Formed in Yorkshire as The Zephyrs. Moved to London in mid-1964 where they were renamed as The First Gear by their producer Shel Talmy. When the Beatles broke onto the charts in England in 1963, a lot of bands tried to emulate their mix of hard rocking guitar and harmony vocals. Others likely understood that they would have a better shot at breaking onto the charts with sheer muscle. That was The First Gear's approach, and it went double on "Leave My Kitten Alone." And in case the guitarists Phil Birkenshaw and Raymond Wafer couldn't pull it off, producer Shel Talmy had Jimmy Page standing by to play a break that wiped out the band's beat but must've boggled the mind of anyone who heard the B-side of the band's debut. Dave Walton's lead vocals were good enough, and Ian Colling rose to the occasion at the drums, but it was a flip-side and it didn't get flipped over sufficiently. (Even the Beatles' own version of the song wouldn't get an official release for 35 years). They got one more single out under Talmy's guidance, a cover of Dobie Gray's "The In Crowd," before disappearing.
1965
1964
2005
Universal Music
MD, Comp, Hi-
2024
Grapefruit Records
3xCD, Comp
2021
Grapefruit Records
3xCD, Mono + Box, Comp
2020
60's Garage Rockin' Oldays
2xCD, Comp
2018
Grapefruit Records
3xCD, Comp + Box
2018
Big Beat Records
CD, Comp, Mono
2017
2007
Castle Music
CD, Comp
2007
Sanctuary
CD, Comp, Mono, Promo
2005
Universal Music
MD, Comp, Hi-
2003
2002
Castle Music, Sanctuary
4xCD, Comp + Box
2001
Castle Music
CD, Comp, Mono
2001
Mojo Collections
CD, Comp
2001
2000
Sequel Records
CD, Comp
2000
Fabbri Editori
CD, Comp
2000
Plato.NL Records
CD, Comp, Promo
2000
2000
1999
Rowyna Music
CD, Comp
1997
1992
Sequel Records
CD, Comp
1992
1991
Repertoire Records
CD, Comp
1991
1990
1989
2018
Audrey Records (4)
LP, Comp, Ltd, Unofficial, Ora
2018
2016
Hoochie Coochie (3)
8xCD, Comp, Ltd, Num, Unofficial + Box
2016
2013
Klimt Records
3xLP, Comp, Unofficial + Box
2012
BFD Records
10xLP, Comp, RE, Unofficial + Box, Ltd, Num
2000
Not On Label (Hipsters Self-Released)
Cass, Comp, Ltd, Unofficial, C90
1994
Not On Label (Led Zeppelin)
8xCD, Comp + VHS + Box, Ltd, Unofficial
1992
1989
1980
1979
Eternal Grooves
2xCD, Comp, Unofficial