East of Eden (rock band)
Encyclopedia
East of Eden was a British progressive rock
band
, who had a Top 10 hit
in the UK with the single
, "Jig-a-Jig
", in 1971. The track became something of a stylistic albatross
around the band's neck, since it did not resemble their usual sound or anything else they normally played. Although some might consider this group as being a symphonic progressive band, others state that their style is mostly jazz
oriented. Combining flutes, violins and tape loops
to folk
, gypsy
and psychedelic
music, the East of Eden style was always heavily supported on a pure rock
base; strong and experimental.
) (violin, flute, saxophone, trumpet), Ron Caines (born Ronald Caines, 13 December 1939, Bristol
) (alto saxophone), Geoff Nicholson (born Geoffrey Nicholson, 27 June 1948, near Bristol
, Somerset
) (guitar, vocals), Mike Price bass, and Stuart Rossister drums. Price left in Spring 1968 and was replaced by Terry Brace (born 29 September 1943, in Bristol, Somerset). Vocalist Al Read (born Alan G Read, 26 March 1942, Chelsea
, South West London
) at the same time. In September 1968 Brace left and was replaced by Steve York
and Rossister also left and was replaced in September 1968 by Dave Dufort (born David Dufort, in 1947, in London
). In 1968 they moved to London
, and the group was signed to a recording contract
with Decca
's progressive rock imprint Deram
label
. In February 1969 Dufort left and in came Bryan Appleyard, who was replaced in June 1969 by Geoff Britton
(born Geoffrey Britton, 1 August 1943, Lewisham
, South East London
) (drums), who later joined Wings
. York also left in June 1969 and in came bassist Andy Sneddon (born Andrew Sneddon, 8 May 1946, Ayrshire
, Scotland
).
In 1969 they released the Mercator Projected album
, followed shortly after by Snafu (1970), and Jig-a-Jig
, a European only compilation, released in 1971. Snafu made it into the Top 30 in Britain of the UK Albums Chart
, whilst a single
, "Ramadhan," got to number two in France
. Caines and Nicholson left the band as the 1970s began, and Arbus kept it together. They jumped to the Harvest
label, but their work there never caught on, coinciding as it did with a change in style and a veering away from Eastern music to a country-ish sound. Arbus left in the early 1970s and was replaced by future Rory Gallagher
collaborator Joe O'Donnell
. The band carried on as almost exclusively a Europe
an act, recording
and releasing albums in Europe only.More changes saw
In May 1970 original guitarist Nicholson left. In The band broke up in 1978 having undergone various changes in membership. Important members in late line-ups included vocalist Al Read; bassist Terence 'Terry' Brace; bassist Andy Sneddon; bassist/vocalist David 'Davy' Jack (born 24 January 1940, Glasgow
, Strathclyde
, Scotland
), drummer Jeff Allen
(born Jeffrey Allen, 23 April 1946, Matlock, Derbyshire
) (from June 1970); keyboardist Martin Fisher (born in 1947, in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey
); and violinist Joe O'Donnell (born Joseph O'Donnell, 26 December 1948, in Limerick
, County Limerick
, Ireland
) (from March 1973); Alan 'Al' Perkes (born 26 May 1949, in Bow
, West London
); guitarist Garth Watt-Roy (born Garth Philip Watt-Roy, December 1947, in Bombay, India
) (from February 1972).
The three core members (Arbus, Caines and Nicholson), reunited in 1996 and their album Kalipse was released next year. Like most of their earlier work, it was only a cult
hit.
Arbus was a guest musician
on The Who
's track "Baba O'Riley
", playing the violin solo. He was a friend of the band's drummer Keith Moon
, and was also later a member of Fiddler's Dram
.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, who had a Top 10 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the UK with the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Jig-a-Jig
Jig-a-Jig
"Jig-a-Jig" was a UK Top 10 hit single, released in May 1970, by the progressive rock band, East of Eden. It is also the title of a full length album by the band. The piece is actually a set of three traditional reels, not jigs, namely The Ashplant Reel, Drowsy Maggie and Jenny's Chicken...
", in 1971. The track became something of a stylistic albatross
Albatross (metaphor)
The word 'albatross' is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse. It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ....
around the band's neck, since it did not resemble their usual sound or anything else they normally played. Although some might consider this group as being a symphonic progressive band, others state that their style is mostly jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
oriented. Combining flutes, violins and tape loops
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
to folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, gypsy
Roma music
Romani music is the music of the Romani people, who have their origins in Northern India, but today live mostly in Europe....
and psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
music, the East of Eden style was always heavily supported on a pure rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
base; strong and experimental.
History
Their professional career began back in 1967 when they were formed in Bristol as Pictures of Dorian Gray, by Dave Arbus (born David Arbus, 8 October 1941, LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
) (violin, flute, saxophone, trumpet), Ron Caines (born Ronald Caines, 13 December 1939, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
) (alto saxophone), Geoff Nicholson (born Geoffrey Nicholson, 27 June 1948, near Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
) (guitar, vocals), Mike Price bass, and Stuart Rossister drums. Price left in Spring 1968 and was replaced by Terry Brace (born 29 September 1943, in Bristol, Somerset). Vocalist Al Read (born Alan G Read, 26 March 1942, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, South West London
South West London
South West London could refer to:*SW postcode area*South West *Western part of South London*South West...
