Bluesology
Bluesology | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pinner,Middlesex,England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1962–1968 |
| Labels | Fontana,Polydor |
| Past members | Reggie Dwight Stewart "Stu" Brown Geoff Dyson Rex Bishop Mick Inkpen Jim Wheeler Pat Higgs Dave Murphy Paul Gale Fred Gandy [AKA Freddie Creasey] Pete Gavin Neil Hubbard Elton Dean Marc Charig Alan Walker Long John Baldry Marsha Hunt Caleb Quaye Bernie Holland Jimmy Horowitz[1] Big Jim Sullivan[citation needed] |
Bluesologywas a 1960sBritish bluesgroup, best remembered as being the first professional band ofElton John(then known by his birth name Reginald Dwight).
History[edit]
From about 1960, organist Reginald Dwight – then aged 13 – and his neighbour, singer and guitarist Stewart "Stu" Brown, performed with a local group, the Corvettes, inPinner,Middlesex,a suburb of London. After that group separated, the pair formed a new group, Bluesology, with Rex Bishop (bass), and Mick Inkpen (drums).[2][3]According to Dwight, the band's name was in homage to theDjango ReinhardtalbumDjangology.[4]There had also been a 1956 piece named "Bluesology" byJohn Lewisof theModern Jazz Quartet.[5]By 1962 they had begun playing localpubs,and in 1963, they won a regular weekly slot at theEstablishment Clubin London, playing tunes byMuddy Waters,Jimmy WitherspoonandMemphis Slim,among others.[6]In 1965, they turned professional, and signed a contract with an agency which began hiring them out as a backing band for visiting American performers, includingThe Isley Brothers,Doris Troy,Billy StewartandPatti LaBelle.[6]
After recording a demo they were signed byFontana Records.On their audition, the label preferred the singing voice of Dwight instead of the original singer of the band, Brown, and Dwight therefore sang on their first single.[4]The single, written by Dwight, was "Come Back Baby", which was released in July 1965.[3]In November 1965, they released a second single, "Mr. Frantic", again written and sung by Dwight, and again unsuccessful. After a tour of Germany, the band returned to England to work as the backing band forMajor Lancewith an expanded line-up of Dwight, Brown, Pat Higgs (trumpet), Dave Murphy (saxophone), Fred Gandy (bass) and Paul Gale (drums).[6]
In September 1966, the band was invited by vocalistLong John Baldryto become his regular band.[3]Only Dwight and Brown agreed, thus forming with Baldry a new version of Bluesology, along with Fred Gandy (bass), Pete Gavin (drums),Neil Hubbard(guitar),Elton Dean(saxophone),Marc Charig(cornet and flugelhorn), and Alan Walker (vocals), and, for a brief spell, singerMarsha Hunt.[6]As Stu Brown and Bluesology, they recorded the single "Since I Found You Baby" forPolydor Records,produced byKenny Lynch.[3][4]On 11 December 1966, there was a recording session atAbbey Road StudioswithLittle Richard;four songs were recorded, two were released, in the U. K.[citation needed]
As Baldry's music drifted more towards the cabaret market, Dwight became disenchanted with the band,[7]and so simultaneously began to develop songwriting skills in collaboration withBernie Taupinwhilst working as asession musician.Dwight, Brown and Dean all quit Bluesology in late 1967, Brown's replacement beingCaleb Quaye,only for the band to separate the following year.[3]
Later activities[edit]
Dwight used the names of fellow band members Elton Dean and John Baldry to create his new solo stage name ofElton John.[8] Brown went on to formcountry rockbandCochise,playing and singing on their first two albums,CochiseandSwallow Tales,in 1970–71, before moving to theMediterranean.[9]Dean, Hubbard and Charig all had lengthy careers as jazz and session musicians. Gavin became a member ofHeads Hands & Feetand laterVinegar Joe,[10]and Gandy joined Caleb Quaye's bandHookfoot.[11]
Two Bluesology songs were featured on thecompilation album,Rare Tracks,which was issued by Polydor in 1975.[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ab"Allmusic ((( Bluesology > Rare Tracks > Overview )))"..Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^Paul Maclauchlan, Cornflakes & Classics: A musical history of Elton John: 1965Archived23 March 2010 at theWayback Machine.Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^abcdeBluesology at Allmusic.com – article by Bruce Eder.Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^abcWhite, Timothy; Rosen, Craig (4 October 1997)."Elton John, 30 years of music with Bernie Taupin".Billboard.p. 43.
- ^MJQ's 1956 track "Bluesology" 1956
- ^abcdClaude Bernardin and Tom Stanton,Elton John From A-Z,1996,pp. 10–11. Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^The Making of Elton John.BBC.Accessed 4 May 2021.
- ^BBC page on Elton Dean.Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^Cochise at ProculHarum.com.Accessed 8 January 2010
- ^Pete Gavin at Allmusic.com
- ^Tobler, John (1992).NME Rock 'N' Roll Years(1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 240. CN 5585.
External links[edit]
- BiographyatAllmusic
- Bluesology fan site(in Italian)
