Week of December 1, 2002
Personnel:
Tony Clarkson - Bass
Rob Moore - Drums
Geoff Nicholls - Guitar, Organ
Christopher Robin - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
David Kubinec - Guitar, Organ
David Rea - Drums
Album:
The World Of Oz (Deram DML/SML 1034) 1969
CD: Si-Wan SRMC 0077, 1998
CD: Progressive Line PL 515, 2001
CD: Repertoire REPUK 1070, 2006
45s:
The Muffin Man/Peter's Birthday (Deram DM 187) 1968
King Croesus/Jack (Deram DM 205) 1968
Willow's Harp/Like A Tear (Deram DM 233) 1969
This Birmingham band were managed by Barry Class and their catchy debut 45, ‘The
Muffin Man’, was an adaptation of a children's nursery rhyme. Its flipside,
‘Peter's Birthday’, was marginally better due to the fairground organ,
which gave an additional dimension and prevented it being just another mundane
pop single. Sadly this is just what their next two A-sides – ‘King Croesus’
and ‘Willow's Harp’ were. Still their finest moment was tucked away on
the flip to their final 45: Indian-flavoured ‘Like A Tear’ with its
delightful whispered vocal backed by an acoustic guitar and gentle tabla. David
Kubinec went on to record solo material in the late seventies. He'd earlier been
in Pieces Of Mind. Tony Clarkson had been in Nicky James Movement
and Zeus.
Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The
Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and
Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson
ISBN 1 899855 04 1