Blonde on Blonde (band)
Encyclopedia
Blonde on Blonde was a guitar-led psychedelic rock
group from South Wales
.
The band was originally formed in Newport
in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Ralph Denyer, drummer Les Hicks, bassist/organist Richard Hopkins and guitarist/sitar player Gareth Johnson. The band was named after Bob Dylan
's 1966 album of the same name
.
In 1968 the quartet left Wales for London, playing clubs such as Middle Earth, and appearing on the BBC tv series "How Late It Is". Signing to Pye Records
, they released their first album, Contrasts, produced by Barry Murray, in 1969. The album included the Robin Williamson
covers "No Sleep Blues" and "I Need My Friend", and a cover of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby
". That summer they appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival
.
1970s Rebirth was released on Ember Records
after a personnel change that saw singer/guitarist Ralph Denyer joining Aquila and replaced by school friend David Thomas. Thomas' introduction gave the band a tougher, rock-oriented sound. Their second album including Moody Blues-styled ballads ("Castles In The Sky"), progressive rock
songs ("You'll Never Know Me/Release") and fuzz-guitar based rockers ("November").
In 1971 Richard Hopkins left, and was replaced by Graham Davis. Blonde On Blonde's final album Reflections On A Life was released by Ember Records in 1971, but once again the band achieved only modest commercial success. They disbanded in early 1972.
Ralph Denyer went on to co-write "The Guitar Handbook" with Isaac Guillory.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
group from South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
The band was originally formed in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Ralph Denyer, drummer Les Hicks, bassist/organist Richard Hopkins and guitarist/sitar player Gareth Johnson. The band was named after Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's 1966 album of the same name
Blonde on Blonde
Blonde on Blonde is American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's seventh studio album, released in May or June 1966 on Columbia Records and produced by Bob Johnston. Recording sessions commenced in New York in October 1965, with a plethora of backing musicians, including members of Dylan's live backing...
.
In 1968 the quartet left Wales for London, playing clubs such as Middle Earth, and appearing on the BBC tv series "How Late It Is". Signing to Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
, they released their first album, Contrasts, produced by Barry Murray, in 1969. The album included the Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founder member of The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
covers "No Sleep Blues" and "I Need My Friend", and a cover of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
". That summer they appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival 1969
The 1969 Isle of Wight Festival was held on August 30–31, 1969, at Wootton, and attracted an audience of approximately 150,000 to see the acts of Bob Dylan, The Who and Free. It was the second of three music festivals held on the Isle of Wight between 1968 and 1970...
.
1970s Rebirth was released on Ember Records
Ember Records
Ember Records was the name of two record labels of the 1950s and 1960s, one American and one British.-1950s to 60s:In the late 1950s, the eccentric avid jazz fan Jeffrey Kruger, owner of the famous Flamingo Jazz Club, was looking for a new challenge...
after a personnel change that saw singer/guitarist Ralph Denyer joining Aquila and replaced by school friend David Thomas. Thomas' introduction gave the band a tougher, rock-oriented sound. Their second album including Moody Blues-styled ballads ("Castles In The Sky"), progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
songs ("You'll Never Know Me/Release") and fuzz-guitar based rockers ("November").
In 1971 Richard Hopkins left, and was replaced by Graham Davis. Blonde On Blonde's final album Reflections On A Life was released by Ember Records in 1971, but once again the band achieved only modest commercial success. They disbanded in early 1972.
Ralph Denyer went on to co-write "The Guitar Handbook" with Isaac Guillory.
Discography
- "All Day All Night"/"Country Life" (1968) - Pye
- Contrasts (1969) - Pye
- "I Need My Friend" / "Conversationally Making The Grade" (1969) (single)
- "Castles in The Sky" / "Circles" (1969) (single)
- Rebirth (1970) - Synergie Omp
- Reflections on a Life (1971) - Ember
External links
- [ Blonde On Blonde on Allmusic.com]
- http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3298