String Driven Thing
Encyclopedia
String Driven Thing were a 1970s folk-rock band from Scotland
led by husband and wife Chris Adams and Pauline Adams and featuring the electric violin of Graham Smith.
label (copies of which are collectable and difficult to find) although a long way from their later Charisma
label output. The group moved to London in 1970, and Chris Adams began to steer the band towards the electric folk-rock genre where his song writing abilities, which often feature hard-bitten, bitter observations capturing the harsher side of life, would be seen to better effect. By 1972 he had recruited classically-trained violinist Graham Smith and guitarist Colin Wilson on bass, but soon afterwards Mannion left, citing musical differences.
's Charisma
label
and another eponymous album came out, produced by Shel Talmy
at London's IBC Studios, with the songs "Circus", "Jack Diamond" and "Easy To Be Free" amongst the standout tracks. With Smith's high octane violin and Adams' distinctive vocals, the band toured the UK and Europe with Charisma stablemates Lindisfarne
and Genesis
. This exposure raised their profile and led to TV appearances and an American tour. A second album, The Machine That Cried, was recorded in February 1973 at IBC, but now with the addition of a drummer, Billy 'The Kid' Fairley. This was a much bleaker and rockier offering and though reviews were mixed at the time, it is now regarded as a forgotten classic. Standout tracks include "Heartfeeder", "The Machine That Cried" and "Sold Down The River". The song "Night Club", which opened Side Two, was inspired by the cover of their first Charisma album, designed by Hipgnosis
, famous for their work with Pink Floyd
. Recorded while Chris Adams was suffering health problems, including a collapsed lung and depression attendant thereon, the album is on the whole a very dark affair, but despite its cult status, it did not sell well at the time.
By 1974 the constant touring was taking its toll, and Wilson was replaced by Bill Hatje on bass, then Billy Fairley gave way to his namesake Colin Fairley (ex Beggar's Opera but no relation.) Soon afterwards, disillusioned with life on the road, the Adamses quit and returned to their native Glasgow. With their departure, the band disintegrated, but Charisma
recruited three musicians to continue touring with Smith and Fairley. Singer Kim Beacon, [now deceased], and guitarist Andy Roberts were joined by bassist James Exell, who with Roberts did much of the writing, including the single "Cruel To Fool" produced by Shel Talmy
. Two albums followed. Please Mind Your Head, recorded by engineer Tony Taverner at Escape Studios in Kent, and Keep Yer A'nd On It, produced by Andy Johns, including the song "Starving in the Tropics", recorded at Island's Basing Street studios.
String Driven Thing put out a number of singles on the Charisma label, some of which are not on any of the vinyl albums but appear as bonus tracks on Ozit Records CDs. Two of these are the Chris Adams compositions "It's a Game" and "Eddie". "It's A Game" was covered
by the Bay City Rollers
in 1977 and became a chart hit in the US, Japan and Germany. Chris and Pauline Adams put out a few singles on the Charisma label both as "Chris and Pauline Adams" and just "Adams". The b-side of their first single, "The City at Night", features Graham Smith. Colin Wilson went on to put out a solo folk album called Cloudburst on the Tabitha label which is also hard to find and has recently been reissued. The Chris Adams/Graham Smith String Driven Thing line up has reconvened on several occasions, most notably in 1991, 2001 and in 2004 which also saw an appearance from Pauline Adams.
Beacon sang lead on Tony Banks
' solo debut, A Curious Feeling
, in 1979 and also had solo material issued. He died in 2005.
Violin
ist Graham Smith joined Charisma labelmates Van der Graaf
in 1977 and also featured on some Peter Hammill
albums. He later joined the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and put out three solo albums in Iceland, later reissued on CD by specialist progressive label Ozit Morpheus Records.
All early String Driven Thing, Chris Adams and Graham Smith albums are available on CD (Ozit Morpheus Records). Some live material and some hard to find tracks and outtakes appear on a German CD called Dischotomy with some alternate takes and rare material not found anywhere else. There are several BBC transcription discs of String Driven Thing live performances featuring both line-ups and two of these sets are on a German live bootleg CD called It's a Game.
