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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 ZHOME SERVICEUK folk-rock band formed '80 out of the Albion Band as the First Eleven (including John Kirkpatrick), changing to the nostalgic name of the original domestic BBC radio network. Lineup: Bill Caddick (b June '44, Wolverhampton), vocals, guitar; Graeme Taylor (b 2 Feb. '54, London); Michael Gregory (b 16 Nov. '49, Gower, Wales); Roger Williams, trombone; John Tams, vocals, guitar, melodeon; Jonathan Davie, bass. Threatened to become the most influential band of its kind since Fairport Convention, integrating English brass sound with electric rock, a sound described as Southside Johnny meets the Salvation Army; but commitments to theatre, TV and film work meant that live work and recordings were limited. Caddick's solo LPs had included Rough Music '74, Sunny Memories '77 and Reasons Briefly Set Down By The Author To Perswade Every One To Sing '79; also collaborated with Tim Laycock and Peter Bond on A Duck On His Head '80. He and Tams, another folk scene regular, became writers in the style of Richard Thompson; Taylor and Davie had been in Gryphon; the brass section was classically trained (Evans and Williams were also concurrently members of Brass Monkey). One-off single 'Doing The Inglish' '82 was gratefully received; long-overdue debut album The Home Service '84 disappointed fans because so much was expected, though live favourites 'Don't Let Them Grind You Down' and 'Walk My Way' transferred well and it sounds good in retrospect (CD reissue on John Tobler's Road Goes on Forever label '96 as Early Transmissions). National Theatre work peaked with music for cycle of York Mystery Plays; resulting album The Mysteries '85 was rich English folk-rock, drawing on trad. sources and original material, augmented by Linda Thompson. In '86 the lineup had expanded to include Andy Findon on saxes and flutes and Steve King on keyboards. Alright Jack '86 on Making Waves (reissued on Hobson's Choice when the UK label/distributor went bust '87) finally captured the band's personality on record, but Caddick had left '85, disappointed at lack of concert work, one of the reasons for the split from the Albion Band to begin with; his leaving stopped a projected splinter group the Rough Band. Caddick's solo LP The Wild West Show was described in Folk Roots magazine as his best yet. Logistics claimed the group: costs necessitated by its size prevented some gigs while competing work schedules and levels of commitment also meant they did fewer and fewer. To the tune of backbiting and alliance-forming they went out with a whimper late '87, with London-based songwriter John B. Spencer depping for Tams in latter days. Alright Jack reappeared on CD on Fledg'ling Records '91 with extensive historical notes. Reconvened to work on tracks for charity album All Through The Year on Hokey Pokey '91 but absence of a vocalist sufficient to replace Caddick or Tams stood out. An eight-piece group took to the stage again mid-'92 with Caddick, Taylor, Davie, Findon, Williams, Alun Dunn on keyboards, Howard Evans on trumpet, Ralph Salmins on drums. Caddick stamped this period, incl. songs from Urban Legend, with whom he'd been working since '91. Wild Life on Fledg'ling captured this short tour's magic: strong material, the cut and thrust of the brass section and a new-found excitement meant that by Aug. '92 they were playing exceptionally well, but they faded away again. |