The Spencer Davis Group

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Spencer Davis Group


Img_capt = Spencer Davis Group, in concert in Neckarsulm, Germany in 2006. From left to right: Eddie Hardin, Spencer Davis, Steff Porzel, Colin Hodgkinson, Miller Anderson
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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Birmingham, England
Instrument =
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Genre = Beat group, British Invasion
Years_active = 1963-1969
Label = Fontana Island United Artists
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.spencer-davis-group.com/ spencer-davis-group.com]
Current_members = Spencer Davis
Steve Winwood
Muff Winwood
Pete York
Eddie Hardin
Ray Fenwick
Phil Sawyer
Nigel Olsson
Dee Murray
Steff Porzel
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The Spencer Davis Group was a mid 1960s British beat group from Birmingham, England, founded by Spencer Davis (born 17 July 1939, Swansea, Wales).

Career

Spencer Davis moved to Birmingham from London in 1960 to study. [cite book |title=Back in the High Life |first=Alan |last=Clayson |year=1988 |isbn=0-283-99640-4 |publisher=Sidgewick and Jackson] In 1963 he recruited the Winwood brothers and started the Spencer Davis Group. The band performed regularly in the city and were signed after an appearance in a local club.

The group's first professional recording was a cover version of "Dimples", but they came to success at the end of 1965 with "Keep On Running", the group's first number one single. In 1966 they followed this with "Somebody Help Me" and "When I Come Home". For the German market the group released "Det war in Schöneberg, im Monat Mai" and "Mädel ruck ruck ruck an meine grüne Seite" (the first is from a 1913 Berlin operetta, the second is a Swabian traditional) as a tribute single for that audience, because Spencer Davis had studied in West Berlin in the early 1960s. By the end of 1966 and the beginning of 1967, the group released two more hits: "Gimme Some Lovin'" (which was re-released in a live, nine-minute version by Traffic in 1971); and "I'm a Man" (January 1967). These tracks proved to be their two best-known successes, especially in their biggest market, the U.S.

Behind the scenes, their record label tried to put together a supergroup around the talent of the very young Steve Winwood. In 1967 Steve (vocals, guitar and keyboards) left to form Traffic and his brother Muff moved into the recording industry as A&R man at Island Records. In a so-called joint venture, the movie soundtrack to the film "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" featured both bands.

Traffic took off in May 1967 with "Paper Sun". Despite the Winwoods' departure, Spencer Davis continued performing and released more singles, although they were only minor hits. These included "Time Seller" in July 1967, although the B-side, called "Don't Want You No More," was given some airplay.

This was followed by "Mr. Second-Class" in late 1967, which was heavily played on Radio Caroline (at that time one of the two remaining radio ships off the British coast) and—as their last minor hit—"After Tea" in 1968. The song was released at the same time by the German band, The Rattles, and provided competition that led finally to a temporary stop of all activities of the band. However, Spencer Davis never gave up. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, he produced some commercially unsuccessful jazz-oriented albums.

In their heyday, the group consisted of Steve Winwood on vocals, lead guitar and organ; Steve's brother Muff Winwood played bass; Pete York handled the drums; plus founder, guitarist and co-singer, Spencer Davis. Their main producer was the late Jimmy Miller.

Discography

Original UK albums

* "Their First LP" (Fontana TL 5242) July 1965
* "The Second Album" (Fontana TL 5295) January 1966
* "Autumn '66" (Fontana TL 5359) September 1966
* "With Their New Face On" (United Artists ULP 1192) 1968

US albums

* "I'm A Man" (United Artists UAL 3859) 1966
* "Gimme Some Lovin'" (United Artists UAL 3578) 1967
* "With Their New Face On" (United Artists UAS 6652) 1968

pecial Recordings

* "The Somebody Help Me Project 1993

References

* Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
* Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
* " [http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_spencer_davis_group The Spencer Davis Group] ". "Rate Your Music". 30 July 2007.

External links

* [http://www.spencer-davis-group.com/ The Spencer Davis Group]
*http://www.brumbeat.net/sdgroup.htm Biography article
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:difexqe5ld6e~T0 Spencer Davis Group mini-biography on the AMG website]
* [http://www.steffdrums.de/ Steff Porzel - Drums]