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Love Sculpture

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Love Sculpture, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025
Love Sculpture
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1966 in Cardiff, Wales
Defunct1970
Headquarters
Cardiff
,
Wales
ProductsMusic albums, singles

Love Sculpture was a blues rock group from Wales active between 1966 and 1970, fronted by Dave Edmunds (born 15 April 1944, Cardiff). The lineup also included bassist John David (born 19 January 1946, Cardiff) and drummer Rob "Congo" Jones (born 13 August 1946, Barry, Wales).

Career

Originating in Cardiff in 1966 from former members of the Human Beans, Love Sculpture focused on delivering blues standards with a more intensified edge. Their first album, Blues Helping, featured songs such as "Summertime" and "Wang Dang Doodle".

The band is chiefly remembered for their 1968 hit single in the UK—a rapid rendition of the classical composition "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian, released under the Parlophone label. This track climbed to No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in December of that year. Influenced by Keith Emerson's classical reinterpretations, "Sabre Dance" received notable promotion from DJ John Peel, who notably broadcast it twice during one program. That same year, Love Sculpture secured a lucrative recording deal in the United States with London Records, reportedly valued at £250,000. They also showcased "Sabre Dance" on the German television show Beat-Club.

Their sophomore album, Forms and Feelings, included "Sabre Dance" alongside tracks like "In The Land of the Few", "Farandole", "People People", "Seagull (West Coast Oil Tragedy)" by Paul Korda, and a brisk cover of Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". The American release contained an additional piece, "Mars" from Gustav Holst's The Planets, which was omitted from the UK version due to licensing restrictions.

Throughout 1968 and 1969, the band recorded several sessions for BBC Radio 1's John Peel show.

In 1970, guitarist Mickey Gee joined the group while Terry Williams took over drum duties from Rob Jones.

Love Sculpture dissolved in 1970 following a tour in the US after producing only two albums. Post-breakup, Edmunds achieved solo success with the chart-topping single "I Hear You Knocking" and worked closely with ex-Brinsley Schwarz bassist Nick Lowe, ultimately forming the band Rockpile.

Band members

  • Dave Edmunds – lead vocals, guitar (1966–1970)
  • John David – bass guitar, backing vocals (1966–1970)
  • Rob "Congo" Jones – drums, percussion (1966–1970)
  • Mickey Gee – guitar (1970)
  • Terry Williams – drums, percussion (1970)

Blues Helping – (October 1968) – Parlophone

The album was issued in the United States in mid-May through Motown's Rare Earth label (RS-505), featuring alternative cover art.

  1. "The Stumble" (Freddy King, Sonny Thompson) (listed as "Stumble" on the cover and "The Stumble" on the label)
  2. "3 O'Clock Blues" (B. B. King, Jules Taub)
  3. "I Believe to My Soul" (Ray Charles)
  4. "So Unkind" (Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn)
  5. "Summertime" (George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward)
  6. "On The Road Again" (Floyd Jones, Alan Wilson)
  7. "Don't Answer the Door" (James Franklin Johnson)
  8. "Wang-Dang-Doodle" (Willie Dixon)
  9. "Come Back Baby" (Ray Charles)
  10. "Shake Your Hips" (Slim Harpo)
  11. "Blues Helping" (John David Williams, Dave Edmunds, Rob Jones)

Bonus Tracks on 2007 Esoteric Records Reissue

  1. "Morning Dew" (Human Beans)
  2. "It's a Wonder" (Human Beans)
  3. "River to Another Day" (Single)
  4. "Brand New Woman" (Single)
  • Dave Edmunds – lead vocals, guitars, organ, piano
  • John Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8), piano (track 10)
  • Bob "Congo" Jones – drums, backing vocals (tracks 3, 5)

Forms and Feelings – (December 1969) – Parlophone

Issued in the United States in 1970 under Parrot Records (PAS-71035).

  1. "In the Land of the Few" (Mike Finesilver, Pete Ker, Dave Edmunds) – 3:55
  2. "Seagull" (Paul Korda) – 3:28
  3. "Nobody's Talking" (Finesilver, Ker) – 3:37
  4. "Why (How Now)" (Finesilver, Ker) – 7:42
  5. "Farandole" (Georges Bizet, arranged by Dave Edmunds) – 3:42
  6. "You Can't Catch Me" (Chuck Berry) – 3:25
  7. "People People" (Finesilver, Ker) – 3:23
  8. "Mars" (Gustav Holst) – 1:58 (exclusive to US edition)
  9. "Sabre Dance" (Aram Khachaturian, arranged by Dave Edmunds) – 11:12

Bonus Tracks on 2007 Esoteric Records Edition

  1. "Think of Love"
  2. "Seagull" (Mono Single Version)
  3. "Farandole" (Mono Single Version)
  4. "In the Land of the Few" (Mono Single Version)
  5. "People People" (Mono Single Version)
  6. "Sabre Dance" (Single Version)
  • Dave Edmunds – guitars, lead vocals, keyboards
  • John Williams – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
  • Bob "Congo" Jones – drums, backing vocals

Both albums underwent remastering and were reissued in May 2008 featuring additional bonus tracks including singles.

Singles

  • "River to Another Day" – released in 1968 with B-side "Brand New Woman"
  • "Sabre Dance" – issued in 1968 with B-side "Think of Love"; reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart

See also

External links

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