Jigsaw (British band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Coventry and Rugby , England, United Kingdom |
Key people | Clive Scott, Des Dyer, Chas Peate (manager/producer) |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Jigsaw was a British pop rock ensemble primarily recognized for their 1975 single "Sky High". Led by the singer-songwriting duo Clive Scott and Des Dyer, the group later served as a vehicle for Dyer's solo endeavors following Scott's passing in 2009.
To avoid confusion with an Australian band sharing the same name, they were referred to as "British Jigsaw" in Australia.
Early years
Originating as a six-member band in Coventry and Rugby in 1966, Jigsaw's initial roster featured Dave "Biffo" Beech (vocals, drums), Clive Scott (keyboards, vocals), Barrie Bernard (bass), Tony Campbell (guitar), Tony Britnell (saxophone), and Kevin "Beppy" Mahon (tenor saxophone). The name "Jigsaw" was inspired by Manchester's Jigsaw Club, as named by Campbell. Several members had prior affiliations with groups such as The Mighty Avengers, Pinkerton's Assorted Colours, and the Fortunes.
At first, their style leaned more toward blues rock than pop rock. In 1967, Beech was replaced by Des Dyer, who took over drums and lead vocals. Around 1970, they supported Arthur Conley during his European tour; shortly after, Mahon exited the lineup. Britnell also departed not long after, leaving Campbell, Bernard, Scott, and Dyer as the remaining members.
Jigsaw became known for their dynamic live performances that incorporated pyrotechnics and explosive effects.
Their debut album Letherslade Farm, released in 1970 on Philips Records, was a concept record satirizing the music business through the story of a struggling pop artist interspersed with interview segments. The album’s single featured Clive Scott’s adaptation of Bach’s "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". These initial releases did not achieve chart success.
Shift in style and commercial breakthrough
In the early 1970s, primary songwriters Scott and Dyer found success with "Who Do You Think You Are," which was recorded by UK group Candlewick Green in 1974. The track gained U.S. attention when covered by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods and was later reinterpreted by Saint Etienne in 1993. Although Jigsaw included their own version on the 1974 album I've Seen the Film, I've Read the Book, it failed to chart commercially, resulting in their contract termination with BASF Records.
After losing their record deal, Dyer, Scott, and their manager/producer Chas Peate established Splash Records to distribute new material independently. Their inaugural single on Splash, "Sky High," was created for the 1975 martial arts film The Man from Hong Kong, featuring George Lazenby. Initially receiving limited airplay on Radio Luxembourg, the song eventually climbed into the UK top ten by November 1975.
Globally, "Sky High" was licensed to Chelsea Records in the United States where it reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 8 on the Adult Contemporary list. Notably, it attained No. 2 on Japan’s Oricon sales ranking. Mexican wrestler Mil Máscaras adopted "Sky High" as his entrance theme music, which enhanced its popularity in Japan and contributed to its status as a hit there for two consecutive years.
Career after "Sky High" and dissolution
Following the breakthrough of "Sky High," Jigsaw released multiple singles along with the album Pieces of Magic, but these efforts largely failed to replicate earlier success except for a brief UK top 40 entry in 1977 with "If I Have to Go Away". Their subsequent significant work involved composing the soundtrack for the 1979 movie Home Before Midnight, which was later issued as an album.
Founding bassist Barrie Bernard departed in 1978, and by the early 1980s Jigsaw ceased live performances. After several changes to their lineup, they recorded one final album under Elektra and issued a last single titled "Love Isn't at Home" in early 1983 before officially disbanding.
Post-breakup
Following the disbandment of Jigsaw, both Scott and Dyer maintained thriving careers as songwriters, with their compositions performed by artists such as Bad Boys Inc, Boyzone, and Bobby Rydell. Although no further studio albums under the Jigsaw name were produced, the 1995 compilation The Best of Jigsaw featured eight freshly recorded tracks. Des Dyer has occasionally used the Jigsaw moniker for his solo projects.
Dyer also sought to represent the UK at Eurovision, participating in the A Song for Europe competitions in 1983 and 1985, where he achieved third and fourth place finishes respectively. In 1988, he provided backing vocals on Scott Fitzgerald’s UK entry "Go," which narrowly missed winning, finishing second by a single point to Switzerland.
Clive Scott died in 2009, leaving behind his wife and son.
Studio albums
- Letherslade Farm (1970) Philips [UK release]
- Aurora Borealis (1972) Philips [UK release]
- Broken Hearted (1973) BASF [UK release]
- I've Seen the Film, I've Read the Book (1974) BASF [UK release]
- Sky High (1975) Splash/Chelsea – AUS No. 93, U.S. No. 55 (track listings differed by country)
- Pieces of Magic (1977) Splash/EMI [UK release]
- Jigsaw (1977) 20th Century [US release]
- Journey into Space (1978) Splash/EMI [Japan release]
- 12 Chapters of Love (1980) Splash [Japan release], also issued in Spain in 1978 under the title Jigsaw
- Jigsaw (1981) Elektra [US release] (with a track list distinct from the 1977 LP)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Jigsaw (1978) Splash [Sweden release] (LP format only)
- Best Hit 20 (1987) [Japan release]
- The Best of Jigsaw (1995) (featuring new recordings; track list differs from the 1978 version)
- Jigsaw (1996) [Brazil release]
- Very Best of Jigsaw (1998) Taragon [US release]
- Several Japan releases: Soft Rocks (1998), Super Best Hits (1999), Golden Best (2004), Free Soul Drive with Jigsaw (2006), The Ultimate Collection (2006), Greatest Hits - Silver - Sky High, and Greatest Hits - Gold - Sky High (2011)
- Anthology (2007) [US release]
- Japan releases including the three-CD set Complete Singles Collection 1968-1981 (2013), and the two-CD set Sky High & Rare Tracks - 40th Anniversary Collection (2017)
Singles
- "Let Me Go Home" c/w "Tumblin" (1968)
- "One Way Street" (1968)
- "Mister Job" (1970)
- "Keeping My Head Above Water" (1971)
- "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" (1971)
- "That's What It's All About" (1973)
- "Lollipop and Goody Man" (1974)
- "I've Seen the Film, I've Read the Book" (1974)
- "You're Not the Only Girl" (1974)
- "Sky High" (1975) – UK No. 9, U.S. No. 3, AUS No. 3, CAN No. 3
- "Brand New Love Affair" (1976) – initially the B-side to "Sky High"; U.S. No. 66; CAN No. 85
- "Baby Don't Do It" (1975)
- "Love Fire" (1976) – U.S. No. 30, AUS No. 96, CAN No. 75
- "Cry 'Til the Tears Run Dry" (1976)
- "If I Have to Go Away" (1977) – UK No. 36, U.S. No. 93
- "Only When I'm Lonely" (1977)
- "Everytime" (1978)
- "Looking for Me" (1979)
- "You Bring Out the Best in Me" (1980)
- "Prizefighter" (1980)
- "I" (1980)
- "No Love Songs" (1981)
- "Love Isn't at Home" (1983)
- "Let's Not Say Goodbye" (1988)
- "Skyhigh" remake (1989)
- "Strategy" (1989)