- Nick Brown -- drums (1974-75)

- Steve Hall -- bass (1974-75)

- Roger Kelly -- vocals, lead guitar (replaced Ross

  McGeeney) (1976)

- Steve Lewis -- bass (replaced Iain Whitmore (1976)

- Ross McGeeney -- vocals, lead guitar (1973-76)

- Tony Poole -- vocals, guitar (1973-)

- Michael Wackford -- drums ((replaced Nick Brown) 

  (1975-)

- Iain Whitmore -- bass, backing vocals (replaced 

  Steve Hall) (1975-76)

- The Falcons (Tony Poole and Iain Whitmore)

- Starry Eyed

- Streetband (Roger Kelly)

- The Sun  (Tony Poole and Iain Whitmore)

Genre: pop

Rating: **** ( 4 stars)

Title:  Starry Eyes & Laughing

Company: CBS

Catalog: 80450

Year: 1973

Country/State: Northampton, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: UK pressing; JEM import sticker on cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4804

Price: $25.00

Cost: $16.00

Singer/guitarists Ross McGeeney and Tony Poole started their musical collaboration while still in school.  As The Chymes, they debuted at a school function, starting their professional musical careers working as a folk-rock duo on the Northampton club circuit, supplementing their income by panhandling for change in the London subway system. By 1974 the group had expanded to include drummer Nick Brown and bassist Steve Hall.  They'd also abandoned Northampton in favor of London, where their act quickly began to attract word-of-mouth attention and a eventually a recording contract with CBS.  Before the could actually go into the studio to record, the band underwent a personnel shakeup with Brown and Hall being replaced by Mick Wackford and Iain Whitmore.

I'm a big believer in the old adage 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' and it's clear that these guys were working under a major Roger McGuinn fixation.   In most cases such an obvious stylistic cop would have been a disaster but these guys had the chops and enthusiasm to pull it off.  All hyperbole aside, 1974's Dan Loggins produced "Starry Eyed & Laughing" may be the best Byrds album ever recorded by a British band ...  With guitarists McGeeney and Poole providing the majority of material (four songs each) and bassist Whitmore kicking in two more, material such as 'Going Down', ''Lady Came from the South and '' simply dripped with mid-1960s Byrds influences.  Propelled by Poole's 12 string Rickenbacker (which really did echo McGuinn's spidery 'Eight Miles High' catalog), occasional country-rock touches (courtesy of B.J. Cole's pedal steel guitar) and the band's close knit harmonies, virtually any one of the twelve tracks would have made a great single.  CBS actually tapped the collection for two 45s: 

- 'Money Is No Friend of Mine' b/w 'See Your Face' (CBS catalog number SCBS 2686)

- 'Nobody Home' b/w 'Closer to You Now' (CBS catalog number SCBS 3036)

While the album did nothing in the States, it's a stunning debut well worth digging around for.

"Starry Eyed & Laughing" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Going Down   (Ross McGeeney) - 3:05

2.) Closer To You Now   (Ross McGeeney) - 3:45

3.) Money Is No Friend of Mine   (Tony Poole) - 3:28

4.) Lady Came from the South   (Tony Poole) - 3:37

5.) Oh What?   (Tony Poole) - 3:00

6.) See Your Face   ( Ross McGeeney - Tony Poole - Iain Whitmore) - 3:08

(side 2)
1.) Nobody Home   (Tony Poole) - 2:35

2.) 50/50 (Better Stop Now)  (Iain Whitmore) - 3:40

3.) Living In London   ( Ross McGeeney - Tony Poole) - 

4.) Never Say Too Late   (Iain Whitmore) - 

5.) In the Madness   ( Ross McGeeney) - 3:00

6.) Everybody   ( Ross McGeeney) - 5:50

Genre: pop

Rating: **** ( 4 stars)

Title:  Though Talk

Company: Columbia

Catalog: PC-33837

Year: 1975

Country/State: Northampton, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: white label promo copy; timing strip on front; cut top right corner

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: SOLD

Price: SOLD

Cost: $66.00

Produced by Dan Loggins (Kenny's brother), 1975's "Thought Talk" isn't a major departure from the debut.  With all four members contributing to the writing chores, tracks such as Poole's Rickenbacher propelled jangle rock 'One Foot In the Boat' and 'Flames In the Rain' retained a distinctive Byrds-feel.  (The former may be one of the best Byrds song Roger McGuinn never wrote.)  That said, these guys were more than McGuinn clones.  'Good Love' and 'Keep It To Yourself ' were strong rockers, while 'Since I Lost You' offered up more than competent country-rock.  Packaged with strong melodies and some gorgeous vocal harmonies ('Down the Street'), it was the kind of sophomore release most bands could only dream about.  Curiously, while it featured UK and US releases featured the same track listing, the US release sported a different mix.   

A brief American tour opening for the likes of Flo and Eddie attracted critical praise, but whatever momentum the band had accumulated vanished when founding member McGeeney quit (or depending on whom you listen to, was fired).  Singer/guitarist Roger Kelly replaced him, only to see bassist Whitmore quit.  Whitmore was replaced by Steve Lewis.  As Starry Eyed, the band soldiered on, recording a couple of tracks with Flo and Eddie.   Those sessions saw the band release one final UK single, ''Song of the Road' b/w ''Don't Give Me a Hard Time' (CBS catalog number 4577). 

"Thought Talk" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Good Love   (Starry Eyed & Laughing) - 4'55

2.) One Foot In the Boat   (Tony Poole) - 4:17

3.) Since I Lost You   (Iain Whotmore) - 4:53

4.) Down the Street   (Ross McGeeney) - 4:13

5.) Fools' Gold   (Iain Whitmore) - 4:45

(side 2)
1.) Believe   (Ross McGeeney) - 6:00

2.) Keep It To Yourself   (Starry Eyed & Laughing) - 3:40

3.) Don't Give Me a Hard Time   (Ross McGeeney) - 3:46

4.) Flames In the Rain   (Tony Poole - Iain Whitmore) - 5:38

5.) Thought Talk (instrumental) - 5:06