) at the same time. In September 1968 Brace left and was replaced by Steve York
Steve York
Steven H. York is a documentary filmmaker who has worked in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America on subjects ranging from religious fundamentalism to American history to nonviolent conflict.- Life and career :...
and Rossister also left and was replaced in September 1968 by Dave Dufort (born David Dufort, in 1947, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
). In 1968 they moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the group was signed to a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
's progressive rock imprint Deram
Deram Records
Deram Records was a subsidiary record label established in 1966 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. At this time U.K. Decca was a completely different company than the Decca label in the United States, which was then owned by MCA Inc. Deram recordings were also distributed in the U.S. through...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. In February 1969 Dufort left and in came Bryan Appleyard, who was replaced in June 1969 by Geoff Britton
Geoff Britton
Geoff Britton is a rock drummer known for his work with Paul McCartney's Wings from 1974 to 1975, where he was featured on the Venus and Mars album,...
(born Geoffrey Britton, 1 August 1943, Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, South East London
South East London
South East London could refer to:*SE postcode area*South East - a sub region of the London Plan created in 2004 and corresponding to Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley*Eastern part of South London...
) (drums), who later joined Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
. York also left in June 1969 and in came bassist Andy Sneddon (born Andrew Sneddon, 8 May 1946, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
).
In 1969 they released the Mercator Projected album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, followed shortly after by Snafu (1970), and Jig-a-Jig
Jig-a-Jig
"Jig-a-Jig" was a UK Top 10 hit single, released in May 1970, by the progressive rock band, East of Eden. It is also the title of a full length album by the band. The piece is actually a set of three traditional reels, not jigs, namely The Ashplant Reel, Drowsy Maggie and Jenny's Chicken...
, a European only compilation, released in 1971. Snafu made it into the Top 30 in Britain of the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, whilst a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Ramadhan," got to number two in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Caines and Nicholson left the band as the 1970s began, and Arbus kept it together. They jumped to the Harvest
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
label, but their work there never caught on, coinciding as it did with a change in style and a veering away from Eastern music to a country-ish sound. Arbus left in the early 1970s and was replaced by future Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
collaborator Joe O'Donnell
Joe O'Donnell
Joseph Roger O'Donnell was an American documentarian, photojournalist and a photographer for the United States Information Agency...
. The band carried on as almost exclusively a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an act, recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and releasing albums in Europe only.More changes saw
In May 1970 original guitarist Nicholson left. In The band broke up in 1978 having undergone various changes in membership. Important members in late line-ups included vocalist Al Read; bassist Terence 'Terry' Brace; bassist Andy Sneddon; bassist/vocalist David 'Davy' Jack (born 24 January 1940, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Strathclyde
Strathclyde
right|thumb|the former Strathclyde regionStrathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created by the Local Government Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
), drummer Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen is an English rock and blues session drummer. Allen is best known for his work with East of Eden, Babe Ruth, Snowy White, Bonnie Tyler, Mick Taylor and Van Morrison....
(born Jeffrey Allen, 23 April 1946, Matlock, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
) (from June 1970); keyboardist Martin Fisher (born in 1947, in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
); and violinist Joe O'Donnell (born Joseph O'Donnell, 26 December 1948, in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
) (from March 1973); Alan 'Al' Perkes (born 26 May 1949, in Bow
Bow
Bow may refer to:* Bow , an archery weapon that uses elasticity to propel arrows* Bowing , to lower the head or the upper body* Bow , the foremost point of the hull of a ship or boat...
, West London
West London
West London generally refers to the western portions of London, and may refer specifically to:*West *West End of London*W postcode area...
); guitarist Garth Watt-Roy (born Garth Philip Watt-Roy, December 1947, in Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) (from February 1972).
The three core members (Arbus, Caines and Nicholson), reunited in 1996 and their album Kalipse was released next year. Like most of their earlier work, it was only a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
hit.
Arbus was a guest musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
on The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's track "Baba O'Riley
Baba O'Riley
"Baba O'Riley" is a song written by Pete Townshend for the English rock band The Who. Roger Daltrey sings most of the song, with Pete Townshend singing the middle eight: "Don't cry/don't raise your eye/it's only teenaged wasteland"...
", playing the violin solo. He was a friend of the band's drummer Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
, and was also later a member of Fiddler's Dram
Fiddler's Dram
Fiddler's Dram were a British folk band of the late 1970s. They are mainly known for their hit single, "Day Trip to Bangor " , although the sound of this record was not representative of the acoustic songs and tunes they had been performing for several years at folk clubs and festivals.-Band...
.
Albums
- Mercator Projected (1969, Deram)
- Snafu (1970, Deram)
- Jig A Gig (1971, Deram, European only compilation)
- East Of Eden (1971, Harvest)
- New Leaf (1971, Harvest)
- Another Eden (1975, European only release)
- Here We Go Again (1976, EMI, European only release)
- It's The Climate (1976, EMI, European only release)
- Silver Park (1978, EMI, European only release)
- Kalipse (1997, Transatlantic)