In 2007, the band released "Moments of Truth", their first studio album in over 30 years, featuring ten new Adams songs. April 2009 brought the Americana tinged, "Songs From Another Country", (released for contractual reasons as String Driven) on Backshop Records. The new material was first heard publicly at Fifestock in March 2009. A new website was launched at the same time as the album release to help promote it. More recently, the Adamses have gigged with original member John Mannion, to celebrate the first album's 40th Anniversary.
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...
led by husband and wife Chris Adams and Pauline Adams and featuring the electric violin of Graham Smith.
Formation
String Driven Thing formed in Glasgow in 1967 as a three part harmony folk band with the Adamses and guitarist John Mannion and after paying their dues on the Scottish folk circuit, they put out a self-titled album on the independent ConcordConcord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
label (copies of which are collectable and difficult to find) although a long way from their later Charisma
Charisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
label output. The group moved to London in 1970, and Chris Adams began to steer the band towards the electric folk-rock genre where his song writing abilities, which often feature hard-bitten, bitter observations capturing the harsher side of life, would be seen to better effect. By 1972 he had recruited classically-trained violinist Graham Smith and guitarist Colin Wilson on bass, but soon afterwards Mannion left, citing musical differences.
Record deal and tour
Adams then secured a deal with Tony Stratton-SmithTony Stratton-Smith
Tony Stratton-Smith was an English rock music manager, and entrepreneur. He was best known as founder of London based independent record label Charisma Records which he began in 1969. Groups he managed included The Nice , Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator...
's Charisma
Charisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and another eponymous album came out, produced by Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger best known for his work in London with The Who and The Kinks in the 1960s, with a role in many other English bands including Cat Stevens and Pentangle...
at London's IBC Studios, with the songs "Circus", "Jack Diamond" and "Easy To Be Free" amongst the standout tracks. With Smith's high octane violin and Adams' distinctive vocals, the band toured the UK and Europe with Charisma stablemates Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne (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...
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
. This exposure raised their profile and led to TV appearances and an American tour. A second album, The Machine That Cried, was recorded in February 1973 at IBC, but now with the addition of a drummer, Billy 'The Kid' Fairley. This was a much bleaker and rockier offering and though reviews were mixed at the time, it is now regarded as a forgotten classic. Standout tracks include "Heartfeeder", "The Machine That Cried" and "Sold Down The River". The song "Night Club", which opened Side Two, was inspired by the cover of their first Charisma album, designed by Hipgnosis
Hipgnosis
Hipgnosis was a British art design group that specialized in creating cover art for the albums of rock musicians and bands, most notably Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Pretty Things, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, ELO and XTC...
, famous for their work with Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. Recorded while Chris Adams was suffering health problems, including a collapsed lung and depression attendant thereon, the album is on the whole a very dark affair, but despite its cult status, it did not sell well at the time.
By 1974 the constant touring was taking its toll, and Wilson was replaced by Bill Hatje on bass, then Billy Fairley gave way to his namesake Colin Fairley (ex Beggar's Opera but no relation.) Soon afterwards, disillusioned with life on the road, the Adamses quit and returned to their native Glasgow. With their departure, the band disintegrated, but Charisma
Charisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
recruited three musicians to continue touring with Smith and Fairley. Singer Kim Beacon, [now deceased], and guitarist Andy Roberts were joined by bassist James Exell, who with Roberts did much of the writing, including the single "Cruel To Fool" produced by Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger best known for his work in London with The Who and The Kinks in the 1960s, with a role in many other English bands including Cat Stevens and Pentangle...
. Two albums followed. Please Mind Your Head, recorded by engineer Tony Taverner at Escape Studios in Kent, and Keep Yer A'nd On It, produced by Andy Johns, including the song "Starving in the Tropics", recorded at Island's Basing Street studios.
String Driven Thing put out a number of singles on the Charisma label, some of which are not on any of the vinyl albums but appear as bonus tracks on Ozit Records CDs. Two of these are the Chris Adams compositions "It's a Game" and "Eddie". "It's A Game" was covered
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...
by the Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
in 1977 and became a chart hit in the US, Japan and Germany. Chris and Pauline Adams put out a few singles on the Charisma label both as "Chris and Pauline Adams" and just "Adams". The b-side of their first single, "The City at Night", features Graham Smith. Colin Wilson went on to put out a solo folk album called Cloudburst on the Tabitha label which is also hard to find and has recently been reissued. The Chris Adams/Graham Smith String Driven Thing line up has reconvened on several occasions, most notably in 1991, 2001 and in 2004 which also saw an appearance from Pauline Adams.
