In 1962, Chris Rea, & Time Transit appeared at a concert featuring Gene Pitney, after watching the show Chris managed to meet Gene Pitney backstage, where they had a good chinwag, it was soon discovered that on getting ready to go, that the tour bus had conked out big style, and there was no way off getting to the next show in Tulsa, so Chris offered the full the U.K touring band experience, by packing some gear & band members in the Time Transit and giving them a lift, however, the Time Transit reappeared the day before the Tulsa gig, so they all booked in to a Motel, this is where Gene Pitney met Lydia Strumpet, and had a passionate fling with her, a couple of months later Gene Pitney met Burt Bacharach & Hal David, after telling them about his experience with Chris Rea, they went away & wrote 24 Hours From Tulsa for Gene Pitney which became smash hit for them, it's one of Chris Rea's favourite songs.