Tom Thumb

Andrew Schmidt

14 Sep 2013

When it comes to hard, frantic 1960s R&B there are few superior New Zealand recordings than Tom Thumb's notorious ‘Got Love’ and their cover of the 13th Floor Elevators’ ‘You're Gonna Miss Me’.

Even better was their swelling, electric version of Tim Hardin’s ‘If I Were A Carpenter’, a big confident production from the talented Peter Dawkins.

Wellington’s Tom Thumb were lower North Island heavyweights, resident at inner city teen club The Place. They had the stylish, long-haired Rick White from The Relics on rhythm guitar (and later, bass), Irishman Sammy Shaw on drums, Warren Willis on keyboards and Graeme Thompson on guitar.

Howard Gable produced their early singles, including their first release, 'Midnight Snack', the B-side of which was a cover of Otis Redding's 'Respect'. They stepped the power up considerably for their second record, interpreting The Small Faces’ ‘Whatcha Gonna Do About It’ and 13th Floor Elevators’ ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ to fine effect.

The B-side of their third single 'I Need You' ... was banned by the NZBC for containing "unsuitable lyric content".

A cover of an old R&B song written by Slim Harpo, ‘Got Love’ was the B-side of their third single 'I Need You' (written by Thompson and White) for the conservative La Gloria Records, and was banned by the NZBC for containing "unsuitable lyric content".

Recordings for an unreleased album, including versions of ‘Sorry She’s Mine’, ‘Little Girl’, ‘The Hammer Song’, ‘Tired of Trying’ and ‘Naggin’ Woman’ also exist.

A new, rockier Tom Thumb, fronted by Bruce Sontgen from Auckland’s The Layabouts, gathered around Rick White in mid-1968. Guitar ace Mike Farrell and double kick drumming Tom Swainson soon joined them, pricking the ears of a young producer at HMV Records in Wellington. Peter Dawkins did his best to push the group into the country’s top tier, but a string of great sounding covers left them short of a permanent sonic calling card, until their inspired take on ‘If I Were A Carpenter’ in 1969.

By then, they’d been one of the first groups at new Wellington club, Ali Baba’s, alongside The Avengers. Their parting recording, Ludgate Hill (1970), written by Dick Le Fort and Martin Hadlow, was a prog-rock mini-epic and issued on 7-inch EP. Its inspiration was the 1666 Great Fire of London but it failed to sell, thus making original copies amongst the most collectable New Zealand records from the era.

Tom Thumb reunited without Swainson for shows in Wellington in 1996. Mike Farrell died in May 2000, aged 51. Tom Swainson died in October 2016.

Tom Thumb in the HMV studios recording Hey Bulldog, 1969

Photo credit: Rick White collection

Tom Thumb (Rick White, centre), Wellington, June 1967.

Photo credit: Barry Clothier, PAColl-7031-1-59, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Tom Thumb's second lineup: Bruce Sontgen, Mike Farrell, Tom Swainson and Rick White

Witchi Tai To

The second Tom Thumb lineup at The Place, Wellington, 1968- Mike Farrell, Tom Swainson, Bruce Sontgen and Rick White

Photo credit: Rick White collection

Tom Thumb, an early line-up, from left: Warren Willis, Sammy Shaw, Paul Newton, Graeme Thompson, Rick White (in front).

When the First Tear Shows

Tom Thumb Mk.1, from left: Graeme Thompson, Sammy Shaw, Warren Willis, Rick White.

Photo credit: Rick White collection

Rick White, Bruce Sontgen, Mike Farrell, Tom Swainson

Tom Thumb c.1970: Brian Mason, Rick White (rear), Bruce Sontgen (front), Kevin Frewer and Tom Swainson

Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection

Tom Thumb in HMV studios, 1969: Tom Swainson, Bruce Sontgen and Rick White

Photo credit: Rick White collection

The 1970 concept EP Ludgate Hill, now fetching very large prices with collectors

HMV

La Gloria

Sammy Shaw - drums

Graeme Thompson - guitar, vocals

Warren Willis - organ, vocals

Paul Newton - bass

Dave Orams - bass

Dave Chappell - bass, vocals

Mark Trethaway - bass

Rick White - bass, guitar, vocals

Bruce Sontgen - vocals

Mike Farrell - guitar

Tom Swainson - drums

Paul Reid - bass

Noel Koskello - bass

Kevin Frewer - organ

Brian Mason - guitar

Guitarist Mike Farrell played with Midge Marsden during the 1980s and wrote Midge's songs Carry My Blues Away and Burning Rain.

Drummer Tom Swainson joined Quincy Conserve in 1970.

Got Love, the B-side of Tom Thumb's third single I Need You, was banned by the NZBC for containing "unsuitable lyric content".

Jayrem Records issued a compilation of all the band's singles in 1992, plus several unreleased track from the La Gloria era.

'Got Love', 'You're Gonna Miss Me', 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It', and 'I Need You' were re-released in the late 1990s on 7-inch vinyl by Action! Records.

Rick White of Tom Thumb talks to Keith Newman

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Tom Thumb