Isotope were a British jazz-rock band fronted by guitarist Gary Boyle. Boyle founded the band in June 1972 and a first album, ‘Isotope’, was largely composed by keyboardist Brian Miller. Jeff Clyne played bass and Nigel Morris played drums. Clyne and Miller left in 1974, however, and were replaced by Hugh Hopper and Laurence Scott (b. 7 Feb 1946) respectively. After touring, this new line-up recorded the band's second album ‘Illusion’. In late 1974 the band appeared on film on BBC 2's Old Grey Whistle Test playing "Spanish Sun" from the album.[1]
Further touring followed and there were various personnel changes. ‘Deep End’ was recorded in 1976 with two keyboardists, Zoe Kronberger and Frank Roberts. Hopper played on one track, but the bass was otherwise played by Dan K. Brown. Morris Pert also played percussion. Boyle subsequently focused on a solo career.
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Links To Peel[]
- (please add)
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
Isotope - illusion (John Peel Session 23rd July 1974)
Three sessions, plus one Gary Boyle solo session. No known commercial release. Hugh Hopper also seven sessions with Soft Machine (1969-72), one with Stomu Yamashta (1974).
1. Recorded 1974-02-28. First broadcast 07 March 1974.
- Bite On This/Upward Curve / Windmills And Waterfalls / Honkey Donkey / Do The Business
2. Recorded 1974-07-23. First broadcast 06 August 1974.
- Golden Section / Spanish Sun / Lilly Kong/E-Dorian / Illusion
3. Recorded 1975-06-24. First broadcast 07 July 1975. Repeated 01 September 1975.
- Fone Bone / Atilla / Pipe Dream
- Gary Boyle
One solo session, released on Live At The BBC, CD, 2004 (HUX048). Also one session with Eclection (1969).
1. Recorded 1977-08-22. First broadcast 31 August 1977 repeated 21 September 1977
- The Dancer / Cowshed Shuffle / Almond Burfi
Other Shows Played[]
- 30 April 1974: unknown
- 28 November 1974: Sliding Dogs, Lion Sandwich (LP – Illusion) Gull
- 06 January 1975: Illusion (LP - Illusion) Gull
- 17 August 1976: Frog (album - Illusion) Gull (1976 Band Retrospectives show, featuring Soft Machine and related artists)