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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{refimprove|date=March 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{other uses|Rare bird (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rare Bird
| name = Rare Bird
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| origin = England
| origin = England
| genre = [[Progressive rock]]
| genre = [[Progressive rock]]
| years_active = 1969 - 1975
| years_active = 1969–1975
| label = [[Charisma Records|Charisma]], [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| label = [[Charisma Records|Charisma]], [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| associated_acts =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| website =
| current_members =
| current_members =
| past_members = [[Steve Gould (musician)|Steve Gould]]<br>[[David Kaffinetti]]<br>Graham Stansfield aka Graham Field<br>[[Mark Ashton (musician)|Mark Ashton]]
| past_members = [[Steve Gould (musician)|Steve Gould]]<br>[[David Kaffinetti]]<br>Graham Stansfield a.k.a. Graham Field<br>[[Mark Ashton (musician)|Mark Ashton]]
}}
}}
'''Rare Bird''' were an English [[progressive rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]], formed in 1969. They released five studio albums between 1969 and 1974. In the UK, the [[electric organ|organ]]-based single [[song|track]] "[[Sympathy (Rare Bird song)|Sympathy]]" reach number 27, selling an estimated one million globally.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book |last=Murrells |first=Joseph |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/284/mode/2up?q=rare+bird |title=The Book of Golden Discs |publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd |year=1978 |isbn=0-214-20512-6 |edition=2nd |location=London |page=284}}</ref>
'''Rare Bird''' were an English [[progressive rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]], formed in 1969. They released five studio albums between 1969 and 1974. In the UK, the organ-based single "[[Sympathy (Rare Bird song)|Sympathy]]" reached number 27 in February 1970, selling an estimated one million globally.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book |last=Murrells |first=Joseph |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/284/mode/2up?q=rare+bird |title=The Book of Golden Discs |publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd |year=1978 |isbn=0-214-20512-6 |edition=2nd |location=London |page=284}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
The band was formed in December 1969. It featured lead singer and guitarist [[Steve Gould (musician)|Steve Gould]], organist Graham Stansfield, electric pianist [[David Kaff|David Kaffinetti]] and drummer Mark Ashton.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs" /> The first album released in 1969 was called "Rare Bird". Along with [[Van der Graaf Generator]] and [[The Nice]], they were one of the very first bands that signed to [[Charisma Records]], the [[record label]] that [[Tony Stratton Smith]] had founded.<ref>Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 60. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005. ISBN 0-9551337-0-X</ref>
The band was formed in December 1969. It featured lead singer and bassist [[Steve Gould (musician)|Steve Gould]], organist Graham Stansfield, electric pianist [[David Kaff|David Kaffinetti]] and drummer Mark Ashton.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs" /> The first album, released in 1969, was called ''Rare Bird''. Along with [[Van der Graaf Generator]] and [[the Nice]], they were one of the first bands signed to [[Charisma Records]], the [[record label]] that [[Tony Stratton Smith]] had founded.<ref>Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 60. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005. ISBN 0-9551337-0-X</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
Rare Bird began when Graham Stansfield (aka Graham Field) placed an advertisement for a pianist in a musical periodica; he received thirty replies and subsequently formed a group called "Lunch". He met Dave Kaffinetti in November 1968, and together they formulated the basic ideas for Rare Bird. In August 1969, they found the ideal rhythm section in Steve Gould, Chris Randall and Mark Ashton. Field and Kaffinetti had originally envisaged that the band would be a four-piece and were looking for a singer/bass player. Gould and Randall, who had both previously been members of the Pop-Psych band "Fruit Machine", applied to the ad as vocals/guitar and bass respectively, and both were taken on. Lunch played a few gigs. It later turned out that the founders of the band were more interested in Gould and convinced him to play bass. Randall was asked to leave the band. Two weeks later, they had signed management and agency contracts, and three weeks later, were in the [[recording studio|studio]] [[sound recording and reproduction|recording]] their debut album. Before joining Lunch, Randall and Gould had previously written a song called "To the Memory of Two Brave Dogs". Rare Bird included this song in their debut album renaming it "Iceberg" but Randall received no credit.
Rare Bird began when organist Graham Stansfield (a.k.a. Graham Field) placed an advertisement for a pianist in a musical periodical. He received thirty replies and subsequently formed a group called Lunch. He met [[David Kaffinetti]] in November 1968, and together they formulated the basic ideas for Rare Bird. In August 1969, they found the ideal rhythm section in [[Steve Gould (musician)|Steve Gould]], Chris Randall and [[Mark Ashton (musician)|Mark Ashton]]. Field and Kaffinetti had originally envisaged that the band would be a four-piece and were looking for a singer/bass player. Gould and Randall, who had both previously been members of the pop-psych band Fruit Machine, applied to the ad as vocals/guitar and bass respectively, and both were taken on. Lunch played a few gigs. It later emerged that the founders of the band were more interested in Gould and convinced him to play bass. Randall was asked to leave the band. Two weeks later, they had signed management and agency contracts, and three weeks later, were in the [[recording studio|studio]] [[sound recording and reproduction|recording]] their debut album. Before joining Lunch, Randall and Gould had previously written a song called "To the Memory of Two Brave Dogs". Rare Bird included this song in their debut album, renaming it "Iceberg", but Randall received no credit.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}<!-- the whole paragraph -->


