Nirvana

• Patrick Campbell-Lyons
• Alex Spyropoulos

Bio:

Patrick Campbell-Lyons (born in Waterford) moved to London to attend university in the early 60s but soon became entangled in the music scene in the Ealing area. He became vocalist for the Second Thoughts whose lineup included Speedy Keen, future Jade Warrior members Jon Field and Tony Duhig, and Chris Thomas. PCL & Thomas began to write songs together.

When Second Thoughts split in 1965, PCL & Thomas worked as a songwriting partnership and recorded as Hat And Tie for President Records, releasing two singles. One of these tracks "I'm Finding It Rough" was recorded by the Everly Brothers.

PCL formed Nirvana with Alex Spyropoulos (from Greece) in 1967. They were signed to Island Records and released some fine, orchestrated pop-psych records. They fell out with Chris Blackwell which is why their third LP was delayed and finally came out on Pye in 1970. Spyropoulos dropped out of Nirvana for a while and PCL continued to record as Nirvana, under his own name and under various pseudonyms. Spyropoulos frequently returned to collaborate. For this reason I have combined the Nirvana and PCL discographies.

PCL worked in the music business during the 1970s doing A&R and production work for various record labels, most notably Vertigo Records. He also recorded "Local Anaesthetic" for Vertigo in 1971, followed by "Songs Of Love And Praise" on the parent Philips label in 1972. He was assisted by Jade Warrior and Mel Collins on both these albums, which were released under the Nirvana name. PCL produced Clear Blue Sky, Gracious and Mickey Jupp (Legend) for Vertigo Records. He signed to Sovereign (EMI) in 1973 for one solo album; recorded for Decca as Tails in 1973; as Patrick O'Magick for Chrysalis in 1974; for Electric Records in 1976 as the Cisco Kid; for DJM in 1977; as Erehwon for Harvest in 1980; for Zilch Records in 1981-82; and launched his own Public Records label circa 1980.

 

 
[courtesy Gjermund Fyrileiv]

side one:
Pentecost Hotel
Wings of Love

side two:
Tiny Goddess
Feeling Shattered

   

   

   



side one:
The World Is Cold Without You
Excerpt from "The Blind And The Beautiful"
I Talk To My Room
Christopher Lucifer
Aline Cherie

side two:
Tres, Tres Bien
It Happened Two Sundays Ago
Black Flower
Love Suite
Illinois

   

   

side one:
Out Of Nowhere (Harrison-Gennon-Frank Dennis-P.Campbell-Lyons)
Friends
Mother England (lyric: Dominic Behan)
Everybody Should Fly A Kite
Tomorrow I'll Make You Smile

side two:
Me And My Friend
Jesus Christ Junior
I Think I Want Him Too
1974
Watch Out Cassius Clay

tracks:
01 The Maid Behind The Bar 2:36
02 The Maid Behind The Bar 1:30
03 The Maid Behind The Bar 0:53
04 Barry's Jig 3:07
05 Barry's Jig 1:12
06 The Rock Of Cashel 2:05
07 The Rock Of Cashel 1:07
08 The Rock Of Cashel 0:43
09 The Rock Of Cashel 3:31
10 The Ballad Of Birdie Magee 2:50
11 Farewell To My Love 3:03
12 Farewell To My Love 1:34
13 Farewell To My Love 0:40
14 Metal Man 2:26
15 Metal Man 1:10
16 Down In The Meadow 2:25
17 Down In The Meadow 1:15
18 Knock Meal Down 1:08
19 Birdie's Wedding 1:16
20 Clonmel Races 1:53

Notes: Music by Patrick Campbell Lyons intended for library & soundtrack use. Ersatz Irish traditonal folk music played on bodrahn, uileann pipes, harp and whistle.

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