Egg (band)
Encyclopedia
Egg were an English
progressive rock
band
formed in January 1969.
of Eurythmics
), Mont Campbell
on bass and vocals and drummer Clive Brooks
. The band emerged from an earlier quartet formed whilst at City of London School
called Uriel
with guitarist Steve Hillage
. After Hillage left the band in August 1968, the other three continued as a trio. Having signed a deal with the Middle Earth club's management branch, they were advised to change their name to Egg, allegedly because Uriel "sounded too much like 'urinal'". In mid 1969 the band signed a deal with Decca's 'progressive' sublabel Deram and released their debut album in March 1970 on their short-lived Nova series.
While not a commercial success, it was received well enough for the label to finance the recording of a follow-up, but when the time came to release it, they got cold feet and it was all but shelved, until producer Neil Slaven's lobbying finally resulted in The Polite Force
coming out in February 1971. Now signed to The Groundhogs
' management company, Egg finished the year with an increased touring schedule, but in spite of accumulating enough material for a third album, were unable to secure another record deal, and called it a day in July 1972.
In 1974, Stewart, now signed with Virgin as a member of Hatfield and the North
, got a deal for Egg to record their unreleased material, which resulted in the farewell album The Civil Surface
.
In December 2007 an archival release of live recordings 1969-1972, titled The Metronomical Society was added to the canon.
Egg are often regarded as part of the Canterbury scene
, a loose movement of progressive and psychedelic music
ians, based on Stewart's later membership of Hatfield and the North
and National Health
, although the band have no geographical connection to Canterbury
. Their music can be described as progressive rock with elements of psychedelia and chamber rock (later exemplified by the Rock In Opposition
movement). They employed unusual time signature
s, as reflected in songs like 'Seven Is A Jolly Good Time'. They also brought a humorous element to their music. Mont Campbell, the band's main composer, acknowledged the strong influence of Igor Stravinsky, resulting in multi-part suites such as the imaginatively-titled "Symphony n°2" and "Long Piece n°3".
Campbell was also initially involved with Stewart in National Health
. In 1981 Stewart teamed up with Colin Blunstone
to record the UK #13 hit covering
of What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, originally made famous by Jimmy Ruffin
. Later that year he had a UK #1 hit with former Hatfield and the North
backing singer Barbara Gaskin covering
Lesley Gore
's Its My Party (and I'll Cry if I Want To). The latter partnership continues.
Two members of the band worked together again on Campbell's solo release Music From a Round Tower of 1996. All tracks were composed/performed by Campbell (who by this time had become an expert on many ethnic instruments) and Stewart co-produced and made incidental musical contributions (as did Barbara Gaskin).
In January 2009, Campbell appeared on British television as a prominent commentator throughout the BBC documentary 'Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements', reminiscing on Egg and the progressive rock
movement in general.
. Also featured in that project was Steve Hillage
(on summer holiday from university), who'd also been a member of the pre-Egg band Uriel. Egg were by that time under contract to Decca, therefore all credited with pseudonym
s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in January 1969.
Career
The founding members of the group were Dave Stewart who played organ (not to be confused with guitarist David A. StewartDavid A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
of Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
), Mont Campbell
Mont Campbell
Hugo Martin Montgomery Campbell , formerly known as Mont Campbell, now Dirk Campbell is a British progressive rock musician, best known as a member of progressive rock band Egg.-Biography:...
on bass and vocals and drummer Clive Brooks
Clive Brooks
Clive Colin Brooks is a drummer, best known for his work in the English progressive rock band Egg.-Uriel/Egg:...
. The band emerged from an earlier quartet formed whilst at City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
called Uriel
Uriel (band)
Uriel were an English psychedelic/blues band formed in 1968, consisting of Steve Hillage , Dave Stewart , Clive Brooks and Mont Campbell...
with guitarist Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
. After Hillage left the band in August 1968, the other three continued as a trio. Having signed a deal with the Middle Earth club's management branch, they were advised to change their name to Egg, allegedly because Uriel "sounded too much like 'urinal'". In mid 1969 the band signed a deal with Decca's 'progressive' sublabel Deram and released their debut album in March 1970 on their short-lived Nova series.
While not a commercial success, it was received well enough for the label to finance the recording of a follow-up, but when the time came to release it, they got cold feet and it was all but shelved, until producer Neil Slaven's lobbying finally resulted in The Polite Force
The Polite Force
Released in 1971, The Polite Force is the second album of British band Egg. It is often regarded as the band’s best work, being a much more serious effort than their debut album. The music is a fine example of early English progressive rock, bearing many similarities to Emerson, Lake & Palmer...
coming out in February 1971. Now signed to The Groundhogs
The Groundhogs
Groundhogs are a British rock band founded in late 1963, that toured extensively in the 1960s, achieved prominence in the early 1970s and continued sporadically into the 21st century.-Career:...
