This is a resolutely incomplete, non-definitive guide to British (and Irish) country music, or at least the small sliver of it visible to me, here in the distant American colonies. There have been an awful lot of UK (and Irish) twangbands, dating back many decades, and many remain quite obscure, even on the isles. But I will keep banging away and tracking down as many artists as I can find. As always, any helpful comments, corrections and suggestions are welcome.
This page covers the Letter "I"
Iona & Andy "Across The Mountain" (Starrsound Records, 198-?) (LP)
(Produced by Paul Adshead & Joe Butler)
Iona Boggie and Andrew Edward Boggie were a Welsh duo who also recorded non-English language and more pop-oriented material... There's a clear Emmylou Harris influence here, with versions of songs Harris recorded early in her career: "Green Rolling Hills Of West Virginia," "If I Could Only Win Your Love" from the Louvin Brothers, and Rodney Crowell's " 'Til I Can Gain Control Again." (Also included is another Rodney Crowell song, a rarity called "Here We Are," which Emmylou recorded with George Jones on his 1979 duets album...) Other tracks include songs by Buck Owens ("Crying Time"), Alan Reynolds's "Dreaming My Dreams" and Carolina Star, from Hugh Moffatt, and while this is clearly a country set, the album ends with a Welsh folk tune, "Yr Hen Capel Bach."
Iona & Andy "Across The Mountain" (Barge Records, 198-?) (LP)
(Produced by Paul Adshead & Joe Butler)
This country set was produced by Joe Butler (of the Hillsiders) with a studio crew that included Bobby Arnold on lead guitar, Andy Boggie (bass), Iain Bradshaw (keyboards), Brian Imrie (drums), Dave Rowland (dobro and steel guitar), Garry Thistlethwaite (steel guitar) and drummer John Williams.
