Clouds were a 1960s Progressive rock band that disbanded in October 1971. The band consisted of Ian Ellis (bass & lead vocals), Harry Hughes (drums) and Billy Ritchie (keyboards).

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early Days: The Premiers 1.2 1-2-3 1.3 Clouds 2 Discography 3 References 4 External links

Biography

Early Days: The Premiers

In early 1964, Ian Ellis and Harry Hughes were playing in a band called The Premiers. The band itself consisted of Bill Lawrence (bass guitar), ‘Shammy’ Lafferty (rhythm guitar), Derek (Lead guitar), Harry Hughes (drums) and Ian Ellis (vocals). An audition was held and Billy Ritchie was selected.

Cyril Stapleton took the band to London to record some demos which drew no attention. Derek and Bill Lawrence decided to leave within months of Ritchie joining the band. Ian Ellis decided that he would take up the position of bass guitarist and also sing at the same time. The group decided to move in a new musical direction and changed their name from The Premiers to 1-2-3.

1-2-3

1-2-3 had a much different sound from the previous band. After achieving no success in Scotland the band moved to London, England where they hoped that their original music would catch on but "early audiences were confused by the lack of a guitarist."

The band were given a steady job performing at the Marquee Club. A Marquee programme in 1967 describes the band as "a unique group...who have created an entirely new sound in pop group music.... We hope that Marquee patrons will recognise the truly exciting nature of 1-2-3" . Performances at the club during 1967 were the principal reason why they were subsequently signed by NEMS management company.

Among the Marquee audiences were future superstars such as Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, King Crimson, Yes, and David Bowie, who himself stated a liking for the band when interviewed by Record Mirror in 1967, saying "three thistle and haggis voiced bairns [who] had the audacity to face a mob of self-opinonated hippies with a brand of unique pop music which, because of its intolerance of mediocrity, floated, as would a Hogarth cartoon in Beano."

The death of Brian Epstein, founder of NEMS, left the band in the care of Robert Stigwood, his successor. But Stigwood had just signed The Bee Gees, fellow Australians, and was preoccupied with making them a success. After parting company with NEMS, the band kept busy playing in the local London club circuit. At a club in Ilford, east London, the band were seen by Terry Ellis who quickly signed them to his new agency, and re-named the band Clouds.

Clouds

Originally known as the Ellis-Wright agency, the organisation grew and became Chrysalis Clouds had also risen in prominence, playing many major tours, and appearing at the Royal Albert Hall and many of the headlining concert venues in the world, including the Fillmore East in New York. The band released a number of albums during this period. The recordings were generally very well received by the critics, with respectable sales. Concert reviews were also favourable. Reviewing a 1970 concert at the Arragon ballroom, Chicago, Billboard magazine began the review by saying 'This band will be a giant'.

Despite some limited success Crysalis focused its attention on Jethro Tull. The disbanded in 1971.

Discography

Date of release	Title	Record label
1969	"Make No Bones About It" b/w "Heritage" (single)	Island WIP6055
1969	You Can All Join In (sampler)	Island IWPS2
1969	"Scrapbook" (album)	Island ILPS9100
1969	"Scrapbook" b/w "Carpenter" (single)	Island WIP6067
1969	"Scrapbook" b/w "Old Man" (single)	Island (European continent only)
1969	"Bumpers" (sampler)	Island IDP1
1969	"Up Above Our Heads" (album)	Deram Records DES18044 (USA/Canada only)
1970	"Take Me To Your Leader" b/w "Old Man" (single)	Island (European continent only)
1971	"Watercolour Days"	Island/Chrysalis ILPS9151, Deram
1996	"Scrapbook/Watercolour Days" (re-issue)	BGO Records BGOCD317
1999	"Coda"	Sunrise Records
2007	"Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal"	Island-Universal Records 9822950 Box set

References

1. The Illustrated History of Rock

External links

• www.cloudsmusic.com