Some fucking bands are damn near impossible to search for information on, due to their name.....likely the WORST one is one of my faves, Love, (try it sometime), but "England" is just as bad...to bad too, because this is a fab album......more of that 1970's hard psych/rock that DEFINES me.......I can't, however, locate a list of their members, or anything like that, but I DO have this fab CD......it's no essential classic, by any means, but it's another definitive issue from that era/genre that means so much to me......check "How Does It Feel?" and "Life and Soul"......they are pretty good tunes, again, nothing essential here, but by the time we're all dead, maybe I will have donated ALL of my 1968-76 hard rock to the cause, and you'll get my theory...then in 30 years when everyone is desperately looking for this stuff, people will say, "DAMN remember that BigScott62 dude? That guy was IN TUNE with the various hard rock scenes over the years....he should be a Saint or something".....likely that isn't how it will go, but this is a pretty good album, if you've followed my obsession with the hard psych-rock of that era, it's maybe another that you may wish to give a listen to.ENGLAND-01 The Osprey/02 Keswick Line/03 out of Town/04 Beauty and the Beast/05 Paradise Lost/06 How Does It Feel?/07 Nature Ruled/08 The Fleece/09 Life and Soul
http://www15.zippyshare.com/v/p5bP01d2/file.html
ReplyDeleteEngland were a progressive rock group active in the late 1970s, and briefly reformed in 2006. The band is notable for their album Garden Shed released on Arista Records, and for keyboardist Robert Webb playing a Mellotron sawn in half.
ReplyDeleteThe band was formed in 1975 by drummer Mark Ibbotson, and, after a variety of prototype groups, stabilised around a line-up of himself, bassist Martin Henderson, guitarist Jamie Moses and keyboardist Robert Webb.[2] Moses and Webb had previously collaborated on an unreleased album.[3] Ibbottson owned a Mk II Mellotron, which Webb took an interest in, later saying "it opens up possibilities. It's having control like the conductor of an orchestra."[4] To make the instrument portable, Webb sawed the instrument in half, rehousing the left-hand manual and the right-hand tapes (which contained the lead sounds on a Mk II model) it in a new case.[5] After a number of gigs at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone, Moses quit and was replaced by Frank Holland. In March 1976, immediately following a showcase gig that resulted in a contract with Arista Records, Ibbotson quit the band and was replaced by Jode Leigh.[2]
The band spent most of 1976 rehearsing and recording material for Arista. The single "Paraffinalea" was released in February 1977. Anne Nightingale gave a positive review of the single, saying the band was "destined for great things."[6] This was followed by the album Garden Shed, but by this time, punk rock was popular, and this, combined with a general lack of interest in promoting the band, meant that it was a commercial failure. Melody Maker described the album as "Yes in toyland". The band split from their management and moved into a music shop in Hastings[7] but the financial situation didn't improve and the group split in autumn 1978.[2]
A resurrected version of the band, featuring Mark Ibbotson and (apparently) Frank Holland, but without Robert Webb, appeared in 1983-84 long enough to record two singles for Jet Records (best known for their involvement with ELO's early career). Little is known of this incarnation of the group beyond what can be gleaned from the singles themselves.
Henderson later became touring bassist for Jeff Beck,[2] while Moses later became a touring guitarist for Queen + Paul Rodgers.[3] Ibbotson became The Pretty Things' manager in 1985, while Holland joined that band as a guitarist,[8] positions they retain to this day. The band continue to receive critical praise, with Music Mart magazine describing a CD reissue of Garden Shed "as good as prog could get in the 70s".[9] Webb and Henderson reactivated the band in 2006 for a brief tour,[2] including an appearance at the Baja Prog Fest in Mexicali[10]
Discography[edit]
The Imperial Hotel (EP) (1975)
Garden Shed (1977)
Victoriana b/w Hearts Made Of Glass (Jet Records single 1983)
London Story b/w Under the Pier (Jet Records single 1984)
The Last of the Jubblies (1996)
http://www.backgroundmagazine.nl/Specials/InterviewEngland.html
http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/restoration-mellotron-halfatron
This is apparently a different England ;
ReplyDeleteOriginally released on the UK custom / private pressing label Deroy in a run of just 99 copies [100 or more would be subject to tax],originals now sell for £2000. In the late 1980's counterfeit copies were released in Europe on the Breeder label.
ENGLAND - England - 1976 ( UK )
England (Not the England who recorded "Garden Shed"), was an English progressive rock band band formed in 1971 by guitarist, Olly Alcock. Originally the band included drummer, Mike Kidson, who later became Genesis' road manager, and bassist John Waite, who released the big hit "Missing You" in 1984. Despite constant touring, the band never hit the big time. By 1973, Olly Alcock was the only remaining England member. In 1974, he recruited bassist, Ben Eggleston, drummer John Clark, and saxophonist, Paul Rossiter. The band continued gigging and touring, still without any noticeable success or a record deal. By 1975, drummer John Clark had left the band. By 1976, England had secured a small record deal. Drummer, Phil Cook joined the band, and Paul Rossiter became more of a background player. The late, great Alexis Korner thought highly of the band. The band's first s/t release posted here, sank without a trace. By 1978, England had split up. Olly Alcock formed The Olly Alcock Band. Ben Eggleston retired from the music scene, and Phil Cook seems to have disappeared! England was quite a good progressive blues rock band, often compared to bands like Nektar, and Wishbone Ash. On this s/t album, all the songs were played 'live' and only the vocals were added later. A decent prog/hard blues rock album with some above average songs, great raw guitar, and nice sax work. Vocals could be better, as they sound slightly "off key" at times. However, this was a privately issued album, with a very limited circulation. With more studio production, this could have been a far better album.
BAND
Olly Alcock - Guitar, Vocals
Ben Eggleston - Bass
Phil Cook - Drums
Paul Rossiter - Sax
ENGLAND-01 The Osprey/02 Keswick Line/03 out of Town/04 Beauty and the Beast/05 Paradise Lost/06 How Does It Feel?/07 Nature Ruled/08 The Fleece/09 Life and Soul