Justine -

Justine was an English folk-pop band from London that released the 1969 Dot single “Leave Me Be,” followed by a 1970 self-titled album on Uni. Vocalist Laurie Styvers cut two albums for Warner/Chrysalis. Guitarist John McBurnie appeared in the 1972/73 lineup of Jackson Heights and later formed the pop trio Vapour Trails.

Members: John McBurnie (vocals), Laurie Styvers (vocals), Keith Trowsdale (guitar, vocals), Bethlyn Bates (vocals), Valerie Cope (vocals), Dougie Wright (drums), Chris Gibb (drums), Jerry Hovell (bass)

Background

Justine formed in London in autumn 1968 when guitarist-vocalists John McBurnie and Keith Trowsdale recruited American singer Laurie Styvers through an advertisement for a female singer.

McBurnie and Trowsdale had met at a St. John’s Wood school at fifteen and first performed around North London as a duo. During the summer of 1967, McBurnie worked as an assistant to Yoko Ono at Lisson Gallery. Trowsdale had sung in Covent Garden opera productions and on television in Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd.

Styvers was born Laurette Stivers in Texas. Around 1965, she moved with her father to London and attended the American School.

McBurnie and Trowsdale named Justine after the shared title of books by Lawrence Durrell and the Marquis de Sade, then sent a demo to the office of Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood. Dot signed the trio for the 1969 single “Leave Me Be” backed with “Clown,” which Hugh Murphy produced for the label’s British launch. After the single, Justine expanded the vocal lineup with singers Bethlyn Bates and Valerie Cope.

Bates was born in Arkansas and moved to London after four years of legal training to study classical piano. Cope grew up in Liverpool, settled in Ealing, and had sung with the girl group the Cherolees and the trio the Wheels of Fortune.

The expanded group attracted talent scout Roger Watson during a Trafalgar Square performance. Watson arranged a publishing deal and an MCA-affiliated recording contract for the group. Murphy produced the album sessions at Olympic and Trident with guitarist Alan Parker, bassist Gary Taylor, and drummer Dougie Wright among the added players. Styvers left for college in Colorado before the album reached shops. McBurnie, Trowsdale, Bates, and Cope carried the project to the album mix at Trident, and Uni placed the self-titled Justine in its June 1970 release schedule.

Justine

Justine released their self-titled debut album in June 1970 on Uni.

The album presents acoustic-led folk-pop and light psychedelic arrangement, performed by vocalists Valerie Cope, Bethlyn Bates, and Laurette Stivers, and vocalist-guitarists John McBurnie and Keith Trowsdale. Drummer Dougie Wright appears in the credited album lineup. McBurnie and Trowsdale wrote all titled sections apart from “Sea Saw,” which adds Stivers as co-writer.

Multi-voice harmonies frame the shorter titles, while three tracks split into medley structures drawn from multiple titled sections. “Flying / Love You More Than Is Good for Me To / Nostrils” passes from a hazed electric opening into a brighter vocal middle, then closes on a short plucked acoustic instrumental. “She Brings the Morning With Her” brightens the vocal line into a direct love-song setting. “Traveller” drifts through laid-back voices, piano, and a high woodwind line. “See Saw” softens the same vocal blend into a wistful acoustic piece.

“Mini Splurge / Mr. Jones / Is That Good, That’s Nice” starts with mellow group harmony, then darkens around repeated text, multi-voice overlap, and wailing guitar. “Unknown Journey” opens on an acoustic figure, swells through fuzz and wah-wah, recedes into quiet breaks, then thickens with mixed-voice chant, effects, horns, and layered strings.

A1. “Flying / Love You More Than It’s Good for Me To / Nostrils” (7:25) – McBurnie, Trowsdale
A2. “She Brings the Morning With Her” (3:20) – McBurnie, Trowsdale
A3. “Back to Boulder” (5:09) – McBurnie, Trowsdale
A4. “Traveller” (2:48) – McBurnie, Trowsdale
A5. “Sea Saw” (2:31) – McBurnie, Trowsdale, Stivers

B1. “Mini Splurge / Mr Jones / Is That Good, That’s Nice” (10:54) – McBurnie, Trowsdale
B2. “Clocks / Hey I Used to Know You” (5:02) – McBurnie, Trowsdale
B3. “Unknown Journey” (7:08) – McBurnie, Trowsdale

Hugh Murphy produced Justine at Trident Studios in London. Steve Gray arranged the material. Barrie Ainsworth mixed the album.

Justine appeared in a textured gatefold sleeve designed by Crispin Meller. Paul Saunders photographed the black-and-white five-member cover portrait.

Dot issued “Leave Me Be” backed with “Clown” as a May 1969 UK single before the album. Uni lifted “She Brings the Morning With Her” as an August 28, 1970 UK single, backed with “Back to Boulder.”

Discography: