Skip Bifferty
Encyclopedia
Skip Bifferty was an English
psychedelic
rock
band formed in early 1966. The band featured future members of Ian Dury and The Blockheads
.
band The Chosen Few, (featuring Alan Hull
, later of Lindisfarne
)changed their name and recruited a new singer, Graham Bell
to replace Hull. Managed by Don Arden
, father of Sharon Osbourne
, the band were given a contract by RCA Records
.
For RCA, the group released a number of psychedelic
singles, including "Man in Black" (produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, both then in the Small Faces), and the highly regarded 1967 album Skip Bifferty
, most recently released with bonus tracks as "The Story of Skip Bifferty" on Sanctuary Records
. Some of their songs were covered by established artistes such as Cilla Black
, The Tremeloes
and The Kingsmen
, and they built a following on the "live" circuit, including touring with The Who
in October 1968. They also appeared in the cult 60s film "Smashing Time
", featuring Rita Tushingham
.
However, a management dispute with Arden eventually led to the band's demise under that name in November 1968. Early in 1969, under the pseudonym 'Heavy Jelly' and with Paul Nichols replacing Jackman on drums, the band released one single on Island Records
"I keep singing that same old song", which received major exposure on the Island Records sampler lp Nice Enough to Eat
. The name was taken from a joke review in the London magazine Time Out
, and confusingly was soon after also used by another group, who later became Jackie Lomax
' backing band. Uncovered as Skip Bifferty and without a recording contract, the band, now with Fred Wheatley on drums, split soon after.
Together with Turnbull and Gallagher, Bell formed Bell & Arc in July 1971. Bassist Colin Gibson
went on to work with Ginger Baker
, Bert Jansch
, Alvin Lee
and Van Morrison
amongst others. John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher reappeared in 1977 in The Blockheads
, backing Ian Dury
.
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...
psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in early 1966. The band featured future members of Ian Dury and The Blockheads
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
.
History
Skip Bifferty were formed when Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
band The Chosen Few, (featuring Alan Hull
Alan Hull
Alan Hull was an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the Tyneside folk rock band, Lindisfarne.-Career:...
, later of Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
)changed their name and recruited a new singer, Graham Bell
Graham Bell (singer)
Graham Thomas Bell was an English pop and rock singer.-Early career:Bell's father Jimmy, who died in 2010, was a well-known local singer, and his late mother, Leonora Rogers, was in show business prior to marriage after which she was heavily involved in local music and dance...
to replace Hull. Managed by Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
, father of Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
, the band were given a contract by 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...
.
For RCA, the group released a number of psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
singles, including "Man in Black" (produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, both then in the Small Faces), and the highly regarded 1967 album Skip Bifferty
Skip Bifferty (album)
-Track listing:Side 1#Money Man [Bell/Turnbull/Gallagher/Gibson/Jackson]#Jeremy Carabine [Bell/Turnbull/Gibson]#When She Comes to Stay [Turnbull/Bell]#Guru [Turnbull/Gibson]#Come Around [Bell/Gallagher/Turnbull]#Time Track [Bell/Turnbull/Gibson]...
, most recently released with bonus tracks as "The Story of Skip Bifferty" on Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
. Some of their songs were covered by established artistes such as Cilla Black
Cilla Black
Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
, The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, Essex, and still active today.-Career:They formed as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes influenced by Buddy Holly and The Crickets...
and The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
, and they built a following on the "live" circuit, including touring with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
in October 1968. They also appeared in the cult 60s film "Smashing Time
Smashing Time
Smashing Time is a 1967 British comedy film starring Rita Tushingham and Lynn Redgrave. It is a satire on the 1960s media-influenced phenomenon of Swinging London.It was written by George Melly and directed by Desmond Davis...
", featuring Rita Tushingham
Rita Tushingham
-Career:Born in Liverpool, Tushingham began her career as a stage actress at the Liverpool Playhouse. Her screen debut was in A Taste of Honey...
.
However, a management dispute with Arden eventually led to the band's demise under that name in November 1968. Early in 1969, under the pseudonym 'Heavy Jelly' and with Paul Nichols replacing Jackman on drums, the band released one single on Island Records
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...
"I keep singing that same old song", which received major exposure on the Island Records sampler lp Nice Enough to Eat
Nice Enough to Eat
Nice Enough To Eat is a budget priced sampler album released by Island Records in 1969.Continuing the policy set by its predecessor You Can All Join In, the album presented tracks from the latest albums by established artists including Free, Traffic, and Jethro Tull, and introduced tasters from...
. The name was taken from a joke review in the London magazine Time Out
Time Out
Time Out is a publishing company based in London, England. The company's best known product is the Time Out weekly listings magazine.The Time Out Group Limited conducts most of its business from London and New York City.-Publications:...
, and confusingly was soon after also used by another group, who later became Jackie Lomax
Jackie Lomax
John Richard 'Jackie' Lomax is a British guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his association with George Harrison and Eric Clapton...
' backing band. Uncovered as Skip Bifferty and without a recording contract, the band, now with Fred Wheatley on drums, split soon after.
Together with Turnbull and Gallagher, Bell formed Bell & Arc in July 1971. Bassist Colin Gibson
Colin Gibson (musician)
Colin Gibson is a bass player and composer.-Biography:Gibson and guitarist John Turnbull were childhood friends and played together in a band called The Primitive Sect, wth Bob Sergeant on organ. In summer 1966, Gibson and Turnbull joined unsigned, Newcastle band The Chosen Few...
went on to work with Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
, Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Herbert "Bert" Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s, as an acoustic guitarist, as well as a singer-songwriter...
, Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
amongst others. John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher reappeared in 1977 in The Blockheads
The Blockheads
The Blockheads are an English rock and roll band. Originally fronted by vocalist Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band has continued to perform since Dury's death in 2000. Current members include Chaz Jankel , Norman Watt-Roy , Mick Gallagher , John Turnbull and Davey Payne...
, backing Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
.
Personnel
- Graham BellGraham Bell (singer)Graham Thomas Bell was an English pop and rock singer.-Early career:Bell's father Jimmy, who died in 2010, was a well-known local singer, and his late mother, Leonora Rogers, was in show business prior to marriage after which she was heavily involved in local music and dance...
: vocals - Mick Gallagher: keyboards
- Colin GibsonColin Gibson (musician)Colin Gibson is a bass player and composer.-Biography:Gibson and guitarist John Turnbull were childhood friends and played together in a band called The Primitive Sect, wth Bob Sergeant on organ. In summer 1966, Gibson and Turnbull joined unsigned, Newcastle band The Chosen Few...
: bass - John Turnbull: guitar, vocals
- Tommy Jackman: drums
- Paul Nichols: drums on Heavy Jelly
Discography
- "On Love" / "Cover Girl" (RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, 1967) - "Happy Land" / "Reason to Live" (RCA, 1967)
- "Man in Black" / "Money Man" (RCA, July 1968)
- L.P.: Skip Bifferty (RCA, July 1968)
- "I Keep Singing That Same Old Song" (Gibson) /"Blue" (as Heavy Jelly) (June 1969)
- "Skip Bifferty--The Story of Skip Bifferty " (Sanctuary/ Castle CMEDD 518) 2003 2CD
External links
- http://alexgitlin.com/npp/skipb.htm
- Shindig! Magazine review