Magna Carta (band)
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Magna Carta was originally formed in London in 10 May 1969 by Chris Simpson (born Christopher John Simpson, 13.7.1942, in Harrogate, Yorkshire) (guitar, vocals, Harmonica), Lyell Tranter (guitar, vocals) and Glen Stuart (vocals).
The band are renowned for their gentle ballad style and mythical subject matter. Although never purely a folk band, they managed to successfully bridge the gap between folk and folk rock. The trio released albums for Fontana Records and Vertigo Records, enjoying particular success with 1970s Seasons before Tranter returned to Australia. Davey Johnstone joined the line-up as his replacement, recording Songs From Wasties Orchard and In Concert with the band before leaving to work with Elton John. Davey first worked with Magna Carta as a sessions player on the album 'Seasons' he played both electric guitar and sitar, and In the album credits, Davey's called Shaggis, This nickname was given to him by Noel Murphy.
Simpson and Stuart were then joined by Stan Gordon recording and releasing the much-lauded Lord Of The Ages (texts from this album and Seasons were used as part of the English syllabus in several European countries). Graham Smith who had played on the sessions for Lord Of The Ages, was also added to the line-up but shortly afterwards both he and Gordon left.
There followed a period of much change and upheaval as Simpson and Stuart added a new rhythm section, but Glen Stuart did not feel comfortable with the new direction. This short-lived set-up soon gave way to Simpson and Stuart being joined by Tommy Hoy ( born Thomas Hoy, 5.2.1950, in Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scot) (ex-Natural Acoustic Band), before Stuart left to run a pet shop in Richmond, Surrey.
Nigel Smith joined in time to help record 1976's Putting It Back Together. In 1977 Hoy's former bandmate in the Natural Acoustic Band, Robin Thyne joined the band, along with Lee Abbott. Soon afterwards, Pick Withers was added. Withers stayed only briefly, leaving to join Dire Straits. Amid much acrimony Thyne and Hoy left in 1979 to form the much mislined Nova Karta. Tom McConville appeared on the Live In Bergen release, before the line-up changed again to include Al Fenn and George Norris.
Between 1980 and 1982, Doug Morter was added to the line-up, together with a variety of drummers, including Paul Burgess. The 1981 release, Midnight Blue, contained "Highway To Spain", a popular track on radio station playlists around the world. Norris, Burgess and Morter all left, the latter moving on to the Albion Band.
Chris Simpson's solo release, Listen To The Man, came out during this period and featured backing from Abbott, Linda Taylor and Willie Jackson. Between 1984 and 1986, Simpson and Taylor went to the Middle East to run a music club, before returning home to re-form Magna Carta. By 1986 the extremely fluid line-up now included, in addition to Simpson, Taylor and Abbott, Gwyn Jones, John Carey , Paul Burgess, and Simon Carlton. In 1988, One To One was released on the Tembo label, Jones left the band the same year.
In 1990, Chris Simpson and Linda Taylor married, and, with the semi-retirement of Lee Abbott, they continued to play as Magna Carta as a duo, as well as with a larger line-up for extensive touring.
The 1992 Dutch release, Heartlands, was followed by a sell-out tour of the Netherlands. The duo has continued to maintain a busy live schedule, and over the years have toured over 150 different countries. Several live albums appeared over the course of the decade, in addition to the reissue of the band's 70s albums on CD. In 2002 a live recording Ticket to the Moon was released on DVD, with a concert of Magna Carta as a duo (Chris Simpson and Linda Simpson (nee Taylor).
In 1995 an album Live at the BBC was released on CD, with historic live recordings for the BBC.
In 1999 and 2000 two live concerts in Grassington were released on CD, later re-issued as a double album A Touch of Class.
In 2001 Magna Carta recorded a new studio album Seasons in the Tide.
In 2002 a 320 page book The Complete Works of Magna Carta was released, with all song lyrics, an album index and more than 50 pages of album notes and photographs.
At the end of 2005 Magna Carta released In Tomorrow, a new 2CD + bonus DVD (River Records), with lots of new live and studio material. The second CD is mostly live and presents the band in the current line-up with Chris and Linda Simpson.
In 2006 Magna Carta are still 'alive and kicking', mainly touring in Europe, often accompanied by Matthijs van Barnhoorn ex-Fairport Convention, an extremely talented Dutch, violin and mandolin player.
At the end of 2006 Magna Carta release the semi live album Backroads, Harvey Records CD02 which features the much awaited track Fields of Eden, a powerful tribute to Chris Simpson's love of Nidderdale, England. This album also contains new songs written by both Chris and Linda and features Chris Simpson, Linda Simpson and Matthijs Van Barnhoorn and a few other Magna men in the line-up. "...the road winds where it will, for it as no master" {part of the soliloquy from Fields of Eden}
In 2006 an album is released entitled "PAUL STEWART: THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES" Harvey Records CD01. This album is quite historical. It reveals Chris Simpson in 1966 / 1967 , years before the first official Magna Carta album, which makes this album comparable to the Beatles Hamburg tapes. Chris Simpson writes in the sleeve notes: "This is a collection of entirely self-penned songs. Strange to think that I would never have even considered writing my own material, were it not for John and Paul.The Beatles shook us all. Given that making an album was an impossible dream, I transferred all my demo’s onto an LP vinyl acetate, with its surrealistic self-designed cover."
In 2007 Magna Carta are still very busy touring, there is a short tour of the UK in Jan/Feb and in Holland {5th to 19th} May returning in October/December, for the seminal Autumn tour, accompanied by Matthijs van Barnhoorn {violin and mandolin}.
