The Wurzels
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The Wurzels |
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The Wurzels (originally Adge Cutler and the Wurzels but renamed The Wurzels after Adge Cutler's death) are a British Scrumpy and Western band. The Somerset-based band is best known by many people for their 1976 number one hit "Combine Harvester",[1] and number three hit "I Am A Cider Drinker" based on the song Una Paloma Blanca, but have a history stretching over 40 years, and still perform to this day.
Name
The name of the band was dreamed-up by the band's founder Adge Cutler. It appears to be short for mangelwurzel, a crop grown to feed livestock, and 'wurzel' is also sometimes used in the UK (perhaps only as a result of the band's name) as a synonym for 'yokel'.
The Wurzels' particular "genre" of music was named Scrumpy and Western after the group's first EP of the same name, issued early in 1967. Scrumpy is a name given to traditional Somerset cider, popular amongst The Wurzels and their fans, and frequently referred to in their songs.
History
Adge Cutler and The Wurzels
The Wurzels were formed in 1966 as a backing group for, and by, singer/songwriter Adge Cutler. With a thick Somerset accent, Adge played on his West Country roots, singing many folk songs with local themes such as cider making (and drinking), farming, dung-spreading, local villages and industrial work songs, often with a comic slant.
During the latter half of the 1960s, the band became immensely popular regionally, and the release of the single Drink Up Thy Zider in 1966 led to national fame and it reaching number 45 in the UK charts, despite the B-side Twice Daily being banned by the BBC for being too raunchy. This was because it told the story of a farm labourer who begins a physical relationship with a female co-worker called 'Lucy Bailey'.
A number of live albums were recorded at local pubs and clubs, filled with Adge Cutler penned favourites such as Easton in Gordano, The Champion Dung Spreader, and Thee's Got'n Where Thee Cassn't Back'n, Hassn't? together with songs written by others and some reworkings of popular folk songs of the time.
Adge Cutler died after falling asleep at the wheel of his sports car which then overturned on a roundabout approaching the Severn Bridge. He was returning alone from a Wurzels show in Hereford in May 1974. He is buried in Nailsea.[2]
The Wurzels
Adge's death marked a turning point in the history of the Wurzels. Deprived of the main song-writing talent, the remaining Wurzels recorded The Wurzels Are Scrumptious! in 1975, an album containing many favourites from the back catalogue, including a number of previously unrecorded Cutler-written songs. In order to continue the surviving band needed its own songs, and these mostly took the formula of re-written popular pop songs of the time with the lyrics changed to include the usual Wurzel themes (cider, farming, local villages, Cheddar cheese, etc.)
In 1976, the Wurzels released "The Combine Harvester", a re-work of the song "Brand New Key", by Melanie, which became a UK hit, topping the charts for 2 weeks.[1] The band quickly followed its success with the release of a number of similarly themed songs such as I Am A Cider Drinker (a rework of an existing melody "Una Paloma Blanca", which was written by and had been a hit for the George Baker Selection and also covered by Jonathan King the year before) which got to number three in the charts,[3] and Farmer Bill's Cowman (a reworking of the Whistling Jack Smith instrumental I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman).
The Wurzels have never stopped performing, but record releases during the 1980s and 1990s were few - and included singles like I Hate JR and Sunny Weston-super-Mare. To help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Eddie Stobart Ltd in 1995, the group signed to Cumbria record label Loose Records & Music, and recorded four new new songs including the single "I Wanna Be An Eddie Stobart Driver" (released as a limited edition lorry-shaped disc) which hit the lower end of the national singles charts. The interest in this record sparked off renewed interest in The Wurzels.[4]
The late 1990s saw the continuing of this revival of the fortunes for the surviving Wurzels, gaining a cult status amongst students and a resurgence in their popularity in their native West Country. Under the new management of The Stranglers manager Sil Willcox a number of CD releases followed, largely featuring re-recordings of older works, but also Never Mind The Bullocks, Ere's The Wurzels containing cover versions of contemporary British rock songs.[5] This album was recorded and produced by Louie Nicastro and George Allen manager of The Mission. The album title and cover were a spoof Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols.
The Wurzels covered BSP's Remember Me while BSP covered The Wurzels' I Am A Cider Drinker. The band also supported BSP at their gig at the London Forum in November. In 2004, The Wurzels appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks in that year's Christmas special, performing Christmas songs to Bill Bailey's team.[6] (Bailey is a Wurzels fan,[7] and stood and saluted upon hearing Combine Harvester, later claiming that he had the tune on his doorbell at home!) In 2005, the band released a limited edition split single with British Sea Power.[8]
In 2007, The Wurzels and Tony Blackburn re-released I Am A Cider Drinker with the royalties from the song going to the BUI Prostate Cancer Care Appeal in Bristol.[9]
The Wurzels continue to gig around the UK,[10] including playing at the Shalbourne Festival for nearly 11 years, although they pulled out of the 2007 Glastonbury Festival, having been scheduled to play the bandstand stage where they could not use their own sound engineers,[11] although they had played the same stage at the 2000 Glastonbury Festival. They were also one of the headliners at the 2007 Bristol Community Festival, and made a triumphant return to Glastonbury in 2008 (on a higher profile stage!).
The Wurzels are also very popular with supporters of Bristol City F.C.. Their song "One For The Bristol City" is the official club anthem.[12] First released in 1976, a newly recorded version of this song reached number 66 in the UK charts in September 2007.[13] It is played at the final whistle at Ashton Gate if the home club win and it is sung by fans along with another Wurzel song "I am a cider drinker". The song has also been adopted by Bath City who, like Bristol City, play the track after home victories.
The band continue to spread the message of wurzelmania across the country. In December 2009 they released a new single, available by internet download only - a first for the band, entitled 'Ode To Adge' - a tribute to the band's founder, Adge Cutler.
Early June 2010 the Wurzels' released their latest single (a cover of the Kaiser Chiefs "Ruby") and as another first in the band's history, issued in preview form, together with a promotional film, on their YouTube channel. The single was made available for general release only as an internet download (traditional hardcopies were made available as promo discs to radio stations).
June 28, 2010 saw the release of the band's latest CD album 'A Load More Bullocks' - timed to coincide with their appearance the previous Saturday at the Glastonbury festival. Their session took place on the Avalon stage to a crowd of some 20,000 fans.
In 2011 BBC4 started a series of repeats of the popular long running progamme 'Top of The Pops' starting with 1976 and a programme dedicated to that year. Two of the Wurzels, Budd and Banner were interviewed as part of that programme with their first performance on the programme (1976) being screened. In the same month the BBC 'One Show' included a 7 minute item on the story of the Wurzels' Combine Harvester' song featuring further interviews with Budd and Banner and extracts from the 1976 promotional film for the 'Combine Harvester' song.
Current members
Tommy Banner is the longest serving Wurzel, Tommy joined the band in November 1967, and is still going strong. He is usually seen playing accordion, but has also played piano in the Wurzels' past. Hailing from Penicuik, his Scottish accent remains but with a strong Somerset twang.
Pete Budd is the familiar front-man of the post-Cutler band, Pete Budd originally joined the Wurzels as a banjo player in 1972, and his distinctive West Country vocals made him an obvious replacement lead singer after Adge's death. He continues to sing, and play banjo and guitar for the band, including in his repertoire a Mark Knopfler-esque guitar lead on their modern version of I Wish I Was Back On The Farm, originally made famous by George Formby.
John Morgan, also known as 'Amos',is the oldest drummer in the land according to fellow band members hailing from the Forest of Dean - prefers hot cocoa to cider and during 'live' gigs the claim is made that he is 79 years of age.
Sedge Moore, born and bred in Somerset. A skilful bass player, his cheerful, happy style is perfectly suited to the band.
Louie 'Gribble' Nicastro, latest member of the band, also the producer of the band's recent releases, plays keyboard. Responsible for the majority of 'live' animal noises during the songs!
Past members
Over the years many Wurzels have come and gone since Adge Cutler first formed the group to accompany him in singing his scrumpy laden ditties.
The original Wurzels line-up to accompany Adge recorded their first album (“Adge Cutler and the Wurzels”) in 1966 and consisted of Brian Walker, Reg Quantrill, John Macey and Reg Chant.
