Vinegar Joe (band)

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Vinegar Joe
General information
origin United Kingdom
Genre (s) skirt
founding 1971
resolution 1973
Founding members
Elkie Brooks
Robert Palmer
Electric guitar
 Pete Gage
Steve York
Tim Hinkley
Conrad Isadore
Last occupation
singing
 Elkie Brooks
Vocals, electric guitar
 Robert Palmer
Electric guitar
 Pete Gage
bass
 Steve York
Keyboard
 Mike Deacon
Drums
 Pete Gavin
former members
Drums
 Keef Hartley
Drums
 John Woods

Vinegar Joe was a British R&B band around singer Elkie Brooks and singer and guitarist Robert Palmer . The group was founded in 1971 and disbanded in 1974 after three studio albums. Although Vinegar Joe was considered an excellent live band, the albums only sold moderately.

history

After Elkie Brooks married Pete Gage in February 1971, the couple's lives also changed. Part of this reorganization was the end of the jazz rock band Dada, in which both played. Chris Blackwell of Island Records had established the contact between Robert Palmer and the musicians of Dada and after the end of Dada pursued the goal of forming a new backing band for Palmer. This prevailed against Blackwell's plans and Elkie Brooks became the second singer next to him. With guitarist Pete Gage and bassist Steve York, two other former members of Dada were in the newly formed group. The first line-up was completed with keyboardist Tim Hinkley and drummer Conrad Isadore. The name and the musical direction were given by Chris Blackwell and Ahmet Ertegün from Atlantic Records .

With the support of Island Records, Vinegar Joe soon gained a reputation for being an excellent live band. The band played regularly at the Marquee Club in London , appeared in television programs as far as Germany and played a peel session in February 1972 . Under the impression of success with the audience, the band recorded the first album Vinegar Joe , which was released in 1972 on Island Records. Brooks described it in her autobiography as a snap shot that hardly cost the record company any money and was hardly advertised by her. The second album Rock'n Roll Gypsies followed shortly afterwards , now with Mike Deacon as keyboardist and drummers John Woods and Keef Hartley.

The third album, Six Star General, followed in 1973 . The title was Blackwell's idea and was intended to be a reference to General Joseph Stilwell , nicknamed Vinegar Joe. With six star (dt. Six stars ) should be alluded to the number of band members, the rank of a six-star general does not exist. Despite the release of three albums within less than two years, there was no commercial success and the band lived on the concert fees. The highlight was in the spring of 1973 a US tour as the opening act for Wishbone Ash . Later, when the band's popularity threatened to decline, Brooks and her husband Gage decided to fake a robbery on Brooks in order to get back on the front pages. But within the band there were tensions between Robert Palmer and Elkie Brooks. Both held up against each other to aim for a solo career and only want to use the band as a springboard. According to Brooks, however, it was Robert Palmer who, with the help of Chris Blackwell and without the knowledge of the other band members, made plans for his own career. When these plans became known to the other band members, Vinegar Joe broke up in late 1973.

In addition to Robert Palmer, Elkie Brooks also started a successful career as a solo artist.

Music genre

Singer Brooks and the other former members came from jazz in the late 1960s. However, Chris Blackwell wanted the band's music to evolve towards contemporary rock and rock 'n' roll in order to increase the commercial opportunities for Vinegar Joe. Brooks and Palmer took turns singing, Palmer sang the lead voice, Brooks acted as a background singer and vice versa. The Allmusic guide named Vinegar Joe Island Records' answer to American bands like The Allman Brothers Band .

Discography

Albums
  • 1972: Vinegar Joe
  • 1972: Rock'n Roll Gypsies
  • 1973: Six Star General
Singles
  • 1972: Never Met A Dog (That Took to Me)
  • 1972: Rock'n Roll Gypsies
  • 1972: Whole Lotta Shakin
  • 1972: Charlie's Horse
  • 1973: Proud to Be (A Honky Woman)

literature

  • Elkie Brooks: Chapter 11 Vinegar Joe . In: Finding My Voice: My Autobiography . Robson Press, 2012, ISBN 978-1-84954-299-9 , pp. 80-89 .

supporting documents

  1. ^ Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 79.
  2. ^ A b c Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 80.
  3. ^ Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 81.
  4. ^ A b Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 82.
  5. ^ Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 83.
  6. ^ Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 85.
  7. ^ Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 87.
  8. ^ A b Elkie Brooks: Finding My Voice. P. 88.
  9. ↑ Vinegar Joe on Allmusic (English)

Web links