Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, frequently referred to simply as Velvet Opera, was a British rock ensemble active during the late 1960s. Prominent members Richard Hudson, John Ford, and Paul Brett subsequently became part of well-known groups such as The Strawbs, Hudson Ford, and Stretch.
History
The band evolved from the soul and blues outfit The Five Proud Walkers, transitioning into psychedelic rock after touring alongside Pink Floyd. Its initial roster featured Richard Hudson on drums, John Ford handling bass guitar, Colin Forster playing lead guitar, Jimmy Horrocks on organ and flute (who departed early on), and Dave Terry as vocalist and harmonica player.[1] Originally called Velvet Opera, they later expanded their name inspired by Terry’s stage character resembling Elmer Gantry, the protagonist of Sinclair Lewis' novel.
Performing in London venues with electronic accompaniment, they secured a contract with Direction Records, a CBS subsidiary. Their first single, "Flames" (1967), was included on the CBS compilation The Rock Machine Turns You On and was subsequently covered by Led Zeppelin.[2] Their following releases encompassed a self-titled album featuring "Mary Jane," which was removed from BBC airplay due to its drug-related content.[2] Despite modest commercial impact, they sustained exposure through live broadcasts on BBC Radio 1 programs like Top Gear.[1]
Following personnel shifts—including Paul Brett replacing Forster and Terry’s exit—the group reverted to Velvet Opera, incorporated 12-string guitarist John Joyce, and issued the album Ride a Hustler's Dream. Due to its poor sales, Ford and Hudson departed to join The Strawbs, leading to the band's dissolution soon afterward.
In 1971, Forster reunited Velvet Opera with new bassist Colin Bass, vocalist Dave MacTavish, and drummer Mike Fincher, releasing a single under Spark Records.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Meanwhile, Gantry assembled The Elmer Gantry Band featuring former members of the Downliners Sect, performing for approximately eighteen months before joining the cast of Hair. In 1974, at the invitation of Mick Fleetwood[3] and Clifford Davis, Gantry along with Kirby Gregory from Curved Air participated in a contentious US tour promoted as Fleetwood Mac but without Mick Fleetwood himself. This tour concluded with legal disputes.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The aftermath led to the creation of Stretch, which produced three studio albums including the notable track "Why Did You Do It?" inspired by the "Fake Mac" controversy.
Gantry also provided lead vocals on The Alan Parsons Project albums The Turn of a Friendly Card and Eye in the Sky, Cozy Powell's Tilt, as well as Jon Lord's Before I Forget. Stretch later released sessions recorded for the BBC along with a fresh album titled Unfinished Business.
Members
- Richard Hudson – drums, sitar (1967–1970)
- John Ford – bass guitar (1967–1970)
- Dave Terry aka "Elmer Gantry" – vocals, guitar, harmonica (1967–1968)
- Colin Forster – lead guitar (1967–1968, 1969–1971)
- Jimmy Horrocks (Horovitz) – organ, flute (1967)
- Paul Brett – guitar, vocals (1968)
- Johnny Joyce – guitar, vocals (1969–1970; died 2004)
- Colin Bass – bass guitar (1970–1971)
- Dave MacTavish – vocals (1971)
- Mike Fincher – drums (1971)
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Albums
- Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera - Direction S8-63300 (July 1968)
- Ride a Hustler's Dream (September 1969)
Singles
- "Flames" / "Salisbury Plain"
- "Mary Jane" / "Dreamy"
- "Volcano" / "A Quick B"
- "Anna Dance Square" / "Don't You Realise"
- "Black Jack Davy" / "Statesboro Blues"
- "She Keeps Giving Me These Feelings" / "There's a Hole In My Pocket"