Originally a distinctly Byrds-influenced duo of guitarist/vocalists Ross
McGeeney and Tony Poole (and thus instantly comparable to an early R.E.M.),
Starry Eyed and Laughing were one of the most individual acts to gravitate
toward the London pub rock scene as the 1970s neared their midpoint. Formed
in the midlands city of Northampton during 1973, within a year the band
had swollen to a quartet comprising McGeeney, Poole, bassist Steve Hall,
and drummer Nick Brown and were packing venues across the capital. This
lineup survived only a matter of months, but did bring the band to the
attention of CBS. With a new rhythm section of Iain W hitmore and the
splendidly named drummer Mick Wackford, plus a cast of guests including
Russ Ballard, Lindisfarne's Ray Jackson, and BJ Cole, Starry Eyed and
Laughing cut their eponymous debut album in mid-1974, alongside the single
"Money Is No Friend of Mine."
A second album, Thought Talk, followed in 1975, together with further
singles "Nobody Home" and Good Love," and that fall, Starry
Eyed and Laughing made their U.S. debut with a short, but very well-received
tour. Upon returning home, however, McGeeney quit the band -- he was replaced
by Roger Kelly for the 1976 single "Don't Give Me a Hard Time,"
before bassist Whitmore, too, departed.
Opting to continue on as a trio, the band abbreviated its name to Starry
Eyed alone, but never recaptured the excitement of earlier years and broke
up soon after.
(by Dave Thompson, All
Music Guide)
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"Where do you start? How about with the name?
Yeah. Starry Eyed And Laughing, as all good Dylanophiles know, is the
first line of the last verse of "Chimes Of Freedom". It's the
sort of name you probably won't forget, and it's also to be a great extent
onomatopoaeic (which means it sounds like it looks). They don't laugh
out of context, mind you, and after all that motorway food, stars in the
eyes could prove a little difficult, but the sound is basically that produced
by optimists, and the songs are unlikely to lead to dispair even in the
most downtrodden of lives.
It's my contention, and several tasteful writers agree, that Starry Eyed
And Laughing come several miles nearer to successfully adapting that jingly
jangly Californian style, complete with original material, than anyone
so far. Tony Poole (12string-player) says his group's music "guaranteed
to take you higher". Should I explain what he means by "higher"?
Too much time and vinyl are taken up with ramblings. Here is the music
that belongs to everyone - yours to enjoy."
(Covertext von John Tobler)
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