1969.E2.80.931973: Formation and early releases Trapeze (band)

the moody blues bassist john lodge produced first 2 albums trapeze, 1970 s trapeze , medusa.

working moody blues bassist john lodge producer, trapeze recorded self-titled debut album @ london s morgan studios , decca studios. despite jones being band s official lead singer, hughes performed vocals on release. hughes has revealed asked sing on album group s management, deemed him better of 2 vocalists. before end of year, rowley composition send me no more letters released band s first single, backed day (written galley, hughes , jones). trapeze released in may 1970. album well-received critics – billboard magazine described featuring strong rock personality , dubbed candidate big chart action , while journalist nigel williamson hailed classic period example of english prog, mixing pastoral whimsy, swirling psychedelia, rock guitars , pop harmonies . received significant airplay on bbc radio 1 djs such bob harris , pete drummond, , played in full station. trapeze promoted on string of shows in uk between january , july.

in august 1970, jones , rowley left trapeze, returning montanas. rather replacing departed members, hughes, galley , holland continued power trio, adopting style more akin hard rock , funk rock. on 13 november 1970, band released second album medusa in uk, issued in in march 1971. produced again lodge, album has since been highlighted multiple critics band s best release, 1 of decade s underrated hard rock albums. writing in booklet 1994 reissue of album, author john tracy claimed medusa greeted instant, , seemingly universal, acclaim . ultimate classic rock writer eduardo rivadavia credited album contributing development of heavy metal genre in 1970. black cloud , written galley brother tom, issued in single album backed love alright , written 3 band members.

trapeze toured extensively in promotion of medusa, in us, including stint in december 1970 supporting moody blues , numerous headline tours throughout 1971, before releasing third album music... re band on 1 december 1972. album written hughes (three tracks written galley brothers), produced neil slaven, , featured number of guest contributors including rod argent on piano , b. j. cole on steel guitar. album marked increase in softer, more melodic songs since medusa, praised highlights of collection multiple reviewers. billboard dubbed album fine set , while tracy described masterpiece . music... re band first trapeze album chart, peaking @ number 9 on billboard bubbling under chart, acts extension billboard 200. band toured throughout late 1972 , 1973 in promotion of album, including dates in , uk. prior show @ village east in december 1972, band s equipment stolen , forced play using hastily rented equipment .