BANDS:
- Harsh Reality
- Matthews Southern Comfort
- Albion Country Band
- Al Stewart Band
- Ian Matthews Band
- Jules Shear & The Polar Bears
BIOGRAPHY:
Drummer, also later a producer. He was born on February 23th, 1946 in Northampton, England.
his early music projects brought him to London where he worked in children's television for the BBC and toured England playing for theatrical companies, before working for the Beatles' Apple Publishing on Baker Street in the late '60s.
SMILE
Smile was a band formed by Roger Swallow in 1968. They released one single in Decca, 'Penny for the wind / Tea and toast, Mr. Watson?' in May 1968 (credited to Dennis Couldry And Smile), but they recorded more tracks that remain unreleased.
They only played one gig, at the Isle Of Wight Festival in August 1968 (as The Smile), with this lineup (Spedding on bass!):
They also made a TV appearance.
I have some questions... Does anybody know who are the musicians playing in the single? These same ones?
They only played one gig, at the Isle Of Wight Festival in August 1968 (as The Smile), with this lineup (Spedding on bass!):
|
SMILE #? |
Aug 68 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êBattered Ornaments |
||||
Dennis Couldry vocals | Mark Griffiths guitar | Chris Spedding bass | Roy Civil keyboards | Roger Swallow drums |
Frank Ricotti Quartetê | ||||
They also made a TV appearance.
I have some questions... Does anybody know who are the musicians playing in the single? These same ones?
HARSH REALITY
They were a band from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, formed by members of another band called Freightliner Blues Band (previously also called The Revolution)
In 1968, they released their first single, ´Tobacco Ash Sunday / How Do You Feel´. They released only one album, Heaven and hell in 1969. After a new single in 1969, they disbanded and their producer recommended Barnwell, Griffiths and Roger Swallow to join the first Ian Matthews live backing band in 1970.
As I don´t have the album, I can´t check the credits, but I read in a different book that the lineup was different: Alan Greed (vocals), Mark Griffiths (guitar), Dave Jenkins (guitar), Steve Miller (bass) and Roger Swallow (drums). Can someone help me checking the album credits, please?
|
HARSH REALITY #? |
1968-1969 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carl Barnwell guitar | Mark Griffiths guitar, bass | Cliff Jenkins guitar | Stephen Miller † keyboards | Roger Swallow drums |
Ian Matthews Bandê | Ian Matthews Bandê | Ian Matthews Bandê | ||
In 1968, they released their first single, ´Tobacco Ash Sunday / How Do You Feel´. They released only one album, Heaven and hell in 1969. After a new single in 1969, they disbanded and their producer recommended Barnwell, Griffiths and Roger Swallow to join the first Ian Matthews live backing band in 1970.
As I don´t have the album, I can´t check the credits, but I read in a different book that the lineup was different: Alan Greed (vocals), Mark Griffiths (guitar), Dave Jenkins (guitar), Steve Miller (bass) and Roger Swallow (drums). Can someone help me checking the album credits, please?
IAN MATTHEWS BAND
This was first Ian Matthews Band lineup, in January 1970:
But they turned into Matthews Southern Comfort that same month.
|
IAN MATTHEWS BAND #1 |
Jan 70 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êHarsh Reality |
êHarsh Reality |
êHarsh Reality |
|||
Ian Matthews vocals, guitar | Carl Barnwell guitar | Mark Griffiths guitar | Gordon Huntley † steel guitar | Peter Watkins bass | Roger Swallow drums |
Matthews Southern Comfortê | Matthews Southern Comfortê | Matthews Southern Comfortê | Matthews Southern Comfortê | Matthews Southern Comfortê | Matthews Southern Comfortê |
But they turned into Matthews Southern Comfort that same month.
MATTHEWS SOUTHERN COMFORT
This was the original lineup of Matthews Southern Comfort in January 1970:
But sometime later, Roger Swallow and Peter Watkins left (they were replaced by Ray Duffy and Andy Leigh).
|
MATTHEWS SOUTHERN COMFORT #1 |
Jan 70-? |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êIan Matthews Band |
êIan Matthews Band |
êIan Matthews Band |
êIan Matthews Band |
êIan Matthews Band |
êIan Matthews Band |
Ian Matthews vocals, guitar | Carl Barnwell guitar | Mark Griffiths guitar | Gordon Huntley † steel guitar | Peter Watkins bass | Roger Swallow drums |
Albion Country Bandê | |||||
But sometime later, Roger Swallow and Peter Watkins left (they were replaced by Ray Duffy and Andy Leigh).
ALBION COUNTRY BAND
In 1973, Roger Swallow joins The Albion Country Band:
The band had already suffered several changes, and decided to split in August 1973. Anyway, they had already recorded an album, but it remained unreleased until 1976, when it appeared as Battle of the field (with a quite nice cover, by the way).
Many years later, the BBC sessions live album compiled tracks from different lineups, including some by this incarnation.
|
ALBION COUNTRY BAND #? |
1973-Aug 73 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êMatthews Southern Comfort |
|||||
Martin Carthy guitar, vocals | Simon Nicol guitar, vocals | Ashley Hutchings bass, vocals | Sue Harris vocals, oboe | John Kirkpatrick vocals | Roger Swallow drums |
The band had already suffered several changes, and decided to split in August 1973. Anyway, they had already recorded an album, but it remained unreleased until 1976, when it appeared as Battle of the field (with a quite nice cover, by the way).
Many years later, the BBC sessions live album compiled tracks from different lineups, including some by this incarnation.
AL STEWART BAND
This was the great Al Stewart touring band in 1975:
Tim Renwick was still a member of Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, but found time to be here.
Two of the major US tours that year were with Linda Ronstadt (the Heart like a wheel tour) and the very first Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band tour.
|
AL STEWART BAND #? |
1975 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êSutherland Brothers & Quiver |
|||||
Al Stewart vocals, guitar | Tim Renwick guitar | Mark Griffiths bass | Peter White keyboards | Peter Wood † keyboards | Roger Swallow drums |
Sutherland Brothers & Quiverê | |||||
Tim Renwick was still a member of Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, but found time to be here.
Two of the major US tours that year were with Linda Ronstadt (the Heart like a wheel tour) and the very first Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band tour.
JULES SHEAR & THE POLAR BEARS
I need info!
chu records also lists Roger Swallow as the founder of Los Angeles based chu recordswlo music, a division of his swlo inc - a music & business development and business management company, and as an electronic musician and programmer, percussionist, guitarist, songwriter/lyricist. He has four decades of experience with electronica, including collaborative efforts with Florida's musician-laureate Jack Tamul, a renowned electronic synthesist, and then in one of the first pop music onstage electronic percussion experiments he played with the legendary Los Angeles band, Jules and the Polar Bears, with songwriter/vocalist Jules Shear & producer/keyboardist/programmer Stephen Hague . His more current, collaborative projects are with Sound Designer & master EVI ( electronic valve instrument) player Judd Miller, including their ambient group bFas (Blood from a Stone). As a session and touring drummer/percussionist in the late 60s early 70s Swallow worked with such bands & artists as Harsh Reality , Plainsong and Matthews Southern Comfort (both with Iain Matthews ), Al Stewart , Neil Innes and many singer songwriters of that era, but is perhaps most well known in the British traditional arena with collaborations with Albion Country Band, Richard Thompson , Martin Carthy , John Kirkpatrick , Musica Resavarta, Robin Williamson , Norma Waterson . After relocating from London to Los Angeles in the mid 1970s he began a parallel career in business management and real estate development but his credits as a percussionist also included such artists as Leon Russell & Rickie Lee Jones and others. Later, as a lyricist/songwriter, Swallow has had solo recordings and chart successes writing for other artistes in the UK & Europe. Long time collaborator and friend, producer Stephen Hague, a colleague from the Polar Bear days, is also co-owner with Swallow in London's famous Manna Vegetarian Restaurant. They also collaborate in their 'Blue Panda' enterprises, including real estate, recording studio, publishing, management & music production. His current projects are sheRifff, a collaboration of Los Angeles jazz musicians and vocalists for soundtracks, etc, and ongoing recordings with bFas. As a business professional, through swlo inc, Swallow has developed and managed real estate projects in California, Hawaii, and Florida. Most notably the boutique Hotel Metropole on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, which he has developed with the Miller family of Los Angeles (no relation to Judd). Also a division of swlo inc is swlo productions, a video documentary company, that develops or promotes/produces video projects of influential but not necessarily well-know artists and movements. Current projects include Jack & Robert Kidney ( The Kidney Brothers), blues musicians from Akron Ohio, and Pink Smoke,a documentary that explores the world-wide movement of ordination of women priests, in spite of the formal Catholic Church's ban and protests.
chu records also lists Roger Swallow as the founder of Los Angeles based chu recordswlo music, a division of his swlo inc - a music & business development and business management company, and as an electronic musician and programmer, percussionist, guitarist, songwriter/lyricist. He has four decades of experience with electronica, including collaborative efforts with Florida's musician-laureate Jack Tamul, a renowned electronic synthesist, and then in one of the first pop music onstage electronic percussion experiments he played with the legendary Los Angeles band, Jules and the Polar Bears, with songwriter/vocalist Jules Shear & producer/keyboardist/programmer Stephen Hague . His more current, collaborative projects are with Sound Designer & master EVI ( electronic valve instrument) player Judd Miller, including their ambient group bFas (Blood from a Stone). As a session and touring drummer/percussionist in the late 60s early 70s Swallow worked with such bands & artists as Harsh Reality , Plainsong and Matthews Southern Comfort (both with Iain Matthews ), Al Stewart , Neil Innes and many singer songwriters of that era, but is perhaps most well known in the British traditional arena with collaborations with Albion Country Band, Richard Thompson , Martin Carthy , John Kirkpatrick , Musica Resavarta, Robin Williamson , Norma Waterson . After relocating from London to Los Angeles in the mid 1970s he began a parallel career in business management and real estate development but his credits as a percussionist also included such artists as Leon Russell & Rickie Lee Jones and others. Later, as a lyricist/songwriter, Swallow has had solo recordings and chart successes writing for other artistes in the UK & Europe. Long time collaborator and friend, producer Stephen Hague, a colleague from the Polar Bear days, is also co-owner with Swallow in London's famous Manna Vegetarian Restaurant. They also collaborate in their 'Blue Panda' enterprises, including real estate, recording studio, publishing, management & music production. His current projects are sheRifff, a collaboration of Los Angeles jazz musicians and vocalists for soundtracks, etc, and ongoing recordings with bFas. As a business professional, through swlo inc, Swallow has developed and managed real estate projects in California, Hawaii, and Florida. Most notably the boutique Hotel Metropole on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, which he has developed with the Miller family of Los Angeles (no relation to Judd). Also a division of swlo inc is swlo productions, a video documentary company, that develops or promotes/produces video projects of influential but not necessarily well-know artists and movements. Current projects include Jack & Robert Kidney ( The Kidney Brothers), blues musicians from Akron Ohio, and Pink Smoke,a documentary that explores the world-wide movement of ordination of women priests, in spite of the formal Catholic Church's ban and protests.
DISCOGRAPHY: (21 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)
ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (8 credits)
- Penny for the wind / Tea and toast, Mr. Watson? (SINGLE) - Dennis Couldry And Smile (05/1968)
- Members: Mark Griffiths, Chris Spedding, Roger Swallow
- Heaven & hell - Harsh Reality (1969)
- Members: Carl Barnwell, Mark Griffiths, Cliff Jenkins, Roger Swallow (RIP: Steve Miller)
- Soundtrack - Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (1969)
- Members: Joe Read, Roger Swallow (RIP: Vivienne McAuliffe)
- Producer: (RIP: John Peel)
- Comments: CD reissue contains 2 bonus tracks
- The Asmoto Running Band - Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (1971)
- Members: Roger Swallow (RIP: Vivienne McAuliffe)
- Producer: Nick Mason
- Battle of the field - Albion Country Band (1976)
- Members: Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Michael Gregory, Sue Harris, Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Roger Swallow, Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson
- Guests: Peter Knight (RIP: Royston Wood)
- BBC sessions - Albion Band (1995)
- Members: Peter Bullock, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Michael Gregory, Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Phil Pickett, Ric Sanders, Roger Swallow, John Tams, Graeme Taylor
- Guests: (RIP: Howard Evans)
- Comments: It includes tracks recorded by different lineups, in 1973 (with Roger Swallow), 1976, 1976 and 1978.
- The BBC sessions - The Albion Band (1998)
- Members: Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Michael Gregory, Sue Harris, Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Phil Pickett, Ric Sanders, Roger Swallow, John Tams, Graeme Taylor (RIP: Howard Evans)
- Producer: Jeff Griffin
- The Guv´nor vol 3 - Ashley Hutchings (12/1999)
