The Ferris Wheel
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1966-69) - Jim Cregan -- guitar, bass - Diane Ferraz -- vocals - Keith Field (aka Keith Anthony) -- vocals, guitar - Barry Reeves (RIP 2010) -- drums, percussion - David Sweatnam (aka David Ford) -- sax - George Sweatnam (aka George Ford) (RIP 2007) -- bass
line up 2 (1969) - Jim Cregan -- guitar, bass NEW - Marsha Hunt -- vocals (replaced Diane Ferraz) - Keith Field (aka Keith Anthony) -- vocals, guitar - Barry Reeves (RIP 2010) -- drums, percussion - David Sweatnam (aka David Ford) -- sax - George Sweatnam (aka George Ford) (RIP 2007) -- bass
line up 3 (1969) - Jim Cregan -- guitar, bass NEW - Terry Edward -- lead guitar (replaced Keith Field) - Marsha Hunt -- vocals (replaced Diane Ferraz) - Barry Reeves (RIP 2010) -- drums, percussion - David Sweatnam (aka David Ford) -- sax - George Sweatnam (aka George Ford) (RIP 2007) -- bass
line up 4 (1970-72) NEW - Dennis Elliott -- drums, percussion (replaced Barry Reeves) NEW - Linda Lewis (aka Linda Ann Fredericks (RIP 2023) -- vocals, gong (replaced Marsha Hunt) NEW - Michael Snow (aka Mike Liston) -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion (replaced Jim Cregan) - David Sweatnam (aka David Ford) -- vocals, flute, sax - George Sweatnam (aka George Ford) (RIP 2007) -- vocals, bass
supporting musicians: (1970) - Terry Edmunds -- guitar
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- Brian Auger and the Trinity (Barry Reeves) - Geodave Baralnek (Barry Reeves) - Barry And The Giant (Barry Reeves) - Mike Batt And Friends (Jim Cregan) - Blossom Toes (Jim Cregan and Barry Reeves) - The Blue Aces (Michael Snow) - The Checkmates (Barry Reeves, Michael Snow, David Sweatnam and George Sweatnam) - Julien Covey & The Machine (Jim Cregan) - Cregan & Co. (Jim Cregan) - Electricity All Stars (Linda Lewis) - Family (Jim Cregan) - Farm Dogs (Jim Cregan) - Diane Ferraz and Nicky Scott (Jim Cregan) - Diane Ferraz and Simon's Triangle - Keith Field (solo efforts) - Emile Ford and the Checkmates (David Swetnam and George Sweatnam) - Foreigner (Dennis Elliott) - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (Jim Cregan) - Marcia Hunt (solo efforts) - Ian Hunter (Dennis Elliott) - If (Dennis Elliott) - James Last Orchestra(Barry Reeves) - Linda Lewis (solo efforts) - The Lewis Sisters (Linda Lewis) - Medicine Head (George Sweatnam) - Maria Morgan and Keith Field - The Muldoons (Jim Cregan) - Orchester James Last (Barry Reeves) - Megaton (Barry Reeves) - Rockin' Horse (Michael Snow) - Michael Snow (solo efforts) - The Rod Stewart Group (Jim Cregan) - Stud (Jim Cregan) - West Five (Michael Snow) - Johnny Whitehouse and the Congressmen (Barry Reeves)
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Genre: pop Rating: ** (2 stars) Title: Ferris Wheel Company: Uni Catalog: 73093 Country/State: London, England Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $40.00
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The Ferris Wheel always struck me as an odd band to be associated with Uni Records. But after I listened to their second album a couple of times I think I figured it out. As a child of the '70s, the album reminded me of one of those "hip" bands that would show up on daytime talk shows like The Merv Griffin Show, or a Saturday night variety show like The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Sporting long hair, hippy clothes and "happening" sounds, the results were actually very mainstream and middle of the road - rock and roll that would not have frightened parents and grandparents. That's the perfect description for this album.
Released
three years after their debut LP, 1970's "Ferris Wheel"
found the band having undergone a series of line-up changes. Gone were
original drummer
Barry Reeves replaced by Dennis Elliott, singer Diane Ferraz replaced by
Linda Lewis and keyboardist Jim Cregan replaced by Michael Snow (aka Mike
Liston). Continuing their
partnership with producer Ian Samwell-Smith "Fer
Hardcore fans will want to buy both the UK and US releases as they sport slightly different track listings. The UK release opened up with "Can't Stop Now" which was released as a single. The US version dropped the the song in favor of "Keeper of the Keys" and tacked on an additional tune - "Diamonds Rely On". Hard to understand the marketing logic since the Lewis lead "Can't Stop Now" was easily one of the group's most commercial recordings.
