Velvett Fogg
11-06-2008, 09:42 PM
VELVETT FOGG
Birmingham
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/foggalbum.jpg
Frank Wilson Hammond organ, vocal
Keith Law (songwriter)
Paul Eastment guitar, vocal
Graham Mullett drums
Mick Pollard bass guitar
Velvett Fogg was formed in 1968
out of a respectable Brum band called Gravy Train.
They were fronted by soul singer Ernie Handy
and the guitarist at that time was Bob Hewitt.
The other band members were drummer Graham Mullett,
bass guitarist Mick Pollard, and Londoner Frank Wilson
who played Hammond organ.
The band were soon off to Germany where they spent
most of the year playing at army bases and clubs.
Their exciting stage act included a light show
and a go-go dancer (who later married Ernie).
Upon returning to Birmingham, the band,
now managed by an agency called Inter City Artists,
was given a record deal by Jack Dorsey of Pye Records.
At this time it seemed that the more unusual or controversial
a band was, then the greater chance there would be for success
in the record business.
The record label was looking to sign unusual "underground" acts
and Velvett Fogg were told to, in Jack Dorsey's
words, "develop an image that would make people
think you would piss on the pope"!
The initial line-up of Velvett Fogg featured guitarist
Tony Iommi (later to make the big time with Black Sabbath).
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/foggFACES01.jpg
Tony stayed in the line-up for only one gig before leaving
to be replaced temporarily by Ian Leighton -
described as "a great blues guitarist" by his friend
Frank Wilson. It was during this time that Pye Records
arranged a photo-shoot of the band for the cover of their
proposed first album (more about that later).
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/KeithLaw1970B.jpg
Material for the Velvett Fogg album would be supplied
by local songwriter/guitarist Keith Law who became a friend
of the band. Keith was a veteran of the West Midlands music scene
having played in The Williamsons, Love and Understanding,
Paint and Jardine.
Keith takes up the story; "I was in the Rum Runner
one night, when someone told me that Velvett Fogg
were looking for new material, and they introduced me to them.
I arranged to meet them at their rehearsal place,
Langley Baths. I went along the next day,
and went through the following songs with them:
Yellow Cave Woman, Once Among The Trees
and Within' The Night and that was it!
The next couple of days, they were in London recording".
Before recording could begin in late 1968,
Ian Leighton departed Velvett Fogg and was replaced by guitarist/vocalist Paul Eastment
(a cousin of the band's previous guitarist
Tony Iommi). Paul Eastment was also
to contribute original compositions for the album along with
Frank Wilson,
Graham Mullet and Mick Pollard.
Velvett Fogg recorded the tracks for their debut album
under direction of Pye producer Jack Dorsey.
Apparently, Dorsey aimed to get the band onto the then-popular "progressive" band wagon.
"I was a classically trained pianist but we all had to play way
below our capabilities" says Frank Wilson.
The band were also allowed to record covers of a few songs
they liked and these included psychedelic-sounding versions
of New York Mining Disaster 1941 by
The Bee Gees, and Tim Rose's Come Away Melinda.
Velvett Fogg's self-titled album was released on the, Pye label in January of 1969.
Despite what some may have thought,
the album stands up as a fine example
of late 1960s British psychedelia.
As well as the previously mentioned covers, original compositions
such as Yellow Cave Woman
and
Once Among The Trees are both hypnotic if not compelling.
By contrast, other tracks like Lady Caroline
and Plastic Man had both homicidal
and political overtones respectively.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/velve1.gif
By far the most controversial feature of the
Velvett Fogg album was the record cover.
It displayed the pre-Paul Eastment line-up
of the band wearing garish make-up/body-paint and costume
but also included two well-endowed young women wearing nothing
but strategically applied body paint!
This politically-incorrect package was accompanied
by a typically obscure sleevenote by
the influential U.K. disc jockey John Peel
who commented
"There is a lot of good music on this record.
Remember Velvett Fogg - you will hear the name again."
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/VelvettFogg-Telstar69.jpg
Along with the Velvett Fogg album,
Pye Records also released a single by the group.
It was a cover of the Tornado's classic instrumental
Telstar and was recorded by the band as requested
by Jack Dorsey who hoped to cash in on the publicity surrounding the American moon landings taking place at that time.
While receiving some radio play,
the record did not sell enough copies to chart and a big advertising campaign planned by the record company to promote the album never materialized.
