Stackridge
A very welcome addition to the Glastonbury 2008 line-up was the undervalued 'Stackridge'. As they played the first notes at the founding festival in 1970, it might have been more fitting to have had them back for the 40th anniversary! This 1970s band, hailing from the Bath and Bristol area, put out some absolutely amazing prog folk-rock in their time. The classic 1971-73 line-up comprised Andy Cresswell-Davis laying down guitar/keyboards/vocals, James Warren on guitar/vocals, Mike Evans adding inventive violin, Mike "Mutter" Slater on flute/vocals, Jim "Crun" Walter on bass and, finally, Billy Bent aka Billy Sparkle on the skins. Reading of a flute and violin in the line-up, and with four of the band claiming vocal credits, is the first hint that this was a band in the inventive and melodic strain. 'English whimsy' was one description but it doesn't quite do them justice as it misses their rock edge.

They produced five worthwhile albums before calling it a day in 1977 with two of their members going off to join The Korgis. The first album, 'Stackridge', is a particularly interesting listen typifying the original 'hippy-trippy' roots of Glasto (then called the Piltdown Festival) and featuring the excellent 'Slark', something in the epic 10 minute mould so beloved of mid-70s bands but it's the sort of tune that insinuates its way into your head and which you uncontrollably find yourself whistling! Another crowd favourite for live shows was 'Do the Stanley'. There was probably a tongue-in-cheek dance that accompanied it as the band never took themselves too seriously. How could they with titles like 'Purple Spaceships over Yatton'! Maybe a bit more pretention might have led to deserved success; who knows? The most successful album commercially was 'The Man in The Bowler Hat' (released as Pinafore Day in the USA) which enjoyed George Martin on production duties at his own Air Studios on Oxford Street. It made the lower reaches of the top 30 in the UK. One other track worth hunting out to download is 'Highbury Incident' off their fifth album 'Extravaganza'.

'Stackridge' are still on the live circuit today (with a couple of original members) and well-worth catching.

Family - Chapman & Whitney - Street Walkers
Originally formed in Leicester, England, Family, after a few early member changes were Roger Chapman, vocals, John Whitney, lead, Rob Townsend, drums and the late, great Ric Grech, bass and violin). Their classic debut album Music in a Doll's House, now widely acknowledged as a classic of British psychedelic rock,  was recorded during early 1968 with the bulk of the album produced by former 'Traffic' member Dave Mason and recorded at London's Olympic Studios. Family made their London debut at the Royal Albert Hall in July 1968, supporting Tim Hardin. Alongside 'Pink Floyd', 'Soft Machine', 'The Move' and 'The Nice', Family quickly became one of the premier attractions on the burgeoning UK psychedelic/progressive "underground" scene playing at the Marquee, Middle Earth, UFO, Klooks Kleek and Eel Pie Island. Their lifestyle and exploits during this period provided some of the inspiration for the 1969 novel Groupie by Jenny Fabian (who lived in the group's Chelsea house).

Other members of the band over the years were Harry Ovenall, John Weider, John "Poli" Palmer, John Wetton, Jim Cregan and Tony Ashton. They were wild perfomers, their lead singer having one of the most distinctive rock voices, they blew away everyone on the live circuit. Once seen, never forgotten! Even Hendrix was reputedly loath to follow them on stage! The Band suported the Stones at their famed 1969 Hyde Park gig, and played the Isle of Wight Festival.

On break-up in the mid 70's band members joined a number of other great acts; Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney formed the band Streetwalkers; John Wetton played with King Crimson eventually became the lead singer of Asia; Rob Townsend was a member of Medicine Head between 1973 and 1975; Ric Grech (who was in the first ‘supergroup’ Blind Faith), died of kidney and liver failure in 1990 at the age of 43; Tony Ashton, of Ashton, Gardener & Dyke, died in 2001 at the age of 55 of cancer.

Selected Stackridge albums to check out:

* Stackridge (1971) Angel Air SJPCD 230

* Friendliness (1972) Angel Air SJPCD 231

* The Man In The Bowler Hat (1974) Angel Air SJPCD 232

* Pinafore Days (1974) US version of Man in the Bowler Hat, with two tracks dropped, replaced by two from Extravaganza

* Extravaganza (1975) Angel Air SJPCD 233

* Mr. Mick (1976)

* Do the Stanley (1976, compilation, one previously unreleased track "Let There Be Lids")

Selected Family albums to check out:

* Music in a Doll's House (Reprise, 1968)

* Family Entertainment (Reprise, 1969)

* Anyway (Reprise, 1970)

* Bandstand (Reprise, 1972)

* Chapman & Whitney as Street Walkers

* Red Card Vertigo 9102010 (1976) which went to No.16 in UK album chart

familybandstand.com