In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Alan Warner, original guitarist and founding member of The Foundations. In 1966 Alan put an ad in a music magazine looking to play in a reggae/soul group. He found a group called ''The Ramongs''. At the time, the group had two lead singers, Ramong Morrison and Clem Curtis. After Ramong Morrison left the group, the band needed a name change. Alan was the one who came up with the idea to call the band The Foundations. The band's first single, "Baby, Now That I've Found You", would be a number-one hit in the UK, but it is the group's 1968 hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" that they are best remembered today for. After three top ten hits in the UK, The Foundations would break up in 1971. 

Alan would remain in music and play in various bands, such as Pluto, in the following decades. Today he tours as The Foundations Featuring Alan Warner.

Jack Zoomed Alan to discuss his early musical influences, his time in bands such as The Skeletones and The Trekkers, how he came to join The Ramongs in 1966, how he came up with the name The Foundations, how the band came to record music, the recording of their number one hit "Baby, Now That I've Found You", recording techniques of the '60s, the success the band had after "Baby, Now That I've Found You", playing on Top of The Pops, the band's US tour in 1968, how "Build Me Up, Buttercup" came to be, and Alan's work today as The Foundations Featuring Alan Warner.

"Apparently David Essex turned (Build Me Up Buttercup) down because David Essex was a bit more of a rock type of singer . . . so the song was offered to us. He (Tony Macaulay) started playing it, we thought 'oh that's great!' but I turned around and said, 'Trouble is, it's got baby in it again' - build me up - butter cup - Baby - every song we done has got baby in it' - Alan Warner on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about being presented with Build Me Up Buttercup for the first time

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins