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Colt1861Navy

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Re: Colt1861Navy post# 704

Monday, 06/24/2002 10:59:51 PM

Monday, June 24, 2002 10:59:51 PM

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Rock 'n' Roll Artists A-Z...Peter and Gordon

http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/music/mu1026.php

Peter Asher & Gordon Waller were called "the Everly Brothers of the British Invasion". They harmonized in ear pleasing intervals, strummed acoustic guitars in tandem, and recorded an impressively consistent string of hit songs. They blended folk, blues and rock 'n' roll with their own pop-flavoured English sensibility. The results included, among other things, the first British invasion single by an artist other than The Beatles to go to #1.

Waller met Asher at the Westminster School for Boys in London. They were about the only two people at school who played guitar and sang, and soon became friends. Peter was big on jazz as well as a folk music fan. Gordon was more rock"n"roll, above all a big fan of Elvis. They found common ground in The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly.

They first started singing together for their own entertainment, alone or at partys and eventually tried a lunchtime gig for a little money and free food in a local pub. From there, they got a regular booking at a place called The Pickwick Club, a supper club in London where a lot of show business people went. After being there for some months, Norman Newell, an A&R man for EMI Records called them over to his table, asking "Have you boys ever made a record? Here's my card, I work for EMI, come and make an appointment to do a demo." They did, he liked it and signed them to a contract.

When Capitol signed the two, Peter's relationship with Paul McCartney, who was living in the Asher family home, soon proved advantageous. For most of the Sixties, McCartney's steady girlfriend was Jane Asher, Peter's sister. McCartney taught them "World Without Love", a song the Beatles had never used, that he had written earlier in his career. The track sounded like an early Beatles song, and Peter and Gordon took it to #1 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1964. The duo also scored hits with the Lennon and McCartney songs "Nobody I Know" and "I Don't Want to See You Again", both left unused by the Beatles, and "Woman" (written by McCartney under an alias). Suddenly Peter and Gordon were among the most recognizable faces of the British Invasion.

Peter & Gordon also turned out to be astute song finders outside the Lennon-McCartney sphere. "I Go To Pieces" was acquired while on tour in Australia with Del Shannon and The Searchers. Del was playing it for the Searchers in their dressing room, they didn't want it, Peter & Gordon did.

The two also has success with Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways", and Phil Spector"s "To Know You Is To Love You", all of which charted well in the US, making the Top 40. They also found sucess in l966 and 67 with music-hall novelties such as "Lady Godiva" and "Knight in Rusty Armour," and parent-pleasing pop like "Sunday For Tea."

Many musicians of the day played on some of their records, among them, John Paul Jones of Led Zepplin, playing bass and the late Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones on guitar. Peter & Gordon always played rhythm guitar on their albums, with Gordon playing 12-string on "I Go To Pieces". Lead electric guitar was almost never them.

In the mid-1960s, Waller indirectly set in motion a series of pop relationships when he began dating Jenny Dunbar. Dunbar introduced her brother John to the Waller/Asher social set, which included Jane Asher and her boyfriend, McCartney. John's wife, Marianne Faithfull, was subsequently discovered by the Rolling Stones' manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, who transformed her into a pop star (she later became Mick Jagger's girlfriend). Later in the decade, John Dunbar, Peter Asher and Barry Miles formed the fabled Indica Bookstore and Gallery, where John Lennon first met Yoko Ono.

Following a four-year, ten song hit spree, Peter & Gordon went their seperate ways in l968.

Peter Asher became A&R director for the Beatles' Apple Records, then moved to Los Angeles. As a record producer, he helped usher in the mellow "California rock" sound made famous by many artists he worked with, including Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and 10,000 Maniacs. He was voted "Producer Of the Year" in 1977, by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Gordon Waller was left to carry on alone. In 1970 he came to America to record a solo album in New York which had the dubious title "....and Gordon". Unfortunately the promotion on this record was not up to par and the album containing mostly orignial material, fell by the way-side. He then issued a few unsuccessful solo singles, including "The Lady in the Window," before largely retreating from the music world.

