Brinsley Schwarz -

Brinsley Schwarz was an English rustic-rock band that released six albums between 1970 and 1974 on UA/Liberty. They were named after their guitarist who, along with keyboardist Bob Andrews, later formed The Rumour, the backing band of Graham Parker. Bassist Nick Lowe became an in-demand producer and recording artist.

Members: Brinsley Schwarz (guitar, percussion, saxophone, piano, vocals), Nick Lowe (vocals, bass, guitar, banjo), Bob Andrews (keyboards, bass, guitar, alto saxophone, vocals), Billy Rankin (drums, percussion), Ian Gomm (guitar, bass, vocals, 1970-75)

Background

Brinsley Schwarz formed in October 1969 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, when guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, bassist and singer Nick Lowe, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin recast Kippington Lodge under the name of their guitarist.

Schwarz and Lowe met at Woodbridge School, where they played in school groups with keyboardist Barry Landerman and guitarist Phil Hall. In 1964, they toured RAF bases in Germany as Sounds 4+1. After school, Schwarz returned to Tunbridge Wells and formed Three’s a Crowd with bassist Dave Cottam and drummer Pete Whale. Landerman joined in 1967, and the group became Kippington Lodge before Parlophone issued “Shy Boy” (b/w “Lady on a Bicycle”) that October.

Kippington Lodge replaced Cottam with Lowe before “Rumours” (b/w “And She Cried”) in March 1968. Landerman left for Vanity Fare, and Andrews joined after two years of professional work in clubs and US military bases in Germany and Spain. Parlophone followed with “Tell Me a Story” (b/w “Understand a Woman”) in August and “Tomorrow Today” (b/w “Turn Out the Light”) in December. The group also backed Billie Davis and played support dates at London’s Marquee Club. “In My Life” (b/w “I Can See Her Face”) closed the Parlophone run in April 1969.

Rankin replaced Whale by September as the group shifted away from the Kippington Lodge repertoire. The quartet began using Brinsley Schwarz for the new material and set aside roughly three months for rehearsals. Rankin then found a Melody Maker advertisement placed by a new management operation headed by Dave Robinson, who selected the group after auditions with dozens of applicants.

Robinson arranged an April 1970 opening slot at New York’s Fillmore East with Van Morrison and Quicksilver Messenger Service. His associated promotion operation organized a charter flight that carried more than one hundred British journalists, photographers and other guests to New York for the performances. Before the trip, the quartet recorded the self-titled debut at Olympic Studios in London with Robinson as co-producer. Liberty signed Brinsley Schwarz shortly before the Fillmore dates and scheduled the debut for April on Liberty Records.

Discography: