The Northettes

 

 

I always loved their contributions on the Hatfield albums (especially the sublime "Son of No Place Like Homerton"). Now, I know that Barbara Gaskin's was with Spirogyra pre-Hatfield, and with Dave Stewart afterwards,  and I think Amanda Parsons appeared (solo) on some National health albums, but apart from that I don't know much about them, individually or collectively.

 

Does anyone know, for example, whether they ever appeared live with Hatfield, and whether there is any archive footage available?

Great post!......This has always drove me nuts!.....I searched for years to find a live recording of Hatfield and the North featuring the Northettes. Not possible it seems. Every live recording I've heard does not include the Northettes. What did this indirectly have to do with?  ....It's a mystery. The unique aspect for me regarding the self titled and Rotters Club was the voices of the Northettes. The voices added dimension to the music. The 3 part harmony which was melodic and dark colored the music and gave one the impression of a concept album which was theatrical. I enjoyed Amanda Parsons with National Health and tried to trace what bands they might be joining but lost track. Mellow Candle with their two part Irish folk harmony inspired band's like October Project but, the Northettes sang harmony over dischorded jazz compositions and actually broke ground for the mere fact that it wasn't jazz per say, but progressive rock in the Cantenbury style. It was such a long time ago and not many female vocalists were doing this style. No, it is a shame that a live tape of their performance in Hatfield is not issued. It would be beautiful to hear the 3 of them live with the band performing material from the first 2 albums. If you find anything,...contact me.

Thanks for your answers. A bit of trawling on the net found this interview with Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin.

 

http://www.progressiveears.com/library/Stewart-Gaskin.asp?bhcp=1

 

Of particular relevance:

 

 

Pip Pyle's '7 year itch' features BArbara Gaskin on some songs.

Whoop_John wrote: Barbara Gaskin, Amanda Parsons and Ann Rosenthal all sang with the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, aka Ottawa. This was an extended experimental group, involving the guys from Henry Cow and many others, including my friend Anthony Marshall, who never recorded on an album to my knowledge. His schoolfriend, Jeremy Baines, was also in this group, as was Steve Hillage. I was one of about five people that used to go to these concerts. I went to a Sunday rehearsal and was introduced to Barbara Gaskin by Tony, who said 'This is John, he wants to marry you', which was a bit embarrassing as at the time she was the girlfriend of Steve Hillage and he was standing right there.  Background to Ottawa on Chris Cutler's website at http://www.ccutler.com/ccutler/bands/group01.shtml The key to most of the Ottawa music is that it was all scored, except for improvisation sections allocated for the purpose. It was written, circulated, learned and played. Most of it was highly complex and in mixed time signatures. As I recall this was before Egg's third album on Virgin.

jean-marie wrote: Moogtron III wrote: I also love the Northettes and I once made a thread about them myself.   BTW, they're on the third Egg album too, The Civil Surface, but I haven't heard that album yet.        i owned this album but sold it back, hard listening but maybe today i would appreciate it

[/QUOTE]        i owned this album but sold it back, hard listening but maybe today i would appreciate it[/QUOTE]

You seem to have a lot of good albums that you sold hehe.