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 "R"
Radio Sweethearts "New Memories" (St. Roch/Shoeshine Records, 1996)
A wonderfully homespun album which highlights the skills of the band, from the graceful, looping pedal steel to the deft, economical drumming. What stands out most of all, though are the warm, husky, surprisingly "American" vocals along with the matching strength of the songwriting. John Miller's originals such as the title track, "New Memories" and the weepy "Fallen Out Of Love Again" show a strong and sensitive understanding of country roots. Francis Macdonald's upbeat contributions, particularly the clever commentary on the genre, "Every Other Song" ("...every other song I hear/'s about drinkin' too much beer...") and the doleful "Lonely Footsteps" bring an indiepop sensibility into the mix, but with admirable subtlety. And of the handful of cover tunes, the best is a sweet take on the Freddy Fender classic, "Is Anybody Going To San Antone?" As an album, New Memories has rough-hewn edges, but in a very good, very un-Nashville way. Recommended!
Radio Sweethearts "Lonesome Blue" (Shoeshine/Spit & Polish Records, 2000)
The Sweethearts are back, with a slightly less raucous -- but no less rockin' -- set of harmony-rich honkytonk gems. Unlike New Memories, this album is all original material, and most of it's written by Glasgow's singing brakeman, John Miller. Miller's voice continues to amaze with its flawless, soulful American accent -- and as a songwriter, he ain't no slouch, either. The band's original lineup is intact here, along with special contributions by Alex Chilton (harmony vocals on about half the album) as well as "Little" Stevie Jackson, of the band Belle and Sebastian. A sweet album with DJ Joe Sixpack's seal of approval.
The Ranchers "Steel Guitar Sounds" (Emerald Gem Records, 1974) (LP)
An instrumental album by an early 'Seventies edition of Phil Brady's backing band... The tunes are mainly covers of American country classics, although they also squeeze in a version of George Harrison's "Something," for good measure. Alas, no info on the album's producer, or the individual musicians.
Bobby Ray "Something In The Ayre" (Tank Records, 19--?) (LP)
James Ray "Country Style" (Emerald Gem Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Tommy Scott & Tom Parker)
The Redbeards "Havin' A Ball" (Receiver Records, 1987) (LP)
Redwood "Live" (Zel-La Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Peter Coggins & Redwood)
Redwood "Listen To The Sound" (Sweet Folk And Country Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Allan Green & Joe Stead)
Red Wyng "Redwyng" (Emerald Gem Records, 1978) (LP)
Trevor Reed "Hayring Country" (1977) (LP)
(Produced by Trevor Reed & Ray Neave)
Recorded in Hull, UK, this features no steel or fiddles, but the material is definitely country, with covers of "Country Roads," "Lyin' Eyes," "Jambalaya" "Me And Bobby McGee" and several Dylan tunes.
Ruby Rendell "Ruby Red Wine" (Attic Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Attic Records)
The first(?) album by Scottish singer/multi-instrumentalist Ruby Rendell, who was very much under the spell on Emmylou Harris -- recording "Born To Run" and "One Of These Days," as well as the Tanya Tucker hit, "Delta Dawn," and Hank Devito's "Queen Of Hearts," which was an early '80s country-pop standard, notably in versions by Dave Edmunds and Juice Newton. Her backing band wasn't flashy, but they did okay despite fairly minimal production values: the group included Jim Anderson on accordion, Phillip Anderson (lead guitar and steel), Elaine Grieve (fiddle), Jim Marwick (drums) and Owen Tierney on acoustic guitar. (Worth noting: an entirely different set of musicians autographed the copy I found in a shop in Inverness, so she may have worked with a changing lineup of musicians...) Ruby Rendell born in Stronsay, Orkney and studied music in Stromness and Glasgow, played in local ceilidh groups with artists such as accordionist Alan Anderson, and later turned to playing American-style country music after finding work backing artists such as Jean Shepard and Kenny Serratt when they toured the UK, and even traveled a bit with Jean Shepard in the United States, including the chance to back Shepard at the Grand Ole Opry. Afterwards, Rendell formed her own band, and toured throughout the UK for several years. Eventually she got more of a "day job" as a school teacher, first as a music teacher at various schools in Orkney, and later started her own school in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. She has continued to perform and record in various bands and styles, with her most recent record coming out in 2023(!)
