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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGREGSON, Clive(b 4 Jan. '55) UK singer, songwriter, guitarist who went from power pop to acoustic performer, his songwriting being better than the post-punk era. Balding former civil servant (once worked in same gov't dept as Ian Curtis of Joy Division), diehard Fairport Convention/Richard Thompson fan; formed band Any Trouble '75 in Manchester, signed to Stiff label with Phil Barnes, bass; Chris Parks, guitar; Mal Harley, drums; happy to get former Fairport and Squeeze producer John Wood to oversee debut LP Where Are All The Nice Girls? '80. Over-the-top Melody Maker front-page spread that year hurt band until second LP Wheels In Motion '81 delivered on promise, incl. clutch of folk-rockish Gregson songs, e.g. 'Trouble With Love', 'Open Fire', 'To Be A King'; good cover of Thompson's 'Dimming Of The Day'. 'Official bootleg' Live At The Venue '82 incl. another good cover in Bruce Springsteen's 'Growin' Up'. To surprise of all, EMI America, who had just landed David Bowie, signed band; Any Trouble '83 had personnel changes and was lacklustre despite Gregson original 'Northern Soul'; two-disc set Wrong End Of The Race was better, with Gregson title track and 'Coming Of Age'; good covers of 'Learning The Game', 'Baby, Now I've Found You'; reworkings of earlier Stiff stuff. Despite some success in USA band didn't hit. Gregson did solo Demon LP Strange Persuasions '85, sang backup on Thompson LPs Hand Of Kindness '83, Across A Crowded Room '85; worked folk clubs with singer Christine Collister: Home And Away '86 was concert cassette available by post with 15 songs, some previously unrecorded, 'justifying all the praise' wrote Nick Beale in Folk Roots when it was released on Cooking Vinyl '87 with cleaned-up balance. They gigged as Clive Gregson and Christine Collister Band '87; Mischief '87 on Special Delivery was better technically. Gregson also prod. Step Outside '86 for the Oyster Band (three LPs on Pukka; second on Cooking Vinyl Wide Blue Yonder '87 incl. guest Collister). He had moved to Nashville by '96; I Love This Town '96 on Demon was a collection of good songs. |