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 "P"
Wesley Parker "Love Must Know Hard Times" (Boll Weevil Records, 197-?) (LP)
Wesley Parker "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" (Boll Weevil Records, 1979) (LP)
Wesley Parker "Good Time Tonight" (President Records, 1983) (LP)
Wesley Parker "I'll Take You There Again" (Garden Isle Records, 1985) (LP)
Paula's Country "Welcome To Paula's Country" (Tank Records, 1977-?) (LP)
(Produced by Peter C. Smith)
A solid set of country covers featuring lead vocals by Paula Smith... The set list includes standards such as "Good Hearted Woman," "Me And Bobby McGee," "Satin Sheets" and "Wild Side Of Life," as well as crowd pleasers like "Little Old Wine Drinker Me," "Ride Me Down Easy" and "Amanda." Her band included producer-drummer Peter C. Smith, Austin Patrao (lead guitar) and Graham Curl (bass).
Paula's Country "Movin' On" (Tank Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Norman Stagles)
Jimmy Payne "The Album Version" (Password Records, 19--?) (LP)
Dave Peabody "Come And Get It" (Saydisc/Matchbox Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Ian A. Anderson)
A "solo" set by Dave Peacock of the band Oily Rags, with help from Dave Griffiths (mandolin), Hugh McNulty (bass), and others.
Peter & Gordon "Sing And Play The Hits Of Nashville, Tennessee" (Capitol Records, 1966)
A lot of pop and rock musicians made the trek to Nashville to try their hands at country music, including the English soft-rock duo of Peter Asher and Gordon Waller. Their days in the sun as UK chart-toppers were fast fading by the time this album came out (thus giving them some room to experiment with different styles) but the country thing turned out to be more than a passing fling for Peter Asher. He moved to the United States and became an influential figure in the growth of Southern California's country-rock scene, first by managing an obscure band called Country (also reviewed here) and then, most famously, as Linda Ronstadt's manager and producer, playing the same role for folk-rock superstar James Taylor, and numerous others... So, maybe this album ain't as goofy-sounding as you think!
Patsy Peters "The World Of Country Music, Volume Five" (Decca Records, 1974) (LP)
Patsy Peters "Time Alone" (Players Records, 197--) (LP)
(Produced by Des Dolan & Leslie Collins)
Patsy Peters "Down Country Roads" (Mam Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Des Dolan & Leslie Collins)
Patsy Peters "Road Of Life" (Decca Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Patsy Peters & Eric Ratcliffe)
Slim Pickens "Both Sides Of Slim Pickens" (Tank Records, 1978) (LP)
Dave Plane & Lisa Turner "Country Cousins" (Lucky Records, 1970) (LP)
Dave Plane "Country Gentleman" (Westwood Recordings, 1972) (LP)
Dave Plane & Andrew Townend "The Sunny Side Of Life" (Westwood Recordings, 1974) (LP)
Dave Plane "One Tree Hill" (Westwood Recordings, 1975) (LP)
The Playboys "Made In The Country" (Tank Records, 1975) (LP)
The Playboys "The Playboys -- Live" (Tank Records, 197--?) (LP) >
Poacher "Poacher" (RK Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Barry Kingston)
This twangband from Warrington, Cheshire, had a rock'n'roll name band is best known for recording a hit version of Oscar Stuart Blandemer's "Darlin'," one of the all-time great English country tunes. The group included Peter J. (no, not that one) Frampton, on guitar, bassist Alan Crookes, drummer Martin Duffy and producer Tim Flaherty. Previously an earlier lineup had backed a guy named Jim Ryder;
Apparently they created a lot of buzz when they were first formed, and even charted in the US, but their momentum was hard to maintain, and I think they may have only cut two LPs under the Poacher name. Later they recorded under the name The Cliffsons, but by the mid-1980s the group seems to have faded from sight.
Poacher "Poacher" (World Wide Records, 1982) (LP)
Another self-titled album, but with a mostly different set list. They reprise "Darlin'," then add a lot of original material along with covers of "Break My Mind," "The Garden Party," and Terry Fell's "Truck Driving Man." Frampton contributed several songs, about a third of the album altogether...
Phil Potter "Lead Me On" (Kingsway Records, 1980) (LP)
Graham Preskett "Country Thing" (De Wolfe, 1975) (LP)
Patsy Powell & The Honky Tonk Playboys "Husband Hunting" (Avenue Recordings, 1972-?) (LP)
(Produced by John Hudson & George Watkins)
Patsy Powell "For The Good Times" (Folk Heritage/Country Music Productions) (LP)
Patsy Powell "Thank You For Loving Me" (Folk Heritage/Country Music Productions, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Alan Green)
Patsy Powell "What This Old World Needs" (Folk Heritage, 1977) (LP)
Malcolm Price "His Songs And His Guitar" (Saga Records, 1969) (LP)
An acoustic guitarist who started out in the skiffle and folk scenes, Malcolm Price developed an affinity for American blues, as well as Appalachian old-timey ballads and bluegrass pickin'. He was a regular on Wally Wheaton's "Country Meets Folk" program on Radio One. This album reflects the breadth of Price's interests, including blues tunes associated with Big Bill Broonzy and Blind Lemon Jefferson, along with country stuff like "My Renfro Valley Home" and "Streets Of Laredo."
Malcolm Price "...And Then We All Up And Slowly Walked Away" (Sweet Folk And All, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Joe Stead & Alan Green)
An old-timey/twangy/bluesy/bluegrassy set, with contributions by American bluegrassers Bill Keith and Jim Rooney, as well as multi-instrumentalists John Atkins, Ritchie Bull, and Mick French, who was in the Clay County Travellers and Orange Blossom Special, among other British bluegrass bands.
Purple Heather "Country" (Purple Heather, 1979) (LP)
Jan Puzon "Welcome To My World" (SRT Records, 1976-?) (LP)
(Produced by Keith Herd)
The lone album from country singer Jan Puzon (1942-2000) who was best known for his imitation of crooner Jim Reeves and who found a career as a cruise ship entertainer. According to his obituary, Puzon was born near Manchester, and was named after his father, a Polish airman stationed in the UK during World War Two; show business apparently ran in the family, as his British mother was a singer active in the 1950s and '60s.