The band did a bit of touring after the single came out. Perhaps discouraged by poor sales of the Velvett Fogg album, Pye seemed to lose interest in the band so withdrew their backing. In the autumn of 1969 the group disbanded with the members going their seperate ways. Frank Wilson says "I personally thought the first line-up in Germany was the best and most satisfying." He returned to London and joined Riot Squad and then The Rumble Band before following in Rick Wakeman's footsteps to join Warhorse in 1970.
[I]Paul Eastment started a Brum band called Holy Ghost- later to become Ghost with whom he recorded a couple of albums. He later fronted another group called Resurrection as well as recording with local folk singer Shirley Kent.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/VELVETTFOGG1969.jpg
During the years since Velvett Fogg's
demise, demand amongst collectors for
copies of their (now very rare) album has increased considerably.
Original albums have changed hands for high prices
with bootleg copies also known to be in circulation.
Fortunately, in 2002 the Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
re-issued the album officially
for the first time on CD (CMRCD619) and it is strongly recommended
for those who are fans of the British psychedelic
or early progressive sounds of the late 1960s.
[B]And Now
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/tmpphpfxG1NE.jpg
Keith Law stayed in the music business, is still writing songs,
and is now a successful entertainer in the South-West of England.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/FrankWilsonJanuary2009002jpg.jpg
Frank Wilson is now performing as, DVD FS
who are one of the most sought after bands in the South East
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/KeithLaw-FrankWilsonJanuary2009001.jpg
Keith and Frank at
The Holiday Inn, Maidstone Kent.
January 2009
Keith Law and Frank Wilson,
founder member, vocalist and keyboard player,
are back together writing and recording
as Velvett Fogg Reloaded
and are currently working on their new new album
Velvett Fogg Reloaded
"Remember Velvett Fogg - you will hear the name again"
...(John Peel. 1969 )
Downloads of tracks and CD, can be purchased at
Santuary Records (http://store.sanctuaryrecords.com/543)
Check out Keith and Frank's
Velvett Fogg
Fan Site (ttp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=75760007)
Velvett Fogg
are now an official entry in
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvett_Fogg)
All contents are:- Copyright-ŠKeith Law .2009
Birmingham
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/foggalbum.jpg
Frank Wilson Hammond organ, vocal
Keith Law (songwriter)
Paul Eastment guitar, vocal
Graham Mullett drums
Mick Pollard bass guitar
Velvett Fogg was formed in 1968
out of a respectable Brum band called Gravy Train.
They were fronted by soul singer Ernie Handy
and the guitarist at that time was Bob Hewitt.
The other band members were drummer Graham Mullett,
bass guitarist Mick Pollard, and Londoner Frank Wilson
who played Hammond organ.
The band were soon off to Germany where they spent
most of the year playing at army bases and clubs.
Their exciting stage act included a light show
and a go-go dancer (who later married Ernie).
Upon returning to Birmingham, the band,
now managed by an agency called Inter City Artists,
was given a record deal by Jack Dorsey of Pye Records.
At this time it seemed that the more unusual or controversial
a band was, then the greater chance there would be for success
in the record business.
The record label was looking to sign unusual "underground" acts
and Velvett Fogg were told to, in Jack Dorsey's
words, "develop an image that would make people
think you would piss on the pope"!
The initial line-up of Velvett Fogg featured guitarist
Tony Iommi (later to make the big time with Black Sabbath).
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/foggFACES01.jpg
Tony stayed in the line-up for only one gig before leaving
to be replaced temporarily by Ian Leighton -
described as "a great blues guitarist" by his friend
Frank Wilson. It was during this time that Pye Records
arranged a photo-shoot of the band for the cover of their
proposed first album (more about that later).
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/KeithLaw1970B.jpg
Material for the Velvett Fogg album would be supplied
by local songwriter/guitarist Keith Law who became a friend
of the band. Keith was a veteran of the West Midlands music scene
having played in The Williamsons, Love and Understanding,
Paint and Jardine.
Keith takes up the story; "I was in the Rum Runner
one night, when someone told me that Velvett Fogg
were looking for new material, and they introduced me to them.
I arranged to meet them at their rehearsal place,
Langley Baths. I went along the next day,
and went through the following songs with them:
Yellow Cave Woman, Once Among The Trees
and Within' The Night and that was it!
The next couple of days, they were in London recording".
Before recording could begin in late 1968,
Ian Leighton departed Velvett Fogg and was replaced by guitarist/vocalist Paul Eastment
(a cousin of the band's previous guitarist
Tony Iommi). Paul Eastment was also
to contribute original compositions for the album along with
Frank Wilson,
Graham Mullet and Mick Pollard.
Velvett Fogg recorded the tracks for their debut album
under direction of Pye producer Jack Dorsey.
Apparently, Dorsey aimed to get the band onto the then-popular "progressive" band wagon.
"I was a classically trained pianist but we all had to play way
below our capabilities" says Frank Wilson.
The band were also allowed to record covers of a few songs
they liked and these included psychedelic-sounding versions
of New York Mining Disaster 1941 by
The Bee Gees, and Tim Rose's Come Away Melinda.
Velvett Fogg's self-titled album was released on the, Pye label in January of 1969.
Despite what some may have thought,
the album stands up as a fine example
of late 1960s British psychedelia.
As well as the previously mentioned covers, original compositions
such as Yellow Cave Woman
and
Once Among The Trees are both hypnotic if not compelling.
By contrast, other tracks like Lady Caroline
and Plastic Man had both homicidal
and political overtones respectively.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/velve1.gif
By far the most controversial feature of the
Velvett Fogg album was the record cover.
It displayed the pre-Paul Eastment line-up
of the band wearing garish make-up/body-paint and costume
but also included two well-endowed young women wearing nothing
but strategically applied body paint!
This politically-incorrect package was accompanied
by a typically obscure sleevenote by
the influential U.K. disc jockey John Peel
who commented
"There is a lot of good music on this record.
Remember Velvett Fogg - you will hear the name again."
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/VelvettFogg-Telstar69.jpg
Along with the Velvett Fogg album,
Pye Records also released a single by the group.
It was a cover of the Tornado's classic instrumental
Telstar and was recorded by the band as requested
by Jack Dorsey who hoped to cash in on the publicity surrounding the American moon landings taking place at that time.
While receiving some radio play,
the record did not sell enough copies to chart and a big advertising campaign planned by the record company to promote the album never materialized.
The band did a bit of touring after the single came out. Perhaps discouraged by poor sales of the Velvett Fogg album, Pye seemed to lose interest in the band so withdrew their backing. In the autumn of 1969 the group disbanded with the members going their seperate ways. Frank Wilson says "I personally thought the first line-up in Germany was the best and most satisfying." He returned to London and joined Riot Squad and then The Rumble Band before following in Rick Wakeman's footsteps to join Warhorse in 1970.
[I]Paul Eastment started a Brum band called Holy Ghost- later to become Ghost with whom he recorded a couple of albums. He later fronted another group called Resurrection as well as recording with local folk singer Shirley Kent.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/Unsigned%20City/VELVETTFOGG1969.jpg
During the years since Velvett Fogg's
demise, demand amongst collectors for
copies of their (now very rare) album has increased considerably.
Original albums have changed hands for high prices
with bootleg copies also known to be in circulation.
Fortunately, in 2002 the Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
re-issued the album officially
for the first time on CD (CMRCD619) and it is strongly recommended
for those who are fans of the British psychedelic
or early progressive sounds of the late 1960s.
[B]And Now
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/tmpphpfxG1NE.jpg
Keith Law stayed in the music business, is still writing songs,
and is now a successful entertainer in the South-West of England.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/FrankWilsonJanuary2009002jpg.jpg
Frank Wilson is now performing as, DVD FS
who are one of the most sought after bands in the South East
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/KeithLaw-FrankWilsonJanuary2009001.jpg
Keith and Frank at
The Holiday Inn, Maidstone Kent.
January 2009
Keith Law and Frank Wilson,
founder member, vocalist and keyboard player,
are back together writing and recording
as Velvett Fogg Reloaded
and are currently working on their new new album
Velvett Fogg Reloaded
"Remember Velvett Fogg - you will hear the name again"
...(John Peel. 1969 )
Downloads of tracks and CD, can be purchased at
Santuary Records (http://store.sanctuaryrecords.com/543)
Check out Keith and Frank's
Velvett Fogg
Fan Site (ttp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=75760007)
Velvett Fogg
are now an official entry in
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvett_Fogg)
All contents are:- Copyright-ŠKeith Law .2009