The Notting Hillbillies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | May 1986 |
| Founder | Mark Knopfler |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Notting Hillbillies was a British country rock ensemble established by singer-songwriter Mark Knopfler in May 1986. Its members comprised Knopfler (vocals, guitar), Steve Phillips (vocals, guitar), Brendan Croker (vocals, guitar), Guy Fletcher (vocals, keyboards), Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar), Marcus Cliffe (bass guitar), and Ed Bicknell (drums). Their initial performance took place at a modest venue in Leeds, followed by a series of tours.
The band issued a single album entitled Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time, released under Vertigo in the UK and Warner Bros. in the US. This album attained a peak position of number 52 on the Billboard albums chart in 1990. Singles from the album included "Your Own Sweet Way," "Feel Like Going Home," and "Will You Miss Me," with some versions containing the additional track "Lonesome Wind Blues," which was not part of the original album. After this release, the members concentrated on their primary musical endeavors but occasionally reunited for benefit concerts and conducted an 11-date tour across the UK in May 1997.
Significantly, a trio performance at The Town & Country Club in Leeds on 3 July 1993 featured live versions of two Dire Straits songs: "Ticket To Heaven" and "How Long." Prior to Dire Straits officially releasing "When It Comes to You" in 1991, the band had already performed it live. Additionally, they appeared as musical guests on Saturday Night Live on 19 May 1990.
During the concert held on 6 July 1993 at Newcastle City Hall, keyboardist Alan Clark joined the lineup for his sole appearance with the group alongside Bicknell and Cliffe. This event marked Clark’s final full-band collaboration with Knopfler. In that same year, two performances were staged without Guy Fletcher.
Brendan Croker, an integral member of the band, died from complications related to leukaemia on 10 September 2023 at the age of 70.
Band line-up members
- Mark Knopfler – guitar, vocals
- Steve Phillips – guitar, vocals
- Brendan Croker – guitar, vocals (deceased 2023)
- Guy Fletcher – keyboards, vocals
- Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar (featured on studio album and during 1990 tour only)
- Marcus Cliffe – bass guitar
- Ed Bicknell – drums (Danny Cummings substituted for 2002 performances)
- Chris White – saxophone (1990)
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Highest chart positions | Certification | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | Canada | |||
| Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time |
|
2 | 6 | 29 |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | Canada | Canada AC | |||
| "Your Own Sweet Way" | 1990 | 76 | 28 | 50 | 13 | Missing... Presumed Having a Good Time |
| "Feel Like Going Home" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Will You Miss Me" | — | — | — | — | ||