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Easy Street | |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Soft rock [1] |
| Years active | 1974–1978 |
| Labels | Polydor, Capricorn |
| Past members | Ken Nicol Peter Marsh Richard James Burgess |
Easy Street were an English soft rock band which consisted of Ken Nicol, Peter Marsh and Richard James Burgess.
Marsh had a long-standing musical partnership with his then brother-in-law, Ken Nicol, during the 1970s. They first signed to CBS in 1973, and were known as the duo Nicol & Marsh. In 1975, after the addition of Richard James Burgess, they became known as Easy Street, named after the duo's 1974 album Nicol & Marsh's Easy Street. As the trio Easy Street, they released two albums, the eponymous Easy Street in 1976 and Under the Glass in 1977.
The single "I've Been Lovin' You" reached No. 81 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 during the first week of August 1976. [2]
Easy Street toured in Europe and the US and were the 1976 runners-up of the UK TV show New Faces . The collaboration between Marsh and Nicol ended after the release of the duo's final album, 1978's Nicol & Marsh. An interview with Nicol implied that Marsh was moving in a different direction, specifically appearing to refer to a growing collaboration between Marsh and Burgess. [3]
Ken Nicol settled in the U.S. in 1979 and performed as a solo artist, and later as lead singer and co-writer for the band Versailles. He returned to England in 1988 and continued as a solo performer. He later joined the bands the Ashley Hutchings Dance Band, the Albion Band and Steeleye Span. Nicol has released a number of solo albums since 1988, with his latest album, Things in 2015.
Peter Marsh has worked as a singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a member of the new wave bands Twist and Blanket of Secrecy, and has worked with such artists as Vangelis, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Godley & Creme, Nick Lowe and Carlene Carter. Marsh released the solo albums Stop the Clock (2013) and Back to the Beginning (2017).
Richard James Burgess has been a singer, songwriter, drummer, engineer and producer since the mid-1970s, most notably as a member of the band Landscape. He produced new wave band Spandau Ballet's first two albums and first seven singles. He has worked with many other artists during his 45-year music career. As well as a musician, Burgess is also an author, manager and marketer.
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Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is an English guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founding member of British folk rock group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band. He has also been involved with the Albion Band and a wide range of musical projects, both as a collaborator, producer and as a solo artist. He has received several awards for his work and career.
Kenneth Stephen Nicol is an English guitar player, vocalist and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band for many years, and for eight years (2002–2010) played in British folk rock band Steeleye Span.
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Peter Marsh is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and music producer. He was a member of the band Easy Street, which released three albums. The Easy Street single "I've Been Lovin' You" entered the Billboard chart in July 1976. In the 1980s, he was best known as the lead singer in cult new wave group Blanket of Secrecy. Marsh also worked with Vangelis, Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Godley & Creme. His songs have been covered by artists including Nick Lowe and Jimmy Ruffin. In the 1990s he recorded the album "Water Under the Bridge", which was eventually released in 2021. More recently, Marsh has worked in France. He released the albums Stop the Clock in 2014 and Back to the Beginning in 2017. A second Blanket of Secrecy album, recorded in the 1980s, was released in 2017.
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Nicol & Marsh were an English soft rock duo which consisted of Ken Nicol and Peter Marsh.