Unicorn (English band)

Unicorn

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1963
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Country rock music, albums, singles

Unicorn was a British country rock ensemble, best known for their collaboration with David Gilmour of Pink Floyd beginning in 1973.

1963–1972

Although Unicorn's debut album was released in 1971, the majority of its members had been performing together since 1963 under different names such as The Senders and The Late. Initially, they operated as a beat band covering songs from groups like The Beatles and The Hollies, but starting in 1967, they began composing original pieces, mainly penned by Ken Baker.

In their early years, the band supported artists including Sue and Sunny, held a residency at Copenhagen’s Carousel Club, and spent nine months touring as the backing band for Billy J. Kramer.

Their musical direction shifted toward country-rock after being influenced by the 1969 Crosby, Stills & Nash album. Their manager secured a contract with Transatlantic Records, which stipulated a name change to Unicorn. The band’s first album, Uphill All the Way, was issued in 1971 along with the single "P.F. Sloan". That same year, they opened for Lindisfarne at the Royal Festival Hall, toured across Britain supporting Stefan Grossman, and also performed as an opening act for Quiver at the Roundhouse.

In 1972, guitarist Trevor Mee departed to move to Guernsey and was replaced by Kevin Smith, previously of Camel. Despite underwhelming tours in Italy and Sweden, Unicorn achieved recognition in The Netherlands, including a television appearance supporting The Flying Burrito Brothers.

1973–1977

In early 1973, Unicorn played at the wedding of Ricky Hopper, a former publicist for Transatlantic Records, where David Gilmour of Pink Floyd joined them on stage after being impressed by their performance. Soon after this event, Gilmour invited the band to his home studio to record and agreed to fund their forthcoming album. This collaboration led to their signing with Steve O'Rourke’s management firm EMKA.

Their album Blue Pine Trees, produced by Gilmour who also contributed pedal steel guitar parts, was recorded at Olympic Studios and released on Charisma Records in the UK, Capitol Records in the US, and EMI internationally. The artwork for this album and the following two was created by Hipgnosis.

In August 1973, Pat Martin and Pete Perryer took part in Kate Bush’s initial recording session at Gilmour’s studio.

During 1974, Unicorn toured the United States, headlining at Whisky a Go Go and supporting major acts such as Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Doobie Brothers, and Linda Ronstadt. Blue Pine Trees climbed to No. 3 on Billboard’s FM Action chart in October 1974.

Their third studio effort, Too Many Crooks (released as Unicorn 2 in the US), again produced by Gilmour and issued via Harvest Records in 1975, included "No Way Out of Here," a song later covered by Gilmour and other musicians. Throughout this period, Unicorn supported notable artists like John Entwistle (1975), Hawkwind, Nils Lofgren, Steeleye Span (1976), and Dr. Hook during UK tours.

Unicorn holds the distinction of being the first group to record at Pink Floyd’s Britannia Row Studios for their fourth album. This project was partially produced by Gilmour and finalized by Muff Winwood to enhance its commercial viability. Released by Harvest in 1977, One More Tomorrow featured the single "Slow Dancing," which received significant airplay on BBC radio.

Despite continuing with a handful of performances, Unicorn’s country rock sound waned in popularity amid the emergence of punk music. Gilmour remarked that the band declined to alter their artistic style to suit commercial trends. Harvest Records terminated their contract in 1977; their final concert at The Music Machine in Camden Town attracted only a small audience. Plans to move to America seeking a wider audience ultimately did not come to fruition.

In recent years, previously unreleased recordings have surfaced, including early demos produced by Gilmour (Laughing Up Your Sleeve, 2018) as well as material from their era as The Late (Songs from the Family Tree, 2008).

In 2020, Unicorn's track "Ooh Mother" was featured on NBC’s television series Good Girls (season 3, episode 11).

Albums

• Uphill All the Way (Transatlantic, 1971)
• Blue Pine Trees (Charisma, 1974)
• Too Many Crooks (Harvest, 1975), issued in North America under the title Unicorn 2
• One More Tomorrow (Harvest, 1977)

Compilations

• The Best of Unicorn (2000)
• Shed No Tear: The Shed Studio Sessions (2002)
• Songs from the Family Tree (2008)
• No Way Out Of Here - The Anthology (2009)
• Laughing Up Your Sleeve (2018)
• Slow Dancing: The Recordings, 1974-1979 (2020)
• Shed No Tear The Early Late Unicorn (2024)

Singles

• "P.F. Sloan" (1971)
• "Cosmic Kid" (1973)
• "Ooh Mother" (1974)
• "I'll Believe In You (The Hymn)" (1975)
• "Disco Dancer" (1976)
• "Slow Dancing" (1977)
• "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" (1977)