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Mabel Greer's Toyshop

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop was an English psychedelic rock band formed in 1966 in London. They were part of the underground music scene between 1966 and 1968 and played venues such as The London Marquee Club, UFO, Happening 44, Electric Garden and Middle Earth. The music of Mabel Greer's Toyshop was marked by a combination of psychedelic, American blues and internationally influenced musical arrangements with poetic lyrics.

The band reformed in 2014 after the founding members met again after a gap of 45 years and produced a new album entitled “New Way Of Life” produced by Billy Sherwood, member and producer of Yes (band). The album consists of 6 songs written by Chris Squire, Clive Bayley and Jon Anderson first performed in 1968 and five new ones written by Bayley.

Career

The band was originally created by composer/guitarist, Clive Bayley and drummer Robert Hagger. After their bass guitarist Paul Rutledge returned to art college in 1967, they invited Chris Squire and Peter Banks, previously with The Syn to join them. Hagger knew Squire from having previously auditioned for The Syn. Early in 1968, Chris met Jon Anderson in a London Soho nightclub and invited him to join the band. Later members included Tony Kaye, and Bill Bruford before the band changed it's name to YES in August 1968.

At a concert at London's Middle Earth Club on October, 21 1967, the band met DJ John Peel after they shared the bill. Peel really liked the group and provided a great source of encouragement. (Peter Banks, Beyond And Before (2001) Golden Treasures Publishing page 29). He invited the band to play on his BBC Night Ride session in March, 1968. (ref BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/m/) They played the same show again in 1969 and 1970, this time under the name of Yes http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/y/.

Some of the tracks from the BBC recordings eventually showed up on a compilation of British psychedelic rarities, “The Roots of Yes” a CD by Peter Banks which includes the original recording of “Beyond and Before”. The song featured on the first Yes Album along with "Sweetness" both co-written by Clive Bayley. There are a number of bootleg albums also available like "Moments" featuring Yes and Mabel Greer's Toyshop on the same CD. The band also did some demo recordings during a session with the well-known producer Mike Leander for MCA records that were never publicly released (Peter Banks, Beyond And Before (2001) Golden Treasures Publishing page 30). Tony Kaye then joined the band on Hammond organ and Bill Bruford replaced Bob Hagger on drums in June 1968. In August 1968 Mabel Greer’s Toyshop became “Yes”. Clive left the band in late 1968. (David Watkinson, YES: Perpetual Change (2002) Plexus Publishing Limited - introduction)

Mabel worked the London clubs and Universities around London. Some of the gigs are listed in the book by David Watkinson called “YES: Perpetual Change” published by Plexus, London in 2001. David Watkinson also talks about the beginnings of Mabel Greer's Toyshop and Yes. A previous book by Chris Welch, published by Omnibus Press in the year 2000 also talks about Mabel and the evolution of Mabel Greer's Toyshop and Yes.

One of the last gig's for Mabel Greer’s Toyshop was May 2, 1968 in Highgate, London. The line-up was Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Peter Banks, Clive Bayley and Bob Hagger. The night was described by Hagger on the inside cover of the CD “The Word is Live” released in 2008 on the fortieth anniversary of the band. The first gig that Bill Bruford played with Mabel Greer’s Toyshop was on June 7, 1968 at Deptford College, London (Chris Welch, Close To The Edge: The Story Of YES (2000) Omnibus Press page 44). After three months of extensive rehearsal the band then changed name to Yes in August 1968 (David Watkinson, YES: Perpetual Change (2002) Plexus Publishing Limited - Introduction YES Family Tree).

In November they opened for Cream at their 1968 Farewell Concert from Royal Albert Hall. Soon after they made their second radio appearance on John Peel's programme (after previously having played the show as Mabel Greer's Toyshop) and Melody Maker columnist Tony Wilson selected them and Led Zeppelin as the two bands "Most Likely To Succeed" (liner notes of the band's debut LP).

In 2013, Bayley met Hagger again after a gap of 45 years. They discussed a trip to the recording studios and the result is a reformed Mabel, and a new album released in March 2015 called "New Way Of Life". The album was produced by Yes bass player Billy Sherwood, who also plays on the recording alongside Hugo Barré and previous Mabel and Yes member Tony Kaye on Hammond.

Line ups

1966 Clive Bayley, vocals/guitar - Robert Hagger, drums - Paul Rutledge, bass guitar

1967 Clive Bayley, vocals/guitar - Robert Hagger, drums - Chris Squire, bass guitar/vocals - Peter Banks, guitar/vocals

1968 Clive Bayley, vocals/guitar - Robert Hagger, drums (to June 1968) - Chris Squire, bass guitar, vocals - Peter Banks, guitar/vocals - Jon Anderson, lead vocals From March to August 1968) - Bill Bruford, drums (from June to August 1968) - Tony Kaye, keyboards (from June to August 1968)

2014 Clive Bayley, vocals/guitar - Robert Hagger, drums - Hugo Barré, bass guitar - Billy Sherwood, keyboards - Tony Kaye, Hammond organ

Radio and recordings

BBC John Peel’s Nightride April 1968

    "Beyond And Before” (Squire/Bayley) 
    "Electric Funeral" (Squire/Bayley)
    "Get Yourself Together" (Squire/Bayley)
    “Images Of You And Me” (Squire/Bayley)
    “Jeanetta” (Squire/Bayley)

Discography

“New Way Of Life” HBM Limited 2015 - distributed by RSK Entertainment

1 "Electric Funeral" (Squire/Bayley) 2 "Get Yourself Together" (Squire/Bayley) 3 "New Way Of Life" (Bayley) 4 "Beyond And Before” (Squire/Bayley) 5 "Sweetness” (Bayley/Squire/Anderson) 6 "Images Of You And Me" (Squire/Bayley) 7 "My Only Light" (Bayley) 8 "King And Country" (Bayley) 9 "Oceans" (Bayley/Hagger/Barré) 10 "Singing To Your Heart" (Bayley) 11 "Jeanetta" (Squire/Bayley)

"Images" HBM Limited 2016

1 "Beyond And Before" (Squire/Bayley) 2 "Get Yourself Together" (Squire/Bayley) 3 "Jeanetta" (Squire/Bayley) 4 "Images Of You And Me” (Squire/Bayley) 5 "Electric Funeral” (Bayley/Squire/Anderson)

Compilation Albums

"The Roots Of YES" by Peter Banks

"Can I Play You Something" by Peter Banks

"Moments" by Mabel Greer's Toyshop and YES