Melody Maker, April 20, 1974: Difference between revisions

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'''Melody Maker band breakdown compiled by Geoff Brown
'''Melody Maker band breakdown compiled by Geoff Brown
{{Bibliography text 0}}
{{Bibliography text}}
Brinsley Schwarz -- Melody Maker band breakdown compiled by Geoff Brown
Brinsley Schwarz started in 1970 from the ashes of a pop group called Kippington Lodge, whose lineup had started with just Brinsley himself. Nick Lowe had joined in 1967-68. Bob Andrews and Billy Rankin joined later.
 
In 1969 Kippington Lodge became Brinsley Schwarz and took three months off for rehearsal. Their managers of the day — Dave Robinson and John Eichner — involved them in a venture called Fame-Pushers, set up gig at New York's Fillmore East and took over 100 journalists to witness the event.
 
The experiment affected Brinsley Schwarz's outlook on the business and clarified for the group their personal reasons for making music. Nick Lowe described one effect it had on the band, which just about sums up their current attitude.
 
At the start of their career Brinsley had been on ''Top Of The Pops'' promoting their single, "Shining Brightly," a Crosby, Stills & Nash type song. Later, still well into country rock, they had another single out. It was called "Country Girl" and Tony Blackburn picked it as his record of the week, (It's been one of the few areas of common ground between Blackburn and John Peel).
 
Anyway, ''Top Of The Pops'' contacted Schwarz. Would they do another programme? Brinsleys said no — they'd vowed never to do that show again. They got, says Lowe, really righteous. "What a ghastly hit record to have been labelled with. Straw in our hair. Soon as summer was over we'd have been dead."
 
Since then they've changed their style often. Adding influences to the original, Ian Gomm joined on guitar in 1971 and widened the instrumental combinations they could use on stage.
 
Their set now ranges from Band-style to "Country Girl" to blues to Motown and to R & B — either an oldie played with a deep understanding of the mode or a group original which precisely captures the feeling and spirit of the influence.
 
Brinsley Schwarz play like a live disco. Meet the first — and last — of The Great Eclectics.
 
{{cx}}
 
 
 
 
 
'''Bob Andrews
{{Bibliography text}}
 
 
{{cx}}
 
'''Nick Lowe
{{Bibliography text}}
 


{{cx}}
{{cx}}
'''Brinsley Schwarz
{{Bibliography text}}
{{cx}}
'''Billy Rankin
{{Bibliography text}}
{{cx}}
'''Ian Gomm
{{Bibliography text}}
{{cx}}
{{rttc}}


{{Bibliography notes header}}
{{Bibliography notes header}}
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[[image:1974-04-20 Melody Maker pages 40-41.jpg|380px|border]]
[[image:1974-04-20 Melody Maker pages 40-41.jpg|380px|border]]
<br><small>Page scans.</small>
<br><small>Photos by [[Barrie Wentzell]].</small>


<small>Cover.</small><br>
<small>Cover.</small><br>

Revision as of 18:57, 3 August 2020

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Melody Maker

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Brinsley Schwarz


Geoff Brown

Melody Maker band breakdown compiled by Geoff Brown

Brinsley Schwarz started in 1970 from the ashes of a pop group called Kippington Lodge, whose lineup had started with just Brinsley himself. Nick Lowe had joined in 1967-68. Bob Andrews and Billy Rankin joined later.

In 1969 Kippington Lodge became Brinsley Schwarz and took three months off for rehearsal. Their managers of the day — Dave Robinson and John Eichner — involved them in a venture called Fame-Pushers, set up gig at New York's Fillmore East and took over 100 journalists to witness the event.

The experiment affected Brinsley Schwarz's outlook on the business and clarified for the group their personal reasons for making music. Nick Lowe described one effect it had on the band, which just about sums up their current attitude.

At the start of their career Brinsley had been on Top Of The Pops promoting their single, "Shining Brightly," a Crosby, Stills & Nash type song. Later, still well into country rock, they had another single out. It was called "Country Girl" and Tony Blackburn picked it as his record of the week, (It's been one of the few areas of common ground between Blackburn and John Peel).

Anyway, Top Of The Pops contacted Schwarz. Would they do another programme? Brinsleys said no — they'd vowed never to do that show again. They got, says Lowe, really righteous. "What a ghastly hit record to have been labelled with. Straw in our hair. Soon as summer was over we'd have been dead."

Since then they've changed their style often. Adding influences to the original, Ian Gomm joined on guitar in 1971 and widened the instrumental combinations they could use on stage.

Their set now ranges from Band-style to "Country Girl" to blues to Motown and to R & B — either an oldie played with a deep understanding of the mode or a group original which precisely captures the feeling and spirit of the influence.

Brinsley Schwarz play like a live disco. Meet the first — and last — of The Great Eclectics.



Bob Andrews


Nick Lowe


Brinsley Schwarz


Billy Rankin


Ian Gomm





Remaining text and scanner-error corrections to come...

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<< >>

Melody Maker, April 20, 1974


Geoff Brown profiles Brinsley Schwarz.

Images

1974-04-20 Melody Maker pages 40-41.jpg
Photos by Barrie Wentzell.

Cover.
1974-04-20 Melody Maker cover.jpg

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