In l971 Gordon was approached by Tim Rice to play the part of Pharaoh in the musical "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Edinburgh Festival. The show was an amazing success and Gordon's holiday from his landscaping-gardening business in Northamptonshire, developed into yet another career enhancement. "Joseph..." went from Edinburgh to The Roundhouse in North London, The National Theatre, Young Vic, and finally into the West End where Gordon received standing ovations every night for the run of the play.

In June l975 Gordon went to Australia to get married and ended up once again in "Joseph" at the brand new Seymour Centre in Sydney. The reviews and audience reception were outstanding, and at the end of the Australia run, Gordon decided to give stage work a break, but continued to write the occasional song, many of which are yet to be recorded. These days, Gordon has a music publishing company with his partner Georgiana Steele, called "Steel Wallet International Ltd."

Peter & Gordon were the first post-Beatles English group to go to #1 on the American charts. Their success let people on this side of the Atlantic know that the British Invasion was here to stay, as this duo parlayed their success into a nice run of hits that effectively mixed folk and pop sounds. They further benefited from the fact that many of these hits were written by former Beatle Paul McCartney.

Peter Asher and Gordon Waller were childhood friends who loved music from an early age and set their sights on a professional music career after graduating from school. They soon attracted record company interest and got a lucky break when McCartney, who was then dating Peter’s younger sister, gave them a song to record. The song, a plaintive tune called “A World Without Love,” quickly went to #1 in England and America. It would eventually top the charts in nine other countries.

Peter & Gordon followed this smashing success with two more McCartney-penned hits: “Nobody I Know” and “I Don’t Want To See You Again.” They quickly developed that resembled what the Everly Brothers might have sounded like if they preferred folk to country. In fact, the folky edge that distinguished the Peter & Gordon sound would influence future folk-rockers, most notably the Byrds.

Peter & Gordon continued to make regular trips to the pop charts throughout 1965. “I Go To Pieces” was given to them by fellow musician Del Shannon and soon charted in the Top-10. The duo also added cover versions to their repertoire and had further hits with Buddy Holly’s “True Love Ways” and the Teddy Bears’ “To Know You Is To Love You.” The band’s success continued into 1966 with “Woman,” another McCartney original, and “Lady Godiva,” a novelty tune about the infamous English historical figure.

Peter & Gordon announced they were breaking up in 1967 after one last hit, “Knights In Rusty Armor.” However, they continued to perform and record together occasionally until making the split permanent in 1968. At this point, Waller went on to a solo career and acted in musicals like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He would continue to pursue these dual careers until retiring from the music business in 1973. Asher took on a successful career as a record producer and has worked with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, and 10,000 Maniacs.

Both men continue to be active today: Waller recently recorded a solo album and Asher continues to be in demand as a producer. Peter & Gordon have not reunited since their split, but it’s very likely that their gentle, folk-tinged sound will continue to entertain pop fans and influence musicians for a long while.

Discography

1964 - Peter & Gordon
1964 - In Touch With...
1964 - A World Without Love
1965 - I Don't Want to See You Again
1965 - I Go to Pieces
1965 - True Love Ways
1965 - Hurtin' 'n' Lovin'
1966 - Woman
1966 - Somewhere
1967 - A Knight in Rusty Armour
1967 - Lady Godiva
1968 - Hot Cold & Custard
1972 - Gordon
1976 - In London for Tea
1995 - EP Collection (compilation)
2001 - The Ultimate Peter & Gordon (compilation)

Peter and Gordon's greatest hits:

World Without Love
Nobody I Know
I Don't Want To See You Again
I Go To Pieces
Woman
To Know You Is To Love You
True Love Ways
Lady Godiva
Knight In Rusty Armor
Sunday For Tea




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