Beggars Opera (band)
Encyclopedia
Beggars Opera were a progressive rock band from Glasgow
, Scotland
, formed in Glasgow in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner
. The line-up consisted of Ricky Gardiner (guitar/vocals) (born Richard Gardner, in 1948, Edinburgh
, Lothian
, Scotland
), Alan Park (keyboards) (born 10 May 1951, Glasgow
, Strathclyde
, Scotland
), Martin Griffiths (vocals), Marshall Erskine (bass/flute) and Raymond Wilson (drums).
In 1970, after signing to Vertigo Records
, the band recorded their first album Act One, and a single "Sarabande", which charted record in several European countries. The following year, for their second album, Waters of Change, the band were joined by Gordon Sellar (bass) (born 13 June 1947, Glasgow
, Strathclyde
, Scotland
). The single "Time Machine" from that album was successful in Germany, where the band toured extensively.
Erskine left the band before they recorded their third album, Pathfinder (1972), which included a cover version of Richard Harris
' hit " MacArthur Park
". Several other personnel changes ensued, with Pete Scott replacing Martin Griffiths in 1972, and Linnie Paterson replacing Pete Scott in 1973. By 1973's final album, Get Your Dog Off Me, Beggar's Opera were reduced to a trio of Gardiner, Park and Sellar.
In 1975/76 a new version of Beggars Opera recorded two albums for Jupiter Records in Germany
; "Sagittary", featuring Ricky Gardiner (guitar), Pete Scott (vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron) (born in 1948, Glasgow
, Strathclyde
, Scotland
) and Mike Travis (drums), and "Beggars Can't Be Choosers" with Clem Cattini replacing Mike Travis on drums.
Ricky Gardiner went on to play for David Bowie
on the Low album, and with Iggy Pop
on the
Lust for Life
album as well as his Idiot
tour of 1976. He co-wrote "The Passenger
" with Iggy Pop.
Alan Park (organist) worked with Sir Cliff Richard for many years as musical director.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, formed in Glasgow in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner
Ricky Gardiner
Ricky Gardiner is a guitarist and composer.He has played in his own outfit, Beggars Opera, and also with David Bowie and Iggy Pop. For Bowie he played lead guitar on the 1977 album Low. He worked with Pop on Lust for Life the same year. The album included "The Passenger", regarded as one of Pop's...
. The line-up consisted of Ricky Gardiner (guitar/vocals) (born Richard Gardner, in 1948, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
), Alan Park (keyboards) (born 10 May 1951, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
), Martin Griffiths (vocals), Marshall Erskine (bass/flute) and Raymond Wilson (drums).
In 1970, after signing to Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
, the band recorded their first album Act One, and a single "Sarabande", which charted record in several European countries. The following year, for their second album, Waters of Change, the band were joined by Gordon Sellar (bass) (born 13 June 1947, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
). The single "Time Machine" from that album was successful in Germany, where the band toured extensively.
Erskine left the band before they recorded their third album, Pathfinder (1972), which included a cover version of Richard Harris
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
' hit " MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park (song)
"MacArthur Park" is a song by Jimmy Webb, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. The song was initially rejected by The Association. Richard Harris was the first to record it, in 1968; the song was subsequently covered by numerous artists. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer's...
". Several other personnel changes ensued, with Pete Scott replacing Martin Griffiths in 1972, and Linnie Paterson replacing Pete Scott in 1973. By 1973's final album, Get Your Dog Off Me, Beggar's Opera were reduced to a trio of Gardiner, Park and Sellar.
In 1975/76 a new version of Beggars Opera recorded two albums for Jupiter Records in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; "Sagittary", featuring Ricky Gardiner (guitar), Pete Scott (vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron) (born in 1948, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) and Mike Travis (drums), and "Beggars Can't Be Choosers" with Clem Cattini replacing Mike Travis on drums.
Ricky Gardiner went on to play for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
on the Low album, and with Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
on the
Lust for Life
Lust for Life (album)
Lust for Life is a 1977 album by Iggy Pop, his second solo release and his second collaboration with David Bowie, following The Idiot earlier in the year. As well as achieving critical success, it was Pop's most commercially popular album to date, and remains his highest-charting release in the UK...
album as well as his Idiot
The Idiot (album)
The Idiot is the debut solo album by American rock singer Iggy Pop. It was the first of two LPs released in 1977 which Pop wrote and recorded in collaboration with David Bowie...
tour of 1976. He co-wrote "The Passenger
The Passenger (song)
"The Passenger" is a song by Iggy Pop and Ricky Gardiner, recorded and released by Iggy Pop on the Lust for Life album in 1977. It was also released as the B-side of the album's only single, "Success"...
" with Iggy Pop.
Alan Park (organist) worked with Sir Cliff Richard for many years as musical director.
Discography
- 1970 Act One
- 1971 Waters of Change
- 1972 Pathfinder
- 1973 Get your Dog off Me!
- 1974 Sagittary
- 1979 Beggars can't be Choosers
- 1980 Lifeline
- 1996 The Final Curtain
- 2007 Close to My Heart
- 2009 Touching the Edge