Rab Noakes
Encyclopedia
Rab Noakes is a Scottish
singer-songwriter
.
, who recorded his songs "Turn a Deaf Ear" on their first album
, Nicely Out of Tune
, and "Together Forever" on their second, Fog on the Tyne
. Barbara Dickson
also recorded "Turn a Deaf Ear" on her album Do Right Woman
, on which Noakes also performed.
Noakes also sang backing vocals
and played guitar on the first solo album by Gerry Rafferty
, Can I Have My Money Back
, and became an early member of Stealers Wheel
, although he left them before they recorded their first album. In May 1972, the Brtish
music magazine, NME
, reported that Noakes was to appear at the Great Western Express Lincoln Festival on 26 May that year. Other acts to perform in the 'Giants of Tomorrow' marquee included Budgie
, Skin Alley
, Tea & Sympathy, John Martyn
, Warhorse and Gnidrolog
. Noakes best-known recording, "Branch", was released as a single
in the summer of 1974 from his album Red Pump Special, and attracted considerable airplay
on BBC Radio 1
, but without making the UK Singles Chart
.
The albums Restless (1978), Rab Noakes (1980) and Under the Rain (1984) followed, but it was 1994 until Standing Up appeared. Noakes subsequently toured with the Varaflames, containing Pick Withers
, Rod Clements
, and the harmonicist Fraser Spiers.
Noakes became the senior executive producer for BBC Radio Scotland
, but left to create his own production company, Neon. In November 2007, his album Unlimited Mileage, again with the Varaflames, was released.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
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...
.
Biography
He has performed with LindisfarneLindisfarne (band)
Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne established in 1970 and fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. Their music combined a strong sense of yearning with an even stronger sense of fun...
, who recorded his songs "Turn a Deaf Ear" on their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Nicely Out of Tune
Nicely Out of Tune
Nicely Out of Tune is the debut album by Lindisfarne, released in late 1970. It was thus titled as the group considered themselves 'nicely out of tune' with other prevailing musical trends at the time...
, and "Together Forever" on their second, Fog on the Tyne
Fog on the Tyne
Fog On The Tyne is a 1971 album by English rock band Lindisfarne. Bob Johnston produced the album, which was recorded at Trident Studios in the summer of 1971. It was released on Charisma Records in England and Elektra Records in America....
. Barbara Dickson
Barbara Dickson
Barbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...
also recorded "Turn a Deaf Ear" on her album Do Right Woman
Do Right Woman
Do Right Woman is the debut solo album by Barbara Dickson.Barbara Dickson's first two solo albums were on Decca Records. They won critical praise but poor sales. They show the repertoire that she had at that time as a singer in folk clubs...
, on which Noakes also performed.
Noakes also sang backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and played guitar on the first solo album by Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty
Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
, Can I Have My Money Back
Can I Have My Money Back
Can I Have My Money Back is the first solo album by Gerry Rafferty. The distinctive cover design was by John Patrick Byrne and was the start of a long working relationship between Rafferty and the playwright. The LP was well received, but performed poorly in charts and sales, in part because...
, and became an early member of Stealers Wheel
Stealers Wheel
Stealers Wheel are a Scottish folk rock/rock band formed in Paisley, Renfrewshire in 1972 by former school friends Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty.The band broke up in 1975 and re-formed without Egan and Rafferty in 2008.-Biography:...
, although he left them before they recorded their first album. In May 1972, the Brtish
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, reported that Noakes was to appear at the Great Western Express Lincoln Festival on 26 May that year. Other acts to perform in the 'Giants of Tomorrow' marquee included Budgie
Budgie (band)
Budgie is a Welsh Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band from Cardiff. They are widely considered as one of the first heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts of that scene, with fast, heavy rock being played as early as 1971. The band has been noted as "among the heaviest metal of its day"...
, Skin Alley
Skin Alley
Skin Alley was a progressive British- rock combo, that existed from 1969 to 1974. They are best known for their track, "Living In Sin".-Career:...
, Tea & Sympathy, John Martyn
John Martyn
John Martyn, OBE , born Iain David McGeachy, was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour...
, Warhorse and Gnidrolog
Gnidrolog
Gnidrolog was a British progressive rock band, with a sound that was compared to better known bands such as Van der Graaf Generator, Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant.-History:...
. Noakes best-known recording, "Branch", was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the summer of 1974 from his album Red Pump Special, and attracted considerable airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, but without making the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The albums Restless (1978), Rab Noakes (1980) and Under the Rain (1984) followed, but it was 1994 until Standing Up appeared. Noakes subsequently toured with the Varaflames, containing Pick Withers
Pick Withers
David "Pick" Withers was the original drummer for the rock band Dire Straits and played on their first four albums, which included hit singles such as "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Private Investigations."...
, Rod Clements
Rod Clements
Rod Clements is a British guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Career:...
, and the harmonicist Fraser Spiers.
Noakes became the senior executive producer for BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
, but left to create his own production company, Neon. In November 2007, his album Unlimited Mileage, again with the Varaflames, was released.
Albums (including re-issues)
Date |
Artist |
Label |
Cat. # |
Name |
| 1970 | Rab Noakes | Decca 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.... |
SKL 5061 | Do You See The Lights? |
| 1972 | Rab Noakes | A&M A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
AMLS 68119 | Rab Noakes |
| 1974 | Rab Noakes | Warner Brothers 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... |
BS 2777 | Red Pump Special |
| 1975 | Rab Noakes | Warner Brothers | K56114 | Never Too Late |
| 1978 | Rab Noakes | Ring O'Records | 2339 201 | Restless |
| 1980 | Rab Noakes | MCA MCA Records MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003... |
MCAC 3251 | Rab Noakes |
| 1984 | Rab Noakes | Black Crow | (CD)CRO 207 | Under The Rain |
| 1988 | Black Crow | (CD)CRO 217 | Woody Lives! | |
| 1995 | Rab Noakes | Mediart Music | MDMCD 003 | Standing Up |
| 2000 | The Varaflames | Neon | NEONCD001 | Throwing Shapes |
| 2001 | Rab Noakes With Fraser Speirs Fraser Speirs Fraser Speirs is a Glasgow-based harmonica player. Originally trained as a medical illustrator, Speirs has been performing for over 30 years and is now an internationally-known performer and teacher.... |
Neon | NEONCD002 | Lights Back On |
| 2002 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD004 | Demos And Rarities Volume 1 |
| 2004 | Rab Noakes | River Records | RIVERCD003 | The River Sessions |
| 2004 | The Varaflames | River Records | RIVERCD042 | Throwing Shapes |
| 2004 | Rab Noakes With Fraser Speirs | River Records | RIVERCD043 | Lights Back On |
| 2007 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD007 | Standing Up |
| 2007 | Rab Noakes And The Varaflames | Neon | NEONCD009 | Unlimited Mileage |
| 2008 | Rab Noakes | Neon | NEONCD010 | Do You See The Lights? |
External links
- Official website
- [ Rab Noakes] at Allmusic