I began listening to this album with no great expectations, but by the third song the excellence of the arrangements and production was so evident -- and so comforting -- that the rest of the disc moved easily and pleasantly. America still dispenses tuneful, if basically bland, pop-oriented pastiches of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, but let's face it: as pabulum goes, it's remarkably well prepared.
The man responsible for the arrangements and production of Hearts is George Martin, and it's high time he got some kind of award. Before he became associated with the Beatles (and it is fair to say that Martin's skills, which are diplomatic as well as musical, helped the Beatles immensely). Martin produced the recordings of the Goons, featuring Peter Sellers, who were the Monty Python of the Fifties. Whether dealing with lunatic comedy, the farthest reaches of rock, or the very tuneful and straight-ahead pleasantries of America, Martin has always brought to his productions taste combined with an understanding of both what performers want to do and what they are capable of doing. He is a very accomplished gentleman, is Mr. Martin, and without him the history of recent pop music would have fewer great moment.s
by Joel Vance, Stereo Review, August 1975.
America released many hit albums including their fifth studio release which is a favorite among fans. This superbly crafted 1975 classic was produced by legendary Beatles producer George Martin and is a musical treasure filled with great harmonies and hooks!
Achieving significant popularity in the 1970’s, Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek and Dewey Burnell made up the band that became famous for their close vocal harmonies and light acoustic folk sound. With a string of hit singles and albums, often played on pop/soft rock radio stations, Hearts boasts three top selling hits. High Resolution Audio fans can now experience the original quad LP mix on SACD with a stereo layer and includes the #1 hit "Sister Golden Hair," their Top 20 ballad, "Daisy Jane" and "Woman Tonight."
by Wesley Derbyshire
Tracks
1. Daisy Jane (Gerry Beckley) - 3:10
2. Half A Man (Dan Peek) - 3:37
3. Midnight (Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell) - 2:47
4. Bell Tree (Gerry Beckley) - 2:34
5. Old Virginia (Dan Peek, Catherine Peek) - 3:34
6. People In The Valley (Dewey Bunnell) - 2:46
7. Company (Dewey Bunnell) - 3:28
8. Woman Tonight (Dan Peek) - 2:25
9. The Story Of A Teenager (Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek) - 3:24
10.Sister Golden Hair (Gerry Beckley) - 3:22
11.Tomorrow (Dan Peek) - 2:53
12.Seasons (Dewey Bunnell) - 3:04
Sopworth Camel was a rock group formed in Italy in 1969 by four English musicians and is the first band from Italy that might be regarded as a "super-group". The Musicians came to Italy with various groups during the beat era in 60s. Martin Fisher (b.1947in Kingston, London, UK) and Pete Huish came to Italy in June,1966 for a couple of gigs with a band called Thane Russal and Three, where they played guitar and drums respectively. Pete Huish was a great drummer and his style sounds similarly to John Bonham's. One day the guys, Martin and Pete, desired to switch to different style than Thane Russal was known from.
Their biography inevitably connects with a guitarist Dave Sumner - a member of Primitives and Motowns. The Motowns arrived in Firenze, Italy stright from Liverpool in 1966. Dave was electrifying italian audiences from south to north. After Martin and Pete were through with their original bands, they offered Dave to join the forces and set up a new group.
As the trio was formed, Martin, a former guitar player, picked up the bass. He played using an octave divider, a stomp box allowing the player to adjust the pitch of the instrument one octave above or below the usual tone. Martin had to go to London to get one of these effects because they were hardly found in Italy. The band was named Sopworth Camel. Pete thought up the name (in London slang - Sopworth Camel = Sopwith Camel). They played their first concert at Piper Club in Rome, Italy in early 1969.
After that they decided to make the Naples their headquarters. Sopworth Camel contributed to Martin's progress - he developed a unique technique of playing the bass, very rich and ear~catching and, together with Pete Huish, they were able to create such a complex background that Dave was completely free of exploring his guitar style. Many musicians longed to be a part of that trio but only Alex "Eck" Ligertwoodaka Alex Jackson (born 18.12.1948 in Glasgow) managed to achieve the goal. He played in group called The Senate.
They came to Italy in 1968. RCA gave Sopworth Camel an opportunity to record a single and an album. They choose to release a 45 including an italian version of "Only My Woman" former recorded by the Marbles (the title in Italian was "Sei La Mi Donna"). On the B-side they included Spirit's classic "Fresh Garbage" (1969). Following the success of the 45s, they released a full lenght album called "Underage - dedicated to all those who understand" in 1969 and 45 with songs from the album,"Mystery Tour / Society's Child". The material recorded at RCA Studios in Rome in 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 12th, June, 1969. Woruth noticing - the name of the band is only Camel. In studio they were supported by Gaetano Ria - sound engineer, Tony Mimms who played the piano on a couple of tracks and was awarded with the title of assistant producer. Actually the band had a complete control over the music and the mix. G. Tosti who was expected to be the musical supervisor never even entered the recording studio! The album cover was drawned by Gordon Faggetter, a drummer of Cyan Three.
The nine covers featured on the album are taken from their live set and some of them are better than the original versions. The band went on playing gigs in Italy. There were also invited to play abroad. The musicians were also backing vocalists in italian singer Nada's group (there was also Derek Wilson in his band). When Dave Sumner decided to leave the band and came back to the Primitives, Martin and Pete moved to Britain to seek for a new guitarist. In those times Peter Frampton got in touch with them and Frampton made an album under the name of Peter Frampton's Camel. After the concert at Caracalla Pop Festival in October, 1970 Camel disbanded.
After Camel split Martin Fisher came back in Englad untill Dave Sumner offer him to join one of the last Primitives line~up. After a year Dave left the band and a new guitar player, called Laury, joined the band. Then Martin started playing in the studio as a session man with Derek Wilson, Mike Fraser, Laury and Lally Stott. Then he moved to UK again and played for a couple of years with East of Eden, recording the album "Another Eden", Pete Huish played with his band in England and Canada. He passed away. Dave Sumner continued his career in Italy with Mad Dogs, West Coast Lizzie, Made in England i Superobots.
Pearls Of Rock, 04.01.2009
Tracks
1. Pinball Wizard (Pete Townshend) - 4:09
2. Where Is My Mind (Mark Stein) - 3:37
3. Tin Soldier (Ronnie Lane, Steve Marriot) - 4:15
4. Forget It, I Got It (Gary Wright, Jimmy Miller) - 4:11
5. Mystery Tour (John Lennon, Paul Mc Cartney) - 5:18
6. Can`t Be So Bad (Don Stevenson, Jerry Miller) - 3:59
7. Society`s Child (Janis Ian) - 4:45
8. Sitting On The Top Of The World (Walter Vinson, Lonnie Chatmon) - 5:01
9. Evil Woman (Larry Weiss) - 5:57
This 1979 outing saw Alex Harvey returning to the rock music world for what would be his final album. It's no big surprise that The Mafia Stole My Guitar sounds a lot like the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: the music remains the same unusual but intriguing blend of prog ambition and punk energy and it also contains a few of Harvey's trademark oddball cover versions (example: his surprisingly straight-faced cabaret version of "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody"). What is a surprise is how consistent The Mafia Stole My Guitar is, especially in light of the uneven final albums of his last band. While the album never coheres the way classic Alex Harvey outings like Next did, each of the songs feels inspired and benefits from a carefully-crafted sound:"Wait For Me Mama" contrasts a wailing, impassioned vocal from Harvey with a tightly-controlled, gypsy-flavored groove from the band while "Oh, Spartacus" is a Roman adventure tale that takes the story of its title character and gives it a glam rock beat.
The Mafia Stole My Guitar also adds finds Harvey shifting his sound in a new direction, with the saxophone taking an upfront role in the arrangements and adding a jazzy flair to the proceedings. A good example of this new jazziness is the cover of "Shakin' All Over," which alters this classic Johnny Kidd and the Pirates hard-rock nugget by raising the tempo to an amphetamine level and adding all sorts of jazz-fusion inspired riffing over the top.
This album also contains one of the loveliest songs in the Harvey canon in "The Whalers (Thar She Blows)," a surprisingly gentle and lyrical song layered with plenty of gentle synthesizer and saxophone shadings. The end result is a rocking yet stately-sounding slab of music that is unmistakably the work of Alex Harvey. While it's tragic that Harvey would never record again after this album (he died of health problems in 1981), the Mafia Stole My Guitar remains a fine addition to his legacy.
by Donald A. Guarisco
Tracks
1. Don's Delight (Don Weller) - 1:33
2. Back In The Depot (Alex Harvey, Matthew Cang) - 6:31
3. Wait For Me Mama (Alex Harvey, Don Weller, Matthew Cang, Hugh McKenna) - 7:01
4. The Mafia Stole My Guitar (Alex Harvey) - 5:13
5. Shakin' All Over (Johnny Kidd) - 4:51
6. The Whalers (Thar She Blows) (Alex Harvey, Matthew Cang, Hugh McKenna) - 7:06
7. Oh Spartacus! (Alex Harvey, Matthew Cang) - 3:57
8. Just A Gigolo-I Ain't Got Nobody (Irving Caesar, Julius Brammer, Leonello Casucci) - 5:19
A solo album from a drummer is rarely cause to celebrate, for invariably it arrives stillborn. But Kick Off Your Muddy Boots is a solo set from Moody Blues' skin basher Graeme Edge in name only, and instead is really a showcase for the Gurvitz brothers, or more precisely singer/guitarist Adrian. Edge contributed only three songs to his set; the dreamy "Lost in Space," the introspective "Have You Ever Wondered," and dramatic "Somethin' We'd Like to Say," providing very tentative links to the Blues' own sound. The rest of the album, composed by Adrian Gurvitz, goes very much its own way.
The fabulously funky instrumental "The Tunnel" flies furthest from the mothership, while a guesting Ginger Baker edges Edge into the shadows on the Chicago blues spectacular "Gew Janna Woman," the set's apotheosis. "My Life's Not Wasted" is nearly as epic, meandering from funk to blues, soul to orchestral overkill in one fell swoop.
Swinging from the C&W-tinged rocker "Shotgun" to the sunny California-styled "Bareback Rider," Muddy Boots treads into as many musical pastures as possible, with the bonus "We Like to Do It" (the band's 1974 single) tossing ragtime into the mix. Keyboardist Mickey Gallagher provides excellent work throughout, his lovely soundscapes and delicate melody lines providing a perfect foil to Gurvitz's soaring leads and hefty riffs. The rhythm section is strong of course, but in the end, this is Gurvitz and Gallagher's show from start to finish, and what a show it is.
by Dave Thompson
Tracks
1. Bareback Rider (Adrian Gurvitz) - 5:15
2. In Dreams (Adrian Gurvitz) - 5:13
3. Lost In Space (Graeme Edge) - 4:28
4. Have You Ever Wondered (Graeme Edge) - 5:10
5. My Life's Not Wasted (Adrian Gurvitz) - 2:59
6. The Tunnel (Adrian Gurvitz, Graeme Edge, Paul Gurvitz) - 2:06
7. Gew Janna Woman (Adrian Gurvitz) - 4:15
8. Shotgun (Adrian Gurvitz) - 4:10
9. Somethin' We'd Like To Say (Graeme Edge) - 3:32
10.We Like To Do It (Adrian Gurvitz, Graeme Edge) - 4:02
Musicians
*Graeme Edge -- Drums, Percussion
*Mickey Gallagher -- Keyboards, Backing Vocals
*Adrian Gurvitz (aka Arian Curtis) -- Vocals, Lead Guitar
*Paul Gurvitz -- Bass, Backing Vocals
*Jorge J. "Jay Jay" Bell - Orchestral Arrangements
The Entrance to Hell is one of those legendary exhumations at which the Angel Air label has become so adept, delving into archives that even their owners have seemingly forgotten, and emerging with treasures whose very reputations are the stuff of mythology. The jewel this time is the debut album by Bullet, the band formed by John Du Cann and Paul Hammond immediately after departing Atomic Rooster, but whose lifespan was cut short by the emergence of another, better-known American band of the same name. Bullet U.K. changed their name to Hard Stuff, and promptly re-recorded their already complete debut album, renaming it Bulletproof, and leaving the original tracks in the vault.
Arguably, they made the correct decision -- Bulletproof, as it eventually emerged, is very much a classic of its ilk, a hard-hitting metal rocker that compensates in sheer bludgeoning power for what it lacks in finesse or musicality. The Entrance to Hell retains those same qualities but somehow seems to lack the same glue that held its successor together; not quite an album's worth of demos (although that would be a joy), it is instead a rough sketch of what was to come, an excellent collection that would soon be even better.
by Dave Thompson
Tracks
1. Door Opens - 0:08
2. Millionaire - 6:04
3. No Witch at All (John Gustafson) - 5:39
4. Taken Alive (John Gustafson) - 3:15
5. The Soul That I Had - 5:37
6. Entrance To Hell - 4:30
7. The Orchestrator (John Du Cann, John Gustafson) - 3:24
8. Hell, Demonic Possession - 3:45
9. Fortunes Told - 3:29
10.Sinister Minister (John Gustafson) - 3:36
11.Jam - 1:39
12.Time Gambler - 6:15
13.Monster in Paradise (John Gustafson, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover) - 4:41
14.Jay Time - 2:53
15.Mr. Longevity (John Gustafson) - 4:40
16.Door Slams - 0:03
17.Jam (The Taker) - 7:12
All songs by John Du Cann except where stated
Bullet
*John Du Cann - Vocals, Fender Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Cello
*John Gustafson - Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Tuners
*Paul Hammond - Drums, Sticks, Other Walking Aids
Hard Stuff came to life when the musical differences between guitarist/vocalist John DuCann and drummer Paul Hammond with keyboardist Vincent Crane reached a boiling point regarding the direction that Atomic Rooster would follow in the wake of their #4 UK hit “Devil’s Answer.” Crane wanted to follow a soulful direction while DuCann and Hammond favored a heavier rocking sound for the band. Quatermass bass guitarist/vocalist John Gustafson was asked by DuCann to join Atomic Rooster, and agreed, only to find that Crane owned the rights to the band’s name.
The trio, joined by vocalist Harry Shaw, formed a quartet taking the name Bullet. The band released a single, “Hobo” c/w “Sinister Minister.” The songs on the single rocked, but there was already an American band named Bullet who had a top 30 hit, and thus the quartet was forced to take a new name. Shaw left the band, the remaining trio selecting the name Hard Stuff, recorded two albums, “Bulletproof” and “Bolex Dementia” as well as two singles. All these tunes are included on The Complete Purple Records Anthology with both sides of the Bullet single added as bonus tracks. The Bullet sides were re-recorded by Hard Stuff and included on “Bulletproof.”
Hard Stuff’s debut LP “Bulletproof” is a fine piece of hard rock, a combination of tunes written by DuCann and Gustafson, who share lead vocals. The album opens with the fiery guitar driven “Jay Time,” a DuCann composition, which was first recorded by Bullet, then re-recorded by Hard Stuff and released as the a-side to their first single. “Sinister Minister” another hard driving rocker, written and sung by Gustafson, follows and was also released as the b-side of “Jay Time.” “Bulletproof” is full of heavy riffs and hard rocking numbers with Gustafson’s “No Witch At All” and DuCann’s ‘Time Gambler” being particular standouts. Of the album’s ten tracks, six are re-recordings of tunes by Bullet, one, “Monster In Paradise” co-written by Gustafson with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover of Deep Purple, label mates of Hard Stuff.
The band’s second and final album “Bolex Dementia” is another fine piece of hard rock, full of heavy riffs by DuCann and thundering bass by Gustafson. As with its predecessor the LP is a mix of tunes written by DuCann and Gustafson, each contributing five tracks to the album. The opening track “Roll A Rocket” penned by DuCann sets the stage with its heavy riff and gorgeous solo. The LPs lead vocals are split evenly between DuCann and Gustafson, with each singing their own compositions. Two non-LP sides, Gustafson’s “Inside Your Life” and DuCann’s “(It’s) How You Do It! Were released as a single supporting the album and are included as bonus tracks on this anthology.
The Complete Purple Recordings 1971-1973 marks the CD debut of the single sides by Bullet. An early mix of “Monster In Paradise” is also included as a bonus track. The sound quality of the recordings is the best yet, with DuCann, Gustafson and Hammond all participating in the remastering job. The set’s 16 page full-color booklet includes an informative essay by Malcolm Dome, as well as photos of the band members, album and single art work and a Hard Stuff/Bullet discography, making this the definitive Hard Stuff collection. Fans of hard rock and DuCann’s guitar work will definitely want this anthology to add to their collection.
