Parchment -

Parchment was an English folk-rock trio from Liverpool active from 1972 through 1978. The group recorded four albums for Pye, Myrrh and Grapevine. Their 1972 debut single, “Light Up the Fire,” reached No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart.

Members: Sue McClellan [aka Sue Mack] (vocals, guitar, mandolin, slide guitar), John Pac (sitar, dulcimer, guitar, mandolin), Keith Rycroft (Dobro, guitar, vocals, ?-1973), Jeff Crow (1973-78), Brian Smith (1975), Pete Yates-Round (drums, 1977-78)

Background

John Pac founded Trinity Folk in Liverpool with Sue McClellan. The group gave a first concert in 1968 and joined the Sound Vision touring circuit by 1970. Christian poet Keith Rycroft also performed on the Liverpool circuit and played in Gospel Light.

Trinity Folk appeared at the Festival of Jesus rallies in August 1972 and wrote “Light Up the Fire” for the event. Rycroft joined Pac and McClellan as they developed the song. Pye accepted the recording for release and prompted the trio to adopt the Parchment name.

Light Up the Fire

Parchment released their debut album, Light Up the Fire, in November 1972 on Pye in association with Key Records.

Pac, McClellan and Rycroft share the singing and principal instrumental work. The three members jointly composed ten tracks. “Love Is Come Again” sets words by J.M.C. Crum to a traditional melody arranged by Martin Shaw. Richard Fariña and Pauline Marden wrote “Pack Up Your Sorrows.”

“Light Up the Fire” rallies through broad group unison and an emphatic hymn tune. “Love Is Come Again” shimmers through zinging sitar phrases and childlike wonder. “Son of God” drifts through a mystic, suspended mood. “Zip Bam Boo!” stomps with raucous folk-club force. “Ship Out on the Ocean” unfurls through lavish studio layers.

A1. “Light Up the Fire” (3:17)
A2. “Till the Morning Comes” (2:26)
A3. “Roundabout” (2:23)
A4. “Where Can I Find You” (3:15)
A5. “Love Is Come Again” (3:37)
A6. “Ship Out on the Ocean” (3:42)

B1. “Zip Bam Boo!” (2:28)
B2. “True Summer” (2:18)
B3. “Do You Love Me?” (2:46)
B4. “Son of God” (3:53)
B5. “Better Than Yesterday” (2:38)
B6. “Pack Up Your Sorrows” (3:53)

Parchment recorded the album at IBC Studios and Morgan Studios with producer John Pantry, a prior soundman for the Small Faces (There Are But Four Small Faces) and Bee Gees (Idea). Two’s Company designed the textured sleeve.

Pye issued “Light Up the Fire” in September 1972 (b/w “Let There Be Light”). The single entered the UK chart on September 16 and reached No. 31 across a five-week run.

“Where Can I Find You” appeared as a February 1973 single with “Working Man,” a non-album Parchment exclusive.

1973 Standalone Single

Pye issued the standalone “You Were on My Mind” in April 1973 (b/w “Rock ’n’ Roll Part Time”).

A. “You Were on My Mind” (2:57)
B. “Rock ’n’ Roll Part Time” (2:21)

Hollywood Sunset

Parchment released their second album, Hollywood Sunset, in late 1973 on Pye.

Pac, McClellan and Rycroft retained the three-part lineup. Producer John Pantry expanded the sessions with electric guitarist Idris Jones and rhythm players Chris Laurence, Nick Ryan and Mike Wade. Bill Shepherd arranged the strings.

“Hard Road” jogs through quirky turns and an unsettled feel. “Lovely Touching” glides through dreamy, mysterious phrasing before dramatic guitar soloing breaks the hush. “Dobbie’s Song” circles a stripped-down minor-key figure. “Gift” settles into a delicate ballad reading. “Butterfly” sways through a broad singalong tune. “Get on the Road” rattles through a pub-room singalong. “Getting Out of This Town” churns through a murky, altered-state passage. “Death in Jerusalem” erupts amid freakish electronic effects. “Hollywood Sunset” sweeps into a broad chorus.

A1. “You Are My Morning” (3:01)
A2. “Hard Road” (3:17)
A3. “Lovely Touching” (4:10)
A4. “Dobbie’s Song” (4:06)
A5. “I’m a Man” (3:09)
A6. “Butterfly” (2:22)

B1. “Gettin’ Out of This Town” (2:24)
B2. “Death in Jerusalem” (3:14)
B3. “Gift” (2:51)
B4. “Get on the Road” (2:59)
B5. “True Words” (2:41)
B6. “Hollywood Sunset” (2:47)

Pantry produced Hollywood Sunset with engineer Gerry Kitchingham. Shepherd directed the string arrangements. Pantry also handled overdub and remix work on Graham Kendrick’s 1973 album Bright Side Up at this stage of his production career. Pye housed the record in a front-laminated gatefold with a watercolour sunset across the exterior and lyrics on the inner spread.

Pye previewed the album in July 1973 with “You Are My Morning” (b/w “Getting Out of This Town”).

Unreleased Third Pye Album

Rycroft left the touring lineup after completing Hollywood Sunset. Roadie Jeff Crow moved to bass and joined Pac and McClellan as Parchment’s third member. This lineup completed another album for Pye in 1974, but the label withheld the recordings. The sessions included early versions of “Denomination Blues” and “People and Places,” which Parchment revisited on later albums. Crow left after less than a year.

Shamblejam

Parchment released their third album, Shamblejam, in 1975 on Myrrh.

Bassist-guitarist Brian Smith joined Pac and McClellan and added backing vocals. Guitarist Mo Witham and bassist Nick Ryan supported the trio. Gordon Miller and Mike Wade divided the drum work across the sessions. Parchment included Washington Phillips’ “Denomination Blues” and Judee Sill’s “My Man on Love” among their original material. Myrrh also issued the album in the United States, making it the only Parchment LP released there while the group remained active.

“Denomination Blues” rattles on a manic mandolin figure beneath a raw lead. “Green Psalm” drifts through hazy group harmony as fuzz guitar roughens the edges. “Light of the World” swirls through reversed tape effects and a trippy lead passage. “Speaker’s Corner” slinks through burlesque brass and wolf whistles beneath a light, teasing lead. Catcalls sharpen the theatrical turn. “Long As I Can See You” drifts gently into a fade of children at play and Big Ben. A football crowd fills the final seconds.

A1. “Denomination Blues” (2:42)
A2. “Green Psalm” (4:00)
A3. “Shine on Me” (3:42)
A4. “Changes” (2:50)
A5. “Don’t Let the Morning Come” (3:30)
A6. “Corners of My Life” (3:40)

B1. “Speakers Corner” (3:05)
B2. “Morning Sky” (3:07)
B3. “My Man on Love” (3:20)
B4. “Light of the World” (4:00)
B5. “Long as I Can See You” (4:56)

Parchment recorded and reduced Shamblejam at Grosvenor Studios with producer John Pantry and engineer John Taylor. Pantry’s adjacent projects included the 1974 US version of Water Into Wine Band’s Hill Climbing for Beginners and Dave and Dana’s 1976 album Come On In.

John Leigh photographed the gatefold and K.C. Design Studios handled the graphics. The sleeve arranges domestic Victorian objects across the exterior and inner panels. K.C. Design Studios also designed the US edition of Hill Climbing for Beginners in the same period.

Rehearsal for a Re-Union

Parchment released their fourth album, Rehearsal for a Re-Union, in 1977 on Grapevine.

Vocalist-guitarist Peter Yates-Round joined Pac and McClellan in the credited lineup. Guitarist Mo Witham returned alongside bassist Nick Ryan and drummer Mike Wade. John Pantry added Korg synthesizer, while Dave Anfield arranged the string and brass parts.

“Glory Shone Around” stomps through bright brass replies and a jaunty folk-club swing. “Still Waters” quickens beneath brisk classical strings. “Vision” rises from a mandolin entrance through recurring lines and widening harmony, then returns to a final declaration. “Jesus on the Mainline” charges with a foot-stomping, rousing drive. “Golden Game” rests on interlocked group harmony. “Light Up the Fire” slows into a reflective reprise.

A1. “Glory Shone Around” (3:31)
A2. “Still Waters” (2:52)
A3. “Vision” (4:05)
A4. “Borders of Belief” (3:59)
A5. “Jesus on the Mainline” (4:28)

B1. “Golden Game” (1:35)
B2. “Angel Voices” (4:21)
B3. “I Want to Go Home” (4:38)
B4. “Talking to You” (3:10)
B5. “People and Places” (4:41)
B6. “Light Up the Fire” (2:44)

Pantry produced and engineered the album with engineer Colin Owen. Andy Kidd mixed the sessions and Anfield directed the orchestral arrangements. Pantry’s subsequent production work included Graham Kendrick’s 1978 album Fighter, recorded at Maranatha! Music Studios in California.

M&M Advertising & Marketing Ltd. designed the gatefold sleeve; Mike Springer supplied the photography.

Final Activity

Parchment mounted a farewell tour after Rehearsal for a Re-Union and played their final concert at the 1978 Greenbelt Festival. Pac subsequently concentrated on production and record-company work. He later managed Kingsway Music and the Thankyou Music publishing division.

Kingsway issued the three-CD anthology Simply Parchment: Light Up the Fire in 2004. The collection contains 44 tracks drawn from the group’s recorded catalogue.

Discography: