Python Lee Jackson
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| Python Lee Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Python Lee Jackson, early 1967 |
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| Origin | Australia |
| Members | David Bentley David Montgomery Mick Liber Tony Cahill Gary Boyle |
Python Lee Jackson was a 1960s Australian band. The group's most famous hit was "In a Broken Dream", featuring Rod Stewart as guest vocalist.
Contents |
[edit] Members in Australia
- Malcolm McGee - vocals
- David Bentley - songwriter, keyboards, vocals
- David Montgomery - drums
- Mick Liber - guitar
- Lloyd Hudson - bass
- Bob Welsh - piano
- Virgil East - bass
[edit] Early years
The original Python Lee Jackson line up came together around June 1966 when keyboard player and singer David Bentley and drummer David Montgomery left Sydney group, Jeff St John & The Id to form a new band with former Denverman guitarist Mick Liber and bass player Lloyd Hudson. Relocating to Melbourne, the quartet added former Wild Cherries singer Malcolm McGee and signed to CBS.
Python Lee Jackson released two singles in quick succession, "Emergency Ward" c/w "Who Do You Love?" and a cover of Major Lance’s "Um-Um–Um-Um-Um-Um" c/w "Big City Lights" in November and December 1966 before Bentley left, his place being taken by Bob Welsh on piano. Also around this time, Virgil East succeeded Lloyd Hudson on bass.
The group became a popular live attraction in Melbourne, and on 3 March 1967, played one of their shows at the Catcher with Chelsea Set, Party Machine and Adderly Smith Blues Band.
The new line up released two further singles, a cover of Sam and Dave’s "Hold On, I’m Coming" c/w "Your Mother Should Have Warned You" and "It’s a Wonder" c/w "I Keep Forgetting" before breaking up in the summer of 1967.
Mick Liber briefly played with Jeff St John’s formed group, The Id, which have reformed, and then worked with Billy Thorpe and Gulliver Smith’s band, The Noyes, while Virgil East joined Jeff St John’s next project, Yama. Malcolm McGee joined The Virgil Brothers.
Montgomery reunited with David Bentley in The David Bentley Trio. Around October 1968, they joined forces with Mick Liber and travelled to the UK where they revived the Python Lee Jackson name.
[edit] Members in UK
- David Bentley - songwriter, keyboards, vocals
- David Montgomery - drums
- Mick Liber - guitar
- Tony Cahill - bass guitar
- Gary Boyle - guitar
[edit] "In A Broken Dream"
Stewart originally only sang 'guide' vocals on this track, and the intention was for another singer to sing the recording 'proper', once Python Lee Jackson recruited another singer. It was felt that Stewart's vocals were so good that the single would be released as it was.
Recorded in London in 1969, "In a Broken Dream" languished until the mid-70s when it rose to number three in the UK Singles Chart and #56 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In Europe, the song became something of a classic. It turned up on the soundtrack of films and documentaries (including the acclaimed art house movie Breaking the Waves) and became the subject of many cover versions.
Rod Stewart included the song on two anthologies of previously recorded work and, in the mid 1990s, an English band, Thunder, delivered a high octane reading that propelled it into the UK chart for the second time.
Most recently, "In A Broken Dream" surfaced on the leading edge of a collection of songs recorded by British singer Kathryn Williams - along with songs by Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Kurt Cobain.
[edit] External link
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