Joe Beagle
Encyclopedia
Joe Beagle, also known as singer-songwriter Joey Parratt, is an award-winning songwriter with various TV, radio and live performances to his name. He was founder member of The Flying Brix, No-one, Champion the Underdog, The (original) Beagles, Awful Racket, Cute Baby Monster and My Mate's Band all of which played almost exclusively his own original songs.
In 1979, as founder member of The Flying Brix, along with John Ashton, David Bradbury, Mark Hamilton, Gary Taylor and his brother Andy Barratt, he recorded, produced and released "Black Colours" a limited edition 7 inch 33 rpm vinyl DIY EP
with 9 original songs, distributed by Rough Trade Records
and played by John Peel
(of BBC, Radio One). One of the songs, Uniform (I Don't Wanna Be Different), was later featured on a compilation CD commemorating the era, MESSTHETICS #104 CD: 'D.I.Y.' and indie postpunk from the South Wales and the Z-Block scene: 1977-1981 (part 1).
Rowlands replaced Hamilton and then the band split in 1981 and Rowlands, Ashton, Bradbury and Taylor went on to form 'Fourplay'. Joe stayed with the name of The Flying Brix.
His next offering recorded at Rockfield Studios
featured a completely new line-up and was described by Allan Jones (editor)
of Melody Maker
as "Too bizarre by half, this kind of thing, for the conservative legions who make up today's predictable pop public, but definitely refreshing and bravely unorthodox."
During 1982, he courted publicity while trying to promote a local heavy metal band, for his friends. His antics were frequently reported by South Wales Echo
columnist Rod Liddle
,
He was invited to host an art exhibition of his illustrated lyrics in The Gallery, 4–22 October 1982, St Donat's Castle
, Llantwit Major, South Wales and perform a live concert of his own songs in the Tythe Barn there on Saturday 6 October 1982.
One of over 1,500 entries, his song "Home is where the heartbreak is" won 1st prize and £1,000 when he performed it live for the judges Melvyn Bragg
, Jake Thackray
and Victoria Wood
at the finals of the 1st British National Songsearch competition held at The Brewery Arts Centre, as a climax to the Kendal
Folk Festival on Saturday 24 August 1985.
Melvyn Bragg
said it "provided a bleak epic of life on the wrong side of the underprivileged". Gary Price said "The lyrics - in common with many of Joey Parratt's other songs - mix a healthy cynicism with compassion and humour". while Mick Tems derided some of the other songs on the album to praise it saying "The song grabs you places other songs can't reach".
Red Dragon Radio DJ and Cardiff Post Columnist, Gary Price wrote "To say Joey Parratt has a way with words is to use a cliche which ill-defines a superb lyrical talent", adding "I have rarely read a book of lyrics and been so overwhelmed by the wit and humour whilst at the same time touched by the obvious humanity of the author".
A video of his song 'Oh no, here come the goodguys,again!' was included in the music documentary 'Barry Island Rock' and featured on S4C
& Channel 4 (UK).
The BBC
produced a video of him performing a solo version of his song 'et tu brute' which was broadcast nationwide. He performed his songs 'Oh no, here come the good guys again!', 'Nightrider', & 'Fergie's Song' with his band 'No-one' on BBC TV.
His song 'Up & alive', was recorded by his band 'Champion The Underdog', & included on the anti-racist compilation 'NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!', and he performed his song 'I've turned into a fish!' live on Channel 4 (British Television Station), with his band 'The Beagles'.
Videos of six of his songs were also later featured on the "Beaglemania" CD-ROM. The Beagles also did the 20 gigs in a day fundraiser for Nottingham Mencap
and had a 3 month residency at The Filly & Firkin, Nottingham playing nothing but his original songs.
The Beagles became Awful Racket (to avoid confusion with an Eagles covers band) and played around Nottingham
including at The Green Festival.
He was a founder member of Nottingham Songwriters International. He designed their website and helped arrange bi-monthly showcase concerts.
Formed original acoustic duo Cute Baby Monster in February 2004 whose first concert was at The Third Annual Belvoir Castle
Folk Festival on Saturday 17 May 2008.
One of his songs, "Tea" was adopted by The Tea Appreciation Society for use on their MySpace page in 2008 and later released as a download on iTunes and amazon in 2009.
In 1979, as founder member of The Flying Brix, along with John Ashton, David Bradbury, Mark Hamilton, Gary Taylor and his brother Andy Barratt, he recorded, produced and released "Black Colours" a limited edition 7 inch 33 rpm vinyl DIY EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
with 9 original songs, distributed by Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
and played by John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
(of BBC, Radio One). One of the songs, Uniform (I Don't Wanna Be Different), was later featured on a compilation CD commemorating the era, MESSTHETICS #104 CD: 'D.I.Y.' and indie postpunk from the South Wales and the Z-Block scene: 1977-1981 (part 1).
Rowlands replaced Hamilton and then the band split in 1981 and Rowlands, Ashton, Bradbury and Taylor went on to form 'Fourplay'. Joe stayed with the name of The Flying Brix.
