The Artwoods

The Artwoods were formed in 1963, and over the next two years became an extremely popular live attraction, rivaling groups such as the Animals, although, despite releasing a clutch of singles and an album, their record sales never reflected this popularity.

History

Singer Arthur Wood, from whom the band took their name, was the eldest brother of Ronnie Wood (who later found fame with the Faces and Rolling Stones). Art Wood had been a vocalist with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated for a short period during 1962, simultaneously fronting his own group, the Art Wood Combo.

When keyboardist Jon Lord and guitarist Derek Griffiths from Red Bludd's Bluesicians joined the Art Wood Combo, they re-christened themselves the Artwoods. Keef Hartley, formerly with Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, joined on drums in December 1964 and the band turned professional, securing a residency at London's 100 Club and signing a recording contract with Decca Records.

The intended debut single - a cover of Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man" - was shelved in favour of a rendition of an old Leadbelly song, "Sweet Mary". Although it didn't reach the charts, it got sufficient airplay to bring the band a lot of live work, including an appearance on the first live edition of "Ready Steady Go!" Their second record, "Oh My Love", was another blues cover. Like its predecessor (and subsequent releases), it failed to chart.

The Artwoods were dropped by Decca at the end of 1966, and they signed a one-record deal with Parlophone, but their release "What Shall I Do" also flopped. Later in 1967, a final "one-off" single appeared on the Fontana label, with the band billing itself as St. Valentine's Day Massacre; but by the time of its release the Artwoods had effectively ceased to exist.

The Artwoods' early records today stand up well against the work of more successful groups such as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds or the Birds (who included Art's younger brother Ronnie). But at the time they came out, despite appearances on programmes like "Ready, Steady, Go!" their singles never seemed to connect with the record-buying public. The band's forte was playing live and they had a strong fan following as a club act.Fact|date=June 2008

The group broke up in mid-1967. Art Wood joined his brother Ted in the graphics-art business and continued to perform music on a semi-professional basis. Keef Hartley went on to play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Jon Lord became a founder member of Deep Purple.

Discography

ingles

*Nov '64 - Sweet Mary/If I Ever Get My Hands On You (Decca F 12015)
*Feb '65 - Oh My Love/Big City (Decca F 12091)
*Aug '65 - Goodbye Sisters/She Knows What To Do (Decca F 12206)
*Apr '66 - I Take What I Want/I'm Looking For A Saxophonist (Decca F 12384)
*Aug '66 - I Feel Good/Molly Anderson's Cookery Book (Decca F 12465)
*Apr '67 - What Shall I Do/In The Deep End (Parlophone R 5590)
*1967 - Buddy Can You Spare A Dime/Al's Party (Fontana H883) (as St. Valentine's Day Massacre)

E.P.s

*Apr '66 Jazz In Jeans - These Boots Are Made For Walkin'/Taste Of Honey/Our Man Flint/Routine (Decca DFE 8654)

L.P.s

Nov '66 "Art Gallery" (Decca LK 4830)- Can You Hear Me?/Down In The Valley/Things Get Better/Walk On The Wild Side/I Keep Forgetting/Keep Looking/Be My Lady/If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody/Stop And Think It Over/Don't Cry No More

Re-issues

*1983 "100 Oxford Street" - Sweet Mary / If I Ever Get My Hands On You / Goodbye Sisters, Oh My Love / I Take What I Want, Big City / She Knows What To Do / I'm Looking For A Saxophonist / Keep Looking / I Keep Forgettin' / I Feel Good / One More Heartache / Down In The Valley / Be My Lady / Stop And Think It Over / Don't Cry No More
*1995 "Art Gallery" (Repertoire Records REP4533-WP) - Can You Hear Me/Down In The Valley/Things Get Better/Walk On The Wild Side/I Keep Forgettin'/Keep Lookin'/One More Heartache/Work, Work, Work/Be My Lady/If You Gotta Make A Fool/Stop And Think It Over/Don't Cry No More/Sweet Mary/If I Ever Get My Hands On You/Goodbye Sisters/She Knows What To Do/I Take What I Want/I Feel Good/What Shall I Do/In The Deep End/These Boots Are Made For Walkin'/A Taste Of Honey/Our Man Flint/Routine/Brother Can You Spare A Dime/Al's Party -
*2000 "Singles A's & B's" - Sweet Mary/If I Ever Get My Hands On You/Oh My Love/Big City/Goodbye Sisters/She Knows What To Do/I Take What I Want/I'm Looking For A Saxophonist/I Feel Good/Molly Anderson Cookery Book/What Shall I Do/In The Deep End/Brother Can You Spare A Dime/Al's Party/These Boots Are Made For Walking/A Taste Of Honey/Our Man Flint/Routine

Band members

*Art Wood - vocals (born Arthur Wood, 6 June 1937, at Hillingdon Hospital, Hillingdon, Middlesex died 3 November 2006, in London)
*Derek Griffiths - guitar
*Jon Lord - keyboards (born John Douglas Lord, 9 June 1941, in Leicester, Leicestershire)
*Malcolm Pool - bass guitar (born 10 January 1943, at Corwell Nursing Home, Hayes End, Middlesex)
*Keef Hartley - drums (born Keith Hartley, 8 March 1944, in Preston, Lancashire)

External links

* [http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=8354&PageID=90259 Jon Lord interview on the Leicester Bands website]