1) The Escorts were formed by Reginald Haynes in 1968, and originated their smooth vocal sound within the walls of New Jersey's infamous Rahway State Prison. After many failed attempts to allow them to perform on stage, they were finally given the green light. Two years later they were performing on stage at the infamous Rahway State Prison as prison officials, prison guards, visitors and hardcore inmates cheered, stomped, clapped. Little did they know that the late, great Linda Jones (Hypnotized), sister to one of their fellow inmates, was sitting in the audience accompanied by her producer/manager, George Kerr. Kerr, who was a veteran from the stable of Barry Gordy, Jr. and the early motown days, was in his own words" shocked and amazed to find this type of raw, pulsating talent in prison." After the show George Kerr approached Reginald and told him that he thought The Escorts were stupendous. Then he said something that would change Reginald's life forever and earn them both permanent residence in world history. Kerr said "I want to do something that's never been done in the history of the entertainment world. I want to record The Escorts here in Rahway State Prison". Reginald was elated at the prospect of turning professional and so their journey into the entertainment history books began.
The first live concert of The Escorts outside prison walls at Symphony Hall in Newark, NJ on February 17, 1973 created a sensation and two LPs were produced for Alithea Records during this era while some members were still incarcerated: All We Need Is Another Chance, followed by 3 Down 4 To Go. The latter title refers to the fact that three members had been released since the prison's singing group was formed, while the others continue serving their sentences.
2) The Escorts were a Merseybeat band from Liverpool, England. In 1963, they were voted the ninth most popular group in Liverpool by readers of Mersey Beat magazine.
They originally consisted of:
Terry Sylvester - guitar/lead vocals (born Terence Sylvester, 8 January 1946, Liverpool)
John Kinrade - lead guitar/vocals (born 1946)
Mike Gregory - bass guitar/vocals (born Michael Gregory, 7 November 1946, Liverpool)
Pete Clarke - drums (born Peter Gaskell, 1946) replaced by Kenny Goodlass from The Kirkbys; replaced by Pete Clark; replaced by Tommy Kelly of Earl Preston's Realms; replaced by Paul Comerford of The Cryin' Shames.
Sylvester was replaced by Frank Townsend from The Easybeats (1962 - 65) and the Beachwoods, who was later to become a member of Tony Rivers and the Castaways. Paddy Chambers (ex-Faron's Flamingos and The Big Three) subsequently replaced Townsend. Sylvester left to join The Swinging Blue Jeans in 1966, before replacing Graham Nash in The Hollies. He now lives in Florida and travels all over the United States and Canada playing concerts with such as Billy J. Kramer, Peter Noone, Joey Molland and other British Invasion acts. Sylvester also does a one man show.
Paul McCartney played tambourine on their last record "From Head To Toe" in 1966.
Gregory would also leave The Escorts in 1967 to join The Swinging Blue Jeans, and stayed until 1971, whereupon after leaving and doing sessions for a couple of years, he formed a group with Johnny Goodison of the original Brotherhood of Man called Big John's Rock 'n' Roll Circus in 1975. Gregory stayed in 'The Circus' until its demise in 2005, and is now a solo artist.
Kinrade stopped playing after The Escorts split up in 1967, and is now a hairdresser with two salons. Clarke became the in house session drummer for Apple Music. He did sessions for Kiki Dee and Billy Preston and, after a brief stint in Badfinger, is now living in the US
Although they never released a full album, during their short time together, at the instigation of Elvis Costello, Edsel Records released an LP containing all twelve songs from the six singles in 1983. It was released on CD in 1995 as EDCD 422 and entitled From the Blue Angel, as a reference to the club where they began performing in 1962. Costello also released a single which was a cover of The Escorts last recording - "From Head To Toe" / "Night Time".
3) The Escorts - Brisbane pop band from 1967
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
The Escorts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
'cause I've left that girl so many times before.
By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
She'll probably stop at lunch and give me a call
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
She just didn't know I would really go.
The song “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” by The Escorts tells the story of a man leaving his love in Phoenix, Arizona. He knows she won't be happy about his departure, but he also knows she'll come to understand that he's left her many times before. As he travels away from her, he reflects on their relationship, imagining how she'll react when she sees the note he's left for her. He knows she'll probably try to call him, but he won't answer. And as he passes through Oklahoma, his thoughts turn to the pain he's causing her.
The song captures the complicated emotions that come with leaving someone behind. The singer loves his partner, but he knows it's time to move on. He's aware that his decision will cause her pain, yet he can't bring himself to stay. It's a heartbreaking narrative that speaks to the universal experience of relationships—sometimes they're just not meant to last.
One interesting fact about “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is that it was originally written by Jimmy Webb in 1965. The song became a hit when it was covered by Glen Campbell in 1967, and it has since been recorded by many other artists. The Escorts' version of the song was released in 1968.
Another fascinating detail about the song is that it was inspired by Webb's relationship with his former girlfriend, Suzy Horton. Webb had been trying to break up with Horton for months, but she didn't seem to get the message. When he finally left her, he wrote “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” as a way of expressing his conflicted feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
I know that when I leave Phoenix, it will take a while for me to get to where I am going because of the distance. By the time I arrive there, the sun will be rising and it will be a new day, but I will be gone by then.
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
I don't want to talk to her in person about leaving, so I've left her a note instead. When she wakes up and checks her door, she'll find the note telling her that I'm leaving her again.
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
She knows me well enough to expect me to leave, so when she reads the note about me leaving for good, she will laugh because she's heard that before from me.
'cause I've left that girl so many times before.
I've left her many times in the past, so she won't be surprised by my departure. She's gotten used to it by now.
By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
I know that she will most likely be at work by the time I get to Albuquerque. I'm not sure if she will reach out to me or not, but I doubt it.
She'll probably stop at lunch and give me a call
She may try to call me during her lunch break, but I don't think I will answer. I don't plan on talking to her again.
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
If she does try to call me, she will just hear my phone ringing and ringing because I'm not going to answer her call.
Off the wall that's all.
It might sound rude, but I don't really care that she's trying to reach me. It's not my problem anymore.
By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
I know that by the time I get to Oklahoma, it will be late at night and she will be asleep. I won't be able to talk to her even if I wanted to.
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
In her sleep, she might call out my name softly because she's used to having me around. She doesn't know I'm gone for good this time.
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Once she realizes that I really am gone this time, she will cry because she will be hurt and upset that I left her once again. But she shouldn't be surprised.
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
I've tried to tell her many times that I'm not good for her and that I will leave her eventually, but she never really believed me.
She just didn't know I would really go.
Despite my warnings, she didn't think I would actually leave her. But now she knows that I meant what I said and I'm really gone.
Writer(s): Jimmy Webb
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.