by Kevin Rathert
Tracks
Disc 1 Bulletproof 1972
1. Jay Time (John Du Cann) - 2:52
2. Sinister Minister (John Gustafson) - 3:32
3. No Witch At All (John Gustafson) - 5:38
4. Taken Alive (John Gustafson) - 3:15
5. Time Gambler (Rodney) (John Du Cann) - 6:15
6. Millionaire (John Du Cann) - 6:03
7. Monster In Paradise (John Gustafson, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover) - 4:34
8. Hobo (John Du Cann) - 3:24
9. Mr. Longevity-Rip (John Gustafson) - 4:33
10. The Provider-Part One (John Du Cann, John Gustafson) - 2:31
11. Hobo (Bullet Single A-Side, 1971 Pur 101) (John Du Cann) - 3:26
12. Sinister Minister (Bullet Single B-Side, 1971pur 101) (John Gustafson) - 3:33
13. Jay Time (Single A-Side, 1972 Pur 103) (John Du Cann) - 2:41
14. The Orchestrator (Single B-Side, 1972 Pur103) (John Du Cann, John Gustafson) - 3:23
15. Monster In Paradise (Early Mix) (John Gustafson, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover) - 4:45
Recorded at De Lane Lea, Kingsway, London Aug-Sep 1971
Bonus Tracks 11-15
Disc 2 Bolex Dementia 1973
1. Roll A Rocket (John Du Cann) - 5:19
2. Libel (John Gustafson) - 3:59
3. Ragman (John Gustafson) - 3:00
4. Spider's Web (John Du Cann) - 4:55
5. Get Lost (John Du Cann) - 3:00
6. Sick N' Tired (John Du Cann) - 4:04
7. Mermany (John Gustafson) - 5:57
8. Jumpin' Thumpin' (Ain't That Somethin') (John Du Cann) - 2:55
9. Dazzle Dizzy (John Gustafson) - 3:41
10. Bolex Dementia (John Gustafson) - 3:39
11. Inside Your Life (Single A-Side, 1973 Pur 116) (John Gustafson) - 3:10
12. (It`S) - How You Do It ! (Single B-Side, 1973 Pur116) (John Du Cann) - 3:11
Bonus Tracks 11-13
The Hard Stuff
*John Cann - Vocals, Fender Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Cello
*John Gustafson - Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Tuners
*Paul Hammond - Drums, Sticks, Other Walking Aids
Labi Siffre was born on June 25, 1945. He is a British poet, songwriter, musician, and singer most widely known for “(Something Inside) So Strong,” “It Must Be Love,” and “I Got The…,” the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip-hop tracks such as Eminem’s breakthrough hit single, “My Name Is.”
Labi Siffre was born the fourth of five children, at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in Hammersmith, London to a British mother of Barbadian–Belgian descent and a Nigerian father. He was brought up in Bayswater and Hampstead and educated at St Benedict’s School, in Ealing, West London.
While trying to become a full-time musician, Labi Siffre worked odd jobs as a warehouseman, a filing clerk and as a minicab driver and delivery man. In the early 60s, he joined a jazz trio that featured him on guitar, playing at Annie’s Room, a jazz club fronted by the singer Annie Ross. He then toured as opening act and backing singer for Jackie Edwards, the Jamaican songwriter, soul and reggae star. Labi went on to form another three-piece group called Safari, playing London’s Soho clubs. Then his first solo gigs came in Amsterdam at the folk club Het Kloppertje, and at the then haven of psychedelic hippiedom, Paradiso.
In 1969, while working in Amsterdam, Siffre signed a publishing and management contract with Management Agency & Music Ltd. He released six albums between 1970 and 1975, and four between 1988 and 1998. In the early 1970s, he had UK hits with “It Must Be Love,” “Crying Laughing Loving Lying” and “Watch Me.”
He moved to Los Angeles in 1977 and shortly thereafter decided to quit the music business as a performer and concentrate on writing. After nine months in California he moved back to the UK when, in 1978, two of his songs, “Solid Love” (performed by Siffre) and “We Got It Bad” (co-written and performed by Bob James) reached the UK finals of the BBC’s A Song for Europe.
Labi Siffre came out of self-imposed retirement from music in 1985 when he saw a television film from South Africa showing a white soldier shooting at black children. He wrote “(Something Inside) So Strong,” an anti-apartheid anthem, which remained enduringly popular and is an example of the political and sociological thread running through much of Siffre’s lyrics and poetry. It was sung by the crowd during a remembrance ceremony following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017. It won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, and has been used in Amnesty International campaigns, a television advertisement, and Alice Walker’s film against female genital mutilation. In 2015, Siffre revealed the song was also inspired by his growing up gay.
His stance on civil and human rights has further enhanced his reputation. In 1990, collaborating with the South African R&B, jazz-fusion singer-songwriter and guitarist Jonathan Butler, Siffre wrote the lyrics of five of the nine songs on Butler’s album “Heal Our Land.”
Searching for expression beyond the “limitations of songwriting,” Labi Siffre wrote his first poems in 1984. Three books of his poetry have been published: “Nigger” (1993), “Blood on the Page” (1995), and “Monument” (1997). More appear on his poetry blog Labi Siffre – Into The Light. He released a new album, “The Last Songs,” on EMI in 2006.