' management company, Egg finished the year with an increased touring schedule, but in spite of accumulating enough material for a third album, were unable to secure another record deal, and called it a day in July 1972.
In 1974, Stewart, now signed with Virgin as a member of Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.-Career:...
, got a deal for Egg to record their unreleased material, which resulted in the farewell album The Civil Surface
The Civil Surface
The Civil Surface is Egg’s third and final album. It was released in 1974. The band had broken up in 1972, not before performing some new material during their last concerts. The new songs were very well received by the audience, so the trio decided to re-unite to record these songs...
.
In December 2007 an archival release of live recordings 1969-1972, titled The Metronomical Society was added to the canon.
Egg are often regarded as part of the Canterbury scene
Canterbury Scene
The Canterbury scene is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
, a loose movement of progressive and psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt 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 the...
ians, based on Stewart's later membership of Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.-Career:...
and National Health
National Health
National Health were a progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, the band also included guitarists Phil Miller and Phil Lee and bassist Mont...
, although the band have no geographical connection to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
. Their music can be described as progressive rock with elements of psychedelia and chamber rock (later exemplified by the Rock In Opposition
Rock in Opposition
Rock in Opposition or RIO was a movement representing a collective of progressive bands in the late 1970s united in their opposition to the music industry that refused to recognise their music...
movement). They employed unusual time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
s, as reflected in songs like 'Seven Is A Jolly Good Time'. They also brought a humorous element to their music. Mont Campbell, the band's main composer, acknowledged the strong influence of Igor Stravinsky, resulting in multi-part suites such as the imaginatively-titled "Symphony n°2" and "Long Piece n°3".
Campbell was also initially involved with Stewart in National Health
National Health
National Health were a progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, the band also included guitarists Phil Miller and Phil Lee and bassist Mont...
. In 1981 Stewart teamed up with Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone is an English pop singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group The Zombies, and for his participation on various albums with The Alan Parsons Project.-Biography:...
to record the UK #13 hit covering
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, originally made famous by Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
. Later that year he had a UK #1 hit with former Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.-Career:...
backing singer Barbara Gaskin covering
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore is an American singer. She is perhaps best known for her 1963 pop hit "It's My Party", which she recorded at the age of 16. Following the hit, she became one of the most recognized teen pop singers of the 1960s.- Biography :Gore was born in New York City, New York. She was raised in...
's Its My Party (and I'll Cry if I Want To). The latter partnership continues.
Two members of the band worked together again on Campbell's solo release Music From a Round Tower of 1996. All tracks were composed/performed by Campbell (who by this time had become an expert on many ethnic instruments) and Stewart co-produced and made incidental musical contributions (as did Barbara Gaskin).
In January 2009, Campbell appeared on British television as a prominent commentator throughout the BBC documentary 'Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements', reminiscing on Egg and the 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...
movement in general.
Arzachel
In mid-1969, to capitalise on the psychedelic rock market, Stewart, Campbell and Brooks contributed to the one-off studio project Arzachel, named after a moon craterArzachel (crater)
Arzachel is a relatively young lunar impact crater located in the highlands in the south-central part of the visible Moon, close to the zero meridian . It lies to the south of the crater Alphonsus, and together with Ptolemaeus further north the three form a prominent line of craters to the east of...
. Also featured in that project was Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
(on summer holiday from university), who'd also been a member of the pre-Egg band Uriel. Egg were by that time under contract to Decca, therefore all credited with pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s.
Original albums
- EggEgg (album)Egg is the 1970 debut album of British prog rock band Egg.-Side one:# "Bulb" – 0:09# "While Growing My Hair" – 3:53# "I Will Be Absorbed" – 5:10...
(1970) - The Polite ForceThe Polite ForceReleased in 1971, The Polite Force is the second album of British band Egg. It is often regarded as the band’s best work, being a much more serious effort than their debut album. The music is a fine example of early English progressive rock, bearing many similarities to Emerson, Lake & Palmer...
(1971) - The Civil SurfaceThe Civil SurfaceThe Civil Surface is Egg’s third and final album. It was released in 1974. The band had broken up in 1972, not before performing some new material during their last concerts. The new songs were very well received by the audience, so the trio decided to re-unite to record these songs...
(1974)
Compilation albums
- Seven is a Jolly Good TimeSeven Is A Jolly Good TimeSeven Is a Jolly Good Time is an Egg compilation album released by See For Miles Records in 1985.It consists of the band’s debut album, Egg and their earlier single, “Seven Is A Jolly Good Time”/”You Are All Princes”, released in August 1969.The album hasn't been remastered, since the single's...
(1985) - The Metronomical Society (2007)