Brian Walker left in 1967, soon after the band’s first album was released. Their next offering “Adge Cutler and the Wurzels’ Family Album”, was recorded with the remaining members – Reg Quantrill, John Macey and Reg Chant.
1967 saw a year of several changes – Reg Chant left the group, soon followed by John Macey. But their places were quickly filled by Henry Davies and Tommy Banner.
The group’s third album “Cutler of the West’ was released in 1968 with a line-up featuring Adge Cutler, Henry Davies, Tommy Banner and Reg Quantrill. Shortly afterwards they were joined by Melt Kingston for a short period whilst Henry Davies went to work on other projects. Melt left when Henry returned at the end of the year.
Early in 1969, Henry Davies left the group permanently and was replaced by Tony Baylis, just in time for the band’s fourth album release “Carry On Cutler”, the line-up now being Adge Cutler, Tommy Banner, Tony Baylis and Reg Quantrill.
By 1974, Reg Quantrill had been replaced by Pete Budd (born Peter Budd, 18 July 1940, in Brislington, Bristol), but following the death of Adge Cutler the Wurzels were left to continue on their own – the future chart topping trio consisting of Tommy Banner, Pete Budd and Tony Baylis.
The Wurzels obtained their first permanent drummer, John Morgan (born 21 April 1941, in Lydney, Forest of Dean), in 1981 and the line-up then remained unchanged until Tony Baylis left in 1983. Just before he left Jai Howe played with the group for a short period, with Terry Pascoe also augmenting the line-up.
Early in 1984, Jai Howe and Terry Pascoe left the band and were replaced by Mike Gwilliam. For the next nine years ‘The Wurzels’ consisted of Pete Budd, Tommy Banner, John Morgan and Mike Gwilliam.
In 1995 Mike Gwilliam left and was replaced by Dave Wintour. This remained the shape of the band until 2002 when Dave was replaced by Jai Howe (who had played with the band in the early 1980s).
A temporary change in line-up occurred in November 2005 when long-term Wurzel Tommy Banner had to step away from performing whilst undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. His place was taken on by the band’s production and sound engineer, Louie Nicastro, until Banner's health was restored and he was able to return to the fold in the spring of 2006.
The sad death of Jai Howe in 2007 left the band one man down - this led to Sedge Moore being recruited to give us the current ‘farmyard four’ line-up of Pete Budd, Tommy Banner, John Morgan and Sedge Moore.
Singles discography
Adge Cutler & The Wurzels - UK Singles
All released on 7” vinyl
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drink Up Thy Zider / Twice Daily | 1966 | Columbia | DB8081 |
| Scrumpy & Western EP | 1967 | Columbia | SEG8525 |
| Champion Dung Spreader / When The Common Market Comes To Stanton Drew | 1967 | Columbia | DB8145 |
| I Wish I Was Back On The Farm / Easton-In-Gordano | 1967 | Columbia | DB8222 |
| All Over Mendip / My Threshing Machine | 1967 | Columbia | DB8277 |
| Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee / Faggots Is The Stuff | 1968 | Columbia | DB8399 |
| Up The Clump / Aloha Severn Beach | 1968 | Columbia | DB8462 |
| Ferry To Glastonbury / Saturday Night At The Crown | 1969 | Columbia | DB8614 |
| Poor, Poor Farmer / Chitterling | 1971 | Columbia | DB8793 |
| Little Darlin' / Mother Nature Calling | 1972 | CBS | CBS8067 |
| Drink Up Thy Zider / Twice Daily (reissue) | 1974 | Columbia | DB9031 |
| Little Darlin' / Mother Nature Calling (reissue) | 1974 | Santa Ponsa | PNS20 |
The Wurzels - UK Singles
All released on 7” vinyl unless otherwise stated
