IDLE RACE
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The Idle Race were a British rock group from Birmingham in the late 1960s and early 1970s who had a cult following but never enjoyed mass commercial success. The story started in 1959 when Dave Pritchard, Greg Masters and Roger Spencer formed a band and went through several incarnations, names, lead guitarists and lead singers of which the most successfully was Mike Sheridan. Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders failed to crack the charts, the band's lineup during this period included a young lead guitarist and composer named Roy Wood. Wood jumped ship to join the then Brum 'supergroup' The Move in December 1965. Sheridan left shortly thereafter. When they placed an advert in May 1966 for a younger replacement, the winning applicant was Jeff Lynne, then a relatively unknown guitar prodigy from the Birmingham district of Shard End. Eager to showcase Lynne's vocal and guitar skills as well as his growing cache of catchy Beatlesque songs, the group changed its name, first to Idyll Race, then Idle Race. Wood, now a major star as the Move became a successful chart act, helped arrange a partnership with pop producers Eddie Offord and Gerald Chevin for his old bandmates. In 1967, The Idle Race were the first major signing by the new British arm of Liberty Records. The group were well-received by the music press for their melodies, whimsical lyrics, and inventive production. They often appeared on the same bill with such bands as The Spencer Davis Group, The Who, The Small Faces, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Status Quo, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Yes, Free, and The Move. During this period, Idle Race was also, as one member later termed it, a very "schizophrenic" band. While their records were awash in melodic hooks, paisley-pop backdrops and lilting harmonies, they were a much heavier act in a live setting. Lynne's early trademark around the clubs and colleges was his ability to coax an unusual "violin" sound out of his guitar, while Masters would occasionally take a bow to his Hofner bass. In addition to original material, their set list included extended covers of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild", The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Purple Haze", Moby Grape's "Hey Grandma," The Lemon Pipers' "Blueberry Blue," The Doors' "Love Me Two Times", and an electric version of "Debora" by Tyrannosaurus Rex. Lynne and Wood's mutual respect and friendship deepened. The demo for the Move hit "Blackberry Way" was recorded in Lynne's front room and borrowed motifs from the Idle Race. In January 1970, Lynne accepted a second offer by Wood to join the Move, on condition that they would eventually retire that band and concentrate on a new venture, Electric Light Orchestra. The Move, now comprising just Wood, Lynne and drummer Bev Bevan, ceased touring in 1970 and adopted its ELO alter ego permanently in 1972. Meanwhile, Mike Hopkins (guitar) and Dave Walker (vocals) were hired to replace Lynne in The Idle Race. A cover of Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" on Liberty in 1970 finally got them into the top 10in Argentina. After Masters and Hopkins quit the group in 1972, the remnants became the Steve Gibbons Band.
MEMBERS:
Jeff Lynne replaced by Dave Walker - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Greg Masters - Bass and Vocals
Dave Pritchard - Guitar and Vocals
Roger Spencer - Drums
Mike Hopkins (1970-1972) - Guitar and Vocals
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Come With Me
The Skeleton And The Roundabout
Germany
Liberty 15 237
Value: 30
Come With Me
Reminds Me Of You
Italy
Liberty LIB 9054
Value: 125
Days Of The Broken Arrows
Warm Red Carpet
France
Liberty 2C006-90295
Value: 45
Days Of The Broken Arrows
Warm Red Carpet
Holland
Liberty 5C006-90295 M
Value: 160
Here We Go Round The Lemon Tree
My Father's Son
Germany
Liberty 15010 A
Value: 50
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Denmark
Liberty LBF 15371
Value: 35
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
France
Liberty 2C006-91623
Value: 25
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Germany
Colombia 1C006-91623
Value: 25
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Germany
Liberty 15371
Value: 20
REISSUE
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Germany
Liberty 15371
Value: 40
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Italy
Liberty LIB 9080
Value: 75
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Japan
Liberty LR-2582
Value: 65
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Norway
Liberty LBF 15371
Value: 35
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Singapore
Liberty LBF 15371
Value: 40
In The Summertime
Told You Twice
Sweden
Liberty LBF 15371
Value: 35
In The Summertime / Told You Twice
Neanderthal Man / Victim Of Circumstance
Australia
Liberty LYX-11,734
Value: 50
In The Summertime / Victim Of Circumstance
Neanderthal Man / Told You Twice
Brazil
Liberty FCD-45058
Value: 80
Neanderthal Man
In The Summertime
Turkey
Liberty 70855
Value: 90
On With The Show / The End Of The Road
The Skeleton And The Roundabout / Pie In The Sky
Mexico
Liberty EL 65111
Value: 150
The Skeleton And The Roundabout
On With The Show
France
Liberty LIF 523F
Value: 55
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