Spirogyra (band)

"This article refers to the British folk band. For the American jazz fusion band, see Spyro Gyra".

Spirogyra were a British folk/prog band that recorded three albums between 1971 and 1973.

History

Martin Cockerham (vocals/guitar) and Mark Francis originally formed Spirogyra as a duo in Bolton, Lancashire in the summer of 1967. When Martin went to the University of Kent at CanterburyFact|date=April 2008 in 1969 he expanded the band to include fellow students Barbara Gaskin (vocals), Steve Borrill (bass guitar), and Julian Cusack (violin). They were soon spotted by student union entertainments officer Max Hole, who offered to manage them and got them a recording contract with B&C Records. Their debut album, "St. Radigunds", was named after the street that their student house was on. It established them as a cult act on the underground club circuit, and sold respectably. Its follow-up, 1972's "Old Boot Wine", appeared on Peg Records and showcased a harder-edged sound than their predominantly acoustic debut.Fact|date=November 2007 After the release of "Old Boot Wine", the band was pared back to the duo of Cockerham and Gaskin, who were by now romantically involved. Their final album, "Bells, Boots and Shambles", appeared on Polydor in April 1973 and sold very poorly.

Widely regarded today as one of the classics of British 'acid folk' Fact|date=November 2007, it featured guest appearances from the band's former members, as well as contributions from Henry Lowther on trumpet. Copies of all three albums are rare and expensive today, with "Bells, Boots and Shambles" almost impossible to acquire. All three also appeared on Brain Records in Germany, with gatefold sleeves (unlike their UK counterparts).

Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention played drums on all three albums as a guest.

In march 1974 Spirogyra had their very last tour, with Martin Cockerham (vocals and guitar), Barbara Gaskin (vocals and electric piano), Rick Buddolph (bass and guitars) and Jon Gifford (woodwinds). The new, rather experimental material was very promising, but never made it on a fourth studio album. New titles were The River (7:24), Waves (10:43) and Sea Song (23:48).

Discography

Original releases

* "St. Radigunds" - 1971
* "Old Boot Wine" - 1972
* "Bells, Boots and Shambles" - 1973
* "Burn the Bridges" - 1969-72

Compilations

* "We Were a Happy Crew" - 1999 - Best of compilation

* "A Canterbury Tale" - 2006 - 2 disc retrospective

* "Spirogyra Box Set" Si Wan Records