Still Life
(From left to right)
Martin Cure vocal
Terry Howells keyboards
Graham Amos bass
Alan Savage drums
Album :
Still Life Vertigo 6360026 / UK / 1971
(The First press, "Big Swirl")
Also issued:
1. LP, Vertigo-Philips, 6360 026, Germany, 1971, "Big Swirl"
2. LP, Vertigo-PolyGram, RJ-7266, Japan, 1977, "Spaceship", OBI rolled
3. LP, Akarma, AK 237, Italy, 2003
4. CD, Repertoire, REP 4198-WP, Germany, 1991
5. CD, Universal Victor, UICY-9053, Japan, 28.03.2001, "British Rock Legend Part 2"
6. CD, Akarma, AK 237, Italy, 2003, vinyl replica
7. CD, Repertoire, REP 5100, Germany, 01.12.2006, vinyl replica with poster, only 3000 copies
8. Cassette, Vertigo, 7138 026, UK, 1971
You ' ll also find Still Life on "Superheavey no.1" Vertigo 6360061, Peru, 1971, with songs: "Don't go", "Love song n.6".
A little known band which made one album published by label Vertigo. The album is a significant collector's item among fans of progressive music.
The LP was printed with a gatefold sleeve. But only the titles of song and the name of the writers are written on the cover. Without line~up. The
informations about group are very difficult to find.
Dear Reader of my Site!
Today, in year 2002, I give you information about this very mysterious group.
Firstly back to the roots. Bassist Graham Amos, vocalist Martin Cure began their musical adventure in 1963 in the Coventry band called The Sabres.
They later formed The Peeps in 1965. The other two members of the band were Roy Albrighton (guitar) and Paul Wilkinson (drums). The Peeps
recorded five SPs for Philips (1966-68). In 1968, they recruited Terry Howells on organ (ex-Ray King Soul Band). The drummer Paul Wilkinson left
the band in 1968. He joined a band called Flying Machine. With new drums player, Gordon Reed (ex-Vampires), group's name was changed to
Rainbows. They recorded two singles for CBS. The Rainbows had some gigs in Hamburg, Germany and when they were finished the guitarist,
Roy Albrighton decided to stay in Germany. Later, he formed a band called Nektar. When Rainbows came back to England, the drummer G.Reed
left the band. So then there were three musicans: Amos, Cure, Howells. They changed a band name to Still Life and wrote the songs which turned
into the album. But the band had not a drummer. Alan Savage was contacted to do the session and he had about a week to learn the material prior to
recording. Album was recorded at Sound Recording Studios, near Marble Arch, London Savage was involved with the recording on the following
dates: 1st October 1970, 2nd October 1970, 5th October 1970, 6th October 1970, 13th October 1970. The Album was mixed Monday 26th October
1970. Obviously, the other members were doing overdubs, vocal etc.on the dates in between. S.Shane did produce the LP. The Band had a contract
to make a six LPs. But unfortunately the band drifted apart. What happened with members of the band? After split of the band, Graham Amos gave
up music. He was living in England, but he died in June 2003 (his funeral was in Cambridge Crematory at 10:30 am on 4th June 2003). Terry Howells
now lives in Switzerland (for more info go to - Still Life-2). Alan Savage lives in Northampton, still in music business as drummer (for more info,
go to - Still Life-2). Martin Cure joined Cupid's Inspiration in 1971. In 1979/1980, he and his friends from Cupid's Inspiration formed group called
Chevy. In 1981 they had a record deal with Avatar Records and recorded one album and three singles. In 1983, Martin played with group Red on
Red. Now, Martin has PA Company but still does occasional gigs with Cupid's Inspiration and The Rouges. In letter from 27.11.2002, Martin wrote:
"I'm sure there is no more unreleased material available and certainly no live material recorded by Still Life from those times".
Side A
1. People in black (Howells)
2. Don't go (Howells/Cure)
3. October Whitches (Howells)
Side B
4. Love song no.6 (Howells)
5. Dreams (Howells/Cure)
6. Time (Howells/Amos)
All information I got from: Martin Cure, Alan Savage and Bob Poole.
It is generous of you to give me so much of your time !
_________________
I wish to express my sincere appreciation for help :
Alan Savage (another drummer) Albrighton Artur
Beau Hresko Paul Hooper
Phill Dipple Fabio Sguanci
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Some times ago I found website with covereges and informations about The Sabres, The Peeps and Rainbow. Where is the truth?.
I wrote e-mail with questions to Martin Cure (XII.2004)
Did Sabres or Peeps ever played in Chechoslovakia ?
-- The Sabres never toured Czechoslovakia, it was a publicity stunt made up by the Press Officer of the Circus we were playing in at the time.
The next matter, keyboard player in Rainbows How do you remember Terry Leeman played for Rainbows ?
-- Who? Terry Howells was the Keyboard Player in Rainbows, not Terry Leeman.
Can you tell me the exact date that Still Life split?
--I can't remember the exact date that Still Life split, but it must have been sometime in '71 as that is when I started working with Cupid's Inspiration.
What memories do you have of the concerts with Still Life ? Who was the drummer ?
-- I can't really remember if we did any concerts after recording the Album, but if we did (and that is possible) it would certainly have been Alan
Savage on drums! We played some Still Life songs with Gordon Reed on drums at the end of the Rainbows era,(as a 4 piece, minus RoyAlbrighton),
but when he left we used Alan Savage to record the Album "Still Life", as the Band Still Life.
Please, solve two problems. Did Still Life ever played with Edgar Broughton Band? Did the group record song called "What Did We Miss / My
Kingdom Cannot Lose" as state in V.Joynson "The Tapestry of Delights"?
-- We never played with, or collaborated with, the Edgar Broughton Band. Second problem, the songs on the Album were the only
material we ever recorded, so any other song titles attributed to a band called Still Life would not be us !!!
Martin, what do you think about Still Life music ?
-- Listening to the songs today is very strange. For the time it was made, I think we made a good Album, however, if we were to make
it today it would probably sound very different.
Thank you very much Martin and Happy New Year 2005.
2005
In his Vertigo article in Record Collector 314/ November 2005, one of the world's best paper of the old rock music, Barry Winton, says: "Not much
is known about Still Life". I wrote a short letter to Record Collector with information about the group. The letter put in the magazine issue 316,
November 2005.
In December 2005, I got e-mail from Pete Chambers, Coventry music expert. He is writer of the Coventry Telegraph's Backbeat nostalgia music
column and guest presenter on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. He did a interview with Martin Cure in his radio programme called Pop into the
Past. Also, he wrote a book about new and old rock music called Godiva Rock. He gave my web page a mention in his book.
2006
Infromation taken from Repertoire's web site:
"Still Life-Still Life (limited Edition of 3000 copies) 6 tracks, REP 5100, to be released 01 December, 2006. Original vinyl artwork in square CD
digi sleeve format (card wallet, no plastic) plus inserted fold-out poster. Booklet with authoritative and extensive liner notes by respected author and
journalist Chris Welch. Expertly remastered superb sound."
I have this CD. I read text from the booklet. I found error in this text. Gordon Reed was Rainbows' drummer, not P.Wilkinson. If you
want know
more, please see my page about Rainbows.
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2007
January - I wrote to Marcel Koopman. He has great webpage about Vertigo (http://www.vertigoswirl.com). I've got from him photos from
"Superheavy vol.1", the record issued in Peru in 1971. I send photos to Martin Cure. He wrote : "What a blast from the past. I don't
remember the photograph being taken, but I think it must have been during the photo session for the cover of the Still Life album".
(Attention - I make graphic effects in photo).
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Date of publication - 17.11.2002
Last update - 23.02.2009
