Stackridge
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Stackridge were a British folk rock group who were at the height of their success during the 1970s. Characterised by quirky humour and rhythmic catchy singalong tunes the band gained a cult following which continues to this day.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Classic period
Stackridge Lemon was formed from the remains of Griptyght Thynn by Andy Davis and Crun Walter during 1969. After initial experimentation and very lofty aims the music began to arrive and the Lemon was dropped from the band's name. The band played its first London gig at The Temple on 6 February 1970 and the last addition to the lineup took place to arrive at the classic band.
They are an historical group if only in that they
- played the first note at first ever Glastonbury Festival - 19 September 1970
- played the last note at first ever Glastonbury Festival - 20 September 1970
During 1971 Stackridge began serious gigging and Crun left to take up bricklaying. The group embarked on a UK tour supporting Wishbone Ash. Later in the year they signed to MCA Records and recorded their first album Stackridge, at Kingsway Studios, London. They toured the UK as headliners with Renaissance supporting and played their first John Peel session which included a version of the Beatles 'Norwegian Wood'.
The second album Friendliness was recorded in November of 1972 after a year full of touring, again with Wishbone Ash and "Forever More" (who later form the basis of "The Average White Band"). By this time Crun rejoins the band.
In February 1973 was the band's first appearance on "The Old Grey Whistle Test". They then toured during February and March with Camel in support. The Third album The Man In The Bowler Hat was recorded in Air Studios, London with producer George Martin. The album The Man In The Bowler Hat, like the first two albums, failed to sell in large quantities.
After other band changes in 1974 James and Crun were replaced by Paul Karas (Bass) from the band Rare Bird, Keith Gemmell fom the band 'Audience' and Roy Morgan (Drums). The fourth album Extravaganza on Rocket Records was recorded at Air Studios with Tony Ashton producing.
With more touring and an appearance at Wembley Stadium concert with Elton John and The Beach Boys, 1975 saw the eventful recording of the band's fifth outing in the studio, Mr. Mick was eventually recorded at Ramport Studios, Putney.
On something of a downward slide by this time Mr. Mick suffered at the hands of the record label Rocket Records. They performed a final show in April of 1976 and shortly after the band was no more, except that MCA released the compilation "Do The Stanley" late in the year.
[edit] Revival period
Stackridge Live In Concert was released by Windsong, which raised renewed interest in the band. John Sherry, Roy Morgan and Rod Lynton proposed a reunion tour, which never materialised.
During 1996 talks were held between original members about possible reunion and recording started. And the following year, 1997 Stackridge - The Radio One Sessions was released by Strangefruit.
By 1999, after a slow start, Something For The Weekend, featuring the line-up; James Warren, Jim "Crun" Walter, Mike Evans, Richard Stubbings, John Miller, and Tim Robinson. Then in 2001 Live At Cropredy and The Original Mr Mick were released on Stackridge's own Dap Records.
2005 saw the release of the album 'Sex and Flags' on Angel Air records, a colection of songs from 'Something For The Weekend', the 2003 limited edition 'Lemon' EP, and several new recordings. The album was the first since 1973 to feature the core foursome of Warren, Davis, Walter and James 'Mutter' Slater.
A Spring 2007 tour was announced featuring this line-up, along with additional musicians. A show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath, on April 1st was filmed for a DVD release.
[edit] Band members
[edit] Classic lineup
that is - Stackridge II (1971 - 1973)
- Andy Cresswell-Davis - guitar/keyboards/vocals
- James Warren - guitar/vocals
- Mike Evans - violin/vocals
- Mike "Mutter" Slater - flute/vocals
- Jim "Crun" Walter - bass
- Billy Bent aka Billy Sparkle - drums
[edit] Reunion line-ups
These were:-
Stackridge 1999
- James Warren - guitar/vocals
- Mike Evans - violin/vocals
- Jim "Crun" Walter - bass/mobile telephone
- Richard Stubbings - flute/accordion/keyboards/guitar/pennywhistle/vocals/whistling
- Tim Robinson - drums
- John Miller - keyboards/vocals
Stackridge 2000
- James Warren - guitar/vocals
- Mike Evans - violin/vocals
- Jim "Crun" Walter - bass
- Richard Stubbings - flute/accordion/keyboards/guitar/pennywhistle/vocals/whistling
- Tim Robinson - drums
- Ian Towers - keyboards/vocals/guitar
(both 1999 and 2000 line-ups occasionally augmented by:
The Stackettes
- Ruth Evans - violin/backing vocals
- Nina Smith - violin/backing vocals
[edit] Present lineup
that is - Stackridge 2006 (line-up that recorded new version of 'Purple Spaceships Over Yatton')
- James Warren - guitar/vocals
- Jim "Crun" Walter - bass/spoken word
- Andy Davis - keyboards/guitar/vocals
- Glenn Tommey - guitar
- Andy 'Codge' Marsden - drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Chronological releases
- Stackridge (1971)
- Friendliness (1972)
- The Man In The Bowler Hat (1973)
- Pinafore Days (1974} US version of Man in the Bowler Hat with some tracks from Extravaganza
- Extravaganza (1975)
- Mr. Mick (1976)
- Do The Stanley (1976 compilation - one previously unreleased track)
- The BBC Sessions (1996)
- Stackridge - The Radio One Sessions (1997 early radio outings)
- More (4 alternative 'Something For The Weekend' mixes (1998 privately-circulated CD-R)
- Something For The Weekend (1999)
- Pick of the Crop : Live At Cropredy 2000 (2001 live)
- CD-Romp: The Official Stackridge Bootleg No. 2 (2001)
- The Original Mr Mick (2001 what 'might have been')
- Lemon 2002 (2003)
- Sex And Flags (2005 compilation of 'Weekend' and 'Lemon' plus 2 Andy Davis demos)
- Purple Spaceships Over Yatton: The Best Of [19 track compilation, with new recording of title track - October 2006]
[edit] See also
- The Korgis - another band for James Warren and Andy Cresswell-Davis
[edit] External links
- Official Stackridge Web Site
- BBC's John Peel tribute and Stackridge
- Zorgan's Daughter -The best Stackridge site for Rhubarb Thrashers old and new
- Zorgan's Other Daughter - The 'overflow' Stackridge site
- [The Rhubarbarian - the premier fanzine for Rhubarb Thrashers everywhere]
