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GYGAFO legend of the kingfisher
track by track

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this page is to accompany HOLYGROUND : THE WORKS CD VOLUME 10
the contents of this page includes opinion, memories and recollections which may not be completely accurate
the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Holyground

OOHS & AHHS corrections, amendments and omissions
please send other corrections to : mike@holyground

errors in 'The Works' CD artwork

the label should not say "Musics from Holyground" - that was the performer credit for A to Austr

THE MUSIC
	SIX POINT FIVE AEONS AGO, or six twenty-two last Thursday, depending on how you read the galactic calendar, in the small inner-city solar system of Strapfo Sdeel, close to Holyground's head oflice, life began. It began when a multi-limbed creature, quietly, sarkily, jokingly and lyrically crawled and strummed its way up the river bank and into the bus shelter. Bells sang, the choir rang out . . . The creature paused a while (thirty years and three, or a couple of minutes) to consider. Having dealt with that, it/they drew it/themself/ves up to its/their full height, peered over the scarlet plastic seating and enquired ofthe gent there, for such he was, whither and whyfore, and where could it/they get breakfast? To this day there are philosophers who argue how history might have developed if, instead of the gent, it/they had first met, say, Howard or the nice man who plays lead violin with the Jovian State Orchestra and Sons. But it/they didn't - they met him . . .	story-line by Mike Levon, 1989.

SOLID MAN SONG by Ian Dewar	look at my head held high in the air see my problems, hear my prayer I clean my teeth three times a day fair in work and hard in play I love my wife with endless flair along with the church and long be it there I'm a good solid man or so they say come to my home and I'll ask you to stay stand to attention, kneel for the right poke your tongue out at your neighbours during the night look at my nose held high in the air see my splendour, cheer my glare I'm a good solid man or so they say come to my home and I'll ask you to stay	The church bells were recorded by Mike - they are Wakefield Cathedral's. Mike Levon, 1973

	That part of the creature which was Ffaste-One indicated its displeasure and spurred its/their otherness to move. Religion, particularly the traffic worship and blessings of the fumes, especially those of Sdeel, was not to its/their taste. All in all it curled its/their fifty toes unpleasantly. On, it/they moved.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW by Eddie Stringer and Jon Atkinson	at first I see people running rushing following feet and legs through narrow streets with roads attached buildings stand together watching for the ones to come inside their ever-friendly trap traffic rumbles stopping, starting never ever finding ways to simply move again but yonder over, far away there's peace and quiet night and day for those with means to last but friends who live so near to focus far away and clear it's simply too much to bear the final words are clear.	Eddie Stringer

	The weather changed then, as it often did in that place, reflecting the mood of the majority. The creature, now knowing that there was a Quest, but not yet understanding the Question, paradiddled for cover. It was still too dry behind the ears to be caught out so soon before breakfast. That part of it/them named Sat-n-Sunn smiled silently, and then more loudly.

WAITING FOR THE RAIN by Charlie Staniforth and Eddie Stringer	sitting here by the riverside watching the waters flow you talked of love as though in a dream and on your face it showed thoughts of time gone by cloud my head and make my thinking slow stormy skies close in I feel depression low and I'm waiting for the rain sitting here by the main freeway watching the trucks go by wondering should I, could I take a ride or let them pass on by listening as the pounding motors fall around my brain rolling on, the wipers flash the wheels churn on through the rain and it's too late and I'm waiting for the rain

	Hardly pausing for breath, lacking lungs as it did, the mood changed; the weather too. The sun came out, and the view came out in sympathy . . .
ENTERING WINDS OF LONG AGO by Charlie Staniforth and Jon Atkinson	ancient cities cast away your pain of time for you are calling him who dares to answer yes walls condemn the entering winds of long ago I came down and walked through the forests flew over mountains filled the winds with voices all the living paid each life to the suns I joined all with sounds to be as one	Charlie Speed (Charlie Staniforth)

	The surprise floor-show delighted it/them, particularly that part which was Jae-Ae. It pointed the way, indicated the route, showed it/them the horizon, and you could even whistle it too. After dropping a sizeable coin, carefully transported from the upper-tip of the spiral calves of the Maid of the Galaxy, into the brilliantly positioned felt hat, it/they felt better and left. Just in time . . .
SEASON'S WEATHER (COMING HOME) by by Charlie Staniforth and Jon Atkinson	as I cycled through the season's weather coming home counting hills and fields and dales forever smoke is rising dust is spreading everywhere love is lost with hopelessness encountering skies of rain they fall and behold followed by fields of fire reaching for the leaves as branches unfold the winds of autumn come insufficient lies the bright time low now you think you've lost your world now the better times have passed your friends where have they gone? they only used your face to laugh

"SIDE TWO" of original vinyl release	The Question formed itself in the quiet cells of that part of it named the Silent One. For the very first time in its living memory, this part spoke, slowly, thoughtfully, clearly: "Wait, think.....`it said. All stopped for, well let's say a short while, okay...?
	it's no use you people telling me to search around I'll sign on and on at Box 1 baby take a ride down town hey and I looked so silly when I used to try and hide my hair they used to sit downstairs baby they cut my hair All the people around you know baby if looks could kill look as if they got their share but they didn't get their fill hey and I was so stupid baby when I used to hide my hair when they say that's my fault baby do you think that's really fair?	Jon Atkinson vocalist with Gygafo until 1974

	So to all appearances it wasn't the outward appearance that mattered. That fact the creature now understood, as if struck by a flash of lightning, out of the iridescent blue. It/they knew that the Question was deeper, wider and clearly too much before breakfast. Breakfast itself came and went, and the tide too, and with them the Answer. Running swiftly after it and clawing it back, it/they read it, scrawled as it was on the back of an Interstar envelope. It said " . . . to the Master of the Reels, Holyground, Earth . . . , and note this, BORE NO STAMP. However, we digress, what really mattered was the Message on the old envelope. It spoke reams, told them all. At last they knew.
	today I am a man who holds his head so high no pleasant sound shall ring out for the tides I am the man who shows the way for better lands I leave my secret travels for the blind people follow, they try to find they try to reason why so here we're standing at the witness stand we turn our faces sideways to the wall someone comes and shows the proper way to stand but never tried to understand at all today I am a soldier from forgotten wars no-one told us what we're fighting for now the day is gone and I'm so far from home someone now has surely locked the door now they have died, they know how to live but it's late, so late, to try	Pete Nickson, drummer

	The Question was answered, the puzzle met. The Quest but remained : to rise to the stars, to carve a name, to find fame. As the one of it/them called Wavelet memorably put it, "To Make It or Not". It would, as in the best tales, and this is surely one, mean a long journey, up Snickets and Ginnels, under Dark Arches, through Brim and Firestone, even unto Teardim which was Once Upon a Time. With tears in all eyes, the creature set out on the perilous course, watery, wet and West . . . leaving those left . . .
	as she smiles love from her eyes he gently waves goodbye if she lost nothing could count cost his love was even higher the wind moved him far he looked like a star and he still shone to her with thunder abound his body lay drowned what was to cause such a sad parting? her eyes filled with tears she thinks of past years of the times they were one now they are two such a love we have spoiled by our hands, by our hands now together, forever they wander in love across the waters, forever, forever . . . oh those Halcyon days	Charlie with Paul Kent, bass player
	The Kingfisher, Al Syan the Third, finished singing his blues, coughed and left right. Many of those in the hall can, to this very day, remember where they were and what they were doing at that instant. The echoes died away. The creature was now five, and was one too. Free for now, and for then. It sang and sang . . . . . . and then the man came: "G.Y.G.A.F.O", he said. Hardly the end. Holy Mike, The Year of 018 Gygafo, or 1988	The group's name came from an incident when a concert promoter refused to pay them - "Get Your Gear And Fuck Off" he declared!

additional tracks

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW WON'T HURT YOU
by Eddie Stringer

NINETEEN EIGHTY FOUR
by Charlie Speed

RETROSPECT
by Eddie Stringer

THE FLAGSTONE PATH
by Ark

'What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You' and ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ feature Graham Schofield on vocals.

The recordings were made in stereo, and the only known copy was on a tape found in Charlie Speed's garage. Luckily they were still in good condition!

Retrospect’ is an incomplete out-take from ‘Legend’ sessions, lacking the vocals.

The "Works" series comprises all Holyground recordings made from 1966. Two tracks by ARK are issued on LOOSE ROUTES Volume One. They were recorded at Holyground around the same time as Gygafo were working on "Legend of the Kingfisher". Mike was struck by similarities between the ARK track on this CD and Gygafo's title track, and so he included it on this release. A long track, just like "Kingfisher".