== "Sympathy" ==
== "Sympathy" ==
Their late 1969 release "Sympathy" reached No.&nbsp;1 in [[Italy]] and in [[France]], sold 500,000 copies in France and is estimated to have sold one million globally.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs" /> It became their only UK hit single, reaching No.&nbsp;27 and staying on the chart for 8 weeks.<ref name=":0" />
Their late-1969 non-album single release "Sympathy" reached No.&nbsp;1 in [[Italy]] and in [[France]], sold 500,000 copies in France and is estimated to have sold one million globally.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs" /> It became their only UK hit single, reaching No.&nbsp;27 and staying on the chart for 8 weeks.<ref name=":0" />


== Covers ==
== Covers ==
⚫
A [[cover version]] of "Sympathy" by [[the Family Dogg]] reached No.&nbsp;1 for two weeks in the [[Netherlands]] in May 1970.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Steve+Rowland+%26+The+Family+Dogg&titel=Sympathy&cat=s | title=Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl }}</ref> In 1992, the song returned to the UK chart with a version by [[Marillion]] that reached No.&nbsp;17.<ref name="David Roberts">Roberts, David (2006). ''British Hit Singles & Albums'' (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5</ref>
A 1970 [[cover version]] of Sympathy by [[The Family Dogg]], reached number two in the [[Netherlands]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

⚫
In 1992 the song returned to the UK chart with a version by [[Marillion]] that reached No.&nbsp;17.<ref name="David Roberts">Roberts, David (2006). ''British Hit Singles & Albums'' (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5</ref>

In 2001, Sympathy was [[sampling (music)|sampled]] by [[Faithless]] in their song "Not Enuff Love", named after a [[refrain|chorus]] line in "Sympathy".{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}


== Later releases and legacy ==
== Later releases and legacy ==
In early 1971, Graham Stansfield left Rare Bird to form a short-lived solo project, The Fields. Later members included Fred Kelly ([[Nic Potter]]), Ced Curtis, Paul Holland, and Paul Karas on the ''Epic Forest'' album with Andy Curtis and Fred Kelly appearing on the album ''Somebody's Watching''. {{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
In early 1971, Graham Stansfield left Rare Bird to form a short-lived solo project, the Fields. Later members included Fred Kelly ([[Nic Potter]]), Ced Curtis, Paul Holland, and Paul Karas on the ''Epic Forest'' album with Andy Curtis and Fred Kelly appearing on the album ''Somebody's Watching''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}


The band finally split up in 1975. Dave Kaffinetti (credited as David Kaff) played the part of Viv Savage in ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' (1984). Chris Randall went on to play with Martin Murray and The Honeycombs, the group of the mid 1960s with their worldwide hits, "Have I the Right", "Love In Tokyo" and "Thats the Way!".{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
The band finally split up in 1975. Dave Kaffinetti (credited as David Kaff) played the part of Viv Savage in ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' (1984). Chris Randall went on to play with Martin Murray and the Honeycombs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}


