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 "N"
The Nadens "Now That I've Found You" (Storm Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Wayne Paulo)
The Nadens "Fox On The Run" (Soundings Records, 1982) (LP)
The Cody Nash Outfit "Country Music The Cody Nash Way" (Lucky Records, 1970) (LP)
The Nashville Cats "Smash Hits Country Style" (Wind Mill Records, 197--?) (LP)
Nashville Dream "Nashville Dream" (Tank Records, 197--?) (LP)
Natchez Trace "From Natchez To Nashville" (Philips Records, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Gordon Smith)
Though the chatty liner notes go on and on about how difficult it was to choose where to record this album, they unfortunately neglect to tell us where the band was from... They chose a studio in Essex, so perhaps they were from thereabouts. Anyway, the group included Roger Knowles on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Nick Strutt (lead guitar, bass, mandolin), Richie Bull (banjo, bass, lead guitar), John Kirkham (drums), and Dave Hines playing drums on one track only... The repertoire was pretty strong, with covers of "I Like Trains," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Sin City," "Southbound," and Terry Fell's "Truck Driving Man," along with some original material, and a version of "She Moved Through The Fair." Any additional info is welcome!
Natchez Trace "Last Time Together" (Avenue Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Rick Norton, Gordon Smith & Steve Vaughan)
Knowles and Strutt are joined here by Richie Bull (on banjo and bass), steel player B. J. Cole, and loyal drummer Dave Hines; from here the core duo would pursue different paths for a while, with Nick Strutt and Richie Bull notably joining forces with folkie Bob Pegg to form the band Mr. Fox, while Roger Knowles paired up with Pete Stanley for an album or two.
Natchez Trace "The Best Of The Immortal Natchez Trace" (Sweet Folk And Country Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Gordon Smith & Nick Strutt)
A diverse set of material spanning trad, folk, bluegrass, and country-rock, with selections by The Band, Bob Dylan, Terry Fell, Little Feat, Paul Siebel, Doc Watson and others... This edition of the group featured Richie Bull, Roger Knowles and Nick Strutt, and does reprise a bunch of songs from their two earlier albums, though I'm not entirely sure if these are re-recordings, or genuinely anthologized "best-of" songs.
Cliff Nelson "Oh Baby" (Sunbird Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Rick Miller)
This one belongs strictly in the "Danger, Will Robinson!" column... Although the Tennessee-based Sundance label did record some country stuff, and though this fella Cliff Nelson did croon a couple of tunes that were technically considered country at the time ("Annie's Song," "Me And Bobby McGee") his focus was mainly straight-up cheesy pop-lounge schmaltz -- Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are," Barry Manilow's "Copacabana," a goofy version of "On Broadway." I seriously doubt that Nelson -- apparently an Englishman backed by a six-piece band of Filipino musicians -- was an actual working lounge singer, and I'm fairly certain this album was strictly a vanity disc. Though I'm sure he had fun recording it, you can skip this one, really, particularly if you're a twangfan. (Although connoisseurs of loungecore kitsch might get a giggle out of it....) But country? No, not so much. Includes two original songs, Nelson's own "Reflections" and "Oh Baby."
Pete Nelson "The Road That Leads Me Home" (Westwood Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Gordon Davies & David Whiteley)
Pete Nelson "I Remember Elvis In A Country Way" (Tank Records, 1978) (LP)
The New Life Singers "Feel So Good About It" (Herald Records, 198--?) (LP)
A Christian country-rock set that was recorded in Northern Ireland, although the band included at least two well-known Scottish musicians, guitarist Duncan Findlay and steel player Doug Stevenson, who worked together for several years as session players on various country albums. Also in the band were bassist Les Connell, Colin James on piano, and drummer Alan Ross.
Bob Newman "Bob Newman" (Together Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Newman & R. A. J. Boughton)
Country covers with singer Bob Newman, backed by steel guitar picker/multi-instrumentalist Slim Pickins and a compact band that also included harmonica and trombone... The group included Bob Newman on vocals and guitar, with Dave Adams on keyboards, Carl Benson (bass), Keith Dance (bass), Bob Pearce (drums), Slim Pickins (banjo, dobro, fiddle and steel), Graham Walker (lead guitar), and Ted Watkins (guitar). They covered pop and country alike, with tunes Buck Owens and son Buddy Alan, Waylon and Willie, Roger Bowling's "Lucille," and even a couple of Neil Diamond tunes and one from Paul McCartney and Wings. As with many British twang records of the era, they neglect to tell us where Bob Newman was from, though the album was recorded at Audiogenie studios in Reading, Berkshire.
Bob Newman & Carole Gordon "No Stopping" (Together Records, 19--?) (LP)
Bob Newman & Carole Gordon "In Harmony" (Together Records, 1984-?) (LP)
Rab Noakes "Rab Noakes" (A&M Brothers, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Johnston & Bob Potter)
Rab Noakes "Red Pump Special" (Warner Brothers, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Elliott Mazer)
Wayne Nutt "Oil Field Man" (Epic Records-UK, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Ian Grant)
If UK country star Wayne Nutt (1940-1986) sounded a little more convincing than your average British twangster, it may have been because he was actually a transplant from Texas. As the album title implies, Mr. Nutt was an oil man a genuine roughneck who moved to Scotland in 1974 to find work in the North Sea oil boom. While he was there, he cut this album, which included regionally-relevant numbers such as "28 Days On An Offshore Rig" and "Crew Change Night In Aberdeen," which came out as a single before this album. He wasn't maybe the greatest song stylist ever, but he had a gruff authenticity, and was backed by some top-flight British pickers, including guitarist Pete Sayers, steel player Pete Haylsard and others... This was Wayne Nutt's only album, but it's pretty swell (even if he does dip into a few super-corny ballads, including yet another version of the Marty Robbins chestnut, "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife.") This album is certainly a touchstone of the oil-worker subgenre: I'd stack it right next to that old Alex Zanetis album any day.
