Quicksand -

Quicksand was a Welsh symphonic/hard-rock band that issued a 1970 standalone single and the 1973 Dawn release Home Is Where I Belong. Guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Davies reappeared in the Rockfield one-off Alkatraz.

Members: Jimmy Davies (guitar, vocals), Anthony Stone (drums, vocals), Will Youatt (bass, 1969-?), Phil Davies (bass, vocals), Robert Collins (keyboards, vocals)

Background

Quicksand formed in Port Talbot in 1969 when guitarist Jimmy Davies and keyboardist Anthony Stone teamed with bassist Will Youatt and drummer Robert Collins. Around this time, Collins wrote the song “Lord & Master,” recorded by folk-rockers Heron on their debut album.

In 1970, Quicksand issued “Passing By” (b/w “Cobblestones”) on small-press Carnaby. Youatt wrote both sides of the single, which was produced by ex-Twilights guitarist Terry Britten, the mastermind of Cliff Richard‘s 1979 album Rock ‘n’ Roll Juvenile.

Soon after, Youatt cleared out for Jimmy’s bassist brother Phil Davies. This lineup spent the next two years on the UK club circuit, where they impressed the A&R of Dawn Records, the underground subsidiary of Pye.

Home Is Where I Belong

Quicksand released their singular album, Home Is Where I Belong, in 1973 on Dawn. It features eight songs, including “Sunlight Brings Shadows,” “Overcome the Pattern/Flying,” “Hideaway My Song,” and “Time to Live.” The last of those was issued on 7″ with the track “Empty Street, Empty Heart.” Phil Davies wrote all the songs apart from “Seasons/Alpha Omega,” a leftover from the Youatt era.

The album was produced by Geoff Gill (Angel Pavement, Red Dirt, Fickle Pickle, Oscar). Original copies of the album were pressed on burgundy vinyl.

Quicksand were the second significant British band to feature a pair of brothers with the surname Davies. After they split, Jimmy Davies reteamed with Youatt on the 1976 album Doing a Moonlight by hard-rockers Alkatraz. In 1980, Davies issued the solo single “Hollywood” (b/w “Holding You Close”) on Active Records.

Discography: