Eggs over Easy
Eggs over Easy | |
---|---|
Origin | United States |
Genres | Pub rock, country rock, blues, roots rock[1] |
Years active | 1969–1981 |
Members | Jack O'Hara Austin de Lone Brien Hopkins John Steel Bill Franz John "Jay" David |
Eggs over Easy were an American country rock band, of the early 1970s, who visited London to record an album, and then became a resident band in a London pub, launching what subsequently became known as pub rock.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Formation
Although both hailed from
London
Recording started at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, in December 1970, initially with Les Sampson (a friend of Noel Redding who joined him in the band Road) on drums. They also played several dates at the American Embassy as a trio.[8] Recording was completed in January 1971, with ex-Animal John Steel on drums. The recordings went well, but Kauff fell out with Cannon Films, and advised the band to stay in London, until the problems were resolved, rather than return to the US.[3]
Chandler, by now their manager, arranged for the band to play a number of college gigs around the country. Many of these were sponsored by the American Embassy in London, which paid for the band to tour British universities to perform before larger audiences with American poets such as
Eggs over Easy had a large repertoire of over 50 of their own songs, and 50 covers, and were regularly joined on stage by members of Brinsley Schwarz and other performers, such as Loudon Wainwright III and Frankie Miller.[3] One of the former Tally Ho jazz players, Barry Richardson, was so impressed he formed Bees Make Honey,[10] who were also given a Tally Ho residency, alongside a mix of new and existing bands, such as Max Merritt and the Meteors and Brinsley Schwarz.
The number of venues wanting to stage Eggs Over Easy and other "pub-rock" bands was also increasing, primarily in large Victorian pubs "north of Regents Park" where there were plenty of suitable pubs.
Kauff had not managed to resolve the dispute with Cannon Films, so the album remained unreleased, and the band had not secured a contract with a UK record label either. As they were having visa problems, Kauff suggested that they return home, so on 7 November 1971 they played their last gig at the Tally Ho, and went back to the US.[3]
Return to US
Back in New York, Bill Franz joined on drums, they signed a deal with A&M Records and in 1972 they recorded their first album to be released, Good 'N' Cheap.[12] This was partially a re-recording of the tracks originally recorded in London.[4] The album was produced by Link Wray, at his brother, Vernon Wray’s studio in Tucson, Arizona, and the band wrote all but one of the songs.[8]
In 1973, they moved to San Francisco, and later supported
The second album Fear of Frying was eventually recorded in 1980/81 and issued on Squish Records, which also failed as soon as the album was released, making this album a rarity, which has yet to be re-issued on CD.[8]
The Eggs were frequently joined on stage by Grootna's vocalist Anna Rizzo and also played with members of
After the break-up, Hopkins continued as a songwriter, O’Hara became a recording engineer and de Lone played as a session musician with Bonnie Raitt, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello and others.[8]
Discography
Albums
- Good 'N' Cheap - LP (1972) A&M (A&M 2366) : LP Re-issue (1986) Edsel : CD (1998) Edsel (ED199) : CD + bonus tracks (2006) Hux (Hux 081)
- Fear of Frying – LP (1981) Squish Records
Singles
- "Back of My Car" (1974) Buffalo Records
Compilations
- Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock CD (1996) EMI (Premier 37968) includes one "Eggs" track - "Factory"
- Goodbye Nashville Hello Camden Town – a Pub Rock Anthology CD (2007) Castle Music (CMEDD1451) includes one "Eggs" track - "Runnin' Down to Memphis"
- Good 'N' Cheap: The Eggs Over Easy Story 2-CD (2016) Yep Roc Records
References
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (November 19, 2022). "Angry Young Men Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Eggs Over Easy - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0740-4.
- ^ ISBN 1-899855-15-7.
- ^ "- news, reviews, biography, video, youtube videos, discography, books, DVDS, concerts, gossip, pictures and tour dates". NME. Archived from the original on 2009-05-31. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- ^ a b c d "Pub Rock- Pre Punk music". Punk77.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Nick Lowe: the true blue Basher shows up for a friend". The Fortnightly Review. December 18, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ^ a b c d e f Sleevenotes by Nigel Cross to the 2006 Hux Records Re-release
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Bees Make Honey - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Eggs On". Sounds. Spotlight Publications. 28 August 1971. p. 2.
- ^ "Good 'n' Cheap - Eggs Over Easy - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Hux Records - Biography - Barefoot Jerry - Clint Black - Eggs Over Easy - Bridget St.John". Huxrecords.com. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
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