Audience ?

Audience

British art-rock unit Audience was formed in London in 1969 by singer/guitarist Howard Werth, saxophonist Keith Gemmell, bassist Trevor Williams, and percussionist Tony Connor. Audience is one of those almost forgotten band of the early 70's , that will bring you much shivers down the spine of most folks.

Set apart from their contemporaries thanks to their use of acoustic guitar and saxophone, the group issued their self-titled debut LP in 1969; although the album was a commercial failure, Audience soon landed with Charisma Records, teaming with producer Gus Dudgeon to record the 1970 follow-up Friend's Friend's Friend. House on the Hill, issued a year later, yielded perhaps the band's best-known effort, "Indian Summer," and was followed by a U.S. tour in support of the Faces; however, in the wake of 1972's Lunch, Gemmel left the lineup to join Stackridge, and despite recruiting saxophonist Patrick Neubergh and keyboardist Nick Judd, Audience disbanded soon after. Werth resurfaced as a solo artist in 1975 with a new backing band, the Moonbeams, and an LP, King Brilliant.

The Original Band Members

The original band consisted of

Howard Werth (born Howard Alexander Werth, in 1947, in Clapton, East London) on nylon-strung electric acoustic guitar and vocals

Keith Gemmell (born in 1948, in Hackney, East London) on tenor sax, flute and clarinet

Trevor Williams (born Trevor Leslie Williams, in 1945, in Hereford, Herefordshire, bass guitarist and vocalist

Tony Connor (born Anthony Connor, 6 April 1947, in Romford, Essex), drummer/vocalist.

Their History

After a 32 year silence, Audience, that most highly influential of art-rock bands is back in action. Original members, Howard Werth, Trevor Williams and Keith Gemmell, have reformed and played a series of very successful gigs during 2004/5. Tony Connor, their first drummer, now plays with Hot Chocolate and due to a busy schedule, couldn't join in the fun. Fortunately they've found an excellent replacement in John Fisher

Formed in 1969, Audience are no ordinary group. Unusual in line up and eclectic of influence they crammed four albums into as many years, toured extensively and influenced a few slightly more well known prog rock bands along their way. Their debut album, for Polydor Records, made its reputation (according to the Guinness Encyclopaedia of Popular Music) as 'one of the most sought-after artefacts of the art-rock genre'. Copies now change hands at prices of £200 and upwards.

They played their first gig at the Marquee Club in February 1969 alongside Gilbert and George, would you believe. Germaine Greer was among those in attendance. With a line up of nylon strung acoustic guitar, electric sax, clarinet and flute, bass guitar and drums they were certainly out to create something new.

Audience's deal with Polydor was strictly a one-off affair, so when Tony Stratton Smith approached them with a view to joining Charisma Records they needed no second bidding. He'd only just set up the label at that point and they had only recorded a couple of things by Rare Bird and Van Der Graaf Generator, two other well known progressive rock bands at that time. Audience were attracted by the idea because Charisma was in many ways the first of the indies.

The approach from Charisma came after the band supported Led Zeppelin at London's Lyceum ballroom in October 1969, and thereby hangs a tale. Listen to 'Maiden's Cry' on their first album and you may just be struck by a passing resemblance to a certain Zeppelin classic. 'I'm not the only one to say that the basic chord structure is very similar to 'Stairway To Heaven', says Howard Werth. 'I wrote it a couple of years before the Zeppelin song'. A similar coincidence occurred with 'I Had A Dream', an Audience classic from 1971 which predated Dylan's similar 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'. Anyhow, be that as it may, several reviews of this prestigious Lyceum show awarded a victory on points to Audience. The gig had been promoted by Stratton Smith who was suitably impressed with the support act and immediately thought of them as an ideal band for the label he was planning.

The Audience story continued on Charisma Records with 'Friend's Friend's Friend' (Charisma CAS 1012: 1970 - now on Virgin CASCD 1012) followed closely by 'House On The Hill' (Charisma CAS 1032: 1971 - Virgin CASCD 1054) and 'Lunch' (Charisma CAS 1054, 1972 - Virgin CASCD 1054).

'House On The Hill' was promoted in Europe on a package tour along with Van Der Graaf Generator and Nice spin-offs Jackson Heights. In the US, they toured with Rod Stewart and the Faces. Another Charisma stable-mate Genesis, were the band most often to be found supporting Audience at that time in the UK.

The House on the Hill

Third Album and Most Popular

The House on the Hill is Audience's strongest effort, made up of simple, elegantly arranged songs, focusing around Howard Werth's "electric classical" guitar and Keith Gemmel's tenor sax and clarinet. "Jackdaw" has Werth showing off his vocal range by hollering out the chorus in full force. "Raviole" is an instrumental piece painted with lovely acoustic guitar and is one of the real gems on the album. There's not a lot of meat on each of the songs, but the use of flute and vibraphone give this album a unique feel and is deemed interesting mainly for that purpose. The overall atmosphere is quite comfortable, and the hypnotizing effect aroused from the woodwind instruments creates an absorbing mood one might not expect to find here. Snippets of jazz fusion make up the title track, overlapped with some rich saxophone playing. After a few listens, this band slowly rises from being heard to being enjoyable

Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide

Track Listings

Side One

1. Indian Summer (3:14)
2. You're Not Smilin' (5:22)
3. Jackdaw (7:20)
4. It Brings a Tear (2:53)
5. Raviole (3:43) (instrumental)

Side Two

1. Nancy (4:20)
2. I Had a Dream (4:20)
3. I Put a Spell on You (4:12)
4. The House on the Hill (7:31)

Line-up/Musicians

- Keith Gemmell: clarinet, flute, tenor sax
- Howard Werth: electric classical guitar, vocals
- Trevor Williams: bass guitar
- Tony Connor: percussion, and vibes
- Gus Dudgeon (special guest): maracas and cowbell

Produced and Directed by Gus Dudgeon

A Charisma Recording, recorded at Trident Studios in London, 1971

Releases information

LP Charisma CAS 1032 (1971)
LP Charisma CHC4 (1983)
CD Virgin CASCD 1032 (1990)

Indian Summer

Words and Music by
Howard Werth & Trevor Williams

Friends say to take it easy
I won't and they wonder why
I can't give up that easy
Lay me down and die

Sat where it's cool and shady
Could age take the taste away
I met a widow lady
Couldn't waste a day

That was my Indian Summer
That was my Indian Summer

She said she'd lost her husband
I told her I'd lost my wife
Those years together
Had been the best of my whole life

Friends say we ought to marry
I smile and I shake my head
One wife will make you happy
Two will make you dead

That was my Indian Summer
That was my Indian Summer

The House on the Hill

Words & Music by
Howard Werth & Trevor Williams

I've been told 'bout The House on the Hill
So big and old, The House on the Hill
They say that there's a King Rat
That wears a judge's black cap
And I wouldn't go near The House on the Hill

The story goes 'bout The House on the Hill
When it snows 'round The House on the Hill
The Rat becomes a maiden
A sould endowed by satin
And I wouldn't go near The House on the Hill

As is her sin in The House on the Hill
She lures travellers into the House on the Hill
Enchants them with her charms, then
She falls on and devours them
And I wouldn't go near The House on the Hill