| The Edgar Broughton Band was formed in Warwickshire in l968 by brothers Steve (Drums) and Robert 'Edgar' Broughton (Guitar / Vocals) together with bassist Arthur Grant. Regular appearances at 'Free Festivals' earnt them a reputation as a people's band and also a deal with EMI's progressive label Harvest. In fact, the band's debut single 'Evil' / 'Death Of An Electric Citizen', released in June 1969 (HAR 5001) became Harvest's first ever release along with singles from Michael Chapman, Barclay James Harvest and Bakerloo. Radio 1 DJ John Peel had already championed the band's cause by giving them a session on his 'Top Gear' show three months earlier and he gave them another one in August 1969 to tie in with the release of their debut album "Wasa Wasa" (SHVL 757), now regarded as a classic underground scene LP with vinyl copies changing hands for upwards of 30 GBP. The band's growing popularity was proved when they released the live favourite 'Out Demon Out'/ 'Momma's Reward (Keep Them Freaks A Rollin)' as a single (HAR 5015) in March 1970 and it became the first Harvest release to get into the charts, hitting No.39. This was followed by the LP 'Sing Brother Sing' (SHVL 772) which hit No.18 in the UK charts though a single issued at the same time 'Up Yours!' / 'Officer Dan' (HAR 5021) somehow failed to chart. However, the band's fourth single 'Apache Drop Out' / 'Freedom' (HAR 5032) charted four times in four months eventually peaking at No.33 and also reaching No.42 in Germany. By June 1971, the band had grown to a four-piece with the addition of ex- Pretty Things guitarist Victor Unitt and he debuted on the 'Edgar Broughton Band' LP (SHVL 791) and single 'Hotel Room' / 'Call Me A Liar' (HAR 5040). The LP, which featured a thirty-piece orchestra and a contribution from Mike Oldfield on mandolin, hit No.28 in the UK charts and again saw the band recording sessions for the BBC. An intense period of touring both the UK and Germany preceded the release of the single 'Gone Blue' / 'Someone" / 'Mr. Crosby' (HAR 5049) in April 1972 which was followed by the LP "Inside Out' (SHTC 252) though neither managed to crack the charts. The band's last album for Harvest "Oora" (SHVL 810), released in May 1973, also failed to chart and little was heard of the group until 1975 when they re-emerged, minus Vic Unitt, on NEMS Records with the "Bandages" album (NEL 6006) though EMI did put out a singles collection, "A Bunch Of 45s" (SHSM 2001), at almost the same time. Various managerial and record company problems prevented the band from keeping in the public spotlight for the next three years. Once they were resolved they released the "Pariez Vous English?" LP in 1979 on Infinity Records (INS 3027) under the name of The Broughtons and the single 'Little One' / 'Down In The Jungle' on EMI International (INT 597) though once again success eluded them. The live LP "Live Hits Harder" was released in Europe only on the Swiss B.B Records label (201009) in late 1979 whilst the bands last studio album "Superchip" came out in 1982 on the Sheet label (SHEET 2) along with the single 'Goodbye Ancient Homeland' / 'Do You Wanna Be Immortal' / 'The last Electioneer' (BULL 2) since when the band have become regulars on the London pub circuit. |
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| EBB stories & links |
| By Benjamin Horrendous By Patrick Neylan-Francis By Bill Stow/Vernon Joynson The Hyde Park Free Concerts EBB Gig List Collectable Records |
| 1969 - Wasa Wasa 1970 - Sing Brother Sing 1971 - EBB 1972 - In Side Out 1973 - Oora 1975 - Bandages 1975 - A Bunch Of 45's 1979 - Live Hits Harder 1979 - Parlez Vous English 1982 - Superchip 1983 - The Legendary EBB 1998 - Chilly Morning Mama 2000 - Demons At The Beeb |
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