Hurdy Gurdy (band)
Encyclopedia
Hurdy Gurdy formed from the Danish group Peter Belli and the Boom Boom Brothers (aka The B.B. Brothers) in June 1967. Three of the B.B. Brothers, guitarist Claus Bohling, drummer Jens Otzen and British vocalist and bassist Mac MacLeod
formed the power trio. Inspired by Cream
but with more psychedelic leanings they split from Peter Belli to form the band named by MacLeod 'Hurdy Gurdy'. They had considerable success in Scandinavia breaking many attendance records for their live shows. The band moved to England in early 1968, after MacLeod had been deported from Denmark.
In Denmark, on the 19th of December 1967 MacLeod wrote to Donovan
's manager Ashley Kozak
to ask if he could help the band in any way. Donovan wrote "The Hurdy Gurdy Man
" for them as a gift for MacLeod. MacLeod came back to the U.K. in the new year to see Donovan and a few weeks later the rest of the band followed. After hearing Donovan's demo tape the band set up outside his Little Berkhamsted cottage and played their version of the song. Donovan did not like the heavy take on the track they played as he wanted a softer, acoustic arrangement. Soon after he released his own version of the song which became a hit, his version in the end had a similar arrangement to the Hurdy Gurdy version. Donovan told Keith Altham of the NME (and Hit Parader)in December 1968, Hurdy Gurdy Man,' was originally written for a Danish group by that name,”, “There is a friend of mine in the group — Mac MacLeod — whom I looked to in the early days to learn how to pick the guitar. “I wrote the song especially for them but then we got into a disagreement over how it was to be produced. I wanted to do it one way and they another.
“So I said, `Right then - I'll do it myself because I think it's good enough for a single.' “So I did it. And it's out.”
Whilst in the UK they did some recordings produced by Chris White
and Rod Argent
of The Zombies
. Two tracks by the MacLeod era of Hurdy Gurdy, "Tick Tock Man " and "Neo Camel" are on the Mac MacLeod anthology The Incredible Musical Odyssey of the Original Hurdy Gurdy Man, and showcase the free-flowing power trio psychedelic rock
sound that rivalled The Jimi Hendrix Experience
in their live performances.
Otzen and Bohling had to return to Denmark shortly after those recordings, as they were unable to secure work permits from the Musician's Union. A new bassist (Torben Forne) was recruited to replace MacLeod, and in the early 1971 they released a self-titled album for CBS
which has recently been reissued on CD. MacLeod briefly joined the post-Zombies group Argent
.
Mac MacLeod
Mac MacLeod is an English musician who was a part of the Hertfordshire folk and blues scene from 1959 onwards. He played in St Albans alongside Mick Softley, Maddy Prior and toured with John Renbourn...
formed the power trio. Inspired by Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
but with more psychedelic leanings they split from Peter Belli to form the band named by MacLeod 'Hurdy Gurdy'. They had considerable success in Scandinavia breaking many attendance records for their live shows. The band moved to England in early 1968, after MacLeod had been deported from Denmark.
In Denmark, on the 19th of December 1967 MacLeod wrote to Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
's manager Ashley Kozak
Ashley Kozak
Ashley Kozak , is a jazz bassist, record producer and artists' manager, best known as having been Donovan's manager....
to ask if he could help the band in any way. Donovan wrote "The Hurdy Gurdy Man
The Hurdy Gurdy Man
The Hurdy Gurdy Man is the sixth studio album and seventh album overall from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States in October 1968 , but was not released in the UK because of a continuing contractual dispute that also prevented Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow...
" for them as a gift for MacLeod. MacLeod came back to the U.K. in the new year to see Donovan and a few weeks later the rest of the band followed. After hearing Donovan's demo tape the band set up outside his Little Berkhamsted cottage and played their version of the song. Donovan did not like the heavy take on the track they played as he wanted a softer, acoustic arrangement. Soon after he released his own version of the song which became a hit, his version in the end had a similar arrangement to the Hurdy Gurdy version. Donovan told Keith Altham of the NME (and Hit Parader)in December 1968, Hurdy Gurdy Man,' was originally written for a Danish group by that name,”, “There is a friend of mine in the group — Mac MacLeod — whom I looked to in the early days to learn how to pick the guitar. “I wrote the song especially for them but then we got into a disagreement over how it was to be produced. I wanted to do it one way and they another.
“So I said, `Right then - I'll do it myself because I think it's good enough for a single.' “So I did it. And it's out.”
Whilst in the UK they did some recordings produced by Chris White
Chris White (musician)
Chris White was the bass guitarist and songwriter with the 60s British Invasion band The Zombies.Although born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, he was brought up in Markyate where his parents owned a village shop...
and Rod Argent
Rod Argent
Rod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
of The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
. Two tracks by the MacLeod era of Hurdy Gurdy, "Tick Tock Man " and "Neo Camel" are on the Mac MacLeod anthology The Incredible Musical Odyssey of the Original Hurdy Gurdy Man, and showcase the free-flowing power trio psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
sound that rivalled The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
in their live performances.
Otzen and Bohling had to return to Denmark shortly after those recordings, as they were unable to secure work permits from the Musician's Union. A new bassist (Torben Forne) was recruited to replace MacLeod, and in the early 1971 they released a self-titled album for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
which has recently been reissued on CD. MacLeod briefly joined the post-Zombies group Argent
Argent (band)
Argent are an English rock band founded in 1969 by keyboardist Rod Argent, formerly of The Zombies.-Career:The first three demos from Argent, recorded in the autumn of 1968 featured Mac MacLeod on bass guitar though he was not meant to become a member of the group.Original members of the band were...
.