Guggenheim's bizarre self-titled LP was originally released in 1972 on the low key Indigo label but went largely unnoticed due in part to the ineffective distribution by Decca. The blending of styles also made the record difficult to categorise and thus promote. However, recent interest in the album has soared and now enthusiasts would be hard pushed to secure a copy in top condition for under £400.
Many collectors have mistakenly tagged the band as Irish but this error is due to the fact that the LP was pressed in Ireland, as were many of the label's other releases, although Indigo Sound Studios where the recording was made was based in Manchester, England. It was in 1971 when Chris Pye and Paul McDowell met up while working on a TV comedy show at Granada called 'Flat Earth'. Earlier, Paul had been a painter at Chelsea Art College and then a writer on 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Frost Report'. But it was in the early 60s that he found fame as lead singer in the successful pastiche 1920s jazz band The Temperance Seven who had a huge hit in Britain with 'You're Driving Me Crazy'. Known as 'Whispering' Paul McDowell he also released a single on the Fontana label called 'Frankie'/'Be A Man' Chris and Paul hung out during rehearsals and started to write songs together. Chris then introduced his friend Jules Burns to Paul and the three of them began writing and arranging songs that feature on the LP. At that time, another friend, Bob Auger, a sound engineer at Granada, was opening a new studio called Indigo with his colleague Dave Kent-Watson and the Guggenheim album was the first project of its kind to be undertaken at the studio. Tracks 1-12 that make up the original release were recorded in the Autumn of 1971.
The following year some additional tracks were recorded at Granada Studios in Manchester that featured two sisters Zofia Williams and Laka Koc (later known as Laka D) whom Chris had met when they all sang together in a folk group in Lancaster in the 60s. In general the small Indigo label became of minor interest to record collectors mainly due to the Guggenheim LP sparking interest in other releases such as Therapy - 'One Night Stand' and Sharon People - 'Inside Looking Out'. The original catalogue number of the Guggenheim vinyl album is GOLP 7001 and it gains its first legitimate CD release right here in the form of an anthology encompassing the band's entire career.
As one might expect the group drew much of its inspiration from main singer/song writer 'Whispering' Paul with Chris and Jules providing effective back-up as they confidently handled the instrumentation side. Additional support came from saxophonist Alan Fawkes. The combined efforts resulted in an offbeat excursion straddling jazz-folk, pop-psych and vaudeville with occasional stoner elements most notably on the tripped-out 'Susie'. The oddly thoughtful 'Doorway Lovers' is another example of the collective's diversity of styles. Simultaneously endearing yet tricky to objectify as a whole; Guggenheim's identity remains sublimely baffling. At this point the three core members went their different ways for a while. Promotion of the LP by local distributors Selecta was virtually non-existent leaving the band disillusioned. Yet it wouldn't be the last throw of the dice for them, not yet. McDowell went on to an acting career starring as the sour-faced prison guard Mr Collinson in the hit TV series 'Porridge' and lived in Northamptonshire until his death in 2016.
While Chris continued as a TV producer at Granada, Jules went on to help form Witches Brew, who became regulars on the London pub-rock scene alongside bands like Slowbone and Ducks Deluxe. The band's line-up included keyboardist/vocalist Laka Koc, who had already helped co-write Guggenheim's 'Why Should We Care' with Jules and co. Witches Brew recorded a good deal of material (a mighty fine track 'Brother' can be found on our compilation Electrified Neptune Staircase') but most of their demos remained in the vault. However, they did manage to secure inclusion of a song called 'The Party's Over' recorded at the Hope & Anchor pub in 1975 on a compilation LP called 'The Honky Tonk Demos' and it features some excellent flute playing by Mick Strickland who, it is said, auditioned for Genesis during their 'Trick Of The Tail' sessions. Despite having a fine voice the decision was made that Mick's style was 'unsuitable'
Then in 1976 Jules joined Chris at Granada, working as a production manager and they began to play together again - this time without Paul. They also started to work with Richie Close, a producer and arranger who was part of 10CC's Strawberry Studios in Stockport and who composed music for TV animation and drama. Together they recorded eight or so new songs at Indigo Studios and later that year a few more demos were laid down at Strawberry Studios with Richie providing keyboards and producing and arranging the tracks. Drummer Jonathan Silver, another Granada colleague joined them.
The final two songs on this anthology 'Long Gone' and 'Searching Around' represent the last ever Guggenheim recording session which took place in 1977 at Cargo Studios, Todmorden. After that, Guggenheim faded away. Paul carried on acting and taught Qigong and Tai Chi. Jules enjoyed dizzy heights at the Granada Group and then with All3media. Chris left Granada in 1980 and became a TV producer in Los Angeles. Returning to the UK in 1994 he was appointed Head of Entertainment at the BBC and, later, at ITV with Jules. Richie Close sadly passed away in 1978. Laka carried on working as a musician as well as arranging and conducting large scale choral projects. Her sister Zofia worked as an editor but continued to sing and play violin. Jonathan Silver (who at school had been a member of Genesis ) ran his family's catering business in North London.
by Pete Sarfas, April 2022, Special thanks to Jules Burns, Chris Pye and Bob Auger.
Tracks
1. Glenville (Paul McDowell, Chris Pye) - 2:35
2. When The Snows Leave (Paul McDowell) - 2:59
3. Why Should We Care (Paul McDowell, Chris Pye, Jules Burns, Laka Koc) - 3:18
4. Games (Paul McDowell) - 2:20
5. Good-Bye Baby (Paul McDowell) - 3:02
6. Susie (Paul McDowell, Jules Burns) - 3:12
7. Songs For A Rainy Day (Paul McDowell, Chris Pye) - 2:13
8. Gonna Rain Forever (Paul McDowell) - 2:55
9. How You've Changed (Paul McDowell) - 2:59
10.Setting Out Again (Paul McDowell, Chris Pye) - 2:54
11.Doorway Lovers (Paul McDowell) - 3:14
12.Guggenheim (Paul McDowell, Chris Pye) - 2:52
13.Morning Light - 2:41
14.Confusion - 2:47
15.Sunday Sounds - 2:56
16.Move Myself Around - 3:01
17.California - 2:24
18.Get Rich - 3:05
19. he Late , Late Show - 3:10
20.Good Guys - 3:17
21.Country Boy - 3:03
22.I've Been Away Too Long (Paul McDowell, Chris Pye, Jules Burns, Steve Hawes) - 2:53
23.Long Gone - 3:50
24.Searching Around - 2:44
Songs wrritten by Paul McDowell, Chris Pye, Jules Burns except where noted
Tracks 1-12 recorded 1971 at Indigo Sound Studios, Manchester
Tracks 19-21 recorded 1976 at Indigo Sound Studios, Manchester
Tracks 13-18 recorded 1972 at Granada Studios, Manchester
Track 22 recorded 1976 at Strawberry Studios, Stockport
Tracks 23 and 24 recorded 1977 at Cargo Studios, Todmorden
Guggenheim
*Paul McDowell - Lead, Backing Vocals
*Chris Pye - Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Bass, Percussion, Lead, Backing Vocals
*Jules Burns - Lead Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Bass
With
*Alan Fawkes - Saxophone
*Laka Koc - Vocals
*Zofia Williams - Vocals, Violin
*Richie Close - Keyboards
*Jonathan Silver - Drums
Thank you very much Marios.
ReplyDeleteThank you Narios.
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