Mike Hurst & The Method

Mike Longhurst-Pickworth aka “Mike Hurst”, born in 1943, joined The Springfields in February 1962, as a replacement for Tim Field on guitar and vocals. Meanwhile Dusty Springfield began a successful solo singing career with “I Only Wanna Be With You”, he released his first single “The Banjo Song”/“Any Chance For Me” on Philips Records in November 1963, some weeks after The Springfields played their farewell show at the London Palladium.
Mike Hurst recruited guitar player Jimmy Page, bass player Ray Styles and keyboardist Tony Ashton, both from The John Barry Seven, to become his backing group,The Method, in early 1964. He toured with this 'country rock' band alongwith Gene Pitney who offered him a number of his, “Carol Anne” that became their second release. That was the only one cover they recorded. The other songs, in the beat and folk mould, were all written by Hurst.
Albert Lee brietly took over Jimmy Page to be himself replaced by Ray Smith when he went on to join Chris Farlowe. In Summer 1964, Ashton left to join The Remo Four while Smith and drummer Nigel Menday joined Tony Colton & The Crawdaddies. Mike Hurst then became the host of “Teenscene”, the first teenage radio chat show on BBC Light Programme,interviewing all the stars of the swinging 60’s from top models to the first ever live interview in the UK with Bob Dylan.
Hurst went on to become a well-known producer/songwriter: working with Manfred Mann, Marc Bolan Cat Stevens Spencer Davies, the Four Top Showaddywaddy and Shakin’ Stevens among others.
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Mike Hurst
“I recorded as a solo artist for Philips Records for two years. I also formed my own group The Methods with Jimmy Page, then Albert Lee on guitar and Tony Ashton on keyboards. We were playing country rock”

Albert Lee
… for some strange reason I quit Neil and went back to Germany to play in Mike Warner's band again, which turned out to be a foolish move - he dumped us and it took me ages to scrape up my fare home. Then I was hanging around town again until I got a gig with Mike Hurst [replacing Jimmy Page] and went on a package tour with Gene Pitney and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas."



Discography

Singles:
1. The Banjo Song/Any Chance For Me (Philips BF 1295) 11/1963
2. Carol Anne/Anytime That You Want Me (Philips BF 1319) 04/1964
3. Half Heaven Half Heartache/Look In Your Eyes (Philips BF 1353) 06/1964
4. Last Time You'll Walk Out On Me/Something Told Me (Philips BF 1389) 1965
5. Show Me Around/I'm Running Away (Philips BF 1424) 1965


Line-ups

Mike Hurst & The Method #1 (January 1964)

· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· ?? ?? (Drums)


Mike Hurst & The Method #2 (February - May 1964)

· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Albert Lee (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· Nigel Menday (Drums)


Mike Hurst & The Method #3 (May - Summer 1964)

· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Ray Smith (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· Nigel Menday (Drums)