Stone The Crows were a blues-rock band formed in Glasgow in late 1969. They are primarily remembered for the onstage electrocution of guitarist and founding member Les Harvey. The band were formed after Maggie Bell was introduced to Les Harvey by his elder brother Alex Harvey. They were co-managed by Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant and Mark London.
The band's first two albums were recorded with the original line up, and Maggie Bell's vocals were described as being similar to Janis Joplin's. Jimmy McCulloch would subsequently replace the main songwriter Harvey as lead guitarist, following Harvey's death. Stone The Crows ultimately broke up in June 1973.
Peter Grant continued to manage Maggie Bell's career. Guided by Grant, Bell subsequently recorded two solo albums ‘Queen of the Night’ (1974) and ‘Suicide Sal’ (1975). Bell is also known for her session work on Rod Stewart's album ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ (1971), in particular her co-lead vocal with Stewart on the album's title track. Jimmy McCulloch joined Paul McCartney's group Wings, in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1974.
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Links to Peel[]
Stone The Crows built a solid reputation as a live band, appearing at clubs, concert halls and open-air festivals during their career, and although commercial success eluded them, Peel liked them enough to have them do four sessions for Top Gear. He also introduced two concert shows featuring the band.
On the final Top Gear, on 25 September 1975 Peel told an anecdote praising Maggie Bell's considerate behaviour at a music business event they, and Melody Maker journalist Chris Welch, had attended. He also included a track from Stone The Crows' second session, their version of Bob Dylan's "Ballad of Hollis Brown", among the "historic" session recordings he chose to mark the end of the show's run.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
Stone The Crows - Hollis Brown - (The BBC Sessions 1970-1971)
Four sessions. Official releases:
- Radio Sessions 1969-1972 (Angel Air, 2010)
- The BBC Sessions Volume 1 1969-1970 (Strange Fruit SFRSCD054)
- The BBC Sessions Vol.2 1970-1971 (Strange Fruit, 1998)
1. Recorded 1969-11-24. First broadcast 06 December 1969. Repeated 14 March 1970.
- Raining In Your Heart / Friend / Blind Man / Touch Of Your Loving Hand
2. Recorded 1970-05-19. First broadcast 30 May 1970. Repeated 12 September 1970. 25 September 1975 (last ever Top Gear).
- Fool On The Hill / Freedom Road / Hollis Brown / Danger Zone
3. Recorded 1971-09-08. First broadcast 18 September 1971
- Keep On Rolling / Ailen Mochree / Big Jim Salter / Don't Think Twice
4. Recorded 1972-04-11. First broadcast 28 April 1972. Repeated 26 May 1972.
- Going Down On The Highway / Mr Wizard / Penicillin Blues
Live[]
- 07 June 1970: live (with Humblebums)
- Freedom Road
- Blind Man
- Danger Zone
- Hollis Brown
- 06 December 1970: live with Noir)
- Sad Mary
- Mad Dogs & Englishmen
- Penicillin Blues
- Love 74
Stone The Crows - Paris Theatre, London - 04 11 1971
- 16 November 1971: live, recorded 1971-11-04, Paris Theatre (with Pink Fairies)
- 158
- Keep On Rolling
- Big Jim Salter
- Mr Wizard
- Don't Think Twice It's Alright Ma
- Going Down
- Think
Other Shows Played[]
- 09 May 1970: Raining In Your Heart (LP – Stone The Crows) Polydor
- 31 October 1970: Sad Mary (album - Ode To John Law) Polydor
- 14 November 1970: Friend (LP - Ode To John Law) Polydor
- 12 September 1972: Penicillin Blues (LP - Ontinuous Performance) Polydor
- 15 September 1972: On The Highway (LP - Ontinuous Performance) Polydor
- 01 November 1973: The Touch Of Your Loving Hand (album - Stone The Crows) Polydor
- Maggie Bell
- 21 February 1974: unknown track
- 07 March 1974: A Woman Left Lonely (LP - Queen Of The Night) Polydor
See Also[]
- Cover Versions
- Scotland: Sessions
- Dantalian's Chariot
- Singles Reviews
- Gigography 1969
- Gigography 1972
- Disc & Music Echo: Peel Columns