Meic Stevens
Encyclopedia
Meic Mortimer Stevens is a Welsh
singer-songwriter
often referred to as "the Welsh Dylan
" and has been compared favourably with musicians like Syd Barrett
. Stevens's songs have a mystical, faintly psychedelic flavour, and are mostly sung in his native Welsh language
. Still largely unknown outside Wales (where he is now a national hero), he was discovered by DJ Jimmy Savile
, who saw him performing in a Manchester folk club in 1965. This led to Stevens recording his first single - with arranger John Paul Jones
(later of Led Zeppelin
) - for Decca Records
that same year, though it sold very badly.
In 1967 he suffered a nervous breakdown and retreated to his home village of Solva
(in Pembrokeshire) to recuperate, and started to write songs in Welsh in a concerted effort to create a distinctive national pop music. From 1967-69 he recorded a series of now rare Welsh-language picture sleeve EPs (Mike Stevens, Rhif 2 (Number 2), Mwg (Smoke), Y Brawd Houdini (The Great Houdini), Meic Stevens, Diolch Yn Fawr (Many Thanks), Byw Yn Y Wlad (Living In The Country)). These were made for local labels like Sain
and Wren, for whom he was one of the first artistes to record. He also performed around Britain during the '60s, playing on recording sessions (notably for his friend Gary Farr's debut album on the Marmalade label). He made a one-off English language LP, Outlander, for Warner Bros. Records
in 1970, but the contract was abandoned by mutual consent. Today, like his other LPs of the period, Gwymon (Seaweed) and Gog (Cuckoo), it is very rare and highly sought-after.
Today Stevens' psych-folk influence can be heard in contemporary Welsh groups such as Super Furry Animals
and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
, and his song "Cwm y Pren Helyg" was recently covered by Alun Tan Lan
. Several CDs of his are available from the Sain
label in Caernarfon
, and two volumes of his classic 1960s EPs have recently appeared on Sunbeam Records.
Stevens can be found occasionally singing in certain pubs/hotels in Aberystwyth until the late hours.He can also be seen performing regularly throughout Wales and England at major festivals, eisteddfodau, pubs, theatres etc. He performs periodically in France, mainly Brittany where he is very popular.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
often referred to as "the Welsh 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...
" and has been compared favourably with musicians like Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
. Stevens's songs have a mystical, faintly psychedelic flavour, and are mostly sung in his native Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. Still largely unknown outside Wales (where he is now a national hero), he was discovered by DJ Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
, who saw him performing in a Manchester folk club in 1965. This led to Stevens recording his first single - with arranger John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
(later of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
) - for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
that same year, though it sold very badly.
In 1967 he suffered a nervous breakdown and retreated to his home village of Solva
Solva
Solva is a village and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.-Location:Solva lies on the north side of St Bride's Bay, in North Pembrokeshire in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. It lies on a deep ravine at the mouth of the River Solva. In the ravine is...
(in Pembrokeshire) to recuperate, and started to write songs in Welsh in a concerted effort to create a distinctive national pop music. From 1967-69 he recorded a series of now rare Welsh-language picture sleeve EPs (Mike Stevens, Rhif 2 (Number 2), Mwg (Smoke), Y Brawd Houdini (The Great Houdini), Meic Stevens, Diolch Yn Fawr (Many Thanks), Byw Yn Y Wlad (Living In The Country)). These were made for local labels like Sain
Sain
Sain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
and Wren, for whom he was one of the first artistes to record. He also performed around Britain during the '60s, playing on recording sessions (notably for his friend Gary Farr's debut album on the Marmalade label). He made a one-off English language LP, Outlander, for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in 1970, but the contract was abandoned by mutual consent. Today, like his other LPs of the period, Gwymon (Seaweed) and Gog (Cuckoo), it is very rare and highly sought-after.
Today Stevens' psych-folk influence can be heard in contemporary Welsh groups such as Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in Carmarthen, west Wales in 1991. They sang songs in both Welsh and English. They split up in May 2006.-Biography:...
, and his song "Cwm y Pren Helyg" was recently covered by Alun Tan Lan
Alun Tan Lan
Alun Tan Lan is a Welsh singer-songwriter. He sings exclusively through the medium of the Welsh language.When Lan was 14 he formed the punk rock band Dail Te Pawb, he later went on to join Boff Frank Bough playing bass....
. Several CDs of his are available from the Sain
Sain
Sain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
label in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
, and two volumes of his classic 1960s EPs have recently appeared on Sunbeam Records.
Stevens can be found occasionally singing in certain pubs/hotels in Aberystwyth until the late hours.He can also be seen performing regularly throughout Wales and England at major festivals, eisteddfodau, pubs, theatres etc. He performs periodically in France, mainly Brittany where he is very popular.
Albums
- Outlander (1970, Warner Bros)
- Gwymon (Wren, 1972)
- Gog (1977, Sain 1065M)
- Caneuon Cynnar (1979, Tic Toc TTL001)
- Nos Du, Nos Da (1982, Sain 82)
- Gitar yn y Twll dan Star (Sain, 1983)
- Lapis Lazuli (Sain, 1985 Sain 1312M)
- Bywyd Ac Angau/Life And Death (Fflach, 1989)
- Ware’n Noeth - Bibopalwla’r Delyn Aur (1991, Sain SCD 4088)
- Er Cof Am Blant Y Cwm (1993, Crai CD036)
- Y Baledi - Dim Ond Cysgodion (1992, Sain SCD 2001)
- Voodoo Blues (1993? Bluetit Records MS1)
- Yn Fyw (1995, Sain)
- Ghost Town (1997, Tenth Planet TP028)
- Mihangel (1998, Crai CD059)
- Ysbryd Solva (2002, Sain SCD 2364)
- September 1965: The Tony Pike Session (2002, Tenth Planet TP056)
- Disgwyl Rhywbeth Gwell I Ddod (2002 Sain SCD 2345)
- Outlander (2003, Rhino Handmade RHM2 7839 re-release)
- Meic a'r Gerddorfa (2005, Sain SCD 2499)
- Rain In The Leaves: The EPs vol. 1 (2006, Sunbeam SBRCD5021)
- Sackcloth & Ashes: The EPs vol. 2 (2007, Sunbeam SBRCD5033)
- Icarws (2007, Sain 2516)
- An Evening With Meic Stevens: Recorded Live In London (2007, Sunbeam SBRCD5039)
- Gwymon (2008, Sunbeam SBRCD5046)
- Love Songs (2010)