Savage Progress
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Rik Kenton, Glynnis, Ned Morant, Carol Isaacs, Andrew Edge |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Nottingham , England |
| Products | Pop music recordings |
| Parent | 10 Records (Virgin Records subsidiary) |
Savage Progress was an English pop ensemble from the 1980s that found chart success across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The group was established by Rik Kenton (born 31 October 1945, Nottingham), vocalist Glynnis, percussionist Ned Morant, keyboardist Carol Isaacs, and drummer Andrew Edge. Their sound was a fusion of classic pop elements with reggae, Caribbean dance beats, and African rhythmic influences.
In February 1984, they acted as the supporting act for the Thompson Twins during the UK leg of the "Into the Gap" tour. Their most notable track, "My Soul Unwraps Tonight," penned by Kenton—who had previously been part of Roxy Music—became their signature hit.
Early years
The formation of Savage Progress originated from the meeting of Kenton and Glynnis in 1982. Soon after, they incorporated Morant, an enthusiastic but non-professional percussionist whose appearance complemented the band's image. Over the Christmas period of 1982, they laid down demo recordings at The Point studio in Victoria, London, assisted by tape operator Danny Hyde. Rupert Merton, proprietor of The Point Music publishing and then publisher for the Thompson Twins, motivated them to continue developing additional material.
Initially lacking a drummer, they brought Edge on board—he was acquainted with The Point through rehearsals with the Thompson Twins and maintained a friendship with chief engineer Alex Burak. Edge had previously collaborated with David Lloyd in Uropa Lula and introduced Isaacs to Savage Progress; both Isaacs and Edge had been part of Uropa Lula, which had signed with Arista Records the previous year.
Racial mix
The multicultural composition of Savage Progress played a significant role in shaping their musical identity: Glynnis was born in Zimbabwe to parents of mixed race/African descent; Kenton originated from Nottingham; Isaacs was English-Jewish; Morant possessed Indian ancestry; and Edge hailed from Leeds. This ethnic diversity enriched their sonic palette, with Kenton weaving various cultural influences into their work. Notably, Larry Heard identified their track "Heart Begin To Beat" as an early source of inspiration.
Recording contract
Following a publishing agreement with Point Music, Savage Progress secured a recording deal with 10 Records, a subsidiary label under Virgin Records. They released their debut single "My Soul Unwraps Tonight," which attained moderate acclaim by peaking at number 14 on the German charts in July 1984. Their inaugural album, Celebration, featured production contributions from Paul "Wix" Wickens, renowned for his collaborations with Paul McCartney.
Touring
The band opened for Tina Turner at The Venue in London and accompanied the Thompson Twins on the UK tour supporting "Into The Gap" in 1984. Capitalizing on their single’s popularity in Europe later that year, Savage Progress embarked on tours across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Session musicians
During the Thompson Twins’ Mind The Gap tour (February 1984), keyboardist Steve French—formerly associated with Haircut One Hundred—played with Savage Progress; French also worked alongside artists such as Tom Robinson. Edge departed following the Thompson Twins tour but returned for the European dates in October 1984. In his absence, drummer Stuart Elliot (formerly of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel) performed on a John Peel session (July 1984) and contributed drums to "Ball and Chain" from their debut album Celebration. Neil Conti from Prefab Sprout filled in on drums during summer 1984 before Edge’s return. Guitarist Mark Ferda toured Europe with them and subsequently collaborated with artists including Jah Wobble, Bill Laswell, Brian Eno, and The Wolfgang Press.
Lyrics
The lyrical content crafted by Kenton steered clear of typical subjects, as demonstrated in the track "My Soul Unwraps Tonight":
The end
Following the European tour in October 1984, Glynnis departed from the group. Although opportunities arose to perform at European festivals during the summer of 1985 with a replacement vocalist, Kenton chose to dissolve Savage Progress. While some members continued performing as a supporting ensemble, the band never regrouped under its original name.
Before Savage Progress
Prior to forming Savage Progress, Kenton recorded the track Bungalow Love in 1974 for Island Records (UK Island 7 Inch, WIP6214). In 1976, he issued the single "The Libertine/Messin' Around" on EMI (7" single, EMI 2443), which featured notable musicians such as Chris Spedding and Jim Cregan on guitars, Herbie Flowers on bass, and Tony Newman on drums.
Glynnis contributed backing vocals for a reggae group and fronted a punk band named 'The Max Factor,' which made its first appearance at Toyah Willcox's 21st birthday celebration. Morant engaged in several occupations, including poultry vaccination. Edge had experience as a drummer with acts like the Thompson Twins, Viva Lula, among others.
After Savage Progress
Kenton participated in one track on Bassomatic’s 1990 album Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass, but has not produced solo work since then. Carol Isaacs went on to collaborate with various artists such as Sinéad O’Connor, Sam Brown, Squeeze, and the Indigo Girls. Edge moved to Austria to focus on a solo singing career, signing contracts with EMI and later BMG, and is currently involved with Drumsing. Morant has worked alongside bands including The 4 Of Us, Alabama 3, and Anne Clark. After Glynnis left Savage Progress, guitarist Ferda formed the duo Angel Chorus with her; they secured a contract with Virgin 10 Records and released the single "Devil on my shoulder," produced by Zeus B. Held. Glynnis—now known as Urtema Dolphin—operates a thriving London-based practice specializing in sound healing and spiritual education.
Albums
- Celebration (LP), 10 Records (UK) (1984)
Singles
- "My Soul Unwraps Tonight" (7"), Virgin Records (Germany) (1984)
- "Burning Bush" (7"), 10 Records (UK) (1984)
- "Heart Begin to Beat" (7"), 10 Records (UK) (1984)
Compilation appearances
- Hit-News (LP) - "My Soul Unwraps Tonight" – K-Tel International GmbH (1984)
- Megamix Vol. 1 (2xLP) - "My Soul Unwraps Tonight" – Virgin Scandinavia AB (1984)
- Megamix Vol. 2 (2xLP) - "Burning Bush (Testify)" – Virgin Scandinavia AB (1984)
- Super 20 Hit-Sensation (LP) - "Heart Begin to Beat" – Ariola (Germany) (1984)
- The Best of 1980 – 1990 Vol. 6 (2xCD) - "My Soul Unwraps Tonight" – EMI Electrola GmbH (1992)