Patto
Encyclopedia
Patto was a progressive
jazz-rock band formed in England
in 1970 by vocalist Mike Patto
with a lineup taken from Timebox
consisting of vocalist Patto, drummer John Halsey
, guitarist and vibraphone
player Ollie Halsall
and bassist
Clive Griffiths.
developed from a complicated pedigree that included members of The Bo Street Runners, Patto's People and Chicago Blue Line. This soul
psych
pop
combo, made two singles for Pye's
label Piccadilly, before signing to Decca's Deram
in 1967. They also recorded five singles for Deram
between 1967 and 1969 and appeared on BBC radio shows such as Noise at Nine, Stuart Henry
on Sunday and Jimmy Young
. Keyboard player Chris Holmes left after their last single release and they began experimenting with progressive rock
.
and signed to the newly formed Vertigo
label. With Muff Winwood
as producer, they recorded their first album live in the studio in an attempt to capture the raw virtuosity of Ollie Halsall
's guitar playing and Mike Patto
's voice. The album "Patto," although not a commercial success, is thought by some to be an important contribution to prog rock
.
In December 1971, Patto entered the studio again to record their second album Hold Your Fire after which they were dropped from the Vertigo
roster. Despite poor record sales, they were becoming known as an exciting live act. Through his connections in England Muff Winwood
was able to have the band signed to Island
, and they recorded the album Roll 'em Smoke 'em Put Another Line Out in 1972.
In 1973, the band began to record their fourth album. Mike Patto
wrote songs that were less cynical than the usual Patto material and much more commercial. The ensuing album Monkey's Bum was not released. Without Halsall and with each member now involved in other projects Mike Patto chose to disband Patto, going on to form Boxer
with Halsall.
In 2009, Patto's song "The Man" was used in trailers for the film
, Observe and Report
, starring Seth Rogen
and Anna Faris
and was included along with another track "Sittin' Back Easy" on the film's soundtrack.
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...
jazz-rock band formed in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1970 by vocalist Mike Patto
Mike Patto
Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:...
with a lineup taken from Timebox
Timebox (band)
Timebox, formed in October 1965, in Southport, Lancashire, was a 1960s psychedelic pop band, that developed from a complicated ancestry.-Career:...
consisting of vocalist Patto, drummer John Halsey
John Halsey (musician)
John Halsey is a rock drummer, best known for his appearance as "Barry" in The Rutles, leading to his playing with Neil Innes's band Fatso and appearing in the film All You Need is Cash ....
, guitarist and vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
player Ollie Halsall
Ollie Halsall
Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Clive Griffiths.
Early days and singles
TimeboxTimebox (band)
Timebox, formed in October 1965, in Southport, Lancashire, was a 1960s psychedelic pop band, that developed from a complicated ancestry.-Career:...
developed from a complicated pedigree that included members of The Bo Street Runners, Patto's People and Chicago Blue Line. This soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
psych
Psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop is a psychedelic musical style inspired by the sounds of psychedelic folk and psychedelic rock, but applied to a pop music setting...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
combo, made two singles for Pye's
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
label Piccadilly, before signing to Decca's 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...
in 1967. They also recorded five singles for 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...
between 1967 and 1969 and appeared on BBC radio shows such as Noise at Nine, Stuart Henry
Stuart Henry (DJ)
Stuart Henry was a disc jockey on pirate radio station Radio Scotland, then BBC Radio 1 from its start in 1967...
on Sunday and Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young (disc jockey)
Sir Jimmy Young CBE was a British singer, disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:...
. Keyboard player Chris Holmes left after their last single release and they began experimenting with progressive rock
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...
.
Prog rock
In 1970, Patto was formed by members of TimeboxTimebox (band)
Timebox, formed in October 1965, in Southport, Lancashire, was a 1960s psychedelic pop band, that developed from a complicated ancestry.-Career:...
and signed to the newly formed Vertigo
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
label. With Muff Winwood
Muff Winwood
Mervyn "Muff" Winwood is an English songwriter and record producer, and the older brother of Steve Winwood. Both were formerly members of the Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, in which Muff Winwood played bass guitar...
as producer, they recorded their first album live in the studio in an attempt to capture the raw virtuosity of Ollie Halsall
Ollie Halsall
Peter John 'Ollie' Halsall was a left-handed guitarist and is best known for his role in The Rutles, the bands Patto, Timebox and Boxer, and for his contribution to the music of Kevin Ayers. He is also notable as one of the few players of the vibraphone in rock music...
's guitar playing and Mike Patto
Mike Patto
Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:...
's voice. The album "Patto," although not a commercial success, is thought by some to be an important contribution to prog rock
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...
.
In December 1971, Patto entered the studio again to record their second album Hold Your Fire after which they were dropped from the Vertigo
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
roster. Despite poor record sales, they were becoming known as an exciting live act. Through his connections in England Muff Winwood
Muff Winwood
Mervyn "Muff" Winwood is an English songwriter and record producer, and the older brother of Steve Winwood. Both were formerly members of the Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, in which Muff Winwood played bass guitar...
was able to have the band signed to Island
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, and they recorded the album Roll 'em Smoke 'em Put Another Line Out in 1972.
In 1973, the band began to record their fourth album. Mike Patto
Mike Patto
Mike Patto , is primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer.-History:...
wrote songs that were less cynical than the usual Patto material and much more commercial. The ensuing album Monkey's Bum was not released. Without Halsall and with each member now involved in other projects Mike Patto chose to disband Patto, going on to form Boxer
Boxer (band)
Boxer was a rock band formed by keyboardist Mike Patto and guitarist Ollie Halsall in 1975. They signed to Virgin and three albums followed , Below the Belt , Absolutely and Bloodletting , which also featured Bobby Tench and Boz Burrell...
with Halsall.
In 2009, Patto's song "The Man" was used in trailers for the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Observe and Report
Observe and Report
Observe and Report is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Jody Hill, starring Seth Rogen, Anna Faris and Ray Liotta.-Plot:...
, starring Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist. Rogen began his career doing stand-up comedy during his teen years, winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998. While still living in his native Vancouver, he landed a small part in Freaks and...
and Anna Faris
Anna Faris
Anna Kay Faris is an American actress, singer and comedienne. She is known for her starring role in the Scary Movie film series, as well as roles in The Hot Chick , Lost in Translation , Just Friends , My Super Ex-Girlfriend , Smiley Face , and The House Bunny...
and was included along with another track "Sittin' Back Easy" on the film's soundtrack.
Studio albums
- (1970) Patto
- (1971) Hold Your Fire
- (1972) Roll Em, Smoke Em, put another line out
- (1995) Monkey's Bum (unreleased)
External links
- Bo Street Runners Story
- Mike Patto
- pattofan
- vertigo records