The Humblebums
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Glasgow, Scotland |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , Scotland |
Key people | Billy Connolly, Tam Harvey, Gerry Rafferty |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Humblebums were a folk rock group originating from Glasgow, Scotland, active between 1965 and 1971. The lineup featured Billy Connolly, who later became a celebrated comedian and actor; guitarist Tam Harvey; and singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty.
Career
In 1965, Connolly and Tam Harvey established the band, initially performing at various Glasgow venues, particularly the Scotia Bar. Connolly provided vocals, banjo, guitar, and humorous song introductions, while Harvey was recognized for his skill in bluegrass guitar. Their first album, First Collection of Merry Melodies, was issued in February 1969.
Gerry Rafferty joined the ensemble later in 1969, briefly creating a trio before Harvey exited as the musical direction evolved. Subsequently, Connolly and Rafferty recorded two additional albums: The New Humblebums, which featured cover art by John Byrne—marking the start of a longstanding collaboration with Rafferty—and Open Up the Door. The single "Shoeshine Boy" from 1970 saw moderate chart success in the Netherlands.
After the group disbanded, Connolly pursued a solo path that incorporated Humblebums songs into his initial comedy records. Rafferty launched a solo album titled Can I Have My Money Back? before co-founding Stealers Wheel alongside Joe Egan, eventually achieving worldwide recognition with the track "Baker Street".
Numerous Humblebums tracks have been reissued within compilations featuring both Connolly and Rafferty. Gerry Rafferty died on 4 January 2011 at age 63; Tam Harvey passed away on 17 December 2021.
Musical style
Richie Unterberger characterized the Humblebums as a "restrained, somewhat folk-rock duo." Meanwhile, High Fidelity labeled them as "folk-rockers," with a sound blending elements reminiscent of the Sarstedt brothers and Cat Stevens, combining storytelling lyrics with lively melodies.
Albums
- First Collection of Merry Melodies (Transatlantic TRA186, February 1969)
- Billy Connolly (vocals, guitar, banjo), Tam Harvey (guitar, mandolin), Ronnie Rae (bass)
- The New Humblebums (Transatlantic TRA201, September 1969)
- Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty
- Open Up the Door (Transatlantic TRA218, June 1970)
- Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty
Singles
- "Saturday Round About Sunday" (BIG122, 1969)
- "Shoeshine Boy" (1970, penned by Rafferty) / "My Apartment" (written by Connolly)
Compilation albums
- Gerry Rafferty (Transatlantic TRA270, 1974) – selections from their second and third albums
- The Complete Humblebums (Transatlantic TRA288, 1974) – three LP set
- The Humblebums (MTRA2008, 1979)
- The Best of the Humblebums (Pulse PDSCD542, 1996) – two-CD collection
- The Humblebums (ESMCD498, 1997) – single CD featuring material from second and third albums
- Please Sing a Song for Us: The Transatlantic Anthology (Castle CMDDD1211, 2005) – two-CD compilation including all three albums, singles such as "Saturday Round About Sunday" and B-side "Bed of Mossy Green," plus unreleased outtakes and Radio 1 session recordings.
- This anthology (now discontinued) was reissued in 2018 by Talking Elephant (TECD 400), omitting the Radio 1 session tracks.
See also
- Billy Connolly: Transatlantic Years (Compilation album)
External links
- nigelgatherer.com Biography of the Humblebums