Biography
String Driven Thing formed in Glasgow in 1967 as a three part harmony folk band with the Adams’ and guitarist John Mannion. After paying their dues on the Scottish folk circuit they put out an eponymous album on the independent Concord label (copies of which are collectable and difficult to find) although a long way from their later Charisma label output. The group moved to London in 1972 and Chris Adams began to steer the band towards the electric folk-rock genre where his song writing abilities, which often feature hard-bitten and bitter observations capturing the harsher side of life, would be seen to better effect. By 1972 he had recruited classically trained violinist Graham Smith and guitarist Colin Wilson on bass, but soon afterwards Mannion left, citing musical differences. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Driven_Thing
Album & Cover
This is the first album without the original husband an wife team, Chris & Pauline Adams and the fourth album by String Driven Thing. The surviving member Grahame Smith rebuilt the band from scratch and took the sound in a different direction. The new line-up recorded another album after this called, Keep Yer ‘and On It, in 1975. Vocal duties were taken on by Kim Beacon (here referred to as Kimberley) who was the principal vocalist on Tony Banks’ first solo album. Beacon’s vocals represented a fundamental change from those of Chris and Pauline Adams, implying an immediately apparent change of sound for the band. http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2012/01/string-driven-thing-string-driven-thing.html
Cover Location:
Who Did What: Photography – S. Thorgerson/P. Christopherson. Retouching R. Manning
Label: 20th Century T-470(US), Charisma CAS1097(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Overdrive Without You Josephine Mrs O’Reilly Man Of Means |
Side Two Black Eyed Queen Keep On Moving Timpani For The Devil To Know You Is To Love You |
Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals [High Vocals] – James Exell
Vocalist – Kim Beacon
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Colin Fairley
Electric Guitar, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals [Bass Vocals] – Alun Roberts
Engineer – Tony Taverner
Harmonica, Bagpipes – Cuddly Juddley
Mixed By – Howard Kilgour
Mixed By [Assistant] – Phil Ault
Piano, Electric Piano – Harry MacDonald
Producer – A.D. Munt, String Driven Thing
Tenor Saxophone – Alan Skidmore
Violin, Viola – Grahame Smith
