The Graham Bond Organisation
Encyclopedia
The Graham Bond Organisation were a British jazz/rhythm and blues group of the early 1960s in which Graham Bond
was lead singer, keyboardist and alto-saxophonist, Jack Bruce
was bassist, Ginger Baker
was drummer, Dick Heckstall-Smith
was tenor and soprano saxophonist and John McLaughlin
was guitarist. They recorded several albums and further recordings were issued when the group's members achieved fame in progressive rock
and jazz fusion
. The spelling of the band's original name varied between releases, and was often formatted as ORGANisation or ORGANization.
boom the Graham Bond Organisation earned a reputation for playing aggressive R & B with prominent jazz and blues. Bond was the primary songwriter but encouraged the other musicians to contribute material, including Dick Heckstall-Smith's "Dick's Instrumental" and Ginger Baker's "Camels and Elephants", in which the drummer explored ideas he eventually developed into his signature piece "Toad." Jack Bruce's harmonica-driven version of Peter Chatham's "Train Time" would become a staple in Cream
's live performances. Their best-known single, "Tammy" (Jay Livingston/Ray Evans)b/w "Wade In The Water" (Trad. arr. Group) was recorded on January 4 1965 at Olympic Sound Studios, London in the UK on EMI Columbia DB 7471, January 29 1965 and on the album Sound of 65.
The group was plagued with problems because of substance abuse
and Baker's ongoing feud with Bruce. Retrospectives of Cream indicate that Bond deputised Baker to fire Bruce, who joined Manfred Mann
for a short time until, in July 1966, Baker and Bruce were both asked by Eric Clapton
to re-unite in Cream. The group recorded "St James' Infirmary
" without Bruce on January 10 1966, which was released in the United States
on the Ascot label and received indifferently. Another sideman was Mike Falana (trumpet).
Bond reformed the Organisation with Jon Hiseman
on drums. Hiseman and Heckstall-Smith would leave to join John Mayall
's Blues Breakers for Bare Wires
(recorded April 1968) before forming Colosseum
with Tony Reeves
. As a trio, Bond, Heckstall-Smith and Hiseman recorded "You’ve Gotta Have Love Babe" b/w "I Love You" (both by Graham Bond) on January 18 1967 for Page One records. Bond left for the USA, releasing two albums there in 1969 with well-known session players.
The Graham Bond Organisation's influence lack of commercial success and internal struggles brought an end to the group in 1967 but its importance was soon recognised with the vogue for blues and progressive rock
and the increased sales of albums. The double album "Solid Bond" was released in 1970, Graham Bond returned to play with Ginger Baker's Air Force
and soon signed a contract with Vertigo Records
but died beneath an underground train shortly afterwards.
Graham Bond
Graham John Clifton Bond was an English musician, considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s....
was lead singer, keyboardist and alto-saxophonist, Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
was bassist, Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
was drummer, Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most important English blues-rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:...
was tenor and soprano saxophonist and John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
was guitarist. They recorded several albums and further recordings were issued when the group's members achieved fame in progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
. The spelling of the band's original name varied between releases, and was often formatted as ORGANisation or ORGANization.
History
At the start of the British rhythm and bluesBritish rhythm and blues
British rhythm and blues developed as a major musical movement in the early 1960s in London and other urban centres in the UK as predominately young white male musicians attempted to emulate the style and recordings of African American rhythm and blues artists...
boom the Graham Bond Organisation earned a reputation for playing aggressive R & B with prominent jazz and blues. Bond was the primary songwriter but encouraged the other musicians to contribute material, including Dick Heckstall-Smith's "Dick's Instrumental" and Ginger Baker's "Camels and Elephants", in which the drummer explored ideas he eventually developed into his signature piece "Toad." Jack Bruce's harmonica-driven version of Peter Chatham's "Train Time" would become a staple in Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
's live performances. Their best-known single, "Tammy" (Jay Livingston/Ray Evans)b/w "Wade In The Water" (Trad. arr. Group) was recorded on January 4 1965 at Olympic Sound Studios, London in the UK on EMI Columbia DB 7471, January 29 1965 and on the album Sound of 65.
The group was plagued with problems because of substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
and Baker's ongoing feud with Bruce. Retrospectives of Cream indicate that Bond deputised Baker to fire Bruce, who joined Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
for a short time until, in July 1966, Baker and Bruce were both asked by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
to re-unite in Cream. The group recorded "St James' Infirmary
St. James Infirmary Blues
"St. James Infirmary Blues" is based on an 18th century traditional English folk song of anonymous origin, though sometimes credited to the songwriter Joe Primrose . Louis Armstrong made it famous in his influential 1928 recording.-Authorship and history:"St...
" without Bruce on January 10 1966, which was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Ascot label and received indifferently. Another sideman was Mike Falana (trumpet).
Bond reformed the Organisation with Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
on drums. Hiseman and Heckstall-Smith would leave to join John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
's Blues Breakers for Bare Wires
Bare Wires
- Reissue Bonus Tracks :- Personnel :John Mayall's Bluesbreakers* John Mayall – vocals, harmonica, piano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium, guitar* Mick Taylor – lead guitar, Hawaiian guitar* Chris Mercer – tenor, baritone saxophone...
(recorded April 1968) before forming Colosseum
Colosseum (band)
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
with Tony Reeves
Tony Reeves
Anthony 'Tony' Reeves is an English bass guitarist/contrabassist, noted for his "extremely prominent and complex bass sound" and use of electronic effects...
. As a trio, Bond, Heckstall-Smith and Hiseman recorded "You’ve Gotta Have Love Babe" b/w "I Love You" (both by Graham Bond) on January 18 1967 for Page One records. Bond left for the USA, releasing two albums there in 1969 with well-known session players.
The Graham Bond Organisation's influence lack of commercial success and internal struggles brought an end to the group in 1967 but its importance was soon recognised with the vogue for blues and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and the increased sales of albums. The double album "Solid Bond" was released in 1970, Graham Bond returned to play with Ginger Baker's Air Force
Ginger Baker's Air Force
Ginger Baker's Air Force was a jazz-rock fusion band comprising Ginger Baker on drums, Steve Winwood on organ and vocals, Ric Grech on violin and bass, Jeanette Jacobs on vocals, Denny Laine on guitar and vocals, Phil Seamen on drums, Alan White on drums, Chris Wood on tenor sax and flute, Graham...
and soon signed a contract with Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Universal Music UK.-History:Vertigo Records was the name Philips Records chose in the late 1960s for its record sub-label to counter the progressive labels of its rivals EMI with Harvest Records and Decca Records with Deram...
but died beneath an underground train shortly afterwards.
Discography
- 1965 The Sound of 65
- 1965 There's a Bond Between Us
- 1970 Solid Bond
- Live at Klooks Kleek 1964 (archival release)
See also
- The Steampacket
- Manfred MannManfred MannManfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
- Shotgun ExpressShotgun ExpressShotgun Express was a short-lived British R&B band formed in London in May 1966. Although it achieved little success at the time, it is notable for having briefly included such subsequently famous musicians as Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green....
- Blues IncorporatedBlues IncorporatedBlues Incorporated were a British R&B band in the early 1960s, led by Alexis Korner and featuring at various times Jack Bruce, Charlie Watts, Terry Cox, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Ronnie Jones, Danny Thompson, Graham Bond, Cyril Davies, Malcolm Cecil and Dick Heckstall-Smith.-History:Korner ...
- John MayallJohn MayallJohn Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
External links
- http://www.mossiehigh.com/GBO/ discography