Andy Fairweather Low -

Andy Fairweather Low (born Aug. 2, 1946) is a Welsh vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who first emerged as the frontman of late-1960s soul-rockers Amen Corner. After three albums, the band morphed into Fair Weather for two further albums.

Between 1974 and 1976, Fairweather Low released three albums to local fanfare on A&M. After a fourth album in 1980 on Warner Bros., he resigned to backing work, playing on albums by The Who, Roger Waters, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, and numerous other artists into the 21st century.

His 1976 album Be Bop ‘n’ Holla features the track “Da Doo Rendevous” that was covered by American West Coast vocalist Valerie Carter on her 1978 album Wild Child.

Background

Andy Fairweather Low was born on August 2, 1948, in Ystrad Mynach, Wales, where he grew up in a working-class household with two brothers. He first picked up guitar while working weekends at a Cardiff music shop as a teenager.

In 1966, he co-founded Amen Corner, a Cardiff-based beat group that shifted from mod-soul to orchestrated pop, scoring four consecutive UK Top 10 hits in 1968–69, including a No. 1 with “(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice.” As the band’s frontman, Fairweather Low became a teen idol during their brief commercial peak, which included TV appearances and a self-titled film soundtrack.

Amen Corner split in 1970, dividing into two camps. Fairweather Low retained drummer Dennis Bryon, organist Blue Weaver, bassist Clive Taylor, and guitarist Neil Jones to form Fair Weather. They took a harder, brass-laced rock approach and reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart with “Natural Sinner,” followed by the 1971/72 albums Beginning from an End and Let Your Mind Roll On. Fairweather Low then pivoted to a solo career, signing with A&M for a 1974 debut that reestablished him in the singer–songwriter landscape.

Spider Jiving

Andy Fairweather Low released his debut solo album, Spider Jiving, in 1974 on A&M.

The album blends lighthearted acoustic numbers with electric arrangements shaped by an ensemble of US and UK session players. Guitarist Henry McCullough engages in sharp exchanges with Fairweather Low on “Keep On Rockin’” and “Standing On the Water,” while keyboardist Mick Weaver fills out tracks with electric piano, organ, and clavinet coloration. Steel guitarist Weldon Myrick and harmonica player Charlie McCoy add country and roots inflections across both sides.

A1. “Spider Jiving” (3:09)
A2. “Drowning on Dry Land” (3:31)
A3. “Keep On Rockin’” (3:46)
A4. “Same Old Story” (3:48)
A5. “I Ain’t No Mountain” (4:08)
A6. “Every Day I Die” (4:34)

B1. “Standing on the Water” (4:05)
B2. “Mellow Down” (3:11)
B3. “The Light Is Within” (4:22)
B4. “Reggae Tune” (3:23)
B5. “Dancing in the Dark” (2:57)

Sessions took place at His Master’s Wheels with overdubs at Quadrafonic Sound Studios. Elliot Mazer produced and engineered the album with artwork by John Kosh and a die-cut sleeve printed by MacNeill Press.

A&M lifted “Reggae Tune” as a late August single (b/w “Same Old Story”). Fairweather Low mimed it on Top of the Pops for the BBC program’s September 20 and October 4 broadcasts, slotted amid autumn hits by Brian Protheroe (“Pinball”), Cozy Powell (“Na Na Na”), David Essex (“Gonna Make You a Star”), Elton John (“The Bitch Is Back”), Leo Sayer (“Long Tall Glasses”), Pilot (“Magic”), Robert Wyatt (“I’m a Believer”), and Roxy Music (“All I Want Is You”).

“Mellow Down” became the second Spider Jiving single (b/w “The Light Is Within”), which Fairweather Low plugged with a January 30, 1975, TotP appearance, airing amid in-studio numbers by Queen (“Now I’m Here”), Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (“Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)”), and the month’s reigning hit, “January” by Pilot.

Budgie recorded “I Ain’t No Mountain” for their 1975 album Bandolier.

La Booga Rooga

Andy Fairweather Low released his second solo album, La Booga Rooga, in 1975 on A&M.

The album expands on his acoustic-pop foundation with brass-heavy arrangements, lounge detours, and country-inflected textures. Guitarist Graham Lyle and accordionist Benny Gallagher trade layered parts with Fairweather Low on “Halfway to Everything” and “8 Ton Crazy,” while steel guitarist B.J. Cole supplies phased accents and dobro runs across both sides. Keyboardists Rabbit Bundrick and Georgie Fame alternate between Clavinet, electric piano, and organ, supported by a rotating horn section arranged in part by Steve Gregory and Eddie “Tan Tan” Thornton.

A1. “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It” (3:11)
A2. “Jump Up and Turn Around” (4:02)
A3. “Halfway to Everything” (4:04)
A4. “La Booga Rooga” (4:11)
A5. “Champagne Melody” (3:30)

B1. “If That’s What It Takes” (3:28)
B2. “8 Ton Crazy” (3:29)
B3. “Grease It Up” (3:10)
B4. “Wide Eyed and Legless” (4:00)
B5. “Inner City Highwayman” (4:40)

Glyn Johns produced and engineered the album at Olympic Studios, incorporating additional horn and string arrangements by Georgie Fame and Brian Rogers.

The album’s title track appeared as a single on September 5, 1975, but gained greater recognition through a later cover by the Surprise Sisters, who also covered “I Ain’t No Mountain.”

