Category Archives: Folk Rock
CLEAR LIGHT-A STORY OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
Clear Light-A Story Of What Might Have Been? Elektra records had come a long way by the sixties, and was home to everyone from folk singers Judy Collins and Josh White to Phil Ochs and Tim Buckley, right through to psychedelic pioneers Love and The Doors, to Detroit based rockers like MC5 and The Stooges and …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANE BRUN.
The Life and Times of Ane Brun. In her native Norway, forty-one year old Ane Brun is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of her generation. Her career began in May 2003, when she released her debut album Spending Time With Morgan. This was the start of a glittering career for Ane Brun, who recently …
ANE BRUN-LEAVE ME BREATHLESS.
Ane Brun-Leave Me Breathless. Label: Balloon Ranger Recordings. In her native Norway, forty-one year old Ane Brun is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of her generation. Her career began in May 2003, when Ane Brun released her debut album Spending Time With Morgan. This was the start of a glittering career for Ane Brun, …
THE STORY OF SWEENEY’S MEN.
The Story Of Sweeney’s Men. One of the bands that emerged from the mid-sixties Irish roots revival was Sweeney’s Men, who were formed in Dublin in May 1966, by Andy Irvine, “Galway Joe” Dolan and Johnny Moynihan. Sweeney’s Men were together for just three years, and released two albums which feature one of the most important …
THE JOHNSTONS-WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
The Johnstons-What Might Have Been? During the mid-sixties, folk music on both sides of the Atlantic was growing in popularity, in America and Britain. It was a similar case in Ireland, where a number of folk bands were founded, including The Johnstons in Slane, County Meath, whose original lineup featured Adrienne Johnston, her younger sister Lucy …
SANDY DENNY-FROM FOTHERINGAY TO THE SOLO YEARS.
Sandy Denny-From Fotheringay To The Solo Years. In December 1969, an announcement was made that Sandy Denny had left Britain’s leading folk band, Fairport Convention. This came as a shock to many as Fairport Convention, who were Britain’s first electric folk band, popularity been rising over the past two years. Playing her part in the rise and rise of Fairport Convention was Sandy Denny who had previously been …
THE RISE AND DEMISE OF THE YOUNGBLOODS.
The Rise and Demise Of The Youngbloods By 1965, bassist and vocalist Jesse Colin Young was twenty-four and had already enjoyed a degree of success as a folk singer. He had already released two albums The Soul Of A City Boy in 1964, and Young Blood in 1965. However, Jesse Colin Young’s solo career was …
IRELAND’S TOP TROUBADOUR PAUL BRADY.
Ireland’s Top Troubadour Paul Brady. When singer-songwriter Paul Brady celebrated his seventieth birthday on the ‘19th’ of May 2017, he was officially one of the elder statesmen of Irish music. He had spent fifty-two years as a professional musician, first with The Kull, then The Johnstons and Planxty. Then in 1976, Paul Brady and Andy …
THOS. RAPP AND PEARLS BEFORE SWINE-ONE OF FOLK MUSIC’S BEST KEPT SECRETS.
Thos. Rapp and Pearls Before Swine-One Of Folk Music’s Best Kept Secrets. When Pearls Before Swine released their fifth album City Of Gold in April 1969. it was the first album credited to Tom Rapp and Pearls Before Swine. This seemed only fair, as Tom Rapp was the only original member of Pearls Before Swine left. The …
TAKE WHAT YOU NEED: UK COVERS OF BOB DYLAN SONGS 1964-1969.
Take What You Need: UK Covers Of Bob Dylan Songs 1964-69. Label: Ace Records. As 1969 drew to a close, Bob Dylan was without doubt, one of the biggest names in popular music, and had come a long way since releasing his eponymous debut album on March ’19th’ 1962. This was the first of nine …
PAUL BRADY-UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Paul Brady-Unfinished Business. Label: Proper Records. When singer-songwriter Paul Brady celebrated his seventieth birthday on the ‘19th’ of May 2017, he was officially one of the elder statesmen of Irish music. He had spent fifty-two years as a professional musician, first with The Kull, then The Johnstons and Planxty. Then in 1976, Paul Brady and …
THE MONKEES’ PSYCHEDELIC YEARS AND BEYOND.
The Monkees Psychedelic Years and Beyond. On September the ‘8th’ 1965, the Daily Variety contained an advert that said: “Folk & Roll Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series.” This was a new sitcom that had been written by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider about a struggling rock band from Los Angeles. The new …
I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU!: GARAGE-BEAT NUGGETS FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS.
I Want You, I Need You!: Garage-Beat Nuggets From The Festival Vaults. Label: Playback Records. Nowadays, the Festival Records’ vaults are a regarded as a musical treasure trove, and is proving a popular hunting ground for compilers and reissue label. This includes one of Playback Records who on the ‘4th’ of August 2017 will release …
THE STORY OF SEATRAIN-FIVE DRUMMERS, FIVE GUITARISTS AND FOUR ALBUMS.
The Story Of Seatrain-Five Drummers, Five Guitarists and Four Albums. Although Seatrain were only together for four years and released four albums, there were five separate lineups of the band. Drummers and guitarists proved to be Seatrain’s Achille’s Heel. Seatrain featured five different drummers and guitarists between the release of their 1969 debut album Sea …
ZEPHYR-ONE OF THE BEST BANDS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD.
Zephyr-One Of The Best Bands You’ve Never Heard. Like many bands who don’t reach the heights that their music deserves, the story of Zephyr is one of what might have been. They released a trio of albums between 1969 and 1972, which nowadays, have a cult following including Zephyr, Back To Colorado and Sunset Ride. These two …
VASHTI BUNYAN-THE QUEEN OF PSYCH FOLK.
Vashti Bunyan- The Queen Of Psych Folk Vashti Bunyan was just twenty when she was “discovered” by Andrew Loog Oldham. This wasn’t the direction Vashti envisaged her career heading when she left her London home and headed to the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, the art school at Oxford University. Alas, the dreaming spires …
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