Listen to the Steampacket performing ‘Holy Smoke’ here:

The Steampacket first started performing gigs in 1962, but was not officially ‘formed’, by vocalist Long John Baldry after his backing band the Hoochie Coochie Men split up, until mid-1965. Baldry’s concept was for a soul-style revue and the line-up featured many musicians who went on to become stars in their own right, including vocalists Rod Stewart and Julie Driscoll and organist Brian Auger. In fact, the fluidity of the band was largely responsible for its lack of commercial success. While the Steampacket was formally managed by Giorgio Gomelsky, Baldry and Stewart retained their own personal managers and Baldry also had a solo record deal, which curtailed its recording activities. Although it was poised for success with the opening slot on the Rolling Stones’ 1965 UK tour, it never had any official releases. A rehearsal at the Marquee club was however recorded and released as an album entitled ‘The First Supergroup’ after Steampacket split up, following Stewart’s departure, in 1966.