Holyground Records - one of the most collectable labels in the world

HOLYGROUND
guest book

The guest book is now closed, but you can still contact Holyground Records via email: [email protected]. You can also read previous entries below.

 

07 June 1998 Michael G, Kent, England
Great site. Thanks for helping to bring Bill Nelson to the world.
10 June 1998 Jill Oleson, Austin, Texas, USA
Just classify me as yet another 20-year Bill Nelson fan from Austin, Texas. Toast: To electrical language: non-vegetarian frequently meat. Endless tape-loop life, mine. To syncopated superman, passive voyeur absorb osmosis-like on my languid mattress. Steal guitar. Bang the drum slowly, ever so slowly...
01 July 1998 andy turits, hoboken, NJ
Hey you guys...

As a Bill N. fan and a multi instrumentalist who also remembers the days of mono tape to mono tape ping ponging, I really appreciate astral navigations which I just picked up on the Background CD. I love it! Are you aware of an album called "Blows Against the Empire" which has members of Jefferson Airplane, CSN and the Greatful Dead? the two albums make a great back to back cassette for car use. Anyway, Glad to see you're still at it and hoping that the early BN/BBD comp sees the light of day.

take care and good luck
03 July 1998 alanl, London via Wales
Ive been net searching for Holyground info for the past few years with little success, then all of sudden this! I was amazed. I shall revisit frequently to see updates.when is one of you going to write the book about Holyground? Love the music love the site. You must have problems with your net links though because the site is still hard to find.
14 July 1998 Len Shannon, Texas
Hi folks. Keep trackin' !
15 July 1998 Malc Rhodes, UK
an early Nelson conscript (via the Record Bar!) but also a Holyground fan. Excellent site - all we need to know. Where are the next reissues!!Keep on truckin' guys - any live gigs planned?I'll be back
15 September 1998 Steve Channing and Neal Quincey, LINCOLN UK
Steve has just left me to leave a few words here. We both work at North Lincs College, https://www.nlincs-coll.ac.uk.
Its good to see one of the original independants still operating. How about putting a few sound clips on the site.
08 October 1998 Alan Myers, Tyne & Wear England
Hello from another dedicated fan of Bill. I'm pleased to see that at last publicity is widening for him and you no longer have to search the archives of tiny record stores even for his latest releases.
26 December 1998 Julian Gillingham Diss, Norfolk
Hi Folks,
How is it going?
14 January 1999 Jim Hendershot, Flagstaff,Arizona
I am an old BE BOP DELUXE fan who surfed in from Bill Nelson's web site.
08 February 1999 Kathryn Russell, Washington State!!!
Hi Mike - It's your niece checking out your homepage - glad to see it! I'll share it with some friends! Kathryn
11 February 1999 steve channing, the planet xargg
hello dear boy....as you see I have a NEW E MAIL ADDRESS...just to confuse you. I really really have the stuff about america in an envelope just waitng to go...including a couple of tapes. Enough of this...bye for now...regards to all.....CHICK SHANNON
28 February 1999 Alan Myers, Sunderland
How do I get hold of A to Austr?
17 March 1999 Christopher Ross, Minneapolis,Minnesota USA
Greetings across Space and Time! What an amazing history ...Primordial Bill Nelson! This material MUST be released!!! Truely, a most remarkable place.
13 April 1999 Malcolm Gill, Leeds
Will check for som GYGAFO info
08 July 1999 CHARLES SOUS, VENEZUELA
DEAR PEOPLE AT HOLYGROUND, AFTER ALL SORRY FOR MY POOR ENGLISH, I'M FROM VENEZUELA AND I'M A BIG FAN OF THE PSYCHEDELIC STUFF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANKS FOR ALL THESE MAGICAL AND HIGH QUALITY MUSICAL STUFF THAT YOU BRING TO THE PLANET, I REALLY ENJOYED ALL OF YOUR RE-ISSUES (SPECIALLY ASTRAL NAVIGATIONS AND BACKGROUND'S RECORDS AGUATURBIA REISSUE). MAYBE IT'S SOUNDS A LITTLE PECULIAR THAT IN THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD WERE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOUR MUSIC HAVE NO FRONTIERS, WELL I THINK THATS ALL

SINCERELLY YOURS CHARLES SOUS.
05 November 1999 Rob,
New server is loads quicker, almost instant. The 'some songs' icon isn't working as a roll over.

Cheers

Rob
05 December 1999 Len Shannon,
Ok OK

it was 16 bars . . . .

Len.
23 December 1999 Paul Clarke of the Accord Singers!, Upper Denby
Please reserve a copy of the new & Strangeness etc. CD.
Many thanks.
Paul Clarke on behalf of June Asquith

PS your mailto link from the news page is not working!!
05 January 2000 Simon Wilkinson, Wakefield
you might not remember me. But back in the year of 1974 there was not a bigger Be Bop fan on planet earth. your wife shirley worked at Outwood primary school with a certain Mrs. Gillespie. It was through my friendship with her daughter that I spent a quite magical evening at your house "Cahouts" listening to alot of early Bill...many thanks for some lingering memories Mike.
25 February 2000 leo, cas
junction 32 on holyground how much?
11 March 2000 brad or sivert, british columbia
we have a lot of rare vintage albums for sale. some imports, one of a kind, jimi hendrix, bebop deluxe, van morrison...etc
one rareity: rhino records picture disk, meatball foulton interveiw with jimi hendrix. mint condition.
only serious inquirries plz:)
if you are collecting and want the real thing at a real price contact us
22 March 2000 Mike Wild, Wakey!
I sit next to and work with Alan Robinson the old bugger!
22 March 2000 Mike Wild, Wakey!
I sit next to and work with Alan Robinson the de-bearded old bugger! He told me about the site...brilliant, real nostalgia. I remember watching him in Spiral Highway at Wakefield Tech in the year of our Lord 1863 or was it the early 1970's?
I also used to listen to Bill Nelson and Global Village rehearsing in the old church Hall opposite the band stand in Thornes Park, where they also played, as depicted in his Northern Dream album. Still got my copy with its original typed out lyric sheet). Ah.... those were the days.
27 March 2000 Dave Wilson, Leamington Spa, UK
Well done Mike on getting this web page together. Nostalgic, eh? I can still remember recording the Tears on the Console album like it was yesterday (and the Biffo the Storm stuff which is probably the only copy in the world of this material!). Just to let you know that this 'oldie' is still playing guitar (having moved from Leeds in 1986 to Leamington Spa). Current band is called 'Oldscool', which seems appropriate given the age of the musicians. And I still see the other 'oldie' (Alan Robinson)from time to time. Great times!
12 April 2000 Bryan Holden aka Global Bryan, Wakefield!
Hello, Mike!Just dropped by when I got boredStill have the (rusty!) drumkit in the garden shedI'm now a boring old fart - company director/management consultant and of course I drive a Volvo!All the best - Global Bryan
09 May 2000 Nick Dew, Winterton, N. Lincs
Hello, Mike. It's more than thirty years since we recorded 'Jumble Lane', but it seems like we did it tomorrow!!! Whatever happened to Steve Channing(slide guitar), Liam Arthers(bass& vocals), Rob Clarke(bass), Martin Snell (piano & keyboards), Rich Keys(harmonica), Ric Jerome(vocals & guitar), Marcia ?(beautiful vocal & guitar) to name but a few? Remember the Jug Band? (Ian Ball, Pete Tidball, Graham Hainey & lots of others) O happy days!
After Bretton Hall, I formed Be bop Deluxe (so nearly called Flagship!!) with Bill, Rob Bryan, Ian Parkin & Richard Brown (who departed, sadly, before we turned pro).
After Be Bop, I returned to teaching & joined 'Biffo', with Alan Robinson, Dave Wilson & Mick Spurr. I met Dave at Alan's 50th party & we vowed to stay in touch!(the ramblings of old men!!) I'm still drumming, on & off, having been with the 'East River Blues Band' since '93 & helping former colleagues with school productions. Yes folks, I used to be a teacher, but I'm much better now, thankyou! Mike, great that you've developed this site. NOSTALGIA RULES!
10 May 2000 david aldous, stowupland suffolk uk
i found you via the bill nelson web site.iown northern dream
and teenage arch angel & would be glad to purchase electra-
type if bill could be persuaded to agree to release it.
15 June 2000 Vanessa Poland, California, USA
looks like a good site, the front page is a little hard to look at(the background)... always interested in new music tho... will look into your page more....
03 July 2000 Nick Green, Yorkshire
Dear Holyground, just a small message while I m here regarding the beauty of what little Holyground music I have heard. As a strict vinyl collector, it is difficult to find all that I would like from your canon, but the two I have, A-Austr and Astral Navigations, are deeply evocative and enchanting albums which really touch me.

