Merton Parkas

The Merton Parkas were an English mod revival band, formed in the Merton area of South London in the mid-1970s, by Danny Talbot (vocals and guitar), his brother, Mick Talbot (keyboards), Neil Hurrell (bass) and Simon Smith (drums).
The group was discovered playing in a pub in Clapham, South London, by Alan Anger, a punk journalist, and signed with the independent record label, Beggars Banquet. They originally called themselves "The Sneekers", and were one of a group of power pop bands that included The Pleasers. The Merton Parkas released a few moderately successful singles, such as: "You Need Wheels", "Plastic Smile", "Give it to Me Now" and "Put Me in the Picture". They also released one album, Face in the Crowd. Rick Buckler of The Jam played with the band at Ronnie Scotts, and Mick Talbot played on "Heatwave", a track on The Jam's 1979 album Setting Sons.
The Merton Parkas also appeared at the Bridge House, Canning Town, but due to contractual disputes between record labels, did not feature on the 1979 album, Mods Mayday. The band's most notable track was "You Need Wheels", which reached No. 40 in the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1979. As this was their only success in that chart, they are regarded as one-hit wonders in the UK.
After The Merton Parkas disbanded in 1980, Mick Talbot went on to play with Dexys Midnight Runners, The Bureau, and The Style Council. Simon Smith joined the psychedelic revival band, Mood Six. Danny Talbot became a chemistry teacher and worked at Clapham College School for Boys.
==Links to Peel==
Peel seemed to have first played Merton Parkas on his radio programmes in the summer of 1979. The track entered the UK top 40 singles chart and the band appeared on Top Of The Pops. Further tracks from the group were played on his radio programmes including a session they recorded for his show in August 1979. 
==Sessions==
thumb|220x220px
1. Recorded: 1979-08-13. First Broadcast: 20 August 1979. Repeated: 12 September 1979, 27 December 1979
*A Face In The Crowd / Plastic Smile / Empty Room / You Need Wheels
==Other Shows Played==
;1979
*28 June 1979: I Don't Want To Know You (b-side 'You Need Wheels' 7") Beggars Banquet (JP: "The only reason I played that of course is 'cos I thought it said Liverpool in it. It actually said 'look a fool', which makes me look a fool.")
*03 July 1979: You Need Wheels (7") Beggars Banquet
*14 July 1979 (BFBS): You Need Wheels (7") Beggars Banquet  
*18 July 1979: You Need Wheels (single) Beggars Banquet
*16 August 1979: You Need Wheels (single) Beggars Banquet
*18 September 1979: Plastic Smile (7") Beggars Banquet
*10 October 1979: Face In The Crowd (LP – Face In The Crowd) Beggars Banquet
*16 October 1979: You Should Be So Lucky (LP – Plastic Smile) Beggars Banquet
*24 October 1979: unknown 
*25 October 1979: Hard Times (album - Face In The Crowd) Beggars Banquet
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists