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Beat Instrumental

Beat Instrumental

Beat Instrumental was a UK monthly pop and rock magazine. First published in May 1963 as Beat Monthly it became Beat Instrumental Monthly with issue 18 and Beat Instrumental from issue 37. It ceased publication in 1980.

143 articles

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The Kinks: 'All Day And All Of The Night'/'I Gotta Move' (Pye 15714)

Review and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1964

TWO ORIGINAL numbers from Ray Davies, Kinks' lead singer and rhythm guitarist — and the top side could well prove at least as big as ...

The Rolling Stones: 'Little Red Rooster'/'Off The Hook' (Decca)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1964

TOPSIDE IS an old Willy Dixon number 'Little Red Rooster' and it's a cert for the charts. ...

The Beatles, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, Dennis Wilson: Other Stars View The Stones

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, January 1965

THOSE ROLLING STONES, with their headline-hogging activities have always been controversial. There are more Stone-knockers than door-knockers in some of the snootier parts of the ...

The Righteous Brothers: Righteous Brothers Do Play

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1965

WHEN THE Righteous Brothers made their recent visit to Britain, coinciding with their tremendous number one hit 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'', they didn't bring ...

The Who: The Spectacular Who

Profile by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, May 1965

THE WHO are comprised of three 'wildies' and a 'quiety'. Sick language, of course, but that's the way most people describe this revolutionary London group. ...

Jimmy Page: The Session Men No. 1: Jimmy Page

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, August 1965

Each month B.I. receives letters asking for information on various session men. In fact, last month, we published one from J. Townsend of Wolverhampton, who ...

John Entwistle, The Who: Player of the Month: John Entwistle

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, January 1966

THE DARK and deep member of the dynamic Who gets very, very angry when people take hefty swipes at his group for alleged musical incompetence. ...

Wilson Pickett: Master of Beat and Soul

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, January 1966

THE WILD sound of Wilson Pickett is still fairly new to our hit parade. 'Midnight Hour' and 'Don't Fight It' have put him in the ...

Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood: Player of the Month: Stevie Winwood

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, February 1966

THERE COULDN'T possibly be a bloke who is more "in" than our Player Of The Month. Stevie Winwood has been called a prodigy, the English ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones Report: "We've put a keyboard on every new track"

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, February 1966

DECEMBER saw the end of a hectic tour, there were no more one-nighters to do. But it wasn't the end of the Stones' work Stateside ...

Herb Alpert: The Mariachi Sound

Interview by Peter Jones, Beat Instrumental, March 1966

THE CALL from London to A&M Records, on Sunset Boulevard, went through surprisingly quickly. Chap who first answered the phone there was the "M" part ...

The Small Faces: Player of the Month: Ian McLagan

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, April 1966

HERE'S A bloke who likes to stay in the background. He enjoys keeping just below the surface of the Small Faces' sound, filling in, driving ...

Cream: "I'm not a great guitarist," insists Eric Clapton

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, August 1966

I CAME face-to-face with the guy who is acknowledged to be the god of British blues guitar in his own small heaven — the top ...

The Beatles: Norman Smith... A&R Man

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, August 1966

UNTIL RECENTLY the name Norman Smith was synonymous with the Beatles, Cilla Black, Manfred Mann and many other famous recording names. He was the sound ...

Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde (CBS 66012)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, September 1966

THIS IS the seventh CBS LP from Mr. Dylan and it is, in fact, two albums in one. ...

Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: Jimmy Will Change Yardbirds Sound!

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, September 1966

JIMMY PAGE, one of our top guitarists, turned his back on the session scene, took up bass for the first time in his life and ...

Eric Clapton, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers: John Mayall: Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (Decca LK 4804)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, September 1966

JOHN MAYALL'S voice may not be the greatest example of blues singing there is, but he is sincere, and with blues fans that counts for ...

Chris Farlowe, Albert Lee: Player of the Month: Al Lee

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, September 1966

THIS THUNDERBIRD guitarist started playing in 1959. "I suppose it was Lonnie Donegan who started me off," he says. In '60 he was already pro., ...

The Walker Brothers: Portrait (Philips BL 7732)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, September 1966

NOT AT all what we've come to expect from the Walkers, and for me anyway, a pleasant surprise. It proves conclusively that they really CAN ...

The Animals, Eric Burdon, Frank Zappa: Burdon's America

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, November 1966

IF YOU want to know why so many British artists return from the States and get disgruntled with their home scene, ask Eric Burdon. I ...

Cream: Jack Bruce explains Cream policy

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, November 1966

IF THE three members of the Cream are the leaders in the field of group instrumentalists, then Jack Bruce their quiet-spoken bassman is the leader ...

Otis Rush: Talking to Otis Rush

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1966

OTIS RUSH is one of the top exponents of the Chicago style of blues guitar. His followers are many and include most of Britain's blues-influenced ...

Peter Green, John Mayall: Player of the Month: Peter Green

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, December 1966

HE'S NOT yet had the pleasure of being in a chart-jumping group nor has he played with any of the very big names. But, nevertheless, ...

Ray Charles: Ray's Moods (HMV CLP 3574)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1966

OVER THE years, apparently, many people have suggested to Ray Charles that he record certain songs and this album is the result. ...

The Artwoods: Art Gallery (Decca L.K. 4830)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1966

THERE'S BEEN a good attempt to offer some different tracks here, but there is a shortage of original material from the group themselves. Their renderings ...

Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix The Gen Article

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, March 1967

HE WAS born in Seattle 20 years ago, he plays superb blues guitar, and what's more, he plays it from the heart, not from other ...

Donovan, Mickie Most: Most on Donovan

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, March 1967

IT'S A FACT. Not many artistes give a thought to the guys who produce their records. Listeners seem to be as bad. Do you think ...

Otis Redding: The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul (Atlantic 587050)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1967

MR. REDDING has notched up many, many sales and he should be O.K.. with this one. For my money there's more to it than his ...

The Four Tops: Four Tops 'Live' (Tamla Motown TML 11041, Stereo STML 11041)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1967

GREAT! THAT'S the only way to describe the Four Tops' performance on this "live" album. And it really is "live", too. Recorded at the Upper ...

Chuck Berry... "A Legend In His Own Time"

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, April 1967

CHUCK BERRY, one of the very few "classic" names. "A legend in his own time!" That, of course, is a well-worn phrase, but there isn't ...

Chet Atkins, James Brown, The Mothers Of Invention, Sam & Dave: LP Reviews: Sam & Dave, James Brown, Chet Atkins, and the Mothers of Invention

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, April 1967

  Sam And Dave: Double Dynamite (Stax 589003) ...

The Beatles, Manfred Mann, Klaus Voormann: Klaus Voorman: Klaus Must Choose

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, May 1967

"I ENJOY my life in music", said Klaus Voorman, opening a discussion on his dual-talent career. He's a brilliant artist, an outstanding musician. How does ...

Eric Clapton, Aynsley Dunbar, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Mick Taylor: John Mayall: Blues Purist

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, September 1967

THERE'S A dearth of purists in Britain. What's happened to them all, where have they got to? Most of them have "gone pop", leaving behind ...

The Impressions: The Fabulous Impressions (HMV CSD.3631)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1967

AT ALL too rare intervals, the Impressions release an album which showcases their beautiful, and original, vocal sound. The gentlemen responsible — Curtis Mayfield, Sam ...

Vanilla Fudge: Vanilla Fudge (ATCO 33.224)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1967

ON FIRST hearing, this album is unbelievable. Tracks like 'Ticket To Ride' and 'Bang Bang' are given the full 'You Keep Me Hanging On' treatment. ...

Jackie Edwards: Premature Golden Sands (Island ILP.960)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1967

JACKIE IS one of the "in" singers at the moment, and although still without a hit in this country, this album could make quite an ...

Cream: The Cream: Disraeli Gears (Reaction S93003)

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1967

BRITAIN'S PRIDE and joy, the Cream, return to these shores, and give us this fine "glad to be home" present, Disraeli Gears. Progressive is a ...

Taj Mahal: The Natch'l Blues

Review and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1969

IN THESE DAYS of controversy about blue men singing the whites (thank you, V. Stanshall) it's amazing just how few black men are signing the ...

The Chambers Brothers

Profile by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1969

THE CHAMBERS BROS. may well have taken over Blue Cheer's title of the world's loudest group. ...

Blood Sweat & Tears: Blood, Sweat And Tears

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1969

THE TROUBLE is simply a matter of definition. Blood, Sweat and Tears don’t regard themselves as a specifically commercial group... but their fusion of pop ...

Blodwyn Pig: Full Ahead for Pig! Blodwyn Pig

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1969

MY FIRST encounter with Blodwyn Pig was hearing their single, 'Dear Jill', when a friend came round to tell me about the wonder group. I ...

The Rolling Stones: Stones Working Hard — And Mick Goes On Guitar

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1969

IF YOU’VE STUDIED your record covers, then you’ll probably be familiar with the name of Ian Stewart. Their equipment manager and mate, he has been ...

Graham Bond: The Return Of Graham Bond

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1969

GRAHAM BOND is satisfied. After spending the last eighteen months in the States, he returned to England, auditioned 300 musicians and picked himself six. They ...

Jeff Beck

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1969

JEFF BECK at the moment seems to be wandering in a musical "no-man's-land". He is faced with the unenviable task of forming a new group ...

Jethro Tull

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1969

We need you too Jethro Tull! ...

Soft Machine

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1969

"INDEPENDENCE" and "freedom" are words much used today to justify any act from dossing down in Piccadilly to running naked through Trafalgar Square, but Soft ...

Ten Years After

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1969

"IF SSSH IS the music of Ten Years After, then thank God it took them two years and three fantastic albums to find it out." ...

The Hollies: Consistent Standards Gain Wider Audiences

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1969

CONSIDER THE HOLLIES. Consider them carefully. Because they are pretty well unique. In a scene where their attributes of enthusiasm, dignity, courtesy and style are ...

Pink Floyd

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, January 1970

THE PINK FLOYD have been playing together for five years. During all this time there has been but one personnel change, when Syd Barrett was ...

Phil Spector: The Musical Guts Behind Spector

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, January 1970

PHIL SPECTOR is alive and well and living on Sunset Boulevard in his beloved Los Angeles. He's producing records again, having come out of retirement ...

Jethro Tull

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, February 1970

"WHERE shall I start?" asked Jethro Tull's singer-man. ...

Syd Barrett Speaks

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1970

BRITAIN’S art colleges have turned out a disproportionate number of successful musicians – John Lennon, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend among them. It was while ...

Kenny Rogers: Visual Scene Important For Kenny Rogers: The First Edition

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1970

‘THEY'RE a bunch of real nice guys,’ said the publicity man, talking about Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Which is a very standard line ...

Fotheringay, Sandy Denny: Concerts, Not Clubs, For Sandy Denny's Fotheringay

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, April 1970

TAKE ONE PART Fairport Convention, two parts Eclection, and two parts Poet and One Man Band, put them in a bag, stir well and allow ...

Family

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, April 1970

YOUVE HEARD it said millions of times, but here it is again. Isn't it a drag that so many of our groups don't play live ...

Love: The Great West Coast Enigma

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, April 1970

IN 1967, a record called Da Capo by a practically unheard-of Los Angeles group called Love appeared on the Elektra label. ...

The Faces

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, April 1970

EXACTLY one year ago Beat Instrumental reported the Small Faces' last gig with Steve Marriot. After the show Ian 'Mac' McLagen said: 'We're going to ...

John Mayall: Can John Mayall Maintain The Legend?

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1970

THE ADVERTISEMENTS for John Mayall's pre-Christmas tour with his new drumless, acoustic guitar group described him as "the legendary John Mayall". While promoters and Promo ...

Christine Perfect/McVie: Christine Perfect

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1970

FIVE years ago, an art student called Christine Perfect met a guitarist called Stan Webb. As a result of that meeting an R and B ...

The Four Tops: Four Tops Reach Out

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1970

THE BIG QUESTION hanging over the heads of the Four Tops, Tamla Motown's long-running stars, is just how much they are going to miss the ...

John and Beverley Martyn, John Martyn: John And Beverley Martyn

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1970

JOE BOYD has been responsible for bringing to our attention a number of brilliant musicians. People don't talk much about 'discovering' artists these days, but ...

T. Rex, Tyrannosaurus Rex: T(yrannosaurus). Rex

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1970

JUST OVER TWO years ago, John Peel introduced the public, as is his wont, to one of the most startlingly unusual groups ever to make ...

The Strawbs

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1970

ONE OF OUR most original groups that has not yet achieved the recognition it deserves is the Strawbs. They stand out instant by being an ...

Christie: Geoff Christie

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, June 1970

DESPITE having a successful single in 'Yellow River', Geoff Christie (front man of new group Christie) would have been happier had the group just not ...

Peter Green

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, June 1970

"I felt I was doing nothing with my life because there was no challenge." ...

Screaming Lord Sutch

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, June 1970

MAKE NO MISTAKE about it. Lord Sutch is back, and in accordance with his own tradition he's there at the right place at the right ...

The Incredible String Band

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, June 1970

SINCE THEIR first album in 1966, almost immediately acclaimed as the work of an important new talent, the Incredible String Band have released albums at ...

The Moody Blues

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, June 1970

THE SUMMER of 1967 will always be remembered by many as the time when a lot of very good things began to happen. Certainly there ...

Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Alive, Well & Together: Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

LONDON is getting warmer, and the nights longer, and the sound of winter doesn’t even echo anymore. And though it’s not tranquility, it’s an atmosphere ...

Cat Stevens

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

HE'S STILL ONLY 21 but Cat Stevens has returned to the music scene and given himself a new lease of life. Naturally he's changed in ...

Hank Marvin

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

ON THE POPULARITY polls, instrumentalists come and go. Jet Harris, one-time bass player with the Shadows, used to win – especially when he broke away ...

Joni Mitchell

Report by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

JONI MITCHELL is a beautiful lady, one who write and sings songs born from the depths of her experience, a word painter who shows us ...

Savoy Brown Start Another Chapter

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

NOT LONG home from their third exhausting tour of America, the Savoy Brown band were enjoying a necessary break – they have kept their British ...

Tom Paxton Talks

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

THERE can be few artists who have made such a lasting impact on the contemporary music scene as Tom Paxton. Inspired originally by such hard ...

Creedence Clearwater Revival, Wilbert Harrison: Wilbert Harrison & Creedence Clearwater Revival

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1970

WHEN CREEDENCE Clearwater Revival made their first whistle-stop tour of Europe recently, they invited Wilbert Harrison to join them. ...

Caravan Do It All Over Again

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1970

ONE OF THE more interesting events of last year, away from the resurgence of rock ‘n’ roll in all shapes and sizes, was the first ...

Jimmy Webb: Did Jim Webb Really Need Richard Harris?

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1970

WORK ON the theory that ‘talent will out’ – and Jim Webb, fantastically consistent young American composer, would have made it anyway. In fact, though, ...

Ten Years After

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1970

TEN YEARS AFTER had just returned from their seventh American tour when we spoke to Leo Lyons in the group’s London office. ...

Black Sabbath

Report and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1970

BLACK SABBATH are very proud of the fact that the making of their latest LP, Paranoid took such a short time. "We did the title ...

Deep Purple: An Interview with Jon Lord

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1970

DEEP Purple, since their formation from the debris of the Artwoods, Lord Sutch and others have become increasingly recognized as one of the most progressive ...

Black Widow

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1970

THE LAST FEW months have seen the emergence of one or two bands whose publicity and stage act seem to be based on – not ...

Electric Light Orchestra, The Move: The Move/E.L.O.: Move Again

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, December 1970

ON ONE OF HIS rare visits to the Metropolis, Move's Roy Wood consented to have a quick chat with B.I. ...

Jethro Tull in the Studio

Report by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, February 1971

SOMEWHERE IN London stands a black-painted church building with its innards ripped out and carefully replaced with all that modern interior decorating can offer. Inside ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, February 1971

AT THE DAWN of Britain's history Marc Bolan was a bard; in 1956 he served in the 2 I's coffee house to the skiffling rhythms ...

The Incredible String Band: Incredible String Band

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, March 1971

"The Beatles are British I suppose," said Bob Dylan in the first of his two post-accident interviews, "but you can’t say they’ve carried on with ...

Rod Stewart

Profile by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, March 1971

‘Another Remarkable Englishman’ ...

The Byrds: Byrds Eye View

Profile by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1971

But I was so much older then,I’m younger than that now. ...

Mott The Hoople: Ian Hunter

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1971

MOTT THE HOOPLE are possibly the most exciting live band gigging in Britain today. A lot of that excitement emanates from the gymnastics, guitaristics, vocals, ...

Rory Gallagher: 'I Want To Be Playing When I'm Fifty'

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, June 1971

WITH ALL THE troubles surrounding the break up of Taste far behind him, Rory Gallagher is calmly setting out to build upon the high reputation ...

Stackridge: An Every Day Story Of Country Folk

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1971

NEW BANDS emerging today seem to roughly divide into two categories. ...

Syd Barrett, A Psychedelic Veteran

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1971

In every great revolution heroes are created who in turn are often killed by the very ideals which they fought for. The "psychedelic revolution" of ...

The Moody Blues: Justin Time for the Moodies

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1971

While I was at the Moodies offices, situated in the Surrey stockbroker belt, photographs were being taken of Justin and Graeme with Trevor Taylor of ...

David Bowie: Profile: David Bowie

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, July 1971

David Bowie doesn't give interviews. 'I don't feel that anything I could say would be worth quoting,' he says by way of explanation. However, he ...

The Band: The Boys in The Band...

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, July 1971

The Band have probably become the most highly respected group among groups since their first album was released three years ago. ...

Bonzo Dog Band: Vivian Stanshall

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, July 1971

"I take a hell of a lot of drugs." Says Vivian Stanshall describing how inspiration appears. "Then I go out to a hilltop with an ...

Procol Harum: The Purpose of Being Procol...

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, August 1971

THE SORT OF article in which Procol Harum are invited to star usually gets titled Procol Still To Make It Here or The Most Underrated ...

Richard and Mimi Fariña, Tom Jans: Jet-Set Folkies: Not Us, Say Tom Jans and Mimi Fariña

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, October 1971

ON MAY 1, 1966, Richard Fariña, novelist, poet and folk singer was returning from a party celebrating the publication of his novel Been Down So ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: Hot Rods and Hot Love

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, November 1971

CAMOUFLAGED WELL enough to stand unnoticed in front of a rainbow, Marc Bolan sat crosslegged on his sofa and explained that "too much" had happened ...

Al Green: The Soul Story

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, Beat Instrumental, December 1971

WITH AL Green's 'Tired Of Being Alone' Decca's subsidiary London label has notched its first chart entry in more than 18 months. It's quite a ...

Pete Townshend: Genius of the Simple

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, December 1971

Pete Townshend is a little worried about the advancement that is being made with musical equipment and recording studios. "The technology is beginning to overtake ...

Gong: Rude and Banana Guitar Playing with Gong

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, December 1971

Someone once said that if Dylan Thomas was alive now he'd be writing for a rock group. Daevid Christopher Allen is the perfect example of ...

Wishbone Ash: A Surge of Greatness

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, December 1971

Wishbone may seem to have suddenly emerged as this year's brightest hope but as with all overnight success it's been a hard slog. The wrong ...

Lou Reed: Reed the Lyrics

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, 1972

LOU REED looked out of his seventh floor window down onto six floors of other people’s windows. He asked what the weather was like outside. ...

Frank Zappa

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, January 1972

Frank Zappa was staying at the London hotel which possesses the actual loo shown on his internationally famous poster. When I arrived at the reception ...

Isaac Hayes: Hot Buttered Hayes

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, January 1972

JAMES BROWN may still be Soul Brother Number One but now Issac Hayes, songwriter/arranger/producer and artist is making a serious challenge. ...

Kid Jensen

Report and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, January 1972

KID JENSEN IS probably more able to make or break an album than any other radio jockey in the free world. His two-hour show is ...

King Crimson

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, January 1972

Pete Sinfield is, of course the Bernie Taupin... the Keith Reid... of King Crimson. Together with Robert Fripp he forms the lowest common denominator of ...

Elton John: Bernie Taupin: The B-Side of Elton John

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, February 1972

The offices of DJM records in new Oxford Street give the feeling of being a shrine to the glory of Elton John. Button-size stickers are ...

Randy Newman: Who Is Randy Newman?

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, February 1972

The name of Randy Newman kept cropping up in the interviews I wrote for Beat Instrumental. First of all it was Keith Reid who claimed ...

Cream: "Nobody can replace Cream" — Ginger Baker

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, April 1972

It seems that it’s not only the record-buying public that consider Ginger Baker to be the world’s top drummer. "I haven’t ever heard anybody who’d ...

Al Stewart

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, April 1972

Al Stewart earned his fame by singing about Bedsitter Images and closed subway stations. Now he owns a house in Hampstead outside of which he ...

MC5: No More Violence

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, April 1972

MC5 decided to conduct their interview with me in one of their cupboard-size hotel bedrooms. On the door was a poster of Chairman Mao, on ...

Nik Cohn: My Book is Rubbish but it’s the Best

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, May 1972

"There is only one decent book that has ever been written on pop," said Nik Cohn from beneath his wide brimmed hat, "and that's Awopbopaloobopalopbamboom ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc Bolan: Top of the Guitar Parade

Guide by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1972

BEHIND EVERY success story there’s a team of guitars. Marc Bolan decided to give his chosen few a taste of the publicity he’s been getting ...

Grateful Dead: The Legend Of The Dead

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, June 1972

ALTHOUGH THE GRATEFUL DEAD are a rock band, they've almost been turned into an institution, a way of life over, the years since they came ...

David Bowie: The Rise and Rise of David Bowie

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, August 1972

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ChangesCh-ch-ch-ch-ChangesLook out you Rock 'n Rollers.(Changes). ...

Joe Cocker: Cocker Power: Are The Mains Being Turned Off?

Report and Interview by Derek Grant, Beat Instrumental, September 1972

MANY UNCOMPLIMENTARY words have been written in the music press recently about the return of Joe Cocker to the rock and roll fold after a ...

Marc Bolan, T. Rex: Marc’s Music, Film & Future

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, October 1972

The following interview with Marc Bolan took place in a restaurant near Little Venice in London. Originally the meeting was to have taken place at ...

Roxy Music

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, October 1972

Peace Rock, Acid Rock, Hard Rock, Country Rock, Psycho Rock, Fag Rock & Glam Rock, NOW WE’VE GOT SCI-FI ROCK BY: ROXY MUSIC. ...

Kris Kristofferson: White Man’s Soul Singer

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, November 1972

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, I'd heard it said before, manages to combine the seemingly opposing qualities of little boy lost and man of the world. Indeed, it's ...

Sha Na Na: Moving History with Sha Na Na

Report by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, November 1972

Back-stage areas are hardly ever glamorous and form a stark contrast with the dazzle of lights and adulation that lurk beyond. Here, even the most ...

Todd Rundgren

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, November 1972

There are some parts of New York City that nice people just don't walk around. The East Village, for instance, is one of them. It's ...

Genesis: A Hit LP in the Making

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, December 1972

Some people are too embarrassed to ask Peter Gabriel about his spot of artificial 'premature' baldness. He's seriously thinking of making a public statement saying ...

Elton John: Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player

Profile and Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, January 1973

Elton John is a fast worker. He just about has to be because he allows himself only ten days to write and rehearse all the ...

The Strawbs: Strawbs: Glitter where a frown used to be

Interview by Steve Turner, Beat Instrumental, February 1973

BLUE WEAVER'S doctor will be giving him some vitamin tablets at the end of January. He'll have earned each and every one of them. For ...

Cornell Dupree, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, King Curtis: Cornell Dupree: "Mean N' Greasy"

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1973

"IT'S HIGH time that session musicians were given greater recognition. After all, it's often their playing which makes a hit record, rather than the singing ...

Isaac Hayes: A Man Of The People

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, Beat Instrumental, April 1973

ISAAC HAYES certainly lives up to his 'Super-star' title. During his recent British visit the Black Moses spent £38,000 on jewellery and another £30,000 on ...

Roxy Music: Bryan Ferry On The Swift Rise Of Roxy

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1973

BRYAN FERRY has got a very substantial ego. And it's a good thing for British and American music fans that he has because without it ...

Curved Air

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1973

Sonja Kristina On Air's New Runway To Success ...

Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker: Out Front At Last

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1973

AS IS AMPLY evidenced by the success of his recent British tour and the high chart placings gained by his last three singles, Junior Walker ...

Peter Frampton

Interview by Derek Grant, Beat Instrumental, May 1973

PETER FRAMPTON'S talent has been undisputed for some time now, although the final musical proof of it has always been something forecasted for the ...

James Brown: The Legendary James Brown

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1973

JUDGED SOLELY on sales figures, James Brown has to be one of the half-dozen most important performers in popular music since the War. ...

The Pretty Things’ Phil May

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, May 1973

PHIL MAY, vocalist with the Pretty Things, is one British rock musician who really has seen it all. ...

Average White Band

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, August 1973

AVERAGE WHITE BAND is rubbish!!! – they should be called Extraordinary White Band.Why? ...

Sweet: Can You Take Sweet Seriously?

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1973

SO SWEET WANT to be taken seriously! Well, that's what they've been telling everyone over the past few months. ...

John Entwistle, The Who: John Entwistle: Quadrophenia Another Great Who Opera?

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1973

JOHN ENTWISTLE is a happy man! He enjoys a reputation as one of the world's best electric bass players, he's had a decade of success ...

Danny Kortchmar, The Section: Viva Section!

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1973

"YIKES, WHAT mellow Caballeros," reads the poster for the Section's first album. The British public discovered just how mellow these Caballeros are when they played ...

Linda Lewis: Fathoming Out Linda Lewis

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, 1974

THE FACT that a British girl got high up in the charts with her own self-penned song a few months ago seemed to pass unnoticed ...

Back Street Crawler

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1975

WHEN Free finally fell apart at the seams after staggering around in various forms, there was a lot of damage done to the members. Despite ...

Mott The Hoople: Mottamorphosis

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1975

Changed line-up brings more commercial sound ...

The Bay City Rollers

Comment by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1975

Are Eric Faulkner & Stuart 'Woody' Wood The 'Lennon & McCartney' Of The Rollers? ...

Wings Take Off With New Member

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, July 1975

WINGS IS A VERY apt name for a group with so much jet mileage behind them. Concert appearances will take a band of this stature ...

Rory Gallagher: Gallagher: The Rory Details

Interview by Adam Sweeting, Beat Instrumental, March 1979

I LOST COUNT of the number of times men in check shirts spilt beer down me. Elderly blues and rock and roll music thundered over ...

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