thanks,

Nick Green
07 August 2000 gary beckitt, WAKEFIELD
Nice ..!
07 August 2000 CRAIG BOARDMAN, BARNSLEY ENGLAND
R-DU!
11 August 2000 Mal, Leeds
Just checking out your pages Mike. For starters (with regards to Gygafo), I'll give you a link to mt Gygfafafafafa page if you want. Haven't scanned any pics in yet though - but keep reminding me.
23 August 2000 Blazing Apostles,
The passing of eternity and a lifetime of memories,
some sooner forgotten and others simply not retained.
Isn't that the way it always is?
29 September 2000 dave mac, just guess!
First foray on the Web, and I visited you! aaaaah!
17 November 2000 Martin Wuest, Los Banos, California, USA
Mike et al,

Greetings from BBASI. I have already linked the new release and John Peel and BBD fans all over the world are looking forward to it and hope that you and Bill finally make some money!

Regards,

Martin Wuest
BBASI Coordinator
19 November 2000 haidee, I'm not sure anymore
Hiya Mike! Three years since I last looked at the site - shameful! It's good to see the reviews of S & Ch. - by golly it WAS worth all the re-recording, late nights, long days, hair-pulling (not in C's case of course) and tantrums after all!!! and a little update from your travels to Chilac! There's no stopping these little Coombsies once you start them off is there? (but you're no better!)
You'll be pleased to hear that I've now got you flagged up on my 'favourites' list...so for God's sake, get that songs list updated!
Lots of love and hope to see you soon.
Haidee xx
17 January 2001 Pete taylor,
I had a tape of gygafo playing live at thornes park, played it to death and then lost it...all I can remember is a reference to going down to newport pagnal?? are there any gygafo cd's about???
08 February 2001 Tom Parsons, Homewood, IL (USA)
Hello.Could you please let me know what type of payment you will accept for the Electrotype CD? Would an international money order in Pounds Sterling be OK? What would the total amount be with standard shipping? Thanks, Tom Parsons
01 March 2001 chango,
Thanks v.much for the last few days of recording.....you make the songs sound so much better than they are!!!! Here's to the rest of the album....Love to all
Steve Channing/Chick Shannon
08 March 2001 Brian Wilson (not the Beach Boys one!), Cayman Islands, B.W.I.
Looking through the web page brought back great memories. Wish I was back in the vast expanses of the studio. Brian Calvert's stuff on A-Austr was years before its time. If you need a Hawaiian backing track, just ask Mike to get his old wash tub out ! Keep up the great work. Hope you get the recognition you richly deserve!
12 March 2001 DAVE TURNER, STOCKPORT - CHESHIRE
Electrotype - worth the price for better-than-album-versions of 'Jet Silver' and 'Night Creatures'!!!
13 March 2001 gary,
any idea when the a to austr album will be released on cd? thanks.
09 April 2001 MarilynDaw nee Collins, France via Cambridge
Fell into this site by accident..ouch! LTOMM - Deja-vu or what! Where are all the rest of the 'Motley Crew" these days? No doubt midle aged and respectable and with their grown-up kids all laughing hysterically like mine at the thought of their seriously uncool mother on a CD...I've ordered a copy naturally! Mike..you must have undergone a name change..I recognise the face but seem to remember you as seriously Irish sounding..ah me, its a long time from Bretton..stroll on. I'm not sure I've got the credit thing sorted, if not I'll send a cheque, I'm working from France for a couple of weeks, but you have my e-mail. Keep up the good work, I'll have to see if I can exhume that ancient vinyl now .
03 May 2001 alessia mestriner,
please visit www.courtband.cjb.net and download our MP3
06 May 2001 Alan Smeaton,
I am looking to buy a copy of "Legend of the Kingfisher" - any idea of approximately when the Cd reissue may come out. Best wishes
Alan
18 October 2001 Liz Collins,
Would Mike Levon have been known as "Mike J. 'King of the Bog Land' O'Connor" during his days at Bretton?
I never did manage to purchase one of those records, usually too broke, but I sure remember them. Those were wonderful days in some ways.
Mike, if you remember me, e-mail me. I'm in Canada now.
19 November 2001 Jean Barnbrook, LEEDS
Hi Mike, your web page is fantastic. So this is what you have been doing since retiring.
30 December 2001 Jerry Astore, USA
WISHING ALL A BLESSED, HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR AND MAY PEACE & LOVE REIGN IN OUR HEARTS..........
03 June 2002 Jason,
u really need some audio samples on your site.
10 November 2002 Russ Little, wildest Mid-Wales
Wow. The last 2 weeks have been amazin!Finding everyone again and this site, and Mike , Chris. thanks guys for keeping the faith. This is the closest thing to "coming home"
14 November 2002 Stewart Moakler (Big John from Bretton ), Barnsley
Nice new look. I was trying to contact Pete Taylor who I saw in the "old" guestbook. Do you have an e-mail address for Pete?
14 November 2002 Stewart Moakler (again!), Barnsley
Aah!! I see. Fiendishly clever! only when you sign the book do you get to see the rest.
21 November 2002 Mal,
Hi Mike,
Just thought I'd let your readers surf to my GYGAFO / Charlie Speed pages - that is until you link it.
CYA
27 April 2003 mike maxfield(aka mick),
24 August 2003 Lee Gaskins, USA
Great Site guys... Le's keep promotng creative music... Cheers Lee
17 February 2004 sid roses friend,
cool site
03 June 2004 J&S Project, Italy
Hi friend, your site is very very good!!!
Please listen our new release:
https://www.dance-industries.com/track.asp?track_id=3476
24 November 2005 ivor, Cornwall
A few names recognised from way past...Bretton...nice to see people are still around and independent!! All this time and I never went back to the area...shame.
28 February 2006 mort72, wakefield
very good website, i was very pleased what i read nice one,
09 March 2006 Shelly, Washington. Tyne and Wear
Hi Cousin Mike,