- 1970's "Can't Stop Now" b/w "I Know You Well" (Pye catalog number 56366)
I have no idea why anyone would, but if for some reason you have a fascination with this band's live touring history the fabulous GarageHangover website has an astound and mind numbingly thorough list of their 1967-69 era live performances: https://garagehangover.com/ferris-wheels-gigs-1967-1969/
"Ferris
Wheel" track listing: 1.) Keeper of the Keys (Michael Snow) - 2:50 rating **** stars Michael Snow's voice reminded me of Dylan suffering from a killer head cold. The good news was "Keeper of the Keys" had a great melody with David Sweetnam's tenor sax providing an interesting jazzy edge. The song did not appear on the original UK pressing, replacing "Can't Stop Now". 2.) Ivory Tower (Michael Snow) - 3:05 rating: ** stars Showcasing Linda Lewis' sharp voice "Ivory Tower" was a heavily orchestrated, Baroque-flavored ballad. Pass. 3.) Child of the City (Michael Snow) - 3:20 rating: ** stars With Michael Snow on lead vocals, "Child of the City" was a pretty acoustic ballad with some "topical" lyrics. The lyrics drawing comparison between the plight of a street walker and an airline clerk were definitely bizarre. Wonder how long it took to rhyme "union hours" and "battered flower" ... 4.) Song for Alice (Linda Lewis) - 2:54 rating: ** stars "Song for Alice" found Lewis trotting out an irritating "little girl" vocal. Musically the song bounced between Broadway styled ballad, weird jazzy flavor and lounge act pop. 5.) Movie Queen (Michael Snow) - 3:12 rating: ** stars Powered by Snow's bouncy music hall, keyboard propelled melody, "Movie Queen" was side one's most commercial tune. 6.) The Tightrope Walker (And His Daughter) (Michael Snow) - 3:37 rating: ** stars Given the song title it shouldn't have come as a surprise to learn "The Tightrope Walker (And His Daughter)" reflected a weird mash-up of Broadway and English music hall. With Lewis supported by an English colliery-styled brass band I have to day the song didn't do much for me.
(side
2) In spite of some Minnie Ripperton squeals, "I Know You Well" was Lewis' most attractive performance, The track mixed a Motown flavor with a more pop-oriented melody. The result was the US variant of the album's most commercial release and should have been considered as a single. The song also appeared as the "B" side of their UK "Can't Stop Now"" single. 2.) Where Lily's Gone (Michael Snow) - 4:14 rating: ** stars The ballad "Where Lily's Gone" found the band returning to a heavily orchestrated "Eleanore Rigby" styled slice of of social commentary. Credit, or blame Jimi Horowitz for the orchestration. Not sure if whether Snow, or one of the Sweetnam's handled the lead vocal, but he sounded like he was choking on a ball of phlegm. 3.) Little Indians (Linda Lewis) - 2:52 rating: *** stars With a mixture of native Indian and Japanese inspired melody and vibe, today "Little Indians" would incur PC concerns from the label. Nevertheless, it was a pretty song with another nice Lewis vocal.. 4.) Sunday Times (Michael Snow) - 3:04 rating: *** stars With Snow pulling out his best nasally Dylan-esque voice, "Sunday Time" started out with a nice rock flavor before detouring into a less attractive mid-section. And yes, it was apparently written about the newspaper. 5.) The Ugly Duckling (from Hans Chrisian Andersen) (Frank Loesser) - 6:45 rating: ** stars Opening up with some wild Snow organ, you'll be hard pressed to recognize this Vanilla Fudge styled blues-rocker as the same tune Danny Kaye and Gordon Jenkins and His Chorus and Orchestra enjoyed a hit with back in the early-'50s. Snow handled vocals on the first half of the song, Lewis took over the second half giving the tune a smoother, pop-ballad feel. That really didn't do anything to salvage the mess. 6.) Diamonds Rely On (Michael Snow) - 4:00 rating: ** stars Throaway bossa nova influenced ballad. More cowbell ...
© Scott R. Blackerby March 2026
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BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
ris
Wheel" was recorded at London's Trident Studios. With
Snow and Lewis handing writing chores, the album featured
a largely original collection of material. Unlike their debut which featured
a fairly conventional collection
of pop and soul, the sophomore release offered up an odd mix of pop, ballads
and what sounded like a mash-up of Broadway and English music hall tinged
material. The group featured three singers though none struck me
as particularly impressive. Lewis' vocals suffered from sharp delivery
("Ivory Tower") irritating "little girl"
bleating ("Song for Alice") and over-the-top Broadway moves
("The Tightrope Walker (And His Daughter)").
Snow and David Sweetnam were largely anonymous, though Snow's performance on
the weird, Dylan-esque opener "Keeper of the Keys" was easily the
album's standout track. I've listened to the album numerous times and
there's something quirky and very English about it. That's not
necessarily a bad thing; it just didn't do much for me. As far as I
can tell neither the English or American labels did much promotion, let
alone released a single. Within a year the group was history with the
members going on to an array of other bands.