Brinsley Schwarz were a 70s-era English rock band, named after their guitar… Read Full Bio ↴Brinsley Schwarz were a 70s-era English rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, which played music merging a love of American-style country rock, soul, classic pop, and the like with more recent power pop and pub rock styles. Having a six year run with United Artists records, they began in most well-known form in 1969 after previously having some success as Kippington Lodge. Spawning the solo career of rock impresario Nick Lowe, the influential 70s U.K. band famously recorded the tune "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love & Understanding" in 1974. Several years after the band played the aforementioned tune, fan and former roadie Elvis Costello recorded it and thereby brought the song the acclaim it so deserved.
Brinsley Schwarz was popular in the U.K. and many European territories, touring Great Britian in 1972 as an opening act for Paul McCartney & Wings. The band also tried playing the UK's regional pub & hall circuit with artists Dave Edmunds, Atomic Rooster, Ducks DeLuxe, and the Grateful Dead, even headlining the first Glastonbury festival. In addition to Schwarz and Nick Lowe on bass & vocals, the band featured American Billy Rankin on drums, and Bob Andrews on Hammond B-3 organ, with additional guitarist Ian Gomm added in 1970.
Brinsley Schwarz signed a contract with manager Dave Robinson, who developed a plan to earn the group some wide scale publicity. They first played America on a fiasco laden press junket opening for Van Morrison at the Fillmore East in New York City in 1970 but were not well rested or well received. The group never toured the states again. Before breaking up in 1975, they released a total of 12 albums and 21 singles for United Artists. The band also notably were the first group to play live in 1973 on the BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test' programme and had a cameo in the film 'Stardust' with David Essex.
In 1970, Brinsley Schwarz released Despite It All, which had a definite country sound to it, and later added Ian Gomm to the band. Their wild performances soon garnered the band a large fanbase on the London pub rock scene, at venues such as 'The Tally Ho' in Kentish Town. Along with other bands like Eggs Over Easy, Brinsley Schwarz was soon dubbed "pub rock" by rock journalists. They sounded, at times, very much like The Band, with Schwarz's guitar work influenced greatly by Robbie Robertson's.
1972's ironic take on country rock, Nervous on the Road, received excellent reviews but did not reach the charts; neither did a series of singles or Please Don't Ever Change (1973). They continued recording for a time, but broke up in 1975.
Schwarz and Andrews joined Graham Parker & the Rumour, later Andrews moved to New Orleans and now plays in Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar and has a web page www.neworleanspiano.com.
Rankin joined Terraplane and then Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger.
Lowe and Gomm both began solo careers, achieving moderate mainstream success, including Lowe's (1980) single "Cruel to Be Kind", originally Brinsley Schwarz's composition, and Gomm's 1979 hit "Hold On."
Lowe went on to greater acclaim than any other member, starting off as Stiff's in house producer he recorded the debut discs of Elvis Costello, The Damned & The Pogues, recorded several albums with Rockpile and had some late 70s solo hit singles. Lowe married Johnny Cash's step daughter Carlene Carter Cash for a spell in the 80's, and later made a million from the inclusion of Curtis Stigers' cover version of "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love & Understanding" on the multi-platinum soundtrack to Whitney Houston's film "The Bodyguard".
Gomm, once described in a 1971 NME issue as "the best guitarist in Britain" attempted a solo career, and later became a Welsh studio owner & record producer who worked with The Stranglers and Alexis Korner.
The original version of Elvis Costello's hit "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," written by Lowe, was released by the band in 1974 on their album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz and also featured on the multi million selling soundtrack of the movie The Bodyguard, where it was performed by Curtis Stigers.
Brinsley Schwarz Discography:
Brinsley Schwarz (April 1970)
Despite It All (December 1970)
Silver Pistol (October 1971)
Nervous on the Road (September 1972)
Please Don't Ever Change (October 1973)
The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz (July 1974)
The Last Album (June 1975)
Rarities (July 2000)
Brinsley Schwarz was popular in the U.K. and many European territories, touring Great Britian in 1972 as an opening act for Paul McCartney & Wings. The band also tried playing the UK's regional pub & hall circuit with artists Dave Edmunds, Atomic Rooster, Ducks DeLuxe, and the Grateful Dead, even headlining the first Glastonbury festival. In addition to Schwarz and Nick Lowe on bass & vocals, the band featured American Billy Rankin on drums, and Bob Andrews on Hammond B-3 organ, with additional guitarist Ian Gomm added in 1970.
Brinsley Schwarz signed a contract with manager Dave Robinson, who developed a plan to earn the group some wide scale publicity. They first played America on a fiasco laden press junket opening for Van Morrison at the Fillmore East in New York City in 1970 but were not well rested or well received. The group never toured the states again. Before breaking up in 1975, they released a total of 12 albums and 21 singles for United Artists. The band also notably were the first group to play live in 1973 on the BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test' programme and had a cameo in the film 'Stardust' with David Essex.
In 1970, Brinsley Schwarz released Despite It All, which had a definite country sound to it, and later added Ian Gomm to the band. Their wild performances soon garnered the band a large fanbase on the London pub rock scene, at venues such as 'The Tally Ho' in Kentish Town. Along with other bands like Eggs Over Easy, Brinsley Schwarz was soon dubbed "pub rock" by rock journalists. They sounded, at times, very much like The Band, with Schwarz's guitar work influenced greatly by Robbie Robertson's.
1972's ironic take on country rock, Nervous on the Road, received excellent reviews but did not reach the charts; neither did a series of singles or Please Don't Ever Change (1973). They continued recording for a time, but broke up in 1975.
Schwarz and Andrews joined Graham Parker & the Rumour, later Andrews moved to New Orleans and now plays in Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar and has a web page www.neworleanspiano.com.
Rankin joined Terraplane and then Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger.
Lowe and Gomm both began solo careers, achieving moderate mainstream success, including Lowe's (1980) single "Cruel to Be Kind", originally Brinsley Schwarz's composition, and Gomm's 1979 hit "Hold On."
Lowe went on to greater acclaim than any other member, starting off as Stiff's in house producer he recorded the debut discs of Elvis Costello, The Damned & The Pogues, recorded several albums with Rockpile and had some late 70s solo hit singles. Lowe married Johnny Cash's step daughter Carlene Carter Cash for a spell in the 80's, and later made a million from the inclusion of Curtis Stigers' cover version of "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love & Understanding" on the multi-platinum soundtrack to Whitney Houston's film "The Bodyguard".
Gomm, once described in a 1971 NME issue as "the best guitarist in Britain" attempted a solo career, and later became a Welsh studio owner & record producer who worked with The Stranglers and Alexis Korner.
The original version of Elvis Costello's hit "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," written by Lowe, was released by the band in 1974 on their album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz and also featured on the multi million selling soundtrack of the movie The Bodyguard, where it was performed by Curtis Stigers.
Brinsley Schwarz Discography:
Brinsley Schwarz (April 1970)
Despite It All (December 1970)
Silver Pistol (October 1971)
Nervous on the Road (September 1972)
Please Don't Ever Change (October 1973)
The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz (July 1974)
The Last Album (June 1975)
Rarities (July 2000)
Hooked On Love
Brinsley Schwarz Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Hooked On Love' by these artists:
Bananarama Hooked on love I saw a twelve year old, he…
Dead or Alive Well, I know what I'm thinkin' Is the direct result of…
Dead Or Alive Dead Or Alive Well I know what I'm thinkin' Is the direct result of…
Grand Funk Well, did you ever have something, you want the whole…
Grand Funk Railroad Well, did you ever have something, you want the whole…
Matt Backer Baby you're the best, help me take another shot Baby you're…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Brinsley Schwarz:
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding As I walk through this wicked world Searchin' for light in…
Don You never wear a stitch of lace And powder's never on…
Don't Lose Your Grip On Love Don't lose your grip on love Don't lose your grip on…
Don’t Lose Your Grip on Love Don't lose your grip on love Don't lose your grip on…
Down In Mexico Down in Mexicali There's a crazy little place that I…
Ever Since You're Gone Baby you really ought to see stayed out in Absent Calm I′m…
Happy Doing What We're Doing Happy doing what we're doing Happy doing it right Keep on …
Happy Doing What We’re Doing Happy doing what we're doing Happy doing it right Keep on do…
Home In My Hand Self Yeah, I say alright, come on! Yeah yeah, the bar …
I Like It Like That Kenner-Toussaint Come on (come on let me show you where i…
Ju Ju Man I was just 16 years old, And Maggie's hair was…
Nightingale Last night I heard a nightingale That sang not three yards…
Peace Love & Understanding As I walk through This wicked world Searchin' for light in t…
Please Don't Ever Change You never wear a stitch of lace And powder's never on…
Silver Pistol Once I made a fortune But I wouldn't play their stupid…
Speedoo Bom, bom, bom, Bom, bom, bom, Bom, bom, bom, bom. Now they …
The Ugly Things Lowe I'm gonna make it up to you somehow For all…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Erdnase23
Add horns and this is almost Northern Soul.
adventuresinbelieving
Great observation
Kris Scanlon
When prog rockers get bored being psychedelicized they tune up and cut the fat. Bout the most genuine band ever there was and could be called a "bar band" and it not be slander!
Kris Scanlon
jergens chris I'd also say that my idea of Progressive music and yours and most is different. Got to remember we all look at all the different genres today from a more 21st century view then when it was going on. I would time stamp that as about 1975 the business literary description came about meaning there was now Punk Disco Country Rock Heavy Metal Funk etc. Progressive was anything not played on AM and the rest was on FM, at least in the States. Not completely articulate enough to speak of Brit/Euro radio music playing standards.
Kris Scanlon
jergens chris well of course Chris at this point they were far removed from Kip Lodge but I'd say more of a psychedlicized version of Prog ala Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead not Floyd Genesis and Yes etc ... Strung out country rock. Most seminal rock tomes like Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of tock 1983 edition calls them before Silver Pistol Prog rock too. actually where I nicked it at.
jergens chris
prog rockers? Dunno anything about that but these boys got their psychedelia out of their system as Kippington Lodge (complete with Tomorrow covers!)
Maximilian Estrada
This stuff is out of sight. BS is an outstanding group I hope to see more footage this group.
brookdalebill
They play/sound like friends. There is a sense of respect/cooperation rarely seen. Great, groovin' tune! Nicks killin' the bass.
John O'Shea
Ian Gomm. My God, I never thought I'd see this again. He did this on his first solo album, "Gomm With The Wind". Very good album.
Deka7X9
Anyone else hear how similar this is to Graham Parker’s “White Honey”? Guess it makes sense, considering Brinsley and Bob played on that song, and Nick produced it.