Paul Brett
Encyclopedia
Paul Brett is a classic rock
guitarist
. He played lead guitar
with Strawbs, The Overlanders
, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
, Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
, The Velvet Opera, Tintern Abbey
, Fire
, Roy Harper
, Al Stewart
, Lonnie Donegan
, and switched to twelve string guitar
in the 1970s.
His first twelve string guitar suite, Earth Birth, was released on his own label
, Phoenix Future and was produced by artist Ralph Steadman
of Fear and Loathing fame. Critical acclaim led to Brett being signed on a four album
deal with RCA Records
. His K-tel
Romantic Guitar album went platinum
in the UK
, but Brett stopped recording
soon afterwards. He started recording again in 2000, with long time friend and fellow twelve string guitarist, John Joyce.
Brett wrote for music magazine
s Melody Maker
, Sound International
and International Musician and continued working in the music industry in the later part of his career. He now writes a regular column for Acoustic
, a magazine specializing in acoustic guitar
s. Is also the Associate Editor and Features Writer for Music Maker and Live in London magazines.
He has appeared on BBC Television
's Antiques Road Show and Flog It in the mid 2000s.
with The Ivy League
, The Flower Pot Men, Carter & Lewis
, Hudson Ford
, Johnny Joyce
, Michel Polnareff
, Max Bygraves
, The Cyril Stapleton Orchestra, Lonnie Donegan
, Ralph McTell
, Neil Christian
, Status Quo, Barclay James Harvest
, Tom Newman
and The Overlanders
.
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He played lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
with Strawbs, The Overlanders
The Overlanders (band)
The Overlanders were a British music group active during the 1960s.-Career:Originally playing folk songs, the band found success hard to come by during the beat era and so converted to a more mainstream sound...
, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown is a psychedelic rock album by Arthur Brown and his band The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, released in 1968. Considered a classic of the late-1960s psychedelic scene and a significant influence on progressive rock, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown includes covers of...
, Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, at various times also known as "Velvet Opera", was a British rock band active in the late 1960s. Members of the band would later become members of The Strawbs, Hudson Ford and Stretch.-History:...
, The Velvet Opera, Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey (band)
Tintern Abbey were a British psychedelic rock band that were formed in late 1966 and professionally active between 1967 and 1968. The band are best remembered for their single "Vacuum Cleaner" that has been included on several compilation albums over the years....
, Fire
Fire (band)
Fire was a late 60's early 70's band that consisted of Dave Lambert Bob Voice and Dick Duffall . Brett himself joined them for their now classic Magic Shoemaker LP recorded at Pye Studios London, in 1970. This vinyl LP is currently in the UK's top 10 of collectable vinyl, being listed in Millers...
, Roy Harper
Roy Harper
Roy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
, Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
, Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
, and switched to twelve string guitar
Twelve string guitar
The twelve-string guitar is an acoustic or electric guitar with 12 strings in 6 courses, which produces a richer, more ringing tone than a standard six-string guitar...
in the 1970s.
His first twelve string guitar suite, Earth Birth, was released on his own 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,...
, Phoenix Future and was produced by artist Ralph Steadman
Ralph Steadman
Ralph Steadman is a British cartoonist and caricaturist who is perhaps best known for his work with American author Hunter S. Thompson.-Personal life:Steadman was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales...
of Fear and Loathing fame. Critical acclaim led to Brett being signed on a four 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...
deal with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. His K-tel
K-tel
K-tel International is an "As-Seen-On-TV" company, which is most noted for its compilation music albums, such as "The Super Hits" series, "The Dynamic Hits" series and "The Number One Hits" series...
Romantic Guitar album went platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in the 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...
, but Brett stopped 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...
soon afterwards. He started recording again in 2000, with long time friend and fellow twelve string guitarist, John Joyce.
Brett wrote for music magazine
Music magazine
A music magazine is a magazine dedicated to music and music culture. Such magazines typically include music news, interviews, photo shoots, essays, record reviews, concert reviews and occasionally have a covermount with recorded music.-Notable music magazines:...
s 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...
, Sound International
Sound International
Sound International was a British monthly music and recording magazine established in 1978 and published until the mid-1980s. The magazine included interviews with musicians, recording engineers and producers, news and reviews of musical instruments and recording equipment, and feature articles on...
and International Musician and continued working in the music industry in the later part of his career. He now writes a regular column for Acoustic
Acoustic (magazine)
Acoustic Magazine is a British glossy publication that deals only in acoustic music. Originally bi-monthly, it is now a monthly publication and carries reviews, features, lessons, vintage guitar advice and all manner of items to do with this genre....
, a magazine specializing in acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
s. Is also the Associate Editor and Features Writer for Music Maker and Live in London magazines.
He has appeared on BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's Antiques Road Show and Flog It in the mid 2000s.
With other groups
- Roy HarperRoy HarperRoy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
- Sophisticated Beggar LPAlbumAn 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...
(Strike Records) - Al StewartAl StewartAl Stewart is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician.Stewart came to stardom as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s, and developed his own unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.He is...
- "Electric Los Angeles Sunset" singleSingle (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...
, Zero She FliesZero She FliesZero She Flies is the third studio album by folk artist Al Stewart, released in 1970. It is notable for being the first of his albums to include a song with historical references, namely "Manuscript" which refers to the events which led to the outbreak of World War I, including the Assassination of...
LP - Arthur BrownArthur Brown (musician)Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
- "Devil's Grip" / "Give Him a Flower" single - Tintern AbbeyTintern Abbey (band)Tintern Abbey were a British psychedelic rock band that were formed in late 1966 and professionally active between 1967 and 1968. The band are best remembered for their single "Vacuum Cleaner" that has been included on several compilation albums over the years....
- "Vacuum Cleaner" / "Beeside" single - Elmer Gantry’s Velvet OperaElmer Gantry’s Velvet OperaElmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, at various times also known as "Velvet Opera", was a British rock band active in the late 1960s. Members of the band would later become members of The Strawbs, Hudson Ford and Stretch.-History:...
- "Volcano" and "Mary Jane" singles - The Velvet Opera - "Anna Dance Square" and "Black Jack Davy" singles, Ride a Hustler's Dream LP
- FireFire (band)Fire was a late 60's early 70's band that consisted of Dave Lambert Bob Voice and Dick Duffall . Brett himself joined them for their now classic Magic Shoemaker LP recorded at Pye Studios London, in 1970. This vinyl LP is currently in the UK's top 10 of collectable vinyl, being listed in Millers...
- Magic Shoemaker LP - Strawbs - DragonflyDragonfly (Strawbs album)Dragonfly is a studio album by English band Strawbs. It contains the lengthy and rather progressive ballad "The Vision of the Lady of the Lake" describing the hardships of a boatman who encounters and battles all kinds of mystical creatures on a lake, with a sword that was given to him by the lady...
and Classic Strawbs LPs
Solo material
- (as Paul Brett Sage): (PyePye RecordsPye 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...
/ Dawn RecordsDawn RecordsDawn Records was a subsidiary of Pye Records. Active from 1970 to 1975, it was set up largely as Pye's 'underground and progressive' label, a rival of the EMI and Phonogram equivalents, Harvest and Vertigo....
)- Paul Brett Sage (1970)
- Jubilation Foundry (1971)
- Schizophrenia (1972)
- (Bradley's RecordsBradley's RecordsBradley's Records was a UK record label in the mid 1970s. It was founded by ATV Music publishers in 1973 and run by Derek Johns. The label was active for four years with moderate success, but was discontinued in early 1977....
) Paul Brett (1973), Clocks (1974) - (Phoenix Future) Phoenix Future (1975)
- (RCA RecordsRCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
) Earth Birth (1977) - Interlife (1978) - Eclipse (1979) - Guitar Trek (1980) - (K-telK-telK-tel International is an "As-Seen-On-TV" company, which is most noted for its compilation music albums, such as "The Super Hits" series, "The Dynamic Hits" series and "The Number One Hits" series...
) Romantic Guitar (1980) - Themes - Themes 2 Great Themes - (Eclipse) Guitar For All Seasons never released, but 1000 copies pressed.
- (Music Manifold) Music Manifold
- (Albion Music) Transmissions
- Brett & Joyce (Fretdancer) Acoustic Power (2001)
- Collecting Vintage Acoustic Guitars DVD (Fretdancer, 2006)
- 12 String Guitar & Beyond DVD (Fretdancer, 2007)
- Songs from The Compleat Angler CD (Fretdancer, 2009)http://www.paulbrettguitarist.co.uk
Other work
Brett has also performed as a session musicianSession musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
with The Ivy League
The Ivy League (band)
The Ivy League are an English vocal trio, created in 1964, who enjoyed two Top 10 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart in 1965. The group's sound was characterised by rich, three-part vocal harmonies.-Career:...
, The Flower Pot Men, Carter & Lewis
Carter & Lewis
John Carter & Ken Lewis are English songwriters, who wrote many hits in the 1960s for various pop bands. They were published by Southern Music, and operated out of their recording studios in London's Denmark Street.-Personnel details:...
, Hudson Ford
Hudson Ford
Hudson Ford were a UK rock band-style duo, formed when John Ford and Richard Hudson left Strawbs in 1973. The original lineup featured Hudson and Ford along with Chris Parren on keyboards, Mickey Keen on guitars, and Gerry Conway on drums. Conway left in May 1974 prior to the recording of "Free...
, Johnny Joyce
Johnny Joyce
John Joyce was a legend on the British folk music scene. He dedicated his musical career to the twelve-string guitar. Blues was his first love and he appeared with such Blues greats as Howlin' Wolf, Jesse Fuller, Reverend Gary Davis, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee...
, Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff, born in Nérac on 3 July 1944, is a French singer-songwriter who was very popular from the mid-1960s until the early 1980s...
, Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
, The Cyril Stapleton Orchestra, Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
, Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
, Neil Christian
Neil Christian
Neil Christian, born Christopher Tidmarsh had a solo hit single in 1966, when "That's Nice" , reached Number 16 in the UK Singles Chart. He remains, however, a one-hit wonder. Follow-up singles "Oops" and "Two at a Time" never reached the charts...
, Status Quo, Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Saddleworth, Lancashire, in September 1966 by John Lees, Les Holroyd, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme , and Mel Pritchard .-History:...
, Tom Newman
Tom Newman (musician)
Not to be confused with Thomas Newman.Tom Newman is an English record producer and musician...
and The Overlanders
The Overlanders (band)
The Overlanders were a British music group active during the 1960s.-Career:Originally playing folk songs, the band found success hard to come by during the beat era and so converted to a more mainstream sound...
.