Week of November 7, 2004

Starry Eyed and Laughing

Personnel:
Ross McGeeney - Vocals, Lead Guitar
Tony Poole - Vocals, 12-String Guitar
Nick Brown – Drums
Steve Hall – Bass
Mick Wackford – Drums
Iain Whitmore - Bass, Vocals
Roger Kelly - Vocals, Lead Guitar

Albums:
Starry Eyed And Laughing (CBS 80450) 1974
Thought Talk (CBS 80907) 1975
CD: both albums above on a deluxe 2CD set with bonus tracks: AURORA AUR02, 2003

45s:
Money Is No Friend Of Mine/See Your Face (CBS 2686) 1974
Nobody Home/Closer To You Now (CBS 3036) 1975
Good Love/Down The Street (CBS 3455) 1975
Song On The Road/Don't Give Me A Hard Time (CBS 4577) 1976

Originally forming in Northampton in May 1973 with just McGeeney and Poole, they started out playing a Byrds-influenced jangling guitar-style rock. The second line-up was short-lived, but the band soon stabilised with the next one. Their debut album, which mostly comprised Poole/McGeeney material, was still very derivative of The Byrds. Still, it's underrated and included some fine guitar interplay - at its best on the track “Everybody”. This was less so on “Thought Talk”, on which the orchestrated “Fools Gold” and “One Foot In The Boat” stand out.

After a US tour in Autumn 1975, McGeeney left with Roger Kelly coming in as a replacement. Whitmore was next to depart in Spring 1976. They abbreviated their name to Starry Eyed for a couple more singles, but when the hoped-for chart success didn't happen, they quit.

Taken from The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson
ISBN 1 899855 04 1


Back to Alex's Home Page