Kincade

Kincade was the brain-child of songwriter/producer John Carter, who wrote all of the songs with lyrics by his wife Gill. As Carter put it: "We wrote loads of Kincade stuff, we wrote the album in a week!". [Liner notes "Measure for Measure" The John Carter Anthology 1961-1977, RPM Records, RPMD368] All recordings were made with session musicians (with Carter singing lead) for his own production company Sunny Records and the records were leased to Larry Page's Penny Farthing Records. In 1973 the single "Dreams Are Ten a Penny" came out and a singer called John Knowles was sent out to promote the record as "Kincade". The song wasn't a hit in the UK, but got to number 2 in Germany and number 5 in Sweden. Carter: "Larry kept saying 'an album, another single' and he found this group". [Liner notes "Measure for Measure" The John Carter Anthology 1961-1977, RPM Records, RPMD368] "This group" was Octopus, for after a disagreement John Knowles was replaced by Paul & Nigel Griggs and Rick Williams, who were part of a band called Octopus that had been signed to Penny Farthing Records. They were now sent off to promote Kincade records, although neither they nor John Knowles had taken part in any of the recordings. This caused much confusion especially when John Knowles re-emerged as John Kincade for a solo career. [ [http://www.paulgriggs.com Paul Griggs website] ] Paul Griggs has published a book called DIARY OF A MUSICIAN based on diaries he kept from 1960 a section of which tells of his involvement with KINCADE along with his brother Nigel Griggs and Rick Williams see http://www.diaryofamusician.com

Following the success of "Dreams Are Ten a Penny", Kincade scored a few minor hits in Germany in 1973 and 1974, including "Do You Remember Marilyn", "Big Hand for Annie" and "How Can I Fly". In the meantime Carter was already busy with his new project, First Class, who would have a huge hit with "Beach Baby" in the summer of 1974.

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