Rex Richard "Rex Looks East & West" (197--?) (LP)
Tony Richards "Keep It Country" (Zip Records, 1976) (LP)
Tony Richards "Country Corner" (Outlet Records, 1978) (LP)
Ben Lee Rivers "Sunshine In The Snow" (Tank Records, 197--?) (LP)
The Riversiders "If The Shoe Fits" (Raven Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Malcolm Ransom)
Rodeo Times "Leaving Louisiana" (SRT Records, 1981) (LP)
Roger And Judi "Roger & Judi" (Real Records, 1976) (LP)
A solo album, of sorts, from fiddler-guitarist Roger Churchyard, a longtme member of Great Britain's folk and bluegrass scenes who was also a founding member and producer of the group Orange Blossom Special, with whom he recorded a couple of albums. He's joined by singer Judi Churchyard, who I assume was his wife, and who seems to have only recorded on this album. Along with several singalong cover songs like "Love Is Strange," "Petticoat Junction" and "Your Good Girl Is Gonna Go Bad," the album includes some Roger Churchyard originals, such as "The Last Of The Swingers" and "When I Played My Fiddle." Mr. Churchyard, who passed away in 2015, also did session work on a number of folk, pop, and folk-rock albums through most of the 'Seventies.
Jimmy Rose & The Country Pie "By Request" (Contour Records, 1971) (LP)
Singer Jimmy Rose and guitarist Phil Brooks were a folk-country duo from Blackpool who filled out their sound with a small rhythm section for this album. The repertoire is a mix of vocal numbers -- songs like "California Bloodlines," "Love Song Of The Waterfall" and "Sixteen Tons" -- and instrumental showcases such as "Orange Blossom Special" and "Sleep Walk."
Rother Valley "Country Reflections" (Arny's Shack Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Tony Arnold)
Bryan Rudd "Basically Country" (Tank Records, 197--?) (LP)
Ian Russell "Sing Something Sinful" (Lucky Records, 1970-?) (LP)
Ron Ryan "A New Country Bag" (Lucky Records, 197-?) (LP)
(Produced by Gordon Smith & Roger Jeffrey)
Ron Ryan "My Way Of Life" (Lucky Records, 197-?) (LP)
Ron Ryan "I Like It ...Country Style ...With Ron Ryan" (SRT Records, 1973-?) (LP)
(Produced by George Bellamy & Dave Richardson)
Jim Ryder "Cowboys Stay In The Saddle Just A Little Bit Longer" (Crow Records, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Tim Flaherty)
This British bronco buster may have been the same "Big Jim" Ryder who played in a few English blues and rock bands in the early 'Sixties... At any rate, he was in a country mode here, singing some outlaw-ish material (David Allan Coe's "Divers Do It Deeper," "Lyin' Eyes," "Willie, Waylon And Me") along with a slew of more traditional, mainstream country ("Muleskinner Blues," "Wabash Cannonball," "American Trilogy"). Couldn't find much info about Mr. Ryder himself, although my eyes popped open when I saw that Peter Frampton was playing lead guitar on this album(!) Turns out it's a different guy -- Peter J. Frampton, not Peter K. Frampton -- but he and some of the other guys on here, notably bassist Alan Crookes, drummer Martin Duffy and producer Tim Flaherty worked together in a series of bands throughout the '80s, recording as The Cliffsons and as Poacher, a group best known for recording a hit version of Oscar Stuart Blandemer's "Darlin'," one of the all-time great English country tunes. This disc seems to have a curious backstory as some sort of business promotion, with a note on the back cover proclaiming it "sponsored by Marcol Incentives and Industrial Gifts." (Your guess is as good as mine.) At any rate, this seems to have been a dry run for the Poacher band, but if anyone out there has more info on this country collective, I'm all ears.
