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The Gods (band)

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This article is about the 1960s British rock band The Gods. For the 1960s American proto-punk group, see The Godz.

"The Gods" were an English group founded in 1965. The bandmembers included Mick Taylor (later with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the Rolling Stones), Brian Glascock and John Glascock (later of Jethro Tull). They were schoolmates from Hatfield and had been playing together as The Juniors (or The Strangers), a band they formed in 1962. Also part of this band were Malcolm Collins and Alan Shacklock. They had a record deal with Columbia. Their first 7" single (Columbia DB7339) appeared in 1964 (There's a pretty girl/Pocket Size). In 1965 the line-up was changed. Mick Taylor continued to play guitar and teamed up with Ken Hensley (organ/vocals) (later guitarist with Uriah Heep). They also added Joe Konas (guitar/vocals) and changed their name to "The Gods". In 1966 The Gods opened for Cream at the Starlite Ballroom in Wembley, London. A single (Come On Down To My Boat Baby/Garage Man) was recorded in early 1967. At this point the line-up included Mick Taylor, Ken Hensley, John Glascock, Brian Glascock and Lee Kerslake.

In May 1967 Mick Taylor got a call from John Mayall who was looking for a new guitarist. When Taylor joined the Bluesbreakers, he left behind a faltering bluesband. The band sought to revive their fortunes on the club/college circuit. They relocated to London and secured a residency at The Marquee. John Glascock (bass) was replaced by Greg Lake in June 1967. The problem was that Greg Lake was too talented for the background role the rest of the band had in mind for him and in the Summer of 1968 he split to join King Crimson. The band had to re-group again and John Glascock was asked to return.

With John Glascock back in the fold they recorded a couple of interesting progressive rock albums and a few 45s. Of their 45s, "Hey! Bulldog", the Beatles track, is their best known, and both sides have been included on compilation CD "The Great British Psychedelic Trip Vol. 3". The band played an imaginative amalgam of psychedelia and progressivism. Tracks like "Towards The Skies" and "Time And Eternity" from their 1968 album Genesis are full of heavy ploughing Hammond organ and distorted guitar riffs and Ken Hensley's unique and rather dramatic vocals add a further dimension.

Most of The Gods' material is pretty typical late sixties pop/rock, epitomised by songs like "Radio Show" and "Yes I Cry". The compilation album The Best Of The Gods offers a good way to get to know the band's music. There are shades of Vanilla Fudge on their cover of West Side Story extract "Maria". On a few tracks like "Candlelight" and "Real Love Guaranteed" there is an inkling of the heavier sound Hensley and Kerslake would propagate in their next venture, Uriah Heep.

The Gods were the successors of the Rolling Stones at the famous Marquee Club in London. After recording two albums, Genesis (1968) and To Samuel a Son (1969), they signed with a new record company, recruited Rebel Rousers singer Cliff Bennett and changed their name to Toe Fat which also lasted two years and two albums.

Musicians that were part of The Gods

Discography

Singles

  • single "Come On Down To My Boat Baby / Garage Man" (Polydor 56168)
  • single "Baby's Rich" / "Somewhere In The Street" (Columbia DB 8486)
  • single "Hey Bulldog" / "Real Love Guaranteed" (Columbia DB 8544)
  • single "Maria" (from "West Side Story") / "Long Time Sad Time Bad Time" (Columbia DB 8572)

Albums

(1. Towards The Skies / 2. Candles Getting Shorter / 3. You're My Life / 4. Looking Glass / 5. Misleading Colours / 6. Radio Show / 7. Plastic Horizon / 8. Farthing Man / 9. I Never Know / 10. Time And Eternity)

  • To Samuel a Son (L.P. Columbia SCX 6372, 1969) re-issued 1995 Repertoire Records

(1. To Samuel a Son / 2. Eight O'Clock in the Morning / 3. He's Growing / 4. Sticking Wings on Flies / 5. Lady Lady / 6. Penny Dear / 7. Long Time, Sad Time, Bad Time / 8. Five to Three / / 9. Autumn / 10. Yes I Cry / 11. Groozy / 12. Momma I Need / 13. Candlelight / 14. Lovely Anita / 15. Maria [*]) *bonus track

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