Help Yourself (band)
| Help Yourself | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock, pub rock, country rock |
| Years active | 1970–1973 |
| Labels | Liberty, United Artists, Hux |
| Associated acts | Man, Ducks Deluxe, Sam Apple Pie, Deke Leonard’s Iceberg, The Green Ray |
| Past members |
Malcolm Morley Richard Treece Dave Charles Ken Whaley Paul Burton Ernie Graham Jonathan "Jo Jo" Glemser Sean Tyla Kevin Spacey |
Help Yourself, known to their fans as "The Helps", were an English rock band of the early 1970s whose style developed from "American-flavoured country-rock ... to acid-drenched psych.".
Help Yourself formed in London in 1970, originally as a backing band for singer-songwriter Malcolm Morley, who had left Sam Apple Pie and been signed as a solo act by Famepushers. The band was assembled by John Eichler who, as well as working for Famepushers, was production manager at Strand Cosmetics, where he hired people either for 'musical ability' or 'strangeness'.
The eponymous debut album, Help Yourself, was recorded from late 1970 to early 1971. Malcolm Morley, (guitars/keyboards/vocals) wrote all the songs on this album, which was recorded with another former Sam Apple Pie member Dave Charles (drums/percussion/vocals), ex member of Monday Morning Glory Band, Richard Treece (guitars/vocals/harmonica) and former Growth member Ken Whaley (bass)
The album was recorded before the band had played a gig, having been signed to Liberty Records by Andrew Lauder, head of A&R. The band toured on the Downhome Rhythm Kings package with Brinsley Schwarz & Ernie Graham (ex Eire Apparent), who were all managed by Famepushers. After the tour, Ken Whaley was fired, but no other bass player was recruited.
Help Yourself, Ernie Graham and his guitarist Jonathan "Jojo" Glemser, moved into Headley Grange in 1971, shortly after Led Zeppelin IV had been recorded there. The line up was amalgamated to include both Graham (who had just released his eponymous solo album backed by Help Yourself and Brinsley Schwarz) and Glemser, both of whom were guitarists, so Treece switched to bass. The band played the 1971 Glastonbury Festival Sam Apple Pie having played the first Glastonbury in 1970. "Street Songs" a track that would later appear on the second album Strange Affair, was issued on a United Artists double album sampler All Good Clean Fun. A tour was arranged to promote this album, so Help Yourself joined Man and Leicester band Gypsy, on a tour of Switzerland. The second album Strange Affair was recorded at the Grange, initially with Richard Treece still on bass, and adding his guitar parts later, until Paul Burton, their then Road Manager and former Sam Apple Pie roadie, joined on bass, to complete the album.Strange Affair was released in early 1972, by which time both Graham and Glemser had left.
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