Biography
String Driven Thing formed in Glasgow in 1967 as a three part harmony folk band with the Adamses 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
Storm Thorgerson came up with the idea for this cover when he was washing his teeth one morning. It is a suggestive photograph using a tube of toothpaste and he thought it would be fun and so did the band.
Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK
Who Did What: Photography – A. Powell with H. Bartrop. Graphics – C. Elgie
Label: 20th Century T-503(US), Charisma CAS1112(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Starving In The Tropics Call Out For Mercy Chains (I Wanna Be Just Like Stan Bowles) Things We Said Today Written-By – Lennon-McCartney |
Side Two But I Do Old Friends Ways Of A Woman Part Of It Stand Back In Amazement |
Credits
Bass, Vocals – James Exell
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Colin Fairley
Guitar, Banjo, Vocals – Alun Roberts
Harmonica – Cuddly Juddley
Piano – Peter Wood
Producer, Engineer – Andy Johns
Violin, Viola – Graham Smith
Vocals – Kimberley Beacon