Labi Siffre and his partner, Peter John Carver Lloyd, were together since July of 1964 and up until Lloyd’s death in 2013. Under the UK Civil Partnership Act 2004, they became legally recognized partners in December of 2005. Siffre remains active in political and social justice issues, and is an outspoken atheist. We thank Labi Siffre for his artistry and courageous activism.
by Stephen A. Maglott
In 1972, London-born musician, poet and openly gay singer-songwriter Labi Siffre released “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying,” a tender love ballad that deals squarely with homophobia and racism. While never having an international hit or labeled a “superstar”, the multi-talented Siffre built a cult following with covers by Rod Stewart and Olivia-Newton John and samples by Kanye West, Jay-Z and most famously by Eminem on “My Name Is.”
Unafraid to speak up against injustice, protest songs take on issues of their day, but transcend their eras to speak to future generations. Partnering with WXPN, Guster shares their cover of “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying”, a respectful rework that honors the unassuming protest song for a new generation (out tomorrow).
by Penny Palmer
Tracks
1. Saved - 2:11
2. Cannock Chase - 4:07
3. Fool Me A Goodnight - 3:45
4. It Must Be Love - 3:57
5. Gimme Some More - 2:55
6. Blue Lady - 5:06
7. Love Oh Love Oh Love - 4:27
8. Crying Laughing Loving Lying - 3:03
9. Hotel Room Song - 2:54
10.My Song - 4:44
11.Till Forever - 1:15
12.Come On Michael - 2:58
13.You Make It Easy - 4:12
14.Good Old Days - 3:12
15.Pristine Verses - 3:03
16.You'll Let Me Know - 3:50
17.Oh Me Oh My Mr City Goodbye - 3:52
18.For The Lovin' - 4:30
Music and Lyrics by Labi Siffre
Musicians
*Labi Siffre - Vocals, Guitar, Electric Piano, Celesta
*Nick Ingman - Conductor
*Les Hurdle - Bass
*Vanessa Poole - Bassoon
*Stephen Maw - Bassoon
*Brian Bennett - Drums
*Harry Cornet - Flute
*Ray Warleigh - Flute
*Jeff Bryant - French Horn
*Martyn Ford - French Horn
*Hugh Potts - French Horn
*Richard Studt - Strings
*Dave Richmond - Bass
*Francis Monkman - Electric Piano, Celesta, Organ
*Barry DeSouza - Drums
*Alan Skidmore - Flute
*Don Fay - Flute
*Richard Tattersall - Ukulele
*Robin Thompson - Bassoon
*Peter Robinson - Electric Piano
Evensong consisted of Birmingham natives, Mick Lawson and Tony Hulme. Their self-titled album was the only album the duo released, it received a fine reception at the time of it’s release, with the two going off to tour the album in America. Session players Clem Cattini, B. J. Cole, and the notable Herbie Flowers, appear on the album, as well as well as string arrangements from former Spencer Davis Group guitarist, Ray Fenwick.
Mick Lawson names Bob Dylan as one of his biggest influences, later changing his stage name to “Emmit Till” in the 1980’s, after Dylan’s 1962 song, The Death of Emmet Till. In an interview with The Birmingham Mail, Mick said, “When I was touring America in the 1970’s with my band Evensong we played at Dylan’s High School in Hibbing, Minnesota…we ended up hanging out with his uncle, who had a soft spot for Brummie folkies.”
Can’t say there’s a recognisable Dylan influence on the album, if there is, it’s very watered down (possibly a slightly noticeable influence on seventh-track, Rum Runner.) Arguably, it’s a good thing Dylan’s influence isn’t too strong, it’s not an album released to change how people perceive the world, or question society and humanity, the heaviness and truthfulness of Dylan’s lyrics wouldn’t fit on an album like Evensong; it’s an album far from reality, an escape from the difficult truths of real life. Of course singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan are extremely important, and changed the world with their lyrics, but albums like Evensong are just as needed in their own way.
A number of tracks stick out as being particularly special, Gypsy, being one of them, completely hypnotic, dreamy, and psychedelic, it’s a song that could be compared to Mark Fry‘s iconic acid-folk album, Dreaming of Alice, released the same year. The Smallest Man In The World, is another stand-out song, and possibly their most well-known track, it holds onto a childhood naivety that mimics the Incredible String Bands Hedgehog Song, among others.
The album is slightly inconsistent, in that it seems to rapidly change genre from song-to-song, one minute you’re transported to a psychedelic daydream in Dodos and Dinosaurs, straight into the gimmicky, I Was Her Cowboy, with an all-American rock 'n' roll feel, and a country tinge. Then straight back into a world of psychedelic-folk with Store of Time. It’s as if someone’s clicked their fingers in your face, a jolt back to reality. Maybe it’s a good thing…the album might just be too dreamy if it weren’t for the songs that break it up a bit – the ‘adverts’ of the album. That aside, it’s an incredible album, it’s strong points overpower it’s weaker points by a million to one.
The album makes perfect listening on these warm hazy summer days, a soft and dreamy trip to a kaleidoscopic world of sunsets, sunshine, and sunflowers.
Tracks
1. Dodos And Dinosaurs - 3:48
2. I Was Her Cowboy - 3:18
3. Store Of Time - 3:35
4. Gypsy - 2:38
5. Smallest Man In The World - 3:38
6. Take Your Son To Church Mother - 4:47
7. Borderline - 3:02
8. Firefly - 2:40
9. Rum Runner - 3:50
10.Sweetbriar Road - 4:02
11.Home Made Wine - 2:59
12.Reaching Out For Someone (Dick Holler) - 2:52
13.Wooden Wheels - 4:32
14.Tell Me A Story - 2:22
15.Dance Dance Dance (Neil Young) - 2:48
16.Romeo - 3:41
All songs by Mick Lawson, Tony Hulme except where indicated
Pisces were Tim Greenwood (Bass and acoustic guitars), John O’Connor (6 string guitar and Bass) and more famously, Richard Digance (acoustic guitars and keyboards). They were assisted by Alan Eden (percussion) of Mr Fox fame.
John O’Connor is now living in Santa Barbara, California and since Pisces had more commercial success by co-writing and recording the top ten single ‘Arthur Daley, he’s alright’ under the band name ‘The Firm’ and also co-writing the number one hit ‘Star trekkin’ which was the tenth best selling single of 1987. He also won a BMI Tv songwriting award for writing the music for the Emmy awarded series ‘King of the hill’. He is still performing in the Santa Barbara area, solo and with bands. Unfortunately I can’t track down what happened to Tim Greenwood,
Richard Digance on the other hand is still performing in 2017, with his Golden Anniversary Tour, with over 80 tour dates booked so far. His career has seen him get a BAFTA nomination and win the Gold Award from the British Academy of Composers. He has done 62 British tours, with 4,000 live shows, written 14 books and released 32 albums. Not bad going! But this album ‘Pisces’ was the start of it, and what a great start. Of the tracks, 6 were written by Richard, 1 by John, 1 by Tim and 1 co-written by Richard and John. Richard was described by ‘Whispering Bob Harris’ as a National Treasure, but this album is surely one of our lost treasures.
The songs are a lovely collection, with the bizarre ‘Ballad of Benjamin Bratt’ about a puppet living on a beach, the sentimental ‘After the night’ and the traditional sounding folk story of ‘Jack O’Legs’ (which is the stand out track on Side 1 – written by Tim Greenwood) with some stunning guitar work and great vocals. Jack O’Legs, according to folklore, was a highwayman of remarkable size and strength who lived around 1500 in a cave near Stevenage – which explains a lot. Folk rock at its best.
The harmonies on the gentle melodic ‘Midsummer symphony’ are superb, great love song. Great guitar work and vocals again on ‘Sam the one-eyed Snail’, apparently the real story behind the Canvey Island flood – maybe. ‘If the truth be known’ is a gentle, philosophical track with great vocals from Richard and some delightful rhythm changes and lead guitar. The album concludes with the album’s other stand out track – ‘Poker Joe’ – a really up tempo finish, a song about the epitome of a gambler’s dream – never cheat, but always win. Great finish to a fab album.
Tracks
1. Bright New Morning (Jim O'Connor) - 4:41
2. The Ballad Of Benjamin Bratt (Richard Digance) - 3:03
3. After The Night (Richard Digance) - 3:54
4. Jack O Legs (Tim Greenwood) - 7:18
5. If I Sing You A Song (Richard Digance) - 3:32
6. Midsummer Symphony (Richard Digance) - 4:45
7. Sam The One-Eyed Snail (Richard Digance) - 3:02
8. If The Truth Be Known (Richard Digance) - 6:14
9. Poker Joe (Richard Digance, Jim O'Connor) - 4:43
The best music comes out of misery, they say. In the history of music there has always been a special place for tragic people like Nick Drake, Syd Barrett, Keith Moon, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Ian Curtis, Kurt Cobain, recently Amy Winehouse and many others. All gifted people who added something to the music scene, but couldn't cope with the lifestyle, the pressure and the fame. Live fast and die young: the myth of (rock) music that made icons of them. They died to make their legacy immortal; in this case Syd Barrett forms an exception, although his musical career ended in 1970.
