Doug Gibbons (Thane Russal & The Three)

Born Doug Gibbons, Thane Russal made his debut as a balladeer on England's Decca Records in 1965. His recording debut didn't set the charts on fire but did put him in the position of being noticed by the Rolling Stones, who saw something more than ballads in his future. It was through his association with the Stones, as part of their entourage, that he got a new contract with British CBS in 1966. It was at this point that Russal reinvented himself as a soul singer with an powerful single, "Security,"  A second single, also produced by Raven, "Drop Everything and Run," appeared that same year, but despite strong performances from the singer on each, neither dented the charts. Apparently his prospects on the continent were more promising than they were in England, because he next turned up in Italy, where he cut the single "Adesso Tardi" b/w "If I Were a Carpenter" for Italian CBS in 1967 and a follow-up record the next year. He fronted two bands during his time in Italy, The Electric Heart and Beggars Farm.Thane Russal, whose real name was Doug Gibbons, was an Australian singer lived and recorded in Britain in the mid-1960's.His most memorable song is the dynamic version of Otis Redding's 'Security' recorded in 1966. In my modest opinion, Thane Russal's version is FAR superior to the original, which sounds pretty generic by comparison (Sorry, Otis Redding's fans..). The brass section from Otis's version is here replaced by melodic guitar riff, and instead of Otis's soulful vocals, we get angry, Mick Jagger-esque snarl of Thane Russal. Indeed, this version could almost pass for a lost Stones song...
Here is Thane Russal And Three With "Security" From 1966 Enjoy
'Security' was a minor hit in Britain in 1966. John Peel was a fan of the single and played it often on his radio show Perfumed Garden. Thane Russal And Three, as his backing band was called, toured with P.J. Proby, The Searchers, and fellow Mod bands - The Who, The Sorrows and The Action. They also supported Pink Floyd in Italy. Today, 'Security'  is a cult classic for Mod/Psych fans.

 The Three: (from left) Mick Brill, Martin Fisher, Allan Collins and Pete Huish (that's four, surely). Evidently the boys were customers of I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet boutique.(From A Dandy in Aspic Blog)