Lieutenant Pigeon
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Pigeon was a British
novelty
popular music
group
, originating from Coventry
.
. Other members included bassist Stephen Johnson and drummer Nigel Fletcher. The group's sound was dominated by a heavy ragtime
-style piano
played by Woodward's mother, Hilda.
Lieutenant Pigeon achieved two UK
hits: "Mouldy Old Dough
", written by Rob Woodward with bandmate Nigel Fletcher, reached number one in 1972, followed by "Desperate Dan" (number 17 in 1973). Both tracks were largely instrumental
, with the titles providing virtually the only lyrics
. "Mouldy Old Dough" (the title being an adaptation of the 1920s jazz
phrase, "vo-de-o-do") became the second biggest selling UK
single
of the year, behind The Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
' bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace
".
Lieutenant Pigeon scored a further hit, in the autumn of 1974, when it reached number 3 in the Australia
n charts with a cover version
of "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
". The band split up in 1978, although Johnson (after recording as Class 50) re-formed the band in the 1980s, touring to notable success in Scandinavia. The line-up went through a number of changes. By the late 1980s Stephen Johnson was the only original member of the live band. Fletcher joined Tasty (which also featured Johnson) and Oakie. Johnson subsequently set up a documentary video production company. Hilda Woodward died, aged 85, on 22 February 1999.
The Pigeon name, and that of Stavely Makepeace, remain active with former members working together in the production of jingles, maintaining a website and releasing occasional new material. Their 2001 release "Opus 400," a 35 minute single made up of separate sections, is the most recent material produced by Pigeon. The current performing line-up of the band features none of the original members.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
novelty
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
group
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...
, originating from Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.
Career
Lieutenant Pigeon was a British musical group popular in the early 1970s. A spin-off from an experimental music band Stavely Makepeace, it was fronted by Rob Woodward and managed by David WhitehouseMouldy Old Dough
"Mouldy Old Dough" is an instrumental single, which was a hit for Lieutenant Pigeon.It was written by Nigel Fletcher and Rob Woodward and first produced by them under the name of their other band, Stavely Makepeace....
. Other members included bassist Stephen Johnson and drummer Nigel Fletcher. The group's sound was dominated by a heavy ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
-style piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
played by Woodward's mother, Hilda.
Lieutenant Pigeon achieved two UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
hits: "Mouldy Old Dough
Mouldy Old Dough
"Mouldy Old Dough" is an instrumental single, which was a hit for Lieutenant Pigeon.It was written by Nigel Fletcher and Rob Woodward and first produced by them under the name of their other band, Stavely Makepeace....
", written by Rob Woodward with bandmate Nigel Fletcher, reached number one in 1972, followed by "Desperate Dan" (number 17 in 1973). Both tracks were largely instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, with the titles providing virtually the only lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
. "Mouldy Old Dough" (the title being an adaptation of the 1920s 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...
phrase, "vo-de-o-do") became the second biggest selling UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
of the year, behind The Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is a cavalry regiment of...
' bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
".
Lieutenant Pigeon scored a further hit, in the autumn of 1974, when it reached number 3 in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n charts with a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen is a popular song written by Thomas P. Westendorf in 1875. In spite of its American origins, it is known and revered as an Irish ballad. Westendorf, a school teacher in Plainfield, Indiana, wrote it for his wife...
". The band split up in 1978, although Johnson (after recording as Class 50) re-formed the band in the 1980s, touring to notable success in Scandinavia. The line-up went through a number of changes. By the late 1980s Stephen Johnson was the only original member of the live band. Fletcher joined Tasty (which also featured Johnson) and Oakie. Johnson subsequently set up a documentary video production company. Hilda Woodward died, aged 85, on 22 February 1999.
The Pigeon name, and that of Stavely Makepeace, remain active with former members working together in the production of jingles, maintaining a website and releasing occasional new material. Their 2001 release "Opus 400," a 35 minute single made up of separate sections, is the most recent material produced by Pigeon. The current performing line-up of the band features none of the original members.
Members
- Robert Woodward - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, tin whistleTin whistleThe tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and... - Hilda Woodward - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Stephen Johnson - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, tin whistle - Nigel Fletcher - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Singles
- "Mouldy Old DoughMouldy Old Dough"Mouldy Old Dough" is an instrumental single, which was a hit for Lieutenant Pigeon.It was written by Nigel Fletcher and Rob Woodward and first produced by them under the name of their other band, Stavely Makepeace....
" (1972) - #1 UK - "Desperate Dan" (1972) - #17 UK
- "And the Fun Goes On" (1973)
- "Oxford Bags" (1973)
- "I'll Take You Home Again, KathleenI'll Take You Home Again, KathleenI'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen is a popular song written by Thomas P. Westendorf in 1875. In spite of its American origins, it is known and revered as an Irish ballad. Westendorf, a school teacher in Plainfield, Indiana, wrote it for his wife...
" (1974) - "You Are My Heart's Delight" (1974)
- "The Blue DanubeThe Blue DanubeThe Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 , a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866...
" (1975) - "Rockabilly Hot Pot" (1975)
- "Goodbye"(from The White Horse InnThe White Horse InnIm weißen Rößl is an operetta or musical comedy set in the picturesque Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria. It is about the head waiter of the White Horse Inn in St. Wolfgang who is desperately in love with the owner of the inn, a resolute young woman who at first only has eyes for one of her...
) (1976) - "Grandfather ClockMy Grandfather's Clock"My Grandfather's Clock" is a song written in 1876 by Henry Clay Work, the author of "Marching Through Georgia". It is a standard of British brass bands and colliery bands, and is also popular in bluegrass music.-Origin of the song:...
" (1976) - "Spangles" (1977)
- "Disco Bells" (1978)
- "Bye Bye BlackbirdBye Bye Blackbird"Bye, Bye, Blackbird" is a song published in 1926 by the American composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. It is considered a popular standard and was first recorded by Gene Austin in 1926.- Song information :...
" (1978) - "Bobbing Up and Down Like This" (1981)
Albums
- Mouldy Old Music (1973 - DeccaDecca RecordsDecca 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....
SKL 5154) - Pigeon Pie (1973 - Decca SKL 5174)
- Pigeon Party (1974 - Decca SKL 5196)
- The World of Lieutenant Pigeon (Decca SPA 414)
Compilation albums
- I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen (1974 - Axis 6127)
- Mouldy Old Dough (1998), Emporio
- The Best of Lieutenant Pigeon (2001), Cherry RedCherry RedCherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of artists under the Decca Records label
- Number 1 Singles in Ireland 1972Number 1 Singles in Ireland 1972This is a list of singles which have reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart in 1972. The chart issue date changed from Saturday to Friday effective in late June.-See also:*1972 in music*Irish Singles Chart...
External links
- [ Lieutenant Pigeon biography page at Allmusic]
- Official site