Mike called the Ark track 'The Flagstone Path' - if you know any of the members of Ark from the early Seventies (or if YOU are on this track),
get in touch

MUSICIANS :

Jon Atkinson vocals, mandolin, guitar, flute, glockenspiel

Charlie Speed lead guitar, guitar, vocals

Eddie Stringer keyboards, piano, vocals

Paul Kent bass

Pete Nickson drums, percussion

Graham Schofield (on tracks 8 & 9) vocals, guitar

with Mike Levon sound effects, air guitar

songs copyright GYGAFO : STARSONGS MUSIC P.1973
AN ORIGINAL HOLYGROUND PRODUCTION
galaxy wide distribution by MAGIC MIXTURE

HOLYGROUND 'THE WORKS' SERIES In association with Kissing Spell Records, Holyground has released all the recordings from the '60s and '70's, except for Skybird's Summer Of 73, and Bill Nelson's Northern Dream. Several of the albums have only ever been released in small vinyl runs : volumes 1, 5, 9, 10 and 11. All have a considerable number of additional tracks. The average running time of each CD is over 60 minutes and often more than 70 minutes. Mike has scoured his archive and made several surprising finds, especially the songs "hidden" on the bottom track or other side of the tape - tracks even he didn't know he'd got! Each CD in the series has: from 60 to 74 minutes of music full colour eight page booklets and inlays renovated and previously unseen photographs and original artwork words to all original songs additional tracks, out-takes, and contemporary tracks (covering just about everything Holyground recorded!) several previously unreleased recordings, and some remixes a special silver label and logo, in a rainbow of colours! background and recording information a special webpage with more information, recollections, photographs and news info, and anecdotes . . . the works! ASTRAL NAVIGATIONS and A TO AUSTR are the most well known albums on the label during its early days from 1966 to 1975. These and nine others make up the "Works" released through KISSING SPELL:
album	series volume	release date	details
LAST THING ON MY MIND	1	2001	LAST THING ON MY MIND has never been released since the original 99 vinyl copies made by Mike Levon when he recorded it in 1966. It is an album of folk and early folk rock - the roots from which Holyground grew. There are standout performances from Chris Coombs and others. It's an album of great beauty: if you close your eyes you can see the candles, and feel the dark . . . There are also several out-takes and contemporary recordings never previously released at all!
NUMBER NINE BREAD STREET	2	2006	The first LP to carry the 'Holyground' label. The name comes from an Irish folk song, and was used by Mike to name his flat in Cyprus Street - doesn't everyone name their homes? Recorded partly in Bretton Hall, partly in Jacobswell Lane - Mike's later flat, shared by Norfolk Jim, Brian Wilson and Derby Dick, most of the tracks were made in Moodies Bar. Moodies was a real old-fashioned pub in 1966 - 67. Women had only just been allowed in! - although they were still excluded from the small back room where the recordings were made. In fact, Shirley Levon may have been one of the first women to drink in there during the recording sessions! A mixture of traditional folk and new acoustic songs, with a nod towards early folk-rock, Bread Street sold 243 out of 250 copies made, and still made a loss!
A TO AUSTR	3	2006	In 1967 Mike Levon moved into his own flat in Cass Yard half-way down Kirkgate. There were two large bedrooms, and one quickly became a studio, allowing Mike to start recording drums and electric guitars. His first electric recording was of Bill Nelson's group 'Global Village' - a good omen for the future! From late 1967, through 1968 and 1969 Mike recorded a variety of people including several commercial records of clubland artistes such as Winston Smith, Joanna Starr, The Method, and even an LP of mood music for a local bingo chain. During this time he started working closely with Chris Coombs, and with existing musicians such as Brian Wilson, augmented by other new people like Al Green, George Mabon, Brian Calvert and Ted Hepworth. The results was the album A to Austr. This dealt with many current themes: from drugs to sex, wisdom to wonder, and resulted in a very varied album of what has become know as psych-rock. It was Holyground's best work to date, and set the scene for the 1970-71 period: a busy, creative time which saw the making of albums like Jumble Lane, Bill Nelson's Northern Dream, Gagalactyca, and above all the seminal 'Astral Navigations'. Austr itself was viewed by some as their favourite album from England: 'they do it all,' said American dealer Greg Breth who was l;ucky enough to find one copy from the 99 made.