Graham Bond (1937-1974) - on both records named Grahame, but his real name was Graham - also fits in this list. He was well-known in the British rhythm & blues scene of the sixties. He was also an innovator, introducing the Hammond-organ and the Mellotron in blues music, as well as introducing elements of jazz and free form music. At first he was a member of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated and later on he formed his own band: the Graham Bond Organisation. This band featured, amongst others, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Dick Heckstall-Smith. They recorded a couple of blues albums and were very active in the live circuit. In 1966 the band started to fall apart. Since Bond was addicted to drugs, he took heroin and cocaine. This, combined with a failed marriage, made him unstable; Ginger Baker was backing him up as the group leader. However, Baker and Bruce left the band to form Cream together with Eric Clapton.
Meanwhile a new psychedelic underground scene was emerging in London, with bands like Pink Floyd and Soft Machine. Rhythm & blues had become old-fashioned. It was time for something new and Bond was inspired by the new scene. He absorbed the psychedelics and also formed an interest in the occult, which would break the surface in his lyrics. He put an end to the Graham Bond Organisation and assembled a new group of musicians with whom he'd play on a variable basis. He also came in contact with The Fool, a psychedelic design team noted for their work with The Beatles. This group oddly had managed to get a contract to record an album with Mercury, despite their inability to play musical instruments within a certain degree of competency. So they invited Bond to be their musical director and to join them in New York. He did, and thanks to Bond the album was recorded and released. During his stay in New York, Bond met Jimi Hendrix and they jammed together, although no recordings from these sessions have been released.
During the recording of The Fool's album, Mercury's executive Irving Green suggested Bond to move to Los Angeles to record a solo album for the newly formed Mercury subsidiary imprint Pulsar. In Los Angeles he jammed with Doctor John, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix as well as contributing to albums from Harvey Mandel and Screaming Jay Hawkins. In September 1968 he recorded his first solo album Love Is The Law together with drummer Hal Blaine. Bond played all the other instruments like the Hammond-organ, Reed-organ, Mellotron, bass guitar and saxophones. Soon after the first album had been recorded Bond met former Crazy World Of Arthur Brown-drummer Drachen Theaker who had moved to California. Together they gathered some musicians and rehearsed for several months. With the new songs written and rehearsed, some studio time was arranged to record Mighty Grahame Bond. They could only afford one and a half day, but the entire album was recorded in about fifteen hours.
The words from the song Freaky Beak would turn out to be prophetic. 'Beak' was a term used by Bond to describe the music business executives. He had been staying in the USA under a tourist visa, so he wasn't allowed to work there. His record company had advised him to register the songs under the pseudonym Billy Gamble, but they didn't tell him that they had opened a bank account under the name of Billy Gamble, so Bond didn't receive a penny. With his visa running out he fled to Jamaica with his family. Eventually he accepted the offer from an agency to fly him and his family back to England. On his return he founded the band Initiation. He was also invited to join Airforce, the band from his former companion Ginger Baker. Both bands weren't much successful.
In 1971 he joined Jack Bruce's new band, but he was fired after three months. Then he teamed up with former Cream-lyricist Pete Brown to form Bond & Brown. They recorded one album before Bond's drug problems brought the band to a premature end. His erratic behaviour caused by his drug abuse, even led him to spend some time in prison and in a mental hospital. In March 1974 he came out, even more depressed. He stayed in a friend's place, but walked out on May 8, 1974. Two days later he met his death under a tube train at Finsbury Park Station in North London.
Both his albums Love Is The Law and Mighty Grahame Bond weren't successful at their release. They were only released in the USA where Bond wasn't well-known. Some tracks were released in his home country on a compilation album Bond In America. After his death these albums became highly wanted. They're Bond's most honourable legacy. At the time his musicianship wasn't too much affected by his drug abuse, and he took full advantage of the musical liberty of the late sixties. His music is dominated by the Hammond-organ, through which Bond exposed his tortured soul. He has a good and weathered voice which perfectly fits the music. These albums are enjoyable because the music is genuine.
by Erik Gibbels
Tracks
1. Water, Water - 3:49
2. Oh Shining One - 2:55
3. Pictures In The Fire - 2:07
4. Baroque - 3:09
5. Sisters And Brothers - 5:46
6. Stiffnecked Chicken - 3:24
7. Freaky Beak - 4:59
8. Walk Onto Me - 3:12
9. Magic Mojo - 3:30
10.Brothers And Sisters - 3:59
11.You've Gotta Have Love Babe - 2:35
12.I Love You - 2:57
13.Blew Through - 5:21
14.Water Water - 5:26
All songs by Billy Gamble aka Graham Bond
Bonus Tracks 11-14