Paul Holland had previously been a recording engineer at Southern Music's studio in Denmark Street, London during the time that Fruit Machine recorded songs for release on the Spark Label under the direction of Barry Kingston. He died of cancer in 2010.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
Paul Holland had previously been a recording engineer at Southern Music's studio in Denmark Street, London during the time that Fruit Machine recorded songs for release on the Spark Label under the direction of Barry Kingston. He died of cancer in 2010.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
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===Studio albums===
===Studio albums===
*''Rare Bird'' (UK: [[Charisma Records|Charisma]], U.S.: [[Command Records|Command]]/[[Probe Records|Probe]], 1969) U.S. # 115 (13 w)
*''Rare Bird'' (UK: [[Charisma Records|Charisma]], U.S.: [[Command Records|Command]]/[[Probe Records|Probe]], 1969) U.S. # 115 (13 w)
*''[[As Your Mind Flies By]]'' (UK: Charisma, U.S.: [[ABC Records|ABC]], 1970)
*''As Your Mind Flies By'' (UK: Charisma, U.S.: [[ABC Records|ABC]], 1970)
*''Epic Forest'' ([[Polydor Records|Polydor]], 1972) U.S. # 194 (2 w)
*''Epic Forest'' ([[Polydor Records|Polydor]], 1972) U.S. # 194 (2 w)
*''Somebody's Watching'' (Polydor, 1973)
*''Somebody's Watching'' (Polydor, 1973)
*''Born Again'' (Polydor, 1974)
*''Born Again'' (Polydor, June 1974)


===Singles===
===Singles===
*"Sympathy" b/w "Devils High Concern" ([[UK Singles chart|UK]] No.&nbsp;27, 14 February 1970)/US No.&nbsp;121, 11 March 1970 / F # 3)<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://archive.is/20120729062804/http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=2152 |title=ChartArchive - Rare Bird |publisher=Archive.is |date=2012-07-29 |accessdate=2015-08-25}}</ref>
*"[[Sympathy_(Rare_Bird_song)|Sympathy]]" b/w "Devils High Concern" ([[UK Singles chart|UK]] No.&nbsp;27, 14 February 1970)/US No.&nbsp;121, 11 March 1970 / F # 3)<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://archive.today/20120729062804/http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=2152 |title=ChartArchive - Rare Bird |publisher=Archive.is |date=2012-07-29 |accessdate=2015-08-25}}</ref>
*"Roadside Welcome"/"Four Grey Walls" b/w "You're Lost" Uncharted UK Polydor 2814 011 (1972)
*"Roadside Welcome"/"Four Grey Walls" b/w "You're Lost" Uncharted UK Polydor 2814 011 (1972)
*"Birdman -Part One" (Title No.&nbsp;1 Again) US No.&nbsp;122, 1 September 1973)
*"Birdman -Part One" (Title No.&nbsp;1 Again) US No.&nbsp;122, 1 September 1973)
Line 62: Line 59:
*''Attention! Rare Bird'' (1972 Fontana cat. # 9299 008)
*''Attention! Rare Bird'' (1972 Fontana cat. # 9299 008)
*''Rare Bird'' (Polydor cat. # 2384 078, a budget re-release, compiling tracks from their three albums on Polydor; released in the Polydor Special series in 1977)
*''Rare Bird'' (Polydor cat. # 2384 078, a budget re-release, compiling tracks from their three albums on Polydor; released in the Polydor Special series in 1977)
*''Sympathy'' (Blue Plate, (1976))
*''Sympathy'' (Blue Plate, 1976)
*''Third Time Around: An Introduction to Rare Bird'' ([[Universal Records|Universal]], 2003)
*''Third Time Around: An Introduction to Rare Bird'' ([[Universal Records|Universal]], 2003)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Authority control}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs artist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:English progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:English progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1969]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1969]]

Latest revision as of 12:39, 19 October 2024

For other uses, see Rare bird (disambiguation).
Rare Bird
OriginEngland
GenresProgressive rock
Years active1969–1975
LabelsCharisma, Polydor
Past membersSteve Gould
David Kaffinetti
Graham Stansfield a.k.a. Graham Field
Mark Ashton

Rare Bird were an English progressive rock band, formed in 1969. They released five studio albums between 1969 and 1974. In the UK, the organ-based single "Sympathy" reached number 27 in February 1970, selling an estimated one million globally.[1]

Career

[edit]

The band was formed in December 1969. It featured lead singer and bassist Steve Gould, organist Graham Stansfield, electric pianist David Kaffinetti and drummer Mark Ashton.[1] The first album, released in 1969, was called Rare Bird. Along with Van der Graaf Generator and the Nice, they were one of the first bands signed to Charisma Records, the record label that Tony Stratton Smith had founded.[2]

History

[edit]

Rare Bird began when organist Graham Stansfield (a.k.a. Graham Field) placed an advertisement for a pianist in a musical periodical. He received thirty replies and subsequently formed a group called Lunch. He met David Kaffinetti in November 1968, and together they formulated the basic ideas for Rare Bird. In August 1969, they found the ideal rhythm section in Steve Gould, Chris Randall and Mark Ashton. Field and Kaffinetti had originally envisaged that the band would be a four-piece and were looking for a singer/bass player. Gould and Randall, who had both previously been members of the pop-psych band Fruit Machine, applied to the ad as vocals/guitar and bass respectively, and both were taken on. Lunch played a few gigs. It later emerged that the founders of the band were more interested in Gould and convinced him to play bass. Randall was asked to leave the band. Two weeks later, they had signed management and agency contracts, and three weeks later, were in the studio recording their debut album. Before joining Lunch, Randall and Gould had previously written a song called "To the Memory of Two Brave Dogs". Rare Bird included this song in their debut album, renaming it "Iceberg", but Randall received no credit.[citation needed]

"Sympathy"

[edit]

Their late-1969 non-album single release "Sympathy" reached No. 1 in Italy and in France, sold 500,000 copies in France and is estimated to have sold one million globally.[1] It became their only UK hit single, reaching No. 27 and staying on the chart for 8 weeks.[3]

Covers

[edit]

A cover version of "Sympathy" by the Family Dogg reached No. 1 for two weeks in the Netherlands in May 1970.[4] In 1992, the song returned to the UK chart with a version by Marillion that reached No. 17.[5]

Later releases and legacy

[edit]

In early 1971, Graham Stansfield left Rare Bird to form a short-lived solo project, the Fields. Later members included Fred Kelly (Nic Potter), Ced Curtis, Paul Holland, and Paul Karas on the Epic Forest album with Andy Curtis and Fred Kelly appearing on the album Somebody's Watching.[citation needed]

The band finally split up in 1975. Dave Kaffinetti (credited as David Kaff) played the part of Viv Savage in This Is Spinal Tap (1984). Chris Randall went on to play with Martin Murray and the Honeycombs.[citation needed]

Paul Holland had previously been a recording engineer at Southern Music's studio in Denmark Street, London during the time that Fruit Machine recorded songs for release on the Spark Label under the direction of Barry Kingston. He died of cancer in 2010.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
  • Rare Bird (UK: Charisma, U.S.: Command/Probe, 1969) U.S. # 115 (13 w)
  • As Your Mind Flies By (UK: Charisma, U.S.: ABC, 1970)
  • Epic Forest (Polydor, 1972) U.S. # 194 (2 w)
  • Somebody's Watching (Polydor, 1973)
  • Born Again (Polydor, June 1974)

Singles

[edit]
  • "Sympathy" b/w "Devils High Concern" (UK No. 27, 14 February 1970)/US No. 121, 11 March 1970 / F # 3)[3]
  • "Roadside Welcome"/"Four Grey Walls" b/w "You're Lost" Uncharted UK Polydor 2814 011 (1972)
  • "Birdman -Part One" (Title No. 1 Again) US No. 122, 1 September 1973)

Compilation albums

[edit]
  • Attention! Rare Bird (1972 Fontana cat. # 9299 008)
  • Rare Bird (Polydor cat. # 2384 078, a budget re-release, compiling tracks from their three albums on Polydor; released in the Polydor Special series in 1977)
  • Sympathy (Blue Plate, 1976)
  • Third Time Around: An Introduction to Rare Bird (Universal, 2003)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 284. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. ^ Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 60. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005. ISBN 0-9551337-0-X
  3. ^ a b "ChartArchive - Rare Bird". Archive.is. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl".
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
[edit]
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