Hatfield released five albums, the first three on Virgin. The five albums are: 1973's eponymous effort, 1975's The Rotters' Club, 1980's now-deleted compilation Afters (of which the new bits have been tagged onto the end of The Rotters' Club CD), 2005's radio sessions/live compilation Hatwise Choice, and 2006's radio sessions/live compilation Hattitude,. The latter two are available only from Burning Shed. The group split in 1975 because of overwhelming indifference. It re-formed briefly in 1990, and again in 2005, with the possibility of new material being issued.
The name of the band was inspired by the road signage on the main A1 road heading north from London, where the a succession of signs referred to the first major town, and the overall direction, as 'A1 Hatfield & the North'. This style of sign from the 1970s has now been replaced by a slightly different variant.
In 2005/2006, the band released two archival collections, "Hatwise Choice" and "Hattitude", both featuring the classic Miller/Pyle/Sinclair/Stewart line-up.
Pip Pyle passed away 28th August 2006, Phil Miller passed away 18th October 2017.
Extract
Hatfield and the North Lyrics
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A few notes which are arbitrary
But we try our best to make it sound nice
And hope that the music turns you on to our latest L.P.
So do have a laugh certainly
"Big Jobs" is a song that shows the playful and experimental side of Hatfield and the North. The opening lines suggest that the band is starting a new project with this song, perhaps an album or a live performance. The musical theme is introduced with a couple of arbitrary notes, indicating that the band is not afraid to break traditional music rules and take risks. Despite the experimental and unconventional approach, the band members still strive to make their music sound enjoyable and pleasing to the listeners. The lyrics also imply that the band members are self-aware and do not take themselves too seriously as they invite the audience to have a laugh with them.
Overall, Big Jobs can be seen as a nod to the Canterbury scene, a musical movement that emerged in the late 60s and early 70s in Canterbury, England, where Hatfield and the North originated. The song showcases the progressive rock and jazz fusion elements that characterized the Canterbury sound, and the band's use of complex time signatures, intricate instrumental arrangements, and humorous lyrics is very much in line with the ethos of the movement.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a song to begin the beginning
We are starting our song now and setting the mood for the rest of it
A few notes which are arbitrary
We are playing some random notes, but we'll make sense of it soon
But we try our best to make it sound nice
We are making an effort to create pleasing music for you to enjoy
And hope that the music turns you on to our latest L.P.
We want our music to inspire you to listen to our new album
So do have a laugh certainly
Relax and enjoy the music, we want you to have a good time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PIP PYLE, RICHARD SINCLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind