Clouds were a 1960s Progressive rock band that disbanded in October 1971. The band consisted of Ian Ellis (bass & lead vocals), Harry Hughes (drums) and Billy Ritchie (keyboards). Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Information. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ...

Biography

Early Days: The Premiers

In early 1964, Ian Ellis and Harry Hughes were playing in a band called The Premiers. The band itself consisted of Bill Lawrence (bass guitar), ‘Shammy’ Lafferty (rhythm guitar), Derek Reid (Lead guitar), Harry Hughes (drums) and Ian Ellis (vocals). It was decided that an organ would help the sound of the band, and Billy Ritchie joined. The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... Rhythm guitar is a guitar that is primarily used to provide rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment for a singer or for other instruments in an ensemble. ... Lead guitar refers to a role within a band, that provides melody or melodic material, as opposed to the rhythm of the rhythm guitar, bass, and drums. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ...

Cyril Stapleton took the band to London to record some demos, but nothing came of that, and Derek Reid, Bill Lawrence, and James Lafferty decided to leave. It seemed that Ritchie joining the band had prompted more changes than had been intended. Ian Ellis decided that he would take up the position of bass guitarist as well as lead vocalist. The group decided to move in a new musical direction, and changed their name from The Premiers to 1-2-3. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

1-2-3

1-2-3 had a much different sound from the previous band, or from any other band at that time ^[1]. After achieving little success in Scotland, the band moved to London, England where they hoped that their original music would catch on, but "early audiences were confused by the lack of a guitarist."^[2] This article is about the country. ... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ...

The band were given a headlining residency performing at the Marquee Club, which was unusual, as they hadn't first performed the customery support spots. At the time, they were described as "a unique group...who have created an entirely new sound in pop group music". The same publication referred to "the truly exciting nature of 1-2-3" ^[3]. During the time the group performed at the club during 1967, they were signed by NEMS management company and Brian Epstein of Beatles fame. This event was heralded in the National Press, complete with photograph and accompanying article ^[4].

Among the Marquee audiences were future superstars such as Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, King Crimson, Yes, and David Bowie, who said, when interviewed by Record Mirror in 1967, that they were "three thistle and haggis voiced bairns [who] had the audacity to face a mob of self-opinionated hippies with a brand of unique pop music which, because of its intolerance of mediocrity, floated, as would a Hogarth cartoon in Beano.^[5]. Keith Noel Emerson (born 2 November 1944 in Todmorden, Yorkshire) is a British keyboard player and composer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... King Crimson are a musical group founded by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles in 1969. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... Record Mirror was a British weekly music newspaper. ... Hogarth may refer to: Burne Hogarth, American cartoonist, illustrator, educator and author. ... Beano can refer to: The Beano, a British childrens comic. ...

The death of Brian Epstein, founder of NEMS, left the band in the care of Robert Stigwood, his successor. But Stigwood had just signed The Bee Gees, fellow Australians, and was preoccupied with making them a success. This brought an end to the management relationship shortly afterwards. After parting company with NEMS, the band kept busy playing in the local London club circuit. At a club in Ilford, east London, the band were seen by Terry Ellis who quickly signed them to his new agency, and re-named the band Clouds. Brian Samuel Epstein (IPA: ) (born in Liverpool, England; 19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967) was the manager of The Beatles. ... NEMS or nanoelectromechanical systems are similar to MEMS but smaller. ... Robert Stigwood (born April 16, 1934 in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian-born entertainment entrepreneur. ... The Bee Gees: Maurice, Barry and Robin The Bee Gees were a British and Australian band, originally a pop singer-songwriter combination, reborn as funk and disco. ... NEMS or nanoelectromechanical systems are similar to MEMS but smaller. ... Ilford is a district of the London Borough of Redbridge in east London, England. ... Terry Ellis is a British record producer and manager best known for his early work with Jethro Tull, and as co-founder of Chrysalis Records in 1969. ...

Clouds

Originally known as the Ellis-Wright agency, the organisation grew and became Chrysalis. Clouds had also risen in prominence, playing many major tours, and appearing at the Royal Albert Hall and many of the headlining concert venues in the world, including the Fillmore East in New York.^[6]. The band released a number of albums during this period. The recordings were generally very well received by the critics, with respectable sales ^[7] . Concert reviews were also favourable. A review of a 1970 concert at the Arragon ballroom, Chicago, began by saying 'This band will be a giant' ^[8]. Chrysalis logo (1987-2005) Chrysalis Records is a record label that was created in 1969. ... “Albert Hall” redirects here. ... Fillmore East was promoter Bill Grahams rock palace in the East Village area of New York City. ... “NY” redirects here. ...