ASTRAL NAVIGATIONS	4	2003	Described by one collector as a “deeply evocative and enchanting album which really touches me”, ASTRAL is seminal Holyground. The album has two complementary sides: side one features songs by Mike Levon and Brian Calvert, and by Chris Coombs: acoustic rock with Holyground’s psych edge. The three Chris Coombs tracks also feature Bill Nelson on lead guitar. Side 2 showcases Thundermother, searing guitars in a progressive, acid-rock band featuring David John who had earlier recorded with Joe Meek as David John and the Mood.
GAGALACTYCA	5	2001	GAGALACTYCA has only been released on vinyl. It is a sister album to Astral Navigations. There are two "sets" of music : Chris Coombs and others (Lightyears Away), and Thundermother. Chris and Mike Levon wrote songs for the Light Years Away "side" of the album. Standout tracks are the short though beautiful "That Is What We Need", and "Cold Tired and Hungry" a storming track featuring Bill Nelson on guitar. Thundermother come up with five brilliant tracks, four of them their own songs. Standout tracks are a version of "Woman" by the group, an acid guitar epic in "Come On Home", and the beautiful "Woman In My Life".
JUMBLE LANE	6	2003	Described accurately by one reviewer as “going through so many unexpected and bizarre changes as to be completely un-categorisable”, JUMBLE LANE was recorded by friends and local students in the summer of 1971. From the delicacy of “The Gallery” and “Blues for Joanne” to the rock of “Frustration: Ends Away” it’s psych rock of the highest calibre. Bonus tracks include songs by Steve Channing who made his debut on JUMBLE LANE.
ODE by BLUE EPITAPH	7	2003	JUMBLE LANE’s success meant new students at the nearby college would turn to Holyground to record their own albums. Pete Howells and Jim Gordon, as BLUE EPITAPH, made the acoustic, psychedelic whimsy that is ODE - another highly collectable Holyground album. The third group to do this, in 1974, recorded the album “JUNCTION 32”. As an album it was not a success, but there were some fine tracks, and these are included as bonus tracks on this CD. Bonus tracks are the best of the 1974 album “JUNCTION 32” : Third Take / Whiskey In The Jar / Bill Bailey / Prickety Bush / Bold Princess Royal / Ropegate Rag.
THE LEGEND OF THE KINGFISHER	8	2003	During 1972 and 1973 local band GYGAFO recorded a variety of tracks at Holyground. Rock with a psych edge, recorded in true Holyground tradition, the band featured Charlie Speed on lead guitar. Charlie’s lead, with Eddie’s keyboards, makes the album glow. Standout tracks are “Solid Man Song”, and the long, pastoral title track. One bonus track is by a contemporary of the band, Ark; another guitar led band stretching out over a long song.
TEARS ON THE CONSOLE	9	2006	In 1975 Mike closed down Holyground (temporarily as it turned out) to start a new studio venture in Doncaster. In the last few midsummer weeks he suggested to Steve Channing that some of his songs, plus some Mike and Steve would write later on, should be recorded. Mike asked the members of 'Lazy Days' to join in giving (as he thought before the recording sessions) a line up of Steve on vocal / acoustic guitar; Dave Wilson on electric guitar; Alan Robinson on bass; and John Shepard on drums. None of the band had met Steve on the first day of recording, and to Mike's surprise Lazy Days turned up with a Hammond organ player, Mick Spurr, who also added an early Moog synth to the line-up. The results, even on the first day, were magic - a lively set of songs driven by Steve's vocals and skills on guitar, and backed by a tight and fluid group. The songs, often blued based, were lovely. The atmosphere was electric, and pushed along by the knowledge that Holyground was ending. Steve and Lazy Days had been regulars since the 70's - Steve appearing first on Jumble Lane and Lazy Days had recorded there on several occasions and in different line-ups. This CD captures the end of an era.
LOOSE ROUTES volume one	10	2002	The original Loose Routes double vinyl LP with a large format booklet consisted of many tracks which have been included with other "The Works" reissues, and in the case of Bill Nelson, on "Electrotype". This two CD release is largely unissued material and, with the other "Works" CDs, completes the Holyground recordings. Volume one covers the start of Holyground and the period upto the making of Astral Navigations in 1970/1971.
LOOSE ROUTES volume two	11	2002	Volume two starts with Thundermother and carries Holyground through to the (temporary) end in 1975. The final track is from new Holyground recordings from 1990.
ELECTROTYPE	12	2001	All the Holyground recordings made by Bill Nelson from 1968 to 1972, (excepting Northern Dream - separately available, and Teenage Archangel). The CD has 21 tracks, and covers the period from the start of Global Village up to the early Be Bop De Luxe. 68 minutes from Bill's first ever recording to the days just before signing to EMI to make Axe Victim - all the Global Village and Be Bop De Luxe recordings still in existence.