Stackridge

Stackridge was a rock band from the West Country, formed in 1969: an earlier incarnation was the group Grytpype Thynne, and they were originally known as Stackridge Lemon. Original members were: Andy Creswell-Davies (lead guitar, keyboards); Mike "Mutter" Slater (flute); Mike Evans (violin); James Warren (guitars, bass); Billy "Sparkle" Bent (drums); and Jim "Crun" Walter (bass). There were a large number of touring musicians and a plethora of lineups, all documented on Wikipedia. The first four shared vocal duties. Their first major gig was opening and closing the first Glastonbury festival in 1970.

Throughout their career, Stackridge mainly stuck to a progressive rock sound, and explored and added elements of folk, power pop, and psychedelic rock. They have been described as a precursor to Britpop music. Their third album, The Man In The Bowler Hat (1974) was produced by George Martin, and featured Andy Mackay (Roxy Music). They disbanded in 1977, with Creswell-Davis and Warren going on to form the Korgis, only to reform in 1997 on the back of an album of Radio 1 sessions and split for good after a farewell tour in 2015.

They were described by AllMusic as "an oddity, a bucolic rock troupe with dancehall leanings. They were warm when the public wanted cool, intricate when brash was praised, illuminating when obscurity was in vogue."

Links to Peel
Stackridge were the only Bristol-based band to appear regularly on John's programmes, recording seven sessions in the 1970s. Let It Rock noted that "though their only radio recognition so far has come from the benefactor of imaginative bands, John Peel, Stackridge's new single (Anyone For Tennis) and album (Friendliness) should help to change that." However, despite their frequent plays on Peel, John Walters included them amongst a list of groups that "weren't terrible, but not great" on Peeling Back The Years, and JP seemed to concur. They also appeared with reasonable frequency on In Concert, but were never introduced by John.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * NoneSlark ~ Stackridge ~ KSHE Classic Really Cool Stuff Shop Video

Sessions

 * Seven sessions. #1 available on The Radio 1 Sessions (Strange Fruit).

1. Recorded: 1971-09-21. First broadcast: 20 October 1971. Repeated: 15 December 1971 2. Recorded: 1972-03-20. First broadcast: 04 April 1972. No repeats. 3. Recorded: 1972-10-09. First broadcast: 12 October 1972. Repeated: 09 November 1972. 4. Recorded: 1973-01-15. First broadcast: 25 January 1973. TRepeated: 22 February 1973. 5. Recorded: 1973-11-19. First broadcast: 22 November 1973. Repeated: 20 December 1973. 6. Recorded: 1975-01-22. First broadcast: 30 January 1975. Repeated: 03 April 1975. 7. Recorded: 1976-02-19. First broadcast: 02 March 1976. Repeated: 30 April 1976.
 * Three Legged Table Part 3 / Slark
 * Lummy Days / The Story Of My Heart / Syracuse The Elephant
 * Anyone For Tennis? / There Is No Refuge / Friendliness  / Teatime
 * Keep On Clucking / Fourposter Bed, Orange Blossom Special / Do The Stanley / Purple Spaceships Over Yatton
 * McGregor, Zorgon's Daughter / The Laughing Policeman / February In Shropshire / The Volunteer
 * Dancing On Air / Spin Around The Room / No One's More Important Than The Earthworm / Benjamin's Giant Onion
 * Hold Me Tight / Hey Good Looking / Save A Red Face / Steam Radio Song

Other Shows Played

 * 25 April 1972: Slark (single) MCA
 * 09 May 1972: Slark (single) MCA
 * Radio Luxembourg Tracklistings 4: Slark (single) MCA
 * 27 February 1975 / D022: Highbury Incident (Rainy July Morning) (album - Extravaganza) The Rocket Record Company
 * 22 February 1979: 'Anyone For Tennis (LP-Friendliness)' (MCA) (JP: 'If I was any good at imitations and I hadn't got a cold, I'd now do an imitation of Anne Nightingale dedicating that to six students in Sussex called Stephen, but as it is, I won't....A couple of Stackridges have gone on, as I say, to become Korgis.')