Jump to content

H. P. Lovecraft (band)

From Alfawiki
H. P. Lovecraft
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1967 in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Headquarters
Chicago
,
United States
ProductsPsychedelic rock music, folk rock music

H. P. Lovecraft was a psychedelic rock group originating from Chicago in 1967, taking its name from the famed horror author H. P. Lovecraft. Their sound was a fusion of folk rock and psychedelia, heavily inspired by the themes and atmospheres found in Lovecraft's literary works.

The band signed with Philips Records in 1967, debuting with the single "Anyway That You Want Me" and shortly after releasing their first album, H. P. Lovecraft, which included their most recognized track, "The White Ship". After moving to San Francisco, they became staples at major Bay Area venues such as The Fillmore and the Winterland Ballroom. Their sophomore album, H. P. Lovecraft II, came out in 1968 before the group dissolved in early 1969.

Original members George Edwards (formerly Ethan Kenning) and Michael Tegza later revived the band under the abbreviated name Lovecraft; however, Edwards departed before recording their initial album under this iteration. This ensemble released Valley of the Moon in 1970, and following a rebranding to Love Craft, issued We Love You Whoever You Are in 1975.

Formation and debut album

The formation of H. P. Lovecraft began when George Edwards, a former folk vocalist working as a session singer for Dunwich Records, recorded a rendition of Chip Taylor's "Anyway That You Want Me," which had recently charted in the UK via the Troggs. Prior to this, Edwards had released an unsuccessful Beatles cover through Dunwich in 1966. Supporting him were members of Chicago’s Rovin' Kind, along with Dave Michaels—a classically trained vocalist possessing a four-octave range—whom Edwards met while performing in a lounge jazz trio.

In early 1967, Philips Records, a subsidiary of Mercury, issued the single "Anyway That You Want Me," backed by Edwards's solo outtake "It's All Over for You," under the moniker H. P. Lovecraft. The band’s name was chosen by Dunwich founders Bill Traut and George Badonsky as a tribute to horror author H. P. Lovecraft; Edwards and Michaels embraced it after obtaining consent from the author’s estate and began assembling additional members.

Auditions held in March 1967 brought Tony Cavallari on lead guitar, Mike Tegza on drums, and Tom Skidmore on bass into the fold. Skidmore soon exited and was replaced by Jerry McGeorge—formerly of the Shadows of Knight—who transitioned from guitar to bass to join the lineup.

Led creatively by Michaels and Edwards, H. P. Lovecraft crafted a unique blend of folk rock infused with psychedelic elements, combining traditional folk influences with original compositions. Their signature sound was marked by the interplay between Edwards's folk-oriented singing and Michaels’s operatic vocal style, reminiscent of Fred Neil’s collaborations. Michaels's mastery over instruments such as organ, piano, harpsichord, clarinet, and recorder broadened the group’s sonic palette well beyond typical contemporaries.

Their self-titled debut album was released on Philips in late 1967. It was preceded by a single featuring a traditional song, "Wayfaring Stranger," which did not achieve chart success; similarly, the album failed to enter U.S. charts but maintained steady sales over time.

The record incorporated orchestral arrangements with nine musicians and showcased an array of styles that evoked an eerie atmosphere inspired by Lovecraft’s dark tales. While it contained original pieces like the jazzy "That's How Much I Love You, Baby (More or Less)" and the vaudeville psychedelic number "The Time Machine," much of its content consisted of covers: Dino Valente’s hippie anthem "Get Together," Randy Newman’s "I've Been Wrong Before," Travis Edmonson’s "The Drifter," alongside Fred Neil’s "That's The Bag I'm In" and "Country Boy & Bleeker Street."

At its core stood "The White Ship," a six-and-a-half-minute composition co-written by Edwards, Michaels, and Cavallari that drew inspiration from Lovecraft’s short story of the same name. The track featured baroque harpsichord sections, feedback drones, somber harmonies, and even an authentic ship's bell dating back to 1811. Music historian Richie Unterberger described it as possessing a "wavering, foggy beauty" highlighted by some of Michaels’ most haunting keyboard work. Although an edited single version did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "The White Ship" gained significant traction on underground FM radio stations.

Relocation and Second Album

In late 1967, H. P. Lovecraft embarked on a tour along the West Coast, where they quickly built a solid reputation for their live performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. By November of that year, their self-titled debut album had gained underground acclaim in San Francisco, moving approximately 1,100 copies. With backing from promoter Bill Graham, the band secured spots at renowned venues such as The Fillmore and the Winterland Ballroom.

Following a short return to Chicago, the group toured the East Coast in early 1968, playing notable locations including the Boston Tea Party and Philadelphia’s Electric Factory. In mid-February 1968, they made a permanent move to Marin County, California, seeking to further their musical ambitions. After relocating, they shared stages with prominent acts like Traffic, Buffalo Springfield, the Youngbloods, and the James Cotton Blues Band.

Approximately two months after settling in California, original bassist Jerry McGeorge departed and was succeeded by Jeffrey Boyan, formerly of Chicago’s Saturday's Children. Boyan’s powerful bass lines and vocal contributions significantly strengthened their live shows. The band performed alongside groups such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, as well as British bands including Pink Floyd and The Who. The vigor of their concerts is preserved on the Live May 11, 1968 album, which received praise for its excellent sound quality when issued by Sundazed Music in 1991.

In June 1968, H. P. Lovecraft entered I.D. Sound Studios in Los Angeles to record their sophomore album with engineer Chris Huston. Due to an intense touring schedule, much of the album’s content was created spontaneously; Huston played a vital role not only in production but also in crafting psychedelic sonic effects. Released in September 1968 as H. P. Lovecraft II, the record expanded upon their initial musical approach but was criticized for lacking cohesion. It included the track "At the Mountains of Madness," inspired by H. P. Lovecraft’s novella; covers such as Brewer & Shipley’s "Keeper of the Keys"; spoken word contributions from voice artist Ken Nordine; and compositions by Edwards’s associate Terry Callier. Despite its artistic ambition, the album did not achieve chart success in the United States.

Late in 1968, Michaels left the group to resume his university studies, leading to H. P. Lovecraft’s effective breakup by early 1969; drummer Tegza subsequently joined Bangor Flying Circus. A follow-up ensemble named Lovecraft was established later that year featuring Edwards and Tegza, although Edwards soon exited. Under his birth name, Ethan Kenning, Edwards pursued a career as a producer and folk musician, occasionally collaborating again with Michaels (David Miotke).

Lovecraft and Love Craft

Following the dissolution of H. P. Lovecraft, George Edwards and Michael Tegza launched a spin-off band called Lovecraft in late 1969. This new lineup included Jim Donlinger and Michael Been from Chicago’s Aorta, with keyboardist and vocalist Marty Grebb (formerly of the Buckinghams) stepping in instead of the initially considered Dave Michaels. After signing with Reprise Records, Edwards departed to focus on a solo folk career.

The remaining members completed the album Valley of the Moon and supported artists such as Boz Scaggs and Leon Russell on tour. This record marked a stylistic shift away from H. P. Lovecraft’s psychedelic roots toward a more accessible rock sound reminiscent of Crosby, Stills & Nash or Uriah Heep. By the time of its release, Lovecraft had already disbanded; both the album and its single "We Can Have It Altogether" failed to achieve commercial success.

Afterward, Tegza reunited with Edwards in Elixir for limited live performances that produced no recordings. Marty Grebb went on to form The Fabulous Rhinestones and established himself as a solo artist and sought-after session musician. Michael Been collaborated with former Moby Grape members in Fine Wine, which released a self-titled album in 1976; he later led new wave band The Call throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Jim Donlinger released solo albums and authored an autobiography titled Space Traveller: A Musician's Odyssey.

In 1975, Tegza founded Love Craft, a funk-oriented group featuring vocalist Lalomie Washburn. Their release We Love You Whoever You Are appeared on Mercury Records but suffered poor sales; this led to being dropped by their label and ultimately disbanding. In 1980, Tegza teamed up with guitarist Frankie Capek to assemble a new lineup including singer Marc Scherer and bassist Mark Gardner. Although there was some industry interest due to their blend of contemporary pop and psychedelic influences, Scherer’s departure caused the group to dissolve before securing a recording contract.

Later in life, Tegza became a pastor and as of 2014 resided in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Marc Scherer signed with Italy’s Frontiers Records and collaborated with Grammy-winning artist Jim Peterik; their joint album Risk Everything was slated for release in spring 2015.

Despite sharing members and similar names, neither Lovecraft nor Love Craft are regarded as direct continuations or fundamentally connected entities to H. P. Lovecraft beyond personnel overlap.

Literary mentions of the band

Science fiction author Harry Turtledove often incorporates references to the band H.P. Lovecraft (occasionally abbreviated as "HPL") within his narratives. In his short story "The Fillmore Shoggoth," five original members of HPL, including George Edwards as the central perspective figure, are featured in a horror-adventure scenario where Lovecraftian creatures assault their concert location.

Band members

H. P. Lovecraft
  • George Edwards – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, guitarrón, bass guitar (1967–1969)
  • Dave Michaels – vocals, organ, piano, harpsichord, clarinet, recorder (1967–1968)
  • Tony Cavallari – lead guitar, vocals (1967–1969)
  • Michael Tegza – drums, percussion, timpani, vocals (1967–1969)
  • Tom Skidmore – bass guitar (1967)
  • Jerry McGeorge – bass guitar, vocals (1967–1968)
  • Jeff Boyan – bass guitar, vocals (1968–1969)
Lovecraft
  • Michael Tegza – drums (1969–1971)
  • Jim Donlinger – guitar (1969–1971)
  • Michael Been – bass guitar (1969–1971)
  • Marty Grebb – keyboards, vocals (1969–1971)
  • George Edwards – vocals, guitar (1969–1970)
Love Craft
  • Michael Tegza – drums (1975–1976)
  • Lalomie Washburn – vocals, percussion (1975)
  • George Agosto – percussion (1975)
  • Craig Gigstad – bass guitar (1975)
  • Mark Justin – synthesizer, keyboards (1975)
  • Jorge Juan Rodriguez – guitar (1975)
  • Frank Capek – guitar (1975–1976)
  • Shawn Christopher – vocals (1976)
  • Jeff Steele – bass guitar (1976)
  • Theodis Rodgers – keyboards (1976)

Studio albums

  • H. P. Lovecraft (1967)
  • H. P. Lovecraft II (1968)
  • Valley of the Moon [released as Lovecraft] (1970)
  • We Love You Whoever You Are [issued as Love Craft] (1975)
  • Live May 11, 1968 [live album] (1991)

Compilation albums

  • At the Mountains of Madness (1988)
  • H. P. Lovecraft/H. P. Lovecraft II (1997)
  • Two Classic Albums from H. P. Lovecraft: H. P. Lovecraft/H. P. Lovecraft II (2000)
  • Dreams in the Witch House: The Complete Philips Recordings (2005)

Singles

  • "Anyway That You Want Me" / "It's All Over for You" (Philips 40464) (1967)
  • "Wayfaring Stranger" / "The Time Machine" (Philips 40491) (1967)
  • "The White Ship" Part 1 / Part 2 (Philips 40506) (1967)
  • "The White Ship" / "I've Been Wrong Before" (Philips BF 1639) [UK release] (1968)
  • "Keeper of the Keys" / "Blue Jack of Diamonds" (Philips 40578) (1968)
  • "We Can Have It Altogether" / "Will I Know When My Time Comes?" (Reprise 0996) [as Lovecraft] (1971)
  • "I Feel Better" / "Flight" (Mercury 73698) [as Love Craft] (1975)
  • "Ain't Gettin' None" / "We Love You" (Mercury 73707) [as Love Craft] (1975)

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=H._P._Lovecraft_(band)&oldid=78971"