In November, A&M lifted “Wide Eyed and Legless” as the second single (b/w “Grease It Up”), which reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart over the Christmas season. Fairweather Low twice mimed it for the December 4 and 18 TotP broadcasts, slotted between in-studio numbers by 10cc (“Art for Art’s Sake”), Fatback Band (“Do the Bus Stop”), Sailor (“Glass of Champagne”), and Slade (“In for a Penny”).

One further single, “Champagne Melody” (b/w “Inner City Highwayman”) greeted the new year. Leo Sayer covered “La Booga Rooga” on his 1978 self-titled sixth album.

Be Bop ‘n’ Holla

Andy Fairweather Low released his third solo album, Be Bop ‘n’ Holla, in 1976 on A&M.

The album blends light country-soul textures with brass-lifted rockers and steel-guitar ballads, featuring a seasoned cast of UK and US collaborators. Pedal steel player B.J. Cole returns with spacious phrasing, interacting closely with electric pianist Mick Weaver and lead guitarist Bernie Leadon across multiple tracks. Rabbit Bundrick alternates organ and keyboard duties with Georgie Fame, while string arranger Brian Rogers contributes to key orchestrated numbers.

A1. “Shimmie-Doo-Wah-Sae” (3:09)
A2. “Ain’t No Fun Anymore” (3:16)
A3. “Da Doo Rendezvous” (5:10)
A4. “Hot Poop” (3:29)
A5. “Travellin’ Light” (2:51) originated as an October 1959 single by Cliff Richard, written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett and recorded with The Shadows.
A6. “Rocky Raccoon” (4:21)

B1. “Lighten Up” (3:09)
B2. “I Can’t Take Much More” (3:12)
B3. “Rhythm ’N’ Jazz” (3:43)
B4. “Checking Out the Checker” (3:32)
B5. “Be Bop ’N’ Holla” (6:34)

Glyn Johns produced and engineered the sessions at A&M Studios and oversaw the album’s mastering with Frank De Luna. Brian Rogers arranged and conducted strings on three tracks, including “Travellin’ Light,” released as an August 1976 single just as Cliff scored a comeback with I’m Nearly Famous. The b-side, “If I Ever Get Lucky,” is a non-album Fairweather Low original.

A second single, “Be Bop ’n’ Holla” (b/w “Lighten Up”), greeted the 1976 Christmas holiday season. In July 1977, “Shimmie-Do-Wah-Sae,” became the third single (b/w “Hot Poop”). The album appeared in a limited-edition gatefold sleeve with blue vinyl. Valerie Carter rendered “Da Doo Rendezvous” as a lithe, sensual ballad on her 1978 second album Wild Child.

Backing Credits

Between 1977 and 1979, Andy Fairweather Low remained active as a session musician and backing vocalist, contributing to a number of high-profile albums across rock, folk, and pop.

In 1977, he played guitar on One of the Boys, the third solo album by Roger Daltrey. The following year, he backed Gerry Rafferty on City to City, the platinum-selling album that featured “Baker Street.” He also performed on 1978/79 albums by Craig Nuttycombe (It’s Just a Lifetime) and Geraint Watkins & The Dominators, a Welsh pub-rock combo.

Fairweather Low also sang backing vocals on 1978 albums by folksters The Albion Band (Rise Up Like the Sun) and Rock Follies actress/singer Julie Covington. That same year, he appeared on First Light by Richard & Linda Thompson, singing backing vocals during the couple’s transitional phase into a fuller ensemble sound. He also added vocals to the 1979 Roy Wood solo album On the Road Again.

Most notably, Fairweather Low sang backing vocals on five tracks on the 1978 Who album Who Are You: “New Song,” “Had Enough,” “Guitar and Pen,” “Love Is Coming Down,” and the harmony-driven title track, adding brightness and depth to the band’s late-period production.

Mega-Shebang

Andy Fairweather Low released his fourth solo album, Mega-Shebang, in 1980 on Warner Bros.

The album spans brass-driven funk, Moog-textured rock, and tongue-in-cheek R&B, with Fairweather Low handling multiple instruments alongside a close circle of regular collaborators. Guitarist Micky Gee trades leads with Fairweather Low across “Whole Lotta Someday” and “Bingerama,” while keyboardist Geraint Watkins layers acoustic piano, electric piano, and Mini-Moog textures into the rhythm tracks. The brass section—featuring Bud Beadle, Mel Collins, and Steve Gregory—adds clustered phrasing throughout, notably on “Step Shuffle” and “Hard Hat Boogie.”

A1. “Night Time Djuke-Ing” (3:28)
A2. “Hard Hat Boogie” (2:37)
A3. “Whole Lotta Someday” (3:28)
A4. “A Fool 4 Some” (3:21)
A5. “Bingerama” (2:55)

B1. “Let Ya Beedle-Lam-Bam” (3:02)
B2. “Leave It Out” (2:53)
B3. “Step Shuffle” (4:38)
B4. “Hello Josephine” (2:41)
B5. “Psyche Out” (3:01)

Sessions took place in-house at Warner Bros. under joint production by Fairweather Low and drummer Dave Charles. Fairweather Low composed nine of the ten tracks and handled bass and drums on several numbers. The album includes a cover of “Hello Josephine” by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. Warner lifted “Let Ya Beedle-Lam-Bam” as a mid-July single (b/w “Psyche Out”), followed in September by “Hard Hat Boogie” (b/w “Bingerama”).

Discography: