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 "Q"
Quarter Moon "Down The Road Apiece" (Tank Records, 1979) (LP)
Bill Quinn "Jim Reeves Revisited" (Hilltop Records, 1968-?) (LP)
A budget-label homage to the late country crooner, Jim Reeves... Mister Quinn was an Irish artist who recorded for the Dublin-based Demense label, and was apparently unrelated to the Bill Quinn from Texas who founded the Gold Star studios.
Brendan Quinn "Four In The Morning" (Hawk Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Bill O'Donovan)
Brendan Quinn "My Kinda Country" (Decca/Emerald Records, 1977) (LP)
Brendan Quinn "Relax With Brendan Quinn" (Decca/Emerald Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by George Doherty)
Nice one. Solid 'Seventies pop-country, with echoes of folks like Mel Street and Don Williams, and pretty substantial, confident arrangements, very much in keeping with the sounds emanating out of the States at the time. The liner notes call this one his "second album" with his backing band, The Bluebirds, but other, earlier albums exist, I guess we have to take that with a grain of salt... His second album on Emerald, perhaps? The band members are listed on the back: Brendan Quinn on vocals and rhythm guitar, backed by Seamus Costello (piano), John Doherty (drums), Artie McGlynn (steel guitar), Stephen Morris (lead guitar) and Brian Winters on bass, with Mary Lou Trionagh singing harmony. (I'm not sure if Artie McGlynn is the the same as trad-folk guitarist Arty McGlynn (of the band Patrick Street) but if so, what a career path!) Anyway, this is a pretty good record, on a par with most of what was coming out in America at the time. Poppy, but fine for the style.
Brendan Quinn "Country Lovin' " (Mint Julep Records, 19--?) (LP)
John Quinn "Country Dream" (Country House, 1982) (LP)
Philomena Quinn "It's A Cowboy Lovin' Night" (Decca-Emerald Records, 1979) (LP)
Quiver "Quiver" (Warner Brothers, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Roger Quested)
Country-rock, hippie-era English style. This UK outfit centered around singer/guitarists Cal Batchelor and Tim Renwick, along with Bruce Thomas (bass), Willie Wilson (drums), and Dick Parry (saxophone) who gel into a very capable and surprisingly diverse ensemble. Don't come into this expecting some big country lovefest: this is definitely a rock record, but one borne of the eclectic era of the post-Beatles landscape. Although a lot of this tilts more towards the boogie/acid rock/jam band axis -- and that can get rather tedious -- there's also some oddly-placed twang in the mix, notably on the ear-bending opening track, "Glad I Came Around" and "Barnes County," which sounds quite a bit like The Grateful Dead, or perhaps The Band. After recording two albums as Quiver, Cal Batchelor and Bruce Thomas left the group and the band then merged with the Scottish pop duo The Sutherland Brothers, backing them until 1978 when Quiver definitively broke up. While all this was happening, most of the guys in Quiver were also backing Al Stewart, notably on a couple of his early albums, Orange and Past, Present And Future and Tim Renwick was steadily picking up session work with the elite of British pop and folk, playing for artists such as David Bowie, Elton John and Shirley Collins. And sure, that all sounds cool, but bass player Bruce Thomas wound up as a founding member of Elvis Costello's band, The Attractions. (He wins!) I'm not sure how often or how intensively I could actually listen to this album, but it has some surprising moments. Definitely worth a spin if you're into 'Seventies experimentalism.
Quiver "Gone In The Morning" (Warner Brothers, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Bill Price & Chris Thomas)
