The Bread And Beer Band

[cameron]

Someone on a Facebook group shared this list of the most valuable records - number five on the list is an original private pressing of a rejected LP by the Bread And Beer Band, as lead by a young Reg Dwight, aka Elton John. I'm 100% certain that I recall Bernie Calvert was also a member of this "band" that Elton put together to record the LP? Can anyone elaborate more on Bernie's or indeed any of the Hollies involvement?

The list is here, scroll down to number 5/20 and you'll see the cover and description: www.nme.com/photos/the-20-most-valuable-records-ever-1405160

*edit* I've found some more info on it here: www.savethevinyl.org/the-bread-and-beer-band-lp-1969.html apparently it was also recorded at Abbey Road studios.

[poco]

I had the tape for about 40 years now. It's no prize. After one listen you would think anyone was playing on it.

[knut]

I have a boot CD. Also an official single. All instrumental.

[knut]

[Gralto]

When I interviewed Bernie back in 2010, I gave him a copy as he didn't have a dub of it. As Poco above has said, it's not the sort of music that demands repeat plays! A curio but not much more than that.

[ransford]

Talking ´bout instrumentals with Bernie Calvert, what do think of The Hall In The Wood from 2014? In my opinion it´s a very nice and relaxing album. All the music is composed by Bernie and John Maycraft. Bernie plays bass and keys, of course.

[JamesT]

Someone has shared a link to the full album in a Facebook group, and there also appear to be others from the past few years.



What I've listened to is far from enthralling, but nevertheless an interesting aside in The Hollies history.

[cameron]

I was just listening to it. I can see why Decca rejected it... it's interesting nonetheless, but reminds me of one of those old Top of the Pops budget LPs, which Elton also played on occasionally:

[cameron]

He even sang with an also then-unknown Clare Torry, who later sang on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' by Pink Floyd.