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number/format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Of The Dredger (Acetate - only one copy known to exist) | 1975 | EMI | 7” acetate (Remains officially unreleased) |
| The Combine Harvester / The Blackbird | 1976 | EMI | EMI2450 |
| I Am A Cider Drinker / Back Of My Old Car | 1976 | EMI | EMI2520 |
| Morning Glory / Rock Around The A38 | 1976 | EMI | EMI2568 |
| Farmer Bill's Cowman / Springtime | 1977 | EMI | EMI2637 |
| Give Me England / Speedy Gonzales | 1977 | EMI | EMI2677 |
| One For The Bristol City / Cheddar Cheese | 1977 | EMI | EMI2686 |
| The Tractor Song / Funky Farmyard | 1978 | EMI | EMI2792 |
| I'll Never Get A Scrumpy Here / I Got My Beady Little Eye On Thee (Demo Only) | 1978 | Columbia | DB9051 7” vinyl - remains officially unreleased |
| You Don't Get Drunk On Saturday / Don Juan Of The West(Demo Only) | 1980 | Columbia | DB9076 7” vinyl - remains officially unreleased |
| Combine Harvester / I Am A Cider Drinker | 1980 | HMV | POP2017 |
| I Hate JR / I Love JR | 1980 | John Miles | JM1001 |
| I Shot JR / Albert's Funny Farm | 1980 | John Miles | JM1003 |
| If You Got Nothin' On Tonight / Little Drop Of Home Made Wine | 1980 | John Miles | JM1004 |
| Coughin' Song / Shovel It Here | 1982 | John Miles | JM1009 |
| Wurzel Rap / Wurzels In Stereo | 1983 | Goldliner | RAP1 |
| All Fall Down / My Somerset Crumpet Horn | 1986 | Dingles | SID238 |
| Sunny Weston-Super-Mare / Sunny Weston-Super-Mare (Instrumental) | 1988 | Far End | FNS2 |
| Sunny Weston-Super-Mare / All Fall Down | 1988 | ? | Cassette (private release) |
| I Want To Be An Eddie Stobart Driver (EP) | 1995 | LOOSE Records | ? |
| The Combine Harvester 2001 Remix (EP) | 2001 | EMI Gold | 243 8 79448 2 4CD |
| Come On Santa! (EP) | 2001 | Recognition/Universal | CDREC22 CD |
| Don't Look Back In Anger (EP) | 2002 | EMI Gold | 7243 5 51508 2 0 CD |
| Make Hay Not War (Demo only) | 2003 | CD | remains officially unreleased |
| Ferry To Glastonbury (EP)(Promo only) | 2004 | Cruisin Records CD | remains officially unreleased |
| Feed The Wurzels: Bristolian Band Aid The Wurzels with Bush & Troy | 2004 | Bristol GWR FM | CD |
| Peter Crouch In Lederhosen/Bush & Troy vs The Wurzels | 2006 | Bristol GWR FM | CD |
| Remember Me / I Am A Cider Drinker (British Sea Power) | 2006 | Rough Trade | RTRADS302 7” vinyl (limited to 1966 copies) |
| Remember Me / I Am A Cider Drinker (British Sea Power) | 2006 | Rough Trade Records | CD (Promo copy only) |
| I Am A Cider Drinker (with Tony Blackburn) / Ferry To Glastonbury | 2007 | EMI Gold | 0946 3 92653 2 9 7” vinyl (yellow) |
| I Am A Cider Drinker (with Tony Blackburn) / Combine Harvester | 2007 | EMI Gold | 0946 3 92653 2 9 CD |
| One For The Bristol City / Drink Up Thy Zider (live) | 2007 | Absolute | CIA004CD |
| Ode To Adge | 2009 | Internet | Download only |
| Ruby | 2010 | Internet | Download only |
Albums discography
Adge Cutler & The Wurzels - UK Albums
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adge Cutler & The Wurzels | 1967 1974 |
Columbia Columbia |
SX6126 (mono) 12" Vinyl SX6126 (stereo) 12" Vinyl |
| Adge Cutler & The Wurzels Family Album | 1967 1974 |
Columbia Columbia |
SX6165 (mono) 12" Vinyl SCX6165 (stereo) 12" Vinyl |
| Cutler Of The West | 1968 1974 2003 |
Columbia Columbia EMI Gold |
SX6263 (mono) 12" Vinyl SCX6263 (stereo) 12" Vinyl 584 8072 CD |
| Carry On Cutler | 1969 1969 |
Columbia Columbia |
SX6367 (mono) 12" Vinyl SCX6367 (stereo) 12" Vinyl |
| Don't Tell I, Tell 'Ee | 1974 | EMI Starline | SRS5119 12" Vinyl |
| The Very Best of Adge Cutler | 1974 | EMI | EMC3191 12" Vinyl |
| Dont Tell I, Tell 'Ee | 1978 | Encore | ONCR502 12" Vinyl |
| Adge Cutler's Cider Drinking Favourites | 1980 | EMI | Notes NTS199 12" Vinyl |
| Vintage Cider | 1980 | EMI | MFP50476 12" Vinyl |
The Wurzels - UK Albums
| Title | Year | Label | Reference number and format |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Wurzels Are Scrumptious | 1975 | EMI One Up | OU2087 12" Vinyl |
| The Combine Harvester | 1976 | EMI One Up | OU2138 12" Vinyl |
| Golden Delicious | 1977 | EMI Notes | NTS122 12" Vinyl |
| Give Me England | 1977 | EMI Notes | NTS138 12" Vinyl |
| I'll Never Get A Scrumpy Here | 1978 | EMI Notes | NTS160 12" Vinyl |
| The Wurzels Greatest Hits | 1979 | EMI Notes | NTS190 12" Vinyl |
| I Am A Cider Drinker | 1979 | EMI Encore | ONCR523 12" Vinyl |
| The Wurzels Freshly Cut | 1983 | Wurzel Records | WR854675 12" Vinyl |
| The Wurzels | 1988 | EMI IDEAL | IDL22 CD |
| The Wurzels AND Adge Cutler & The Wurzels | 1991 | EMI IDEAL | IDL114 CD |
| Mendip Magic 'Live' | 1995 | AFS Television Cassette Tape | |
| The Finest 'Arvest Of The Wurzels | 2000 | EMI Gold | 5 27046 2 CD |
| The Wurzels Collection | 2001 | HMV Easy | 5 32071 2 CD |
| The Finest 'Arvest Of The Wurzels | 2001 | EMI Gold | 5 34401 2 CD |
| The Wurzels Live | 2002 | APR Media Centre | 0700010230 CD |
| Never Mind The Bullocks, Ere's The Wurzels | 2002 | Cruisin' | ZEN 00262 CD |
| A Taste Of The West | 2004 | CIA | 001 CD |
| Top Of The Crops | 2006 | CIA | 002 CD |
| The Wurzels Greatest Hits | 2007 | EMI Gold | 3 93902 2 CD |
| A Load More Bullocks | 2010 | CIA | CD and Internet Download |
References in popular culture
West Country-born stand-up comedians Bill Bailey and Richard Herring occasionally references The Wurzels in their respective routines. In Bailey's Bewilderness show he mentions knowing them "when they were a German techno band, Die Würtzels - and then they sold out, went all oo-arr country", as well as performing a pastiche of "Combine Harvester" in the style of Chris de Burgh. In an appearance on BBC2's Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Bailey stood and saluted a playing of the intro to "Combine Harvester". Castmembers sung "Combine Harvester" at the beginning of episode 2.4 of Ashes to Ashes, set in 1982. Bristol City use the tune "One for the Bristol City" by the Wurzels - a reworking of "One for the Morning Glory" as their run-out music at Ashton Gate, and the original version of "Drink Up Thee Zider" at the end of matches where they have won
See also
References
- ^ a b "1000 number ones: The Seventies". Music Week. January 17, 2005.
- ^ "Fan pays tribute to Wurzel Adge". BBC. 2005. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "He's the star man". Western Daily Press. This is Bristol. 2008-12-27. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- ^ "The Wurzels". Crucial Hosting. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Tyzack, Anna (2008-08-20). "Ooh-arr goes all ooh-la la". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "The Wurzels". IMDB. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Ross, Deborah (2002-10-07). "Bill Bailey: The laid-back stand-up guy". The Independent. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Collier, Fliss (2005-11-25). "British Sea Power + The Wurzels". Metro. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "The Wurzels with Tony Blackburn I Am A Cider Drinker". Norman Records. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ BBC - Somerset - Entertainment and Leisure - Review: The Wurzels' Big Summer Party
- ^ Wurzels pull out of Glastonbury BBC News, 17 June 2007
- ^ "The 3 Lions and A Robin guide to Ashton Gate and the Wurzels". Bristol City Fan Club. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "Bristol City & the Wurzels". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2011.