But despite some initial success for the band, Chrysalis increasingly focused its attention on Jethro Tull, and the momentum was lost. Only in hindsight, was the pioneering role of the group revealed, and in that light, it was 1-2-3 who had carried the torch ^[9]. Ritchie, the organist, was credited as being the first of his kind, providing a role model for others, such as Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman ^[10]. Though the later incarnation, Clouds, was interesting, the music had become somewhat watered-down and mainstream, and the group disbanded in 1971, unable to find a niche in an overcrowded progressive rock scene ^[11]. Jethro Tull are a Grammy Award winning English rock band that formed in 1967-1968[1]. Their music is marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead flute work of front man Ian Anderson. ...

Discography

Date of release	Title	Record label
1969	"Make No Bones About It" b/w "Heritage" (single)	Island WIP6055
1969	You Can All Join In (sampler)	Island IWPS2
1969	"Scrapbook" (album)	Island ILPS9100
1969	"Scrapbook" b/w "Carpenter" (single)	Island WIP6067
1969	"Scrapbook" b/w "Old Man" (single)	Island (European continent only)
1969	"Bumpers" (sampler)	Island IDP1
1969	"Up Above Our Heads" (album)	Deram Records DES18044 (USA/Canada only)
1970	"Take Me To Your Leader" b/w "Old Man" (single)	Island (European continent only)
1971	"Watercolour Days"	Island/Chrysalis ILPS9151, Deram
1996	"Scrapbook/Watercolour Days" (re-issue)	BGO Records BGOCD317
1999	"Coda"	Sunrise Records
2007	"Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal"	Island-Universal Records 9822950 Box set

1. ^ The History of Scottish Rock and Pop by Brian Hogg BBC/Guiness publishing. Quote ‘There was nothing remotely like it around’. Also published on Clouds website
2. ^ The Illustrated History of Rock; Clouds by Ed Ward; also published on Clouds website
3. ^ Marquee club programme, March 1967. Reprinted in “The History of Scottish Rock and Pop” by Brian Hogg (BBC/Guinness Publishing), shown on the Clouds website
4. ^ Daily Record June 1967. Also reprinted in Mojo Magazine Nov 1994 and Clouds website
5. ^ Record Mirror June 1967, letter by David Bowie plus interview and photograph. Reprinted in Mojo Magazine Nov 1994 and on Clouds website
6. ^ Fillmore East programme June 1970. Reprinted in Mojo magazine Nov 1994 and on Clouds website
7. ^ Melody Maker ‘Album of the Month‘ (Scrapbook) Sep 1969. Kid Jensen radio show ‘Album of the week‘ (Watercolour Days) March 1971
8. ^ Billboard Magazine concert review July 1970. Reprinted in Mojo Magazine Nov 1994 and Clouds website
9. ^ Mojo Magazine “1-2-3 and the Birth of Prog“ Nov 1994. Also reprinted on Clouds website. “The History of Scottish Rock and Pop“ by Brian Hogg (BBC/Guinness publishing)
10. ^ Q Magazine record review by Martin Aston May 1996 quote “a definite influence on the following Nice and ELP”, “the virtuoso keyboards of Billy Ritchie, pre-empting Emerson and Wakeman“, “the most outstanding“. “The Illustrated History of Rock“ - Clouds by Ed Ward “Ritchie took the lead role, standing, of all things, and thereby became the model for Emerson and Wakeman to follow“ . Mojo Magazine interview with Ed Bicknell (manager of Dire Straits) Nov 1994 “The organist, Billy Ritchie, was especially brilliant“. Interview with David Bowie in the same article “ Billy was yet another unrecognised genius“ All on Clouds website
11. ^ “The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Popular Music” edited by Colin Larkin. Now on Virgin books as “ The Virgin Encyclopaedia of Popular Music”

Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... You Can All Join In is a sampler album, released by Island Records in 1969. ... Bumpers was a compilation album from Island Records was released in Europe and Australasia in 1970. ... Deram Records was setup by Decca Records (UK) as a label for alternative artists. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Chrysalis logo (1987-2005) Chrysalis Records is a record label that was created in 1969. ... Deram Records was setup by Decca Records (UK) as a label for alternative artists. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... BGO Records (Beat Goes On) is a record label specializing in classic rock, blues, jazz and folk music. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

External links

• www.cloudsmusic.com