marzipan (Trend TNT 55) and Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours on their self-titled album.Marmalade Skies - 1970 July Singlesmbc1955, October 29, 2017 - The Infinite Jukebox: Almond Marzipan’s ‘Marie Take a Chance’Amazon - Album, The Flying Machine
By July 1969, Class had negotiated a new contract for The Foundations with their label Pye. This in turn gave the group more control over their material.Billboard, 5 July 1969 – page 74 International News Reports, From The Music Capitals of the World, London
The 5 July 1969 issue of Disc & Music Echo reported that Class was offering top name acts a share in the chain of his record stores. In return he was to get a percentage of their royalties. There was also a guarantee that his shops would order the group's releases in larger quantities which would guarantee a continuous supply to the fans. There had been a recent abolition of price fixing on records (retail price management aka RPM). The first group that was to consider this offer was The Foundations. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich were also considering the offer. With the RPM restrictions out of the way, Class reduced the Foundations' album, Digging the Foundations to cost-price of 30s, and two shops in London were said to have been cleared of 600 in a day.Disc & Music Echo, July 5, 1969 - Page 6 Ivesting in the Foundations