The Big Book Of British Smiles
Two hours of exceedingly, remarkably, excruciatingly, thoroughly, and obviously British music. Mostly England, but a few other countries get in there. Hopefully that's your cup of tea.
28 different acts in this show, here is some information about some of them:
Fairport Convention:
Heavily influenced by North American folk rock, Fairport Convention started out writing and covering contemporary folk tunes, often being confused for an American band. But soon the band added Sandy Denny to their lineup and became more interested in British folk traditions. With "A Sailor's Life" on their 1969 album Unhalfbricking, the band added a rock beat to a traditional piece for the first time. This inspiration continued into their landmark album Liege & Lief, also noted for its use of electronic instruments and the full emergence of Richard Thompson's song writing. Eventually Thompson went solo, bassist Ashley Hutchings formed Steeleye Span and the Albion Band, which guitarist Simon Nicol and drummer Iain Matthews soon joined, and Sandy Denny founded Fotheringay. By late 1971 no original members remained. The group was named after Fairport which was the name of the house in which the band rehearsed in their early days.
Roy Harper:
The Sophisticated Beggar started writing poems and joined a skiffle band in his early teens before joining the Royal Air Force to train for a career as a pilot. After two years he decided it wasn't for him and pretended to be crazy in order to be discharged, he was subjected to electroshock therapy and ultimately escaped from his hospital. Although a fan of traditional folk, Harper was more interested in writing folk songs with a more modern sound, often being realized as long, radio unfriendly tunes. Harper received his biggest exposure in 1975 when he took over vocals for Pink Floyd on the song "Have A Cigar", volunteering when Roger Waters and David Gilmour struggled recording the track. He is also name checked in the Led Zeppelin song "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper" on Led Zeppelin III. Harper and Jimmy Page had become friends in their early days as musicians and Page even provides the guitar solo on "The Same Old Rock".
Countries represented: England, Scotland, Wales, South Africa.
- 6:00pm Heinz Baked Beans by The Who on The Who Sell Out (MCA Records), 1967
- 6:01pm End Of A Holiday by Fairport Convention on What We Did On Our Holidays (Water), 1969
- 6:02pm Cross-Eyed Mary by Jethro Tull on Aqualung (Chrysalis), 1971
- 6:06pm In The Land Of The Few by Love Sculpture on Forms And Feelings (EMI), 1969
- 6:10pm Matty Groves by Fairport Convention on Liege & Lief (Island Records), 1969
- 6:18pm Lady Nothing by Bert Jansch on Bert Jansch (Drag City), 1974
- 6:21pm One Of Those Days In England by Roy Harper on Bullinamingvase (Science Friction), 1977
- 6:24pm Fill Your Heart by David Bowie on Hunky Dory (Parlophone), 1971
- 6:27pm William Chalker's Time Machine by The Lemon Tree on Insane Times • 25 British Psychedelic Artyfacts From The EMI Vaults (Zonophone), 1968
- 6:30pm Victoria by The Kinks on Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire (Reprise Records), 1969
- 6:33pm Watford Gap by Roy Harper on Bullinamingvase (Science Friction), 1977
- 6:37pm Smokey River by Bert Jansch on Bert Jansch (Castle Music), 1965
- 6:40pm When I Get To The Border by Richard & Linda Thompson on I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (Island Records), 1974
- 6:43pm Witch Of The West-Mer-Lands by Archie Fisher on The Man With A Rhyme (Folk-Legacy Records), 1976
- 6:48pm Blackleg Miner by Richard Thompson on 1000 Years Of Popular Music (Beeswing), 2003
- 6:51pm Sandman's Song by Anne Briggs on The Time Has Come (Water), 1971
- 6:56pm Highlodge Hare by Anne Briggs on The Time Has Come (Water), 1971
- 6:58pm Where Do The Children Play by Cat Stevens on Tea For The Tillerman (A&M Records), 1970
- 7:02pm English Tea by Paul McCartney on Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (Capitol Records), 2005
- 7:04pm Another Day by The Rutles on The Rutles (Rhino Records), 1977
- 7:07pm A Concise British Alphabet, Pt. 1 by Soft Machine on The Soft Machine (Sundazed Music), 1968
- 7:07pm Can't Reach You by The Who on The Who Sell Out (MCA Records), 1967
- 7:10pm Lazy Sunday by Small Faces on Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Fuel 2000), 1968
- 7:13pm Casbah by Bert Jansch on Bert Jansch (Castle Music), 1965
- 7:15pm After Tea by The Spencer Davis Group on With Their New Face On (Purple Pyramid), 1967
- 7:18pm I'll Be Late For Tea by Blossom Toes on Love, Poetry And Revolution (A Journey Through The British Psychedelic And Underground Scenes 1966-72) (Grapefruit Records), 1967
- 7:21pm The Other Side Of Summer by Elvis Costello on Mighty Like A Rose (Warner Bros. Records), 1991
- 7:25pm Excerpt From "The Blind & The Beautiful" by Nirvana on Dedicated To Markos III (Island Records), 1969
- 7:28pm Tea In Space by Joby Talbot on The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (Original Soundtrack) (Hollywood Records), 2005
- 7:29pm The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part I (Entrance) by Pink Floyd on Ummagumma (Capitol Records), 1969
- 7:30pm I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight by Richard & Linda Thompson on I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (Island Records), 1974
- 7:33pm The Equestrian Statue by Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band on Gorilla (BGO Records), 1967
- 7:36pm Red Lady by Phil Cordell on Love, Poetry And Revolution (A Journey Through The British Psychedelic And Underground Scenes 1966-72) (Grapefruit Records), 1969
- 7:38pm Have You Heard The Word by Fut on Love, Poetry And Revolution (A Journey Through The British Psychedelic And Underground Scenes 1966-72) (Grapefruit Records), 1970
- 7:43pm Portfolio by Fairport Convention on Fairport Convention (Polydor), 1968
- 7:45pm The Same Old Rock by Roy Harper on Stormcock (Harvest), 1971
- 7:57pm Jolly Cup Of Tea by Wizzard on Wizzard Brew (Harvest), 1973