| Medicine Head | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Stafford, England |
| Genres | Blues rock |
| Years active | 1968–1977 |
| Labels | Dandelion, Polydor, WWA |
| Past members | |
| John Fiddler Peter Hope-Evans |
|
Medicine Head were a British blues rock band, active in the 1970s.[1] Their biggest single success was in 1973, with "One and One is One", a Number 3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
Contents |
The group worked as a duo for most of its career, consisting of
At various stages the band utilised the following musicians - Clive Edwards; Keith Relf; Tony Ashton; Roger Saunders; George Ford; John Davies; Rob Townsend and Morgan Fisher.
Medicine Head formed in Stafford in 1968, and came to prominence when championed by the DJ, John Peel, who signed them to his Dandelion record label.[3]
The group recorded six original albums, the opening trio of which were on 'Dandelion'. That label enjoyed its first UK Singles Chart hit when "(And The) Pictures in the Sky" reached Number 22 in 1971.[2] Despite consistent touring, often as support to acts with larger commercial appeal, Medicine Head failed to place an album on the UK Albums Chart. One of their albums was entitled Dark Side of the Moon (1972) was released the year before the Pink Floyd album of the same name.[4] According to Nicholas Schaffner, Pink Floyd briefly changed the name of their piece (which they were already performing live), to 'Eclipse' in order to avoid confusion.[5] Medicine Head's track, "Only To Do What Is True" appeared on the 1972 compilation, There Is Some Fun Going Forward.
They went through line-up changes with their largely backing personnel, but did achieve a total of four hit singles, the best-known of which are "One and One is One" (Number 3, 1973) and "Rising Sun" (Number 11, 1973).[2] Their later recordings were released on Polydor. Two Man Band was their last album, and Medicine Head finally folded in 1977.[3]
In 2005 Angel Air released the album Don't Stop The Dance. In effect it was a 'lost' album, compiling some singles from an unsuccessful period with the WWA label, and some unreleased sessions with the band as a five piece. In March 2007 Medicine Head's debut album New Bottles, Old Medicine was re-released on CD by Cherry Red Records. In May 2009 Cherry Red also released, One And One Is One - The Very Best Of Medicine Head.[6]
Since the band's break-up, both members have continued to work in the music industry. Hope-Evans appeared on many albums, most prominently with Pete Townshend, and Fiddler was a member of British Lions and Box of Frogs.[3] Fiddler has occasionally revived the Medicine Head name, to tour a show of their hits (fellow musicians have included Clive Edwards, Laurence Archer and James Fox) and to release further low-key recordings.
The following Medicine Head singles appeared on the UK Singles Chart:[2]