ROOT CARTWRIGHT guitars
BINDY BOURQUIN violin, recorder, piano, organ
DAVID JONES percussion
VIVIENNE McAULIFFE lead vocal
MARTIN STELLMAN lead vocal
JEREMY ENSOR bass guitar
LYN EDWARDS percussion (Soundtrack)
ROGER SWALLOW percussion (Asmoto)
MONICA NETTLES dancer, speaking voice
GILLIAN HADLEY choreographer
JOHN McMAHON HILL dancer
HARRY HOUSMAN stage and road manager, designer
EVA DARLOW dancer (Soundtrack)
LESLIE ADEY lights (Soundtrack)
CHRISTOPHER RUNCIMAN lights (Soundtrack)
LANCE DUNLOP lights (Asmoto)
BILL LEATHERBARROW bass (not on either album but wrote the lyrics for two songs on Soundtrack)
JOE READ bass (not on either album)
BETH WOOD vocals (not on either album)
TERRY BUDD drums (not on either album)
PRINCIPAL EDWARDS:
ROOT CARTWRIGHT guitars, mandolin
BELINDA BOURQUIN keyboards, violin, recorders, vocals
DAVID JONES percussion (Round One)
RICHARD JONES bass guitar, vocals
NICK PALLETT lead vocals, guitar
GEOFF NICHOLLS drums, percussion
PETER WHITE keyboards, guitar (The Devon Tapes)
LISTEN TO AN INTERVIEW PODCAST ABOUT THE 1974 RECORDING OF “THE DEVON TAPES”
WITH MUSIC EXTRACTS AND BANTER
featuring ROOT, RICHARD, BELINDA,
DAVID, NICK and GEOFF
Paste this @ to your browser's address bar:
http://cms2.gre.ac.uk/jr07/principaledwards/site/DevonTapes.asp
Sounds Like
"In simple terms I suppose I would say that Soundtrack is quite intense, almost gothic in parts. Asmoto a little lighter in tone but definitely theatrical, and The Devon Tapes combines the qualities of both, with a rockier feel and more of a nod towards what was happening musically elsewhere" - Root Cartwright (from the interview in the March/April 2008 edition of Cherry Red's magazine My Favourite Flavour).
Principal Edwards Magic Theatre began at Exeter University in 1968. with Root Cartwright (guitar, mandolin, recorders), Bindy Bourquin (recorders, violin, piano, vocals), Vivienne Macauliffe (vocals), David Jones (percussion), and Lyn Edwards (percussion), plus several other students, as a loosely-based mixed-media experiment, their eclectic and original music and dramatic lyrics complemented by fantastical lightshows and dynamic choreography.
They soon came to the attention of John Peel who broadcast them on his BBC shows and made them the first band to be signed to his Dandelion record label.
A clash between musical and academic activities led to the members leaving university and establishing themselves in a large farmhouse outside Kettering. The band recorded two albums, "SoundTrack" and "Asmoto Running Band", (re-released on CD by Cherry Red Records in 2006) and a single, "Ballad", and continued to tour until the end of 1971 when a divergence of priorities between theatrical and musical elements, along with business hassles, led to a break-up.
A new group simply called Principal Edwards was formed in 1972 by Root, Bindy and David, who were joined by Richard Jones and then by Nick Pallett and Geoff Nicholls.
This smaller, tighter unit produced a more rock-oriented though still eclectic sound, with a scaled-down theatrical element presented by the band members themselves. Over the next three years they went on the road presenting three complete stage musicals at venues all over the country: King of Changes; StoneAge Sam; The Glass White Gangster.
The band secured a record deal with Deram Records who released 2 singles “Captain Lifeboy” and “Weekdaze” and an album “Round One” (released on CD in Japan in 2005). By 1974, they were managed by Miles Copeland (later to manage Police).
In the summer of 1974, David was replaced briefly by Peter White (keyboards), but not before contributing lyrics to several songs which, after, extensive rehearsing in a cottage in Devon, resulted in the Devon Tapes. At the end of the year, Miles Copeland parted company with the band and Richard was approached to rejoin Climax Blues Band. Peter White went on to work with Al Stewart and the remaining members took up freelance musical work in TV, theatre and recording and education.
The music on ‘The Devon Tapes’ represents a further development of the direction taken by ‘Round One’ with additional keyboard/synth parts and more complex arrangements, and the band were disappointed that the loss of business support meant that they did not get the opportunity to build on the work presented here or see it released at the time.
Today Richard plays accordion with Meridian and Climax Ceilidh Band; Peter White is a best-selling smooth jazz artist; Bindy plays folk fiddle and teaches music; Nick gigs regularly and teaches music; Geoff is active both as a drummer and a writer; David runs a major media company; and Root is planning his first solo album of acoustic guitar music.
Thanks for your friendship! Your wonderful music still sounds fresh and it is still turning and turning on my player....Good luck to all of you, Christine from Germany
Happy Valentines Day to the glorious Asmoto spirit of Principal Edwards Magic Theatre xxx You can now download 'Doomcloud' from www. kevinhewick. co. uk - 12 naked pieces, just a voice and a guitar lost in the early 00s, with a song by song essay on the site to explain the story behind the.. :)
Delighted to find you here and to know you still are! In support for you now and with love for Peel, Dandelion and all, thank you for friendship. Martin Newman
Hello! Black Widow remembers you well and we shared a couple of gigs. It's so brilliant you are on MySpace now. The music on your player is amazingly experimental! If you are interested you can order this amazing Black Widow DVD from http://www. mysticrecords. co. uk or contact your local record shop! This release is available now worldwide!
Black Widow is also returning with NEW material...
Best wishes from Fruits de Mer Records, a small but perfectly-formed new psych/prog label.
Just posted - Record Collector magazine's review of our first single (and they love it)
PLUS old and new videos, all the latest news on our single (Small Faces' Ogden's meets Van der Graaf Generator's Theme One - a very limited coloured vinyl pressing) , a few random live reviews, old jokes and all manner of stuff - plus early news on our new project, with Mellow Candle's Alison O'Donnell! Hope you and your friends enjoy!
Thankyou very much for adding me in your friends, I just love The Asamoto running band on Dandelion Lp, its a classic album to these ears, Its nice to hear of the release of the devon tapes, I shall look forward to hearing that, is there by any chance maybe it being released on Lp at a future date? All The Best John
Hello Wow 40 years where does it go? I loved every Principal Edwards gig I went to...you were really inspiring. Congrats on the 40th anniversary, it would be great if you could somehow be rediscovered by the kids of today. I feel sure that the park would be a much safer place if some of em did! Lovely people , lovely music... CG
Pleased to virtually meet you!! It's an Honour and a Pleasure to have you here on MySpace, if only in name only!! Thank you for joining my circle of cyber friends, for excepting the add, your kind words/comment and for sharing your Vintage Prog with me. K E E P ~ O N ~ P R O G I N'!! I really enjoyed listening, Thanks. To the person who runs the page, great job and thanks for keeping their memory alive. Take care, have yourself an inspiring evening/Friday and a relaxing weekend. Warmest Regards from Toronto, Canada.
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