His next offering recorded at Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
featured a completely new line-up and was described by Allan Jones (editor)
Allan Jones (editor)
Allan Jones is a British music journalist and editor.Following graduation, Jones took a job in the stock room of Hatchards on Piccadilly. While there he applied for a writing opening at the rock weekly Melody Maker with a letter that concluded, "Melody Maker needs a bullet up its arse. I’m the gun...
of Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
as "Too bizarre by half, this kind of thing, for the conservative legions who make up today's predictable pop public, but definitely refreshing and bravely unorthodox."
During 1982, he courted publicity while trying to promote a local heavy metal band, for his friends. His antics were frequently reported by South Wales Echo
South Wales Echo
The South Wales Echo is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff, Wales and distributed throughout the surrounding area.The newspaper was founded in 1884 and was based in Thomson House, Cardiff city centre. It is published by Media Wales Ltd , part of the Trinity Mirror group...
columnist Rod Liddle
Rod Liddle
Roderick E. L. Liddle is an English print, radio, and television journalist.He is an associate editor of The Spectator, and former editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he is the author of Too Beautiful for You , Love Will Destroy Everything , and co-author of The Best of Liddle Britain...
,
He was invited to host an art exhibition of his illustrated lyrics in The Gallery, 4–22 October 1982, St Donat's Castle
St Donat's Castle
St Donat's Castle is a medieval castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, overlooking the Bristol Channel in the village of St Donat's near Llantwit Major, and about 25km west of Cardiff...
, Llantwit Major, South Wales and perform a live concert of his own songs in the Tythe Barn there on Saturday 6 October 1982.
One of over 1,500 entries, his song "Home is where the heartbreak is" won 1st prize and £1,000 when he performed it live for the judges Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg FRSL FRTS FBA, FRS FRSA is an English broadcaster and author best known for his work with the BBC and for presenting the The South Bank Show...
, Jake Thackray
Jake Thackray
John Philip "Jake" Thackray , was an English singer-songwriter, poet and journalist. Best known in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his topical comedy songs performed on British television, his work ranged from satirical to bawdy to sentimental to pastoral, with a strong emphasis on storytelling,...
and Victoria Wood
Victoria Wood
Victoria Wood CBE is a British comedienne, actress, singer-songwriter, screenwriter and director. Wood has written and starred in sketches, plays, films and sitcoms, and her live stand-up comedy act is interspersed with her own compositions, which she accompanies on piano...
at the finals of the 1st British National Songsearch competition held at The Brewery Arts Centre, as a climax to the Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
Folk Festival on Saturday 24 August 1985.
Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg
Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg FRSL FRTS FBA, FRS FRSA is an English broadcaster and author best known for his work with the BBC and for presenting the The South Bank Show...
said it "provided a bleak epic of life on the wrong side of the underprivileged". Gary Price said "The lyrics - in common with many of Joey Parratt's other songs - mix a healthy cynicism with compassion and humour". while Mick Tems derided some of the other songs on the album to praise it saying "The song grabs you places other songs can't reach".
Red Dragon Radio DJ and Cardiff Post Columnist, Gary Price wrote "To say Joey Parratt has a way with words is to use a cliche which ill-defines a superb lyrical talent", adding "I have rarely read a book of lyrics and been so overwhelmed by the wit and humour whilst at the same time touched by the obvious humanity of the author".
A video of his song 'Oh no, here come the goodguys,again!' was included in the music documentary 'Barry Island Rock' and featured on S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
& Channel 4 (UK).
The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
produced a video of him performing a solo version of his song 'et tu brute' which was broadcast nationwide. He performed his songs 'Oh no, here come the good guys again!', 'Nightrider', & 'Fergie's Song' with his band 'No-one' on BBC TV.
His song 'Up & alive', was recorded by his band 'Champion The Underdog', & included on the anti-racist compilation 'NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!', and he performed his song 'I've turned into a fish!' live on Channel 4 (British Television Station), with his band 'The Beagles'.
Videos of six of his songs were also later featured on the "Beaglemania" CD-ROM. The Beagles also did the 20 gigs in a day fundraiser for Nottingham Mencap
Mencap
The Royal Mencap Society is a charity based in the UK that works with people with a learning disability.-Profile:Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers...
and had a 3 month residency at The Filly & Firkin, Nottingham playing nothing but his original songs.
The Beagles became Awful Racket (to avoid confusion with an Eagles covers band) and played around Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
including at The Green Festival.
He was a founder member of Nottingham Songwriters International. He designed their website and helped arrange bi-monthly showcase concerts.
Formed original acoustic duo Cute Baby Monster in February 2004 whose first concert was at The Third Annual Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle is a stately home in the English county of Leicestershire, overlooking the Vale of Belvoir . It is a Grade I listed building....
Folk Festival on Saturday 17 May 2008.
One of his songs, "Tea" was adopted by The Tea Appreciation Society for use on their MySpace page in 2008 and later released as a download on iTunes and amazon in 2009.