Clancy was a British rock band that emerged in the early 1970s, a period marked by a flourishing and diverse music scene in the UK. The band was formed in 1973 by members from various notable groups, including Manfred Mann Chapter Three and If, contributing to Clancy's distinctive sound that blended rock, jazz, and blues. The lineup initially consisted of Colin Bass (bass, vocals), Ernie Graham (guitar, vocals), Gasper Lawal (percussion), Dave Vasco (guitar), Dave Charles (drums), and Steve Brendel (keyboards).
The band's formation was driven by a desire to create music that was less commercially driven and more exploratory, combining the individual members' experiences and musical tastes. Clancy's music was an eclectic mix, often hard to pigeonhole into a ingle genre. Their sound drew from a wide range of influences, including blues rock, jazz fusion, and folk. This fusion of styles was reflective of the era's experimental spirit, with many bands exploring beyond the confines of traditional rock and pop. Clancy's music often featured intricate guitar work, rhythmic complexity, and soulful vocals, supported by a robust rhythm section and layers of keyboards and percussion.
The band's approach to music was somewhat reminiscent of contemporaries like Traffic and The Band, emphasizing a rootsy, organic sound combined with technical proficiency. Unlike some of the more commercially successful acts of the time, Clancy seemed more focused on creating a cohesive band sound than on showcasing individual members' virtuosity. Clancy released two albums during their brief career, both of which garnered critical acclaim though they didn't achieve significant commercial success.
Their debut album, Seriously Speaking (1974), was produced by Chris Thomas, known for his work with artists like Procol Harum and The Beatles. The album encapsulated the band's laid-back yet sophisticated approach to rock music. Tracks like "Back on Love" and "You Have Made My Life" demonstrated the band's knack for blending catchy melodies with complex arrangements. The album, however, received mixed reviews due to its eclectic nature, which some critics found lacking in cohesion. Despite this, Seriously Speaking was appreciated for its musicianship and the way it captured the band's live energy in the studio.
Liner-Notes
An album with a nicely down-to-earth vibe, as you might guess from the group's sweatshirted image on the cover – but one that also has a great mix of jazzy elements as well! The record's kind of a laidback take on AOR territory of the mid 70s – served up by a British group, and not nearly as slick as similar efforts coming out of California during the time – almost with a joyous approach that has the group hitting all the right soulful notes on their instruments, and following suit on their vocals as well! The latter are shared by different group members from track to track – Dave Skinner, Colin Bass, Ernie Graham, and Barry Ford – which makes for a nice sense of variety that matches the instrumentation's shifts as well. Titles include "Sign Of The Times", "Lose Me", "Body To Body", "Back On Love", "Long Time Comin", and "Move On"
Du•Gr
Tracks
1. Back On Love - 3:45
2. Lose Me - 5:24
3. Body To Body - 6:08
4. Steal Away - 4:49
5. Sign Of The Times - 3:19
6. Southern Boogie - 3:31
7. Money - 3:27
8. Long Time Comin' - 3:27
9. Move On - 6:33
10.Eat Gook (Colin Bass, Dave Vasco) - 3:53
Song 1,2,6,9 written by Dave Skinner
Songs 3,5,7 written by Colin Bass
Songs 4,8 by Ernie Graham
Clancy
*Barry Ford - Drums, Vocals
*Colin Bass - Bass, Vocals
*Dave Skinner - Keyboards, Vocals
*Dave Vasco - Guitar, Vocals
*Ernie Graham - Guitar, Vocals
*Gaspar Lawal - Percussion, Vocals
With
*Jim Cuomo - Saxophone
Related Acts
Thank you Marios.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Marios.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot! Very nice band! Never heard them before and glad to listen! Do you have the second their album that was issued last year follow to dicogs?
ReplyDeleteThank you Marios!! I love this band and this album (their second one not so much). And if anyone can find and share this live BBC transcription disc: Clancy / String Driven Thing – Stereo Pop Special-112 (BBC Transcription Services – CN 2464/S) or the band's two singles ("Good Judgement" and "Baby Don't You Do It") with non--LP songs I will die a happy man!
ReplyDeleteSadly I don't have the BBC transcription disc but here are vinyl rips of three singles not included on the album https://mega.nz/folder/ZqxXjSCK#NTw3-AuXV5rCE7WCZOGQJA
DeleteMythicalking, you have made me very, very happy. Thanks so much for your kindness!
ReplyDelete