Week of May 12, 2002
Personnel:
Dyan Birch - vocals
Carroll Carter - vocals
Frank Collins - vocals
Lloyd Courtenay - drums
Don Hume - bass
Paddy McHugh - vocals
Tony O'Malley - vocals, keyboards
Glen Le Fleur - drums, percussion
Raphael Pereira - guitar
Lee Sutherland - bass
Albums:
Arrival (Decca SKL 5055) 1970
Arrival (CBS 64733) 1972
45s:
Friends/Don't Turn His Love Away (Decca F 12986) 1969
I Will Survive/See The Lord (Decca F 13026) 1970
Let My Life Be Your Love Song/Out Of Desperation (CBS 7035) 1971
Family Tree/Part Of My Dream (CBS 7617) 1971
(The Theme From) Heartbreak Kid/Sweet Summer (CBS 1350) 1973
Mr. Know It All/Not Gonna Worry (Epic EPC 1821) 1973
Reissue 45s:
I Will Survive/See The Lord (Decca F 13593) 1975
Friends/I Will Survive (Decca F 13763) 1978
A pop/rock band from Liverpool who enjoyed Top 20 hits with "Friends" and "I Will Survive". On the CBS album, the stronger tracks like "Glory Be" and "Family Tree" have quite a strong black/gospel influence. Also of note for Birch's vocals are the melancholic "Part Of My Dream", "So It Is Written" and "Not Preconceived".
Their original bassist was Don Hume and original drummer was Lloyd Courtenay
ex-Casuals and Lace, both appeared on all Decca material and first two CBS singles before they left in 1972. They were replaced by Lee Sutherland
(ex-Sunburst/pre-Cross &
Ross), Steve Chapman (drums, ex-Distant Jim) and George Lee (sax,
ex-Aquila). Chapman only stayed briefly, leaving for Coast Road Drive and, in turn, being replaced by Glen Lefleur
(ex-Legend). Pereira then joined and the recording of the CBS album,
"Arrival" commenced. Sutherland had also left prior to its recording and Phil Chen
(ex-Graham
Bond's
Magick) joined to complete the album. Chen then left to join The Butts Band (US) and Lee left too. Pereira switched to bass; Birch, Collins and McHugh went on to
Kokomo, O'Malley initially joined
Mick Cox, then went to Kokomo, Le Fleur went on to
Gonzales.
(Vernon Joynson/Jim McMaster)
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