- Members: Phil Beer, Peter Bullock, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Michael Gregory, Sue Harris, Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick, Cathy LeSurf, Ian Matthews, Simon Nicol, Phil Pickett, Ric Sanders, Roger Swallow, Graeme Taylor, Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson, Chris While (RIP: Sandy Denny, Martin Lamble)
- Guests: Melanie Harrold, Pete Zorn
- The Carthy chronicles - Martin Carthy (2001)
- Members: Martin Carthy, Sue Harris, Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick, Simon Nicol, Roger Swallow
- Guests: Bert Jansch, Dave Swarbrick, Richard Thompson (RIP: Howard Evans)
- Burning bright: the Ashley Hutchings story - Ashley Hutchings (04/2005)
- Members: Ashley Hutchings, Roger Swallow
- Guests: Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins, Julie Matthews, Maddy Prior, John Tams, Chris While, Kellie While, Gay Woods
- The Compleat dancing master - John Kirkpatrick & Ashley Hutchings (1974)
- Members: Ashley Hutchings, John Kirkpatrick
- Guests: Sue Harris, Peter Knight, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Phil Pickett, Rod Skeaping, Roger Swallow, Ray Warleigh
- Plainsong - Plainsong (04/2005)
- Members: Ian Matthews, Dave Richards, Andy Roberts, Bob Ronga
- Guests: B J Cole, Timi Donald, Dave Mattacks, Roger Swallow, Ray Warleigh
- Producer: Sandy Roberton, Pat Thomas
- Marc Ellington - Marc Ellington (1969)
- Guests: Mark Griffiths, Simon Nicol, Roger Swallow, Richard Thompson (RIP: Gordon Huntley)
- Marc time - Marc Ellington (1972)
- Guests: B J Cole, Gerry Conway, Tony Cox, Jerry Donahue, Timi Donald, Pat Donaldson, Katie Kissoon, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Dave Richards, Sandy Roberton, Andy Roberts, Roger Swallow, Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson, Ian Whiteman
- Adieu to old England - Shirley Collins (1974)
- Members: Shirley Collins
- Guests: Pat Donaldson, Simon Nicol, Bob Stewart, Roger Swallow
- Rutland times - Eric Idle & Neil Innes (1976)
- Members: John Halsey, Neil Innes
- Guests: Billy Bremner, Brian Hodgson, Zoot Money, Roger Rettig, Dave Richards, Andy Roberts, Roger Swallow
- Behind the mask - The Celebrated Ratliffe Stout Band (1979)
- Members: (RIP: Tom Hall)
- Guests: Roger Swallow, Martyn C Winning
- Producer: Nigel Pegrum
- Winter´s turning - Robin Williamson (1986)
- Members: Robin Williamson
- Guests: Krysia Kristianne, Robin Lamble, Roger Swallow
- Norma Waterson - Norma Waterson (1996)
- Guests: Martin Carthy, Roger Swallow, Benmont Tench, Danny Thompson, Richard Thompson
- Producer: Joe Boyd
- Technical: Tim Young
- Songs for children of all ages - Robin Williamson (10/1999)
- Members: Robin Williamson
- Guests: Krysia Kristianne, Robin Lamble, Roger Swallow
- Fairport unconventional - Fairport Convention (2002)
- Members: Martin Allcock, Bob Brady, Roger Burridge, Gerry Conway, Jerry Donahue, Judy Dyble, Roger Hill, Ashley Hutchings, Chris Leslie, Dave Mattacks, Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, David Rea, Bruce Rowland, Ric Sanders, Dave Swarbrick, Richard Thompson (RIP: Sandy Denny, Martin Lamble, Trevor Lucas)
- Guests: Don Airey, Ian Anderson, Barriemore Barlow, Martin Barre, Phil Beer, Gary Boyle, Dave Bristow, Victor Brox, Paul Burgess, Mike Burney, Ian Campbell, Martin Carthy, Clem Clempson, Joe Cocker, Shirley Collins, Christine Collister, Steve Cooke, Spencer Cozens, Pat Donaldson, Alan Dunn, John Etheridge, John Evan, Hughie Flint, Robert Fripp, Steve Gibbons, Mike Giles, Pete Giles, Steve Goldstein, Alan Greed, Clive Gregson, Mark Griffiths, Sue Harris, Tony Hooper, Karl Jenkins, Eddie Jobson, Bob Johnson, Rick Kemp, John Kirkpatrick, Peter Knight, Cathy Lesurf, Neil Marshall, Julie Matthews, Jackie McAuley, Ian McDonald, Rory McFarlane, Binky McKenzie, Jacqui McShee, Doug Morter, Poli Palmer, Doane Perry, Maddy Prior, Michael Rosen, Jean Roussel, Larry Steele, Cat Stevens, Liza Strike, Roger Swallow, John Tams, Graeme Taylor, Danny Thompson, Linda Thompson, Peter John Vettesse, Peter Watkins, Chris While, Gay Woods, Terry Woods, P J Wright, Pete Zorn (RIP: John Bonham, Ron Chesterman, Mark Craney, John Dunkerley, Graham Gallery, Tim Hart, Dorris Henderson, Gordon Huntley, Alexis Korner, Ronnie Lane, Steve Miller, William Murray, Cozy Powell, Alan Spenner, Drachen Theaker, Jerry Underwood, Royston Wood)
QUESTIONS:
01. Has he played live for Rickie Lee Jones?
01. Was he a member of Principal Edwards Magic Theatre?
02. Can someone give me info about his stay with Jules Shear, please?
02. When did he play with Al Stewart?
THANKS:
Very Special Thanks to:
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Roger Swallow mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Simon Nicol (10)
Martin Carthy (8)
Ashley Hutchings (8)
Shirley Collins (7)
John Kirkpatrick (7)
Dave Mattacks (7)
Richard Thompson (7)
Sue Harris (6)
Terry Potter (5)
Michael Gregory (4)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 22/December/2009 - Last modified on: 13/August/2010. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.
No comments:
Post a Comment