Brinsley Schwarz were a pub rock band that featured Mr Schwarz on Guitar, Nick Lowe on Bass and Vocals, Bob Andrews on Keyboards and Billy Rankin on Drums.
The band had originally been called Kippington Lodge and had released a number of singles during the late 1960s (listen to Shy Boy here. There's a number of tracks by the band on You Tube that are worth checking out). They renamed themselves after their guitarist in 1969.
Signing a deal with future Stiff Records founder Dave Robinson they set about trying to make some waves. Probably the most famous incident being what has become known as the Brinsley Schwarz Hype. In April 1970 they were scheduled to play New York's Filmore East alongside Van Morrison and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Robinson sensing an opportunity for some publicity arranged a Melody Maker competition with the prize a trip to New York for the two shows. Also he arranged it for a plane full of British journalists to attend and review the shows. This didn't quite come off as he had hoped as the band ended up playing with equipment that wasn't their own and when the journalists did turn up they were pretty much worse for wear due to indulging in a free bar after their plane had been delayed for more than four hours. Some were still drunk and others hungover and the end result was not a mass of good reviews but endless bad reviews of the show and of the Debut album that would follow a number of days later!
They released six albums between 1970-74 and whilst not really a success sales wise they had built up a sizeable following due to their live shows. Their final album, The New Favourites of...Brinsley Schwarz, was produced by Dave Edmunds and they played as his backing band for a short while as well. By 1975 the group had disbanded.
Brinsley Schwarz and Bob Andrews went on to join Graham Parker and The Rumour and enjoyed some success. Both of them reunited after 30 years with Parker for the very successful tour of Graham Parker and the Rumour in the US and in Europe. GP and the Rumour finished up again in 2015 with a farewell tour. Schwarz also played a number of shows with just Graham Parker (You can watch one of the shows from Barcelona in 2014 here).
Billy Rankin retired from the music business in 1977 after playing in a couple of other bands but he was coaxed back to the drum stool for 30th Anniversary show in 2007 for Ducks Deluxe (another cracking Pub rock band that also have a lot of history springing from them).
Nick Lowe would go on to have a fairly successful career as a member of Rockpile, as a solo artist and as a Producer for the likes of The Damned and Elvis Costello.
Brinsley Schwarz - Brinsley Schwarz
United Artists
Produced by Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Robinson
Released 17th April 1970
Track 5, What Do You Suggest is missing from the playlist as it is unavailable on You Tube.
Despite It All
December 1970
What's So Funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understandiing
From the album The New Favourites of...Brinsley Schwarz
1974
Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!
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