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 20 BP.
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
"Supership" 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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