Buying the albums sampled on “You Can All Join In”.
We continue today with Chris Welch’s 2005 notes in the CD insert:
“Who were these incisive molars of melody? Spooky Tooth comprised Mike Harrison (vocals, piano), Gary Wright (vocals, keyboards), Luther Grosvenor (guitar), Greg Ridley (bass) and Mike Kellie (drums). The group had evolved out of a band called Art [see above]. One of the first acts signed to Island, they had released an album called “Supernatural Fairy Tales” [see above] and a single “What’s That Sound” in July 1967. Before that, Harrison, Grosvenor, Ridley and Kellie had been in the V.I.P.s, an R&B “covers” band from Carlisle in the North of England. When Blackwell introduced the guys to Gary Wright, Spooky Tooth were born. They were despatched to the studios with Jimmy Miller to record “It’s All About”. The album was released in August 1968 and Spooky Tooth swiftly made an impact with their measured, melodic and soulful style. Says Mike Harrison: “We all had experience of recording, having done quite a bit with the V.I.P.s. I had signed with Chris Blackwell way back in 1966. In fact, we were the first white artists to sign to his label. We never did an album, only singles. We later called ourselves Art for one album and then, when Gary Wright joined, we became Spooky Tooth. “It’s All About” was about us finding our musical feet. I think we finally found the direction we were looking for on the next album “Spooky Two” (1969) [indeed; see way above].
More next time.
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