The Meadows 'Go Away' c/w 'I Just wasn't Born To Eat Whelks'
Released 14th June 1968
BER Recordings BER 78001
Marc Spendel (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards), Sean Spendel (Vocals, Guitar), Joe Spendel (Vocals, Drums), Dave Needle (Vocals), Mike Huff (Vocals)
It was like something out of a novel: three brothers, all gifted vocalists and musicians, growing up in a rural idyll near the Northumbrian fishing and surfing village of Dunstanburgh, and who went on to record their first single before eldest brother Marc was eighteen.
"We grew up with music all around", says youngest brother Joe Spendel. "My father, Colonel Harford Spendel, made sure we all had lessons. I suspect this was because he wanted us to play his half-baked songs".
Many a long winter's night passed with the Spendel boys harmonising over their father's compositions by a roaring log fire. 'Molly Polly Waltz', 'There's No Love Left In The Fridge', 'Routemaster Bus Melody', 'I've Never Met A German That I Liked' or 'A Lungful of Laura' would ring out across the green fields in perfect harmony. For hours.
"I think that sowed the seeds of Marc's madness", says younger brother Joe.
Marc Spendel (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards), Sean Spendel (Vocals, Guitar), Joe Spendel (Vocals, Drums), Dave Needle (Vocals), Mike Huff (Vocals)
It was like something out of a novel: three brothers, all gifted vocalists and musicians, growing up in a rural idyll near the Northumbrian fishing and surfing village of Dunstanburgh, and who went on to record their first single before eldest brother Marc was eighteen.
"We grew up with music all around", says youngest brother Joe Spendel. "My father, Colonel Harford Spendel, made sure we all had lessons. I suspect this was because he wanted us to play his half-baked songs".
Many a long winter's night passed with the Spendel boys harmonising over their father's compositions by a roaring log fire. 'Molly Polly Waltz', 'There's No Love Left In The Fridge', 'Routemaster Bus Melody', 'I've Never Met A German That I Liked' or 'A Lungful of Laura' would ring out across the green fields in perfect harmony. For hours.
"I think that sowed the seeds of Marc's madness", says younger brother Joe.
Marc and Joe conspired to get a tape of their own songs to Gerald Putney at BER. "We called ourselves The Meadow Lads. We hooked up with a local guy called Dave Needle and a shepherd, Mike Huff. Dave was a really great singer, though that wasn't why we were initially drawn to him. He had drugs. Mike Huff? He was a tall Scottish git."
Gerald Putney was quick to spot their potential. "Five young boys singing sweet harmonies? How could I resist?" After Putney cunningly shortened their name to The Meadows -"It sounded like The Shadows, but rural" - they recorded their first single 'Go Away' (b/w 'I Just Wasn't Born To Eat Whelks'). It was considered a work of total plagiarism.
"Marc worshipped Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys but it was all too obvious", says Joe Spendel. "He copied everything Brian did...badly".
Marc gradually descended into a psychological fugue caused by his drug intake and Brian Wilson obsession. "Marc heard that Brian had got friends to make music on kitchen objects. So Marc had to try that. We recorded an entire album of songs using garden implements. I was on baritone hoe. It wasn't a success".
After Gerald Putney rejected 'Garden Sounds', the band rallied around the gibbering Marc Spendel and recorded a more straightforward collection of songs, taking a new folk direction. "We decided the chart scene wasn't for us", explains Joe. "Marc was the one with the pop sensibility but he was, unfortunately, nuts. We fired Mike Huff, who became a follower of the Maharishi Bikram Yoga, and me, Dave and Sean formed The Lampton Worms".
The Lampton's scored with their first album 'A Night On the Tyne' and the single 'Faeries of Dunston'. Joe again: "There was a scary day when Marc turned up unannounced at the studio. He had shaved his head and stuck an egg carton to his scalp. He said it was his God antenna. He offered to write a few songs for us but ended up trying to eat the multi track machine. Dad came and carted him off".
When asked what the legend that is Marc Spendel was doing these days, Joe would say little. "I think he's got a job in the Lloyds Bank Call Centre in Sunderland. God help anyone who's trying to get through..."
Gerald Putney was quick to spot their potential. "Five young boys singing sweet harmonies? How could I resist?" After Putney cunningly shortened their name to The Meadows -"It sounded like The Shadows, but rural" - they recorded their first single 'Go Away' (b/w 'I Just Wasn't Born To Eat Whelks'). It was considered a work of total plagiarism.
"Marc worshipped Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys but it was all too obvious", says Joe Spendel. "He copied everything Brian did...badly".
Marc gradually descended into a psychological fugue caused by his drug intake and Brian Wilson obsession. "Marc heard that Brian had got friends to make music on kitchen objects. So Marc had to try that. We recorded an entire album of songs using garden implements. I was on baritone hoe. It wasn't a success".
After Gerald Putney rejected 'Garden Sounds', the band rallied around the gibbering Marc Spendel and recorded a more straightforward collection of songs, taking a new folk direction. "We decided the chart scene wasn't for us", explains Joe. "Marc was the one with the pop sensibility but he was, unfortunately, nuts. We fired Mike Huff, who became a follower of the Maharishi Bikram Yoga, and me, Dave and Sean formed The Lampton Worms".
The Lampton's scored with their first album 'A Night On the Tyne' and the single 'Faeries of Dunston'. Joe again: "There was a scary day when Marc turned up unannounced at the studio. He had shaved his head and stuck an egg carton to his scalp. He said it was his God antenna. He offered to write a few songs for us but ended up trying to eat the multi track machine. Dad came and carted him off".
When asked what the legend that is Marc Spendel was doing these days, Joe would say little. "I think he's got a job in the Lloyds Bank Call Centre in Sunderland. God help anyone who's trying to get through..."
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