Python Lee Jackson: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:27, 11 November 2022

Revision as of 10:29, 11 November 2022

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===1968-1972: British period ===

Python Lee Jackson was reformed in the UK in October 1968 by Bentley, Lieber and Montgomery;<ref name="McFarlane"/> the line-up was completed by former [[The Clefs|Levi Smith Clefs]]' bass player, John Helman (also ex-Jeff St John and the Id).<ref name="Kimball JStJ">{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070306130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35967/20070307-0000/www.milesago.com/Artists/jeffstjohn.html | url = http://www.milesago.com/Artists/jeffstjohn.html | title = Jeff St John & The Id / Yama / Copperwine | last = Kimball | first = Duncan | publisher = Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions | archive-date = 6 March 2007 | year = 2002 | access-date = 26 May 2017 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The band played at the Vesuvio club on [[Tottenham Court Road]], and in early 1969 performed at the [[Arts Lab]] on [[Drury Lane]] for several months, where it was spotted by DJ [[John Peel]]. In April 1969 Bentley, Lieber and Montgomery were joined by Jamie Byrne from the Groove, and recorded three tracks in the studio with [[Rod Stewart]] as a guest vocalist. Stewart was paid a set of car seat covers for his recording session; he had been brought in to sing three tracks, after Bentley informed his bandmates that he didn't think his own voice was right for the songs.[[Sue & Sunny]] were brought in for backing vocals. Peel produced the recording of "[[In a Broken Dream]]". Two other tracks, "Doin' Fine" (a version of "Cloud Nine") and "The Blues" remained unreleased until 1970 when Miki Dallon re-produced the track for his Youngblood label and released it, having bought the masters from Peel. The single was not a success on its initial release, but Dallon re-released it in August 1972 to coincide with Stewart's release of "You Wear It Well", his second solo single. With Stewart more popular by then, "In a Broken Dream", rose to number&nbsp;three in the [[UK Singles Chart]], No.&nbsp;56 in the United States [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref name="UK Singles">{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14708/python-lee-jackson/ | title = Official Charts Company | website =Officialcharts.com | access-date = 23 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Rock File 3 Chartlog – Sources of British Hit Songs:Writers, American Hits and Original Versions |author1=Gillett, Charlie |author2=Frith, Simon |name-list-style=amp |year=1975 |publisher=Panther |___location=St. Albans, England |isbn=0-586-04261-X |page=126 }}</ref><ref name="US Singles">{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/artist/356928/python-lee-jackson/chart | title = Python Lee Jackson – Chart History | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date = 23 May 2017 }}</ref> and No. 74 in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.7662.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - July 29, 1972}}</ref>

Following the recording of the songs with Stewart, the group made sporadic live appearances; ''[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]]'' magazine advertised one show at the Bottleneck Club in the Railway Tavern, [[Stratford, London|Stratford]] in East London on 28 June 1969. The band went into hiatus from 1969 to 1972, during which period the band members explored separate projects.