Ramblings

Julie, Debbie C, Lizzie, Debbie L and Marcia

An anonymous but very thoughtful person (later identified as Andrew Humphrey) advised me in the comments on my (first) Mint Juleps blog piece that the marvellous a capella singing group were due to perform together again on 20th February (2025). Apart from some private performances by the Charles sisters, as far as I know this was their first gig since the early 1990s. It was a free but ticketed event called Cockney Revels, hosted by Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, the closing night party for the Cockney Rebels (see what they did there?) exhibition, celebrating the borough’s musical heritage from music hall to grime.

My initial excitement gave way to despair when I checked the calendar. We were hosting four guests that evening, all of us due to depart on holiday very early the following morning. I couldn’t go.

Perhaps they were planning some other gigs? Unfortunately not, I was informed by Debbie C – this was strictly a one off. Five of the six Mint Juleps – the Charles sisters Marcia, Lizzie and Debbie (sadly, Sandra couldn’t make it) and their schoolfriends Debbie Longworth and Julie Isaac would be performing a twenty minute set. A precious treat. And I couldn’t go.

But…I couldn’t not go. I’d been hoping and waiting for this for over thirty years. I would always regret missing it. I began a round of grovelling apologies for my absence. My guests reassured me that they would be getting quite enough Rik content over the following week, not to worry. So no sooner had my guests arrived than I bade them farewell and began my trek across London. The Library was buzzing when I arrived.

There was a pop quiz based on the exhibition, hosted by quizmaster Alan Gilbey giving out spot prizes to the first people to identify records he played with a local connection.

And there were interesting interviews with three important figures from the local music scene, conducted by broadcaster and London cultural historian Alan Dein. First was David Shoben who took over from his father the legendary Paul for Music record shop on Cambridge Heath Road, which operated from 1954-2005, followed by community worker and music journalist Nick Friday, and Ansar Ahmed Ullah of Joi Bangla Banned. Also free wine and snacks!

Time for the main attraction, the Mint Juleps, starting with an interview with Debbies C and L. They told the story of how they virtually fell into performing, from volunteering at the Half Moon Theatre in Whitechapel (now, alas, a Wetherspoons pub) to appearing in a show called Yakety Yak, to being invited to perform at pubs and clubs. They started just singing melody together: the harmonies came later. They were untrained, instinctive singers, and they all took turns at the lead, because no-one wanted the job full time. Indeed, of the group only Julie Isaac had harboured any ambition to be a professional singer. Their performances were fresh, joyful and spontaneous – all outstanding singers, not a weak link.

Why did they choose a capella? “We had to”, said Debbie L, “none of us played any instruments.” Debbie C listed a wide range of influences: classic R&B, pop, soul, gospel…The interviewer noted proudly that all six of the group still lived in Tower Hamlets. “That’s because we never made any money” quipped Debbie L.

When asked about the transition from live performance to studio recordings, Debbie C expressed her frustration at some of the choices made on their behalf by their second record company and their producer Trevor Horn: indeed, apart from their 1985 live album on Stiff Records, One Time, their recordings never fully captured their stage magic.

What would they be singing tonight? In Sandra’s absence, some songs were ruled out – where she was lead, of course, and also where her harmonies could not be replaced. “We’re going to sing what we’re going to sing” said Debbie L, “and if we can’t sing it we’ll stop and sing something else.”

If this was an attempt to lower our expectations it didn’t work on me. Soon the five were on stage. They looked great, and you could feel the love in the room before they had sung a note. Five seconds in, it was obvious that they had lost none of their magic: the voices as beautiful and strong as ever, the harmonies as enchanting, and the sheer joy of their music completely intact. Debbie C took the time to clarify the title of one of the songs they had sung: “It’s One. Bad. Stud. One. Bad. Stud.”

In the event their performance ran to about half an hour, and was received rapturously. Evidently many people in the audience had also been waiting a long time for this. As had, no doubt, many of their fans across the world who weren’t lucky enough to be there. So here is some video.

Set list

(a click will take you to the YouTube video)

• Rhythm and Blues (Julie sings lead)
• Loves Me Like a Rock (Debbie L)
• Move in Closer (Lizzie)
• Drip Drop (Debbie C)
• One Bad Stud (Julie)
• (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Debbie C)
• I Heard it through the Grapevine (Julie)
• Jesus Gave Me Water (Debbie C)

“Fingers crossed we can still do it” Debbie C had commented before the gig. Oh yes, you sure can. You only had to look at the broad smiles everyone wore coming out of the gig to know that. We were transported back to 1985. We can only hope that this triumphant performance gives the Mint Juleps an appetite for more gigs. We’ll be there.

(Thanks, as always, to the wonderful Debbie E)

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Post script 3rd December 2025. R. I. P. Sandra Charles.