Tintern Abbey (band)

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Tintern Abbey
OriginLondon, England
Genres Psychedelic rock
Years active1967–1968
Labels Deram Records
Past membersDon Smith
David MacTavish
Stuart MacKay
John Dalton
Paul Brett
Terry Goldberg

Tintern Abbey were a British psychedelic rock band that were formed in late 1966 and professionally active between 1967 and 1968. The band are best remembered for their single "Vacuum Cleaner," which has been included on several compilation albums over the years. [1]

Contents

History

Tintern Abbey were formed by Don Smith after meeting David MacTavish at the Overseas Visitors Club in Earl's Court London. Smith brought John Dalton into the band after a meeting in The Cromwellian club in South Kensington and MacTavish brought Stuart MacKay into the band after a meeting at the dole office. Smith left the band after the release of "Beeside"/"Vacuum Cleaner" and completing work on "Snowman". MacTavish was later a member of Big Bertha and Velvet Opera, the latter of which latter-day Tintern Abbey guitarist Paul Brett also later joined. [2] [3]

The band released only one 45rpm single on Deram Records, "Beeside"/"Vacuum Cleaner" (Deram 164), in December 1967. [4] Produced by Jonathan Webber, the single failed to sell. At this point the proposed follow up was a song called "Snowman" which had reached mastering stage when Smith left the group.[ citation needed ] After Smith's leaving, Paul Brett joined as a guitarist. Also, organist Terry Goldberg, originally of the Mark Leeman Five joined to the band. [2] "How Do I Feel Today"/"Do What You Must", was slated for an April 1968 release but never appeared. [4] A full-length LP was allegedly meant to follow in August 1968, but the group had disbanded by then. [4]

Since the band's breakup, the single "Beeside"/"Vacuum Cleaner" has been highly sought after by collectors (selling at £1000 plus) and has been hailed as one of the best examples of British psychedelia. [4] [5] [6] As such, the band has become something of a cult favourite. Among other places, "Vacuum Cleaner" was re-released on the Nuggets II compilation.

A 7" vinyl EP was released by Brett and Dalton in 2006 of four of the band's 1968-era demo songs, including "How Do I Feel Today", as a benefit for Oxfam. [7] These songs were recorded in 1968 at Tony Pike's studios in Putney, London, but never released until recently and they are the only copies of the original acetates. [2] Brett has a collection of songs from that era that he wrote for submission to the LP that never was, including a setting of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum". All recordings were collected on the 2024 anthology Beeside (The Complete Recordings). [8]

Dave MacTavish as a solo artist released one single "Ooh La La" b/w "Collie Girl" on the Young Blood label, in 1973 according to the label dates (then in Germany under "Decca" - license - # DL 25564). [9]

Discography

Singles

EPs

CDs

References

  1. ↑ "Tintern Abbey Record Details". 45cat. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Interview with Paul Brett". Paul Brett. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  3. ↑ Liner Notes, Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964-1969 . Rhino Records, 2001.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Tintern Abbey Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  5. ↑ Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights:The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras, 1963-1976. Borderline Productions, 1998, p. 533.
  6. ↑ Strong, Martin C. The Great Psychedelic Discography. Canongate, 1997, p. 278.
  7. ↑ "Do What You Must". Discogs . Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Tintern Abbey: Beeside". Cherry Red. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Dave MacTavish Discography". 45cat. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
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