Breakup
The American tour of 1975 highlighted issues that the new personnel had with continuity and finding an appropriate audience. In October that year, they opened for Lou Reed, after which drummer Colin Fairley left the band and Charisma withdrew their support. Fairley went on to enjoy a career as a studio engineer and record producer, for Elvis Costello and The Bluebells, amongst others. Andy Roberts became guitar tech for Jeff Beck and Stevie Winwood, while Jimmy Exell still plays in Denmark.Beacon sang lead on Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
' solo debut, A Curious Feeling
A Curious Feeling
Allmusic gave a resoundingly positive retrospective review, asserting that "Banks manages to capture the wonderment and allure that enveloped Genesis' Peter Gabriel days.....
, in 1979 and also had solo material issued. He died in 2005.
Violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Graham Smith joined Charisma labelmates Van der Graaf
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
in 1977 and also featured on some Peter Hammill
Peter Hammill
Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments are guitar and piano...
albums. He later joined the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and put out three solo albums in Iceland, later reissued on CD by specialist progressive label Ozit Morpheus Records.
All early String Driven Thing, Chris Adams and Graham Smith albums are available on CD (Ozit Morpheus Records). Some live material and some hard to find tracks and outtakes appear on a German CD called Dischotomy with some alternate takes and rare material not found anywhere else. There are several BBC transcription discs of String Driven Thing live performances featuring both line-ups and two of these sets are on a German live bootleg CD called It's a Game.
Reformation and recent career
After fifteen years of silence, Chris Adams released a solo album, "The Damage" in 1991 and subsequently reformed String Driven Thing for a German tour, the Berlin leg of which was released on Ozit as "$uicide, Live in Berlin.". Variations of that band toured sporadically throughout the nineties, but since 2001 the lineup has stabilised, with Andy Allan on Bass, Dick Drake on drums and either George Tucker or Chris' son Robin Adams on guitar, with Pauline Adams and Graham Smith occasionally joining them live.In 2007, the band released "Moments of Truth", their first studio album in over 30 years, featuring ten new Adams songs. April 2009 brought the Americana tinged, "Songs From Another Country", (released for contractual reasons as String Driven) on Backshop Records. The new material was first heard publicly at Fifestock in March 2009. A new website was launched at the same time as the album release to help promote it. More recently, the Adamses have gigged with original member John Mannion, to celebrate the first album's 40th Anniversary.
Albums
- String Driven Thing (1968) (Concord)
- String Driven Thing (1972) (Charisma)
- The Machine That Cried (1973) (Charisma)
- Please Mind Your Head (1974) (Charisma)
- Keep yer 'and on it (1975) (Charisma)
- Dischotomy
- Suicide (Live in Berlin) CD (Ozit)
- In the Studio '72 (first Charisma album plus) CD (Ozit)
- The Early Years (all of the Concord first album plus) CD (Ozit)
- Moments of Truth (2007) (Soundseed)
- Songs From Another Country (2009) (Backshop Records)
Singles
- "Another Night in this Old City" / "Say What You Like"
- "Eddie" / "Hooked on the Road"
- "Are You a Rocknroller" (demoDemo (music)A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
) - "Circus" / "My Real Hero"
- "I'll Sing One For You / "To See You"
- "It's a Game" / "Are You a Rocknroller"
- "Overdrive" / "Timpani for the Devil"
- "Mrs O'Reilly" / "Keep on Moving"
- "Stand Back in Amazement" / "But I Do"
- "Cruel to Fool" / "Josephine"
Solo releases
- Chris Adams - The Damage
- Chris Adams - The Damage II (Ozit)
- Graham Smith - Med Töfraboga (Touch of Magic) (Ozit, 1980)
- Graham Smith - Arrival of Spring (Ozit)
- Colin Wilson - Cloudburst
- Graham Smith - Kalinka (Ozit)