Geraint Watkins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008)
Geraint Watkins
Birth name Geraint Meurig Vaughan Watkins
Born 5 February 1951 (1951-02-05) (age 57)
Origin Abertridwr, South Wales
Genre(s) Pub Rock
Rock
Blues
Occupation(s) Musician
Singer
Songwriter
Instrument(s) Organ
Piano
Guitar
Accordion
Vocals
Percussion
Years active 1970s - present
Associated acts Nick Lowe
The Balham Alligators

Geraint Watkins (born Geraint Meurig Vaughan Watkins, 5 February 1951, Abertridwr, South Wales) is a rock and roll pianist and accordionist backing artistes such as; Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney and Shakin' Stevens.

Contents

[edit] Career

After time in the early 1970s at Portsmouth Art College, he returned to Cardiff and played with Red Beans And Rice and Juice On The Loose. The band, Red Beans And Rice, attracted attention and moved to London to further their career. When they disbanded Watkins played solo performances in London's pubs and with various bands, such as the Cable Layers, the band of Southend's, Micky Jupp on the 'Be Stiff Route 78' tour. He went on to record an album, Geraint Watkins & The Dominators (1979), produced by Andy Fairweather-Low. Session work followed: recording and/or performing with Dr. Feelgood, Rory Gallagher, Andy Fairweather Low, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Blues Band, Box Of Frogs, The Stray Cats, Carl Perkins and Eric Clapton amongst others.

The 1980s and beyond found Watkins playing accordion and piano with The Balham Alligators, a band that has helped to keep the music of Louisiana alive in London's pubs, of which he is a founding member. In recent years Watkins has found time to work with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings; contributing to Nick Lowe albums, The Impossible Bird (1994), Dig My Mood (1998), The Convincer (2001), Untouched Takeaway (2004) and At My Age (2007); and to Van Morrison albums, Back on Top (1999), Down the Road (2002), Pay the Devil (2006) and Keep It Simple (2008).

[edit] Albums

[edit] Geraint Watkins & the Dominators

Geraint Watkins & the Dominators
Studio album by Geraint Watkins & the Dominators
Released 1979
Label Vertigo Records
Producer Andy Fairweather Low

Track listing

  1. "Man Smart Woman Smarter"
  2. "Casting My Spell"
  3. "In The Night"
  4. "Grow Too Old"
  5. "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
  6. "Gotta Find My Baby"
  7. "Paralysed"
  8. "Nobody"
  9. "Deep In The Heart of Texas"
  10. "Don't You Just Know It"
  11. "If Walls Could Talk"
  12. "My Baby Left Me"
  13. "Cakewalk Into Town"

Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (vocals, piano, organ, electric piano, accordion, percussion)
  • Andy Fairweather Low (drums, bass, vocals, moog bass, percussion, acoustic guitar)
  • Micky Gee (guitar, vocals, backing vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar)
  • John David (bass, vocals, percussion, backing vocals)
  • Dave Charles (drums, backing vocals)
  • Steve Gregory (saxophones, backing vocals)
  • Buddy Beadle (saxophones, backing vocals)
  • Henry Spinetti (drums, backing vocals)

Production credits

  • A Booga Rooga production - Andy Fairweather Low
  • Engineered by Dave Charles
  • Recorded at the Old Mill Rockfield also at Rockfield Studios
  • Mixed at Rockfield Studios

[edit] Bold as Love

Bold as Love
Studio album by Geraint Watkins
Released 1997
Genre Blues
Pop
Rock
Label Bluefive
Producer Neil Brockbank
Bobby Irwin

Track listing

  1. "My Happy Day"
  2. "I Love Being In Love"
  3. "It's A Wonderful Life"
  4. "Don't Stop"
  5. "Sweetheart"
  6. "Don't Knock It"
  7. "Honey Honey"
  8. "It's Over"
  9. "It's A Beautiful Day"
  10. "Oobee Doobee Eyes"
  11. "Big Bad Dog"
  12. "Mr Blue"
  13. "It's A Wonderful Life (again)"

Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano)
  • Nick Lowe (bass guitar, acoustic guitar - track 11)
  • Robert Trehern (drums)
  • Nick Pentelow (horns)
  • Bob Loveday (violin - track 3)
  • Steve Donnelly (acoustic guitar - tracks 3-4)
  • Peter Glenister (additional guitar - track 4)

Production credits

  • Produced by Neil Brockbank, Bobby Irwin
  • Recorded at The Bonaparte Rooms - Twickenham, RAK studios and Balham
  • Mixed at The Bonaparte Rooms and Alaska Studios

[edit] The Official Bootleg

The Official Bootleg
Live album by Geraint Watkins
Released 2001
Recorded 1988
Label MUSIPA

Track listing

  1. "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"
  2. "Old Shep"
  3. "Georgia"
  4. "The Jealous Kind"
  5. "Chicken Shack"
  6. "Mess Around"
  7. "Flip Flop And Fly"
  8. "Ain't Nobody's Business"
  9. "Carless Love"
  10. "Stardust"

Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (piano, vocals)

[edit] The Bootleg after the Bootleg

The Bootleg after the Bootleg
Live album by Geraint Watkins
Released 2001
Recorded 1988
Genre Blues
Pop
Rock
Label MUSIPA

Track listing

  1. "Heroes And Villains"
  2. "Ruby"
  3. "Secret Love"
  4. "Love Letters"
  5. "Happy Day"
  6. "Wonderful Live"
  7. "Nature Boy"
  8. "Yesterday"
  9. "Who's Kissing Her Now" (1st version)
  10. "Stardust" (new version)
  11. "Carless Love" (new version)
  12. "Who's Kissing Her Now" (2nd version)
  13. "Georgia" (new 1st version)"
  14. "Yo Yo"
  15. "You've Changed"
  16. "Balham High Road"
  17. "Mess Around"
  18. "Old Shep"
  19. "Pennies From Heaven"
  20. "Diddy Wah Diddy"
  21. "Nobody Here But Us Chickens" (new version)
  22. "Georgia" (new 2nd version)

Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (piano, vocals)

[edit] Dial 'W' for Watkins

Dial 'W' For Watkins
Studio album by Geraint Watkins
Released 2004
Genre Blues
Rock
Label Yep Roc Records
Proper Records
Producer Warent Atkins - (Neil Brockbank, Bobby Irwin)

Track listing

  1. "Two Rocks"
  2. "Turn That Chicken Down"
  3. "Be My Love"
  4. "Blessed With Happiness"
  5. "The Whole Night Through"
  6. "Cold War"
  7. "Heroes And Villains"
  8. "Soldier of Love"
  9. "I Will"
  10. "I'm Just Crazy About You"
  11. "Bring Me The Head of My So Called Lover"
  12. "Heaven"
  13. "Only A Rose"
  14. "Go West"

Production Credits

  • Produced by Warent Atkins - (Neil Brockbank, Bobby Irwin)

Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano)
  • Nick Lowe (bass guitar, vocals)
  • Steve Donnelly (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar)
  • Robert Trehern (drums, drum loops, vocals)
  • Neil Brockbank (organ, bass guitar)
  • Matt Radford (upright bass)
  • Sterling Roswell (percussion)

[edit] References

  • George Martin, Making Music: The Guide to Writing, Performing & Recording - Page 189, W. Morrow, 1983, ISBN 0688014658