I love what you've done with the site, I pop in now and again and look around. I think I'm gonna have to get myself one of your recordings. lol

Best Wishes... Shelly
15 June 2006 Lee Derbyshire, Cheshire UK
Fantastic Web site. I'm a long time Be Bop Deluxe fan, and have having read about Holyground years ago, it's great to see the images and information that you have made available here. This is the stuff of legends. Good luck to you all.
11 September 2006 duribass,
Nice site, thank you!
12 September 2006 Bob Simmonds, Deepest Lincolnshire
Well you wily old fox, Levon ! I still have the LP for 'Quite so' and 'No 9 Bread Street', and the names Bob Hart - No lions no trumpets - Chris Coombs and Jane Westlake - I still miss someone - resonate down the years. Also Clive Collings magnificent piano performances.

I would never have thought of putting my name into a search engine but there ya go ! 'Retired' from my latest band last year but still playing the old Strat 12 string and the voice is returning after the usual old-age and alcohol/tobacco abuse ! See my email to you.
Bob Simmonds
14 October 2006 Jon-Jon, Denmark
Great to be re-united (through Holyground) with me old mate Chango...thanks Mike. Glad to see you are still running the gaff. Reading through past recordings evokes so many thoughts from especially the heady days of the seventies! Keep it up fella.
Best wishes, Jon-Jon
14 October 2006 Jon-Jon, Denmark
Great to be re-united (through Holyground) with me old mate Chango...thanks Mike. Glad to see you are still running the gaff. Reading through past recordings evokes so many thoughts from especially the heady days of the seventies! Keep it up fella.
Best wishes, Jon-Jon
16 October 2006 Helen, Leeds
Great to see the update - a new release for Chrimbo - WOW!
23 November 2006 George Winkle,

Very good site, and very the interesting, is a lot of helpful information for me. With best wishes, Max
14 December 2006 Geoff Bennett, Chester
Great to see all those faces from irresponsible days and to hear that you are still in business. I can't find my copy of Bread Street - it might be with that lottery ticket I lost.
I'm still playing badly, Mike but now I get paid for it.
29 March 2007 ALISON GRIFFITHS, Berkshire
BROUGHT BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES ..SHAME MY RECORDING OF "THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE "DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE DISC..HAVEN'T EVEN GOT MY OWN COPY TO CHECK OUT MY X FACTOR SOUND THEN!!!
29 March 2007 ALISON GRIFFITHS, Berkshire
BROUGHT BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES ..SHAME MY RECORDING OF "THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE "DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE DISC..HAVEN'T EVEN GOT MY OWN COPY TO CHECK OUT MY X FACTOR SOUND THEN!!!
06 May 2007 Geoff Bennett, CHESTER
WOW! What a day (May 5th) Faces were older but the voices as young and inspiring as before. Watching Chris and Jan and John made me realise how I have come to be a professional musician. I inhaled their talent in the time I lived with them!
I'll never be that good but I'm not greedy. Thanks for all your work, Mike and best wishes for the future.
25 May 2008 Darryel Johnson, Annandale, Virginia, USA
Great Site! Great Music!!!
Thank you, Mike!
09 October 2008 Stuart, Kent England
I love the Holyground Lps, i am familiar with several of your issues, my favorites being, Astral Navigations, Gygafo,and A to Austr, first heard about 20 years ago on LP releases, its great that you have gone to such great effort with your web site to include info and lyrics for most of your releases,that is what is missing with most classic LPs from the 60's and 70's is the lyrics. Really intresting to know a bit about the musicians who made the music on these records.
Thank you
01 December 2009 Helen, Leeds
Long time no see - glad you still seem to be busy with the site etc!
30 June 2010 Geoff, Chester
Well done on 'The Last Goodbye'
A fitting end to an era and welcome to old-age!
30 June 2010 Geoff, Chester
Oops! Senior moment with the URL in my last message.
Probably a Homer Simpson moment giving it to you in the first place!
29 August 2011 Geoff Bennett, Chester. UK
Just a short note. I heard today from Dave Nuttall that you are none too good, Mike. I hope you get yourself sorted ASAP. Best wishes to the family
Geoff
06 September 2011 Liam Arthurs, Western Canada
Just this weekend got news that music and recording has lost an icon. I feel very fortunate that I had this connection early. Time to let others know how important and meaningful they are.
11 September 2011 Geoff Bennett, chester
God bless you Mike.
Wishes to Shirley and the family.
14 September 2011 John Stanton, Alexandria, VA
I'm so sorry to hear of Mike's passing, but I feel so fortunate to have known the Holyground sounds and spirit. Sincere condolences and deepest wishes and peace and love to Mike, his family, friends, and brothers and sisters in sound.
17 September 2011 Geoff Bennett, Chester
I listened to Shirley's request to nominate Mike for the Wakefield Stars campaign.
This wonderful idea supported by Wakefield council will see the names of famous Wakefield folk implanted 'Hollywood' style in the paved area of the town. I have seen the other names and feel that Mike has done more to promote Wakefield than many others.
Please look at the site and make your comments about Mike known by supporting his nomination. I have included the URL for you here and in The 'HomepageURL' section of this entry.
Thank you Mike.
https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/Stars/nominate.htm
06 October 2011 Linda Greensmith (Nee - Wood), Crofton, Wakefield
Just to say how sad I was to hear that Mike had passed away, Cannot believe that it was in 1968 that Cathy and I first met Mike and Shirley and everyone at Cass Yard, what great memories I have of the lovely times spent there, Mike and Shirley always making everyone who turned up welcome and part of their family. His memory and his music will live on.

Thinking of you and your family at this time.

Linda Greensmith Nee-Wood X
04 December 2011 Ada Wilson,
Sorry to hear. Listening to Northern Dream - such nostalgia,