Andwellas Dream

• Dave Lewis - lead guitar & vocals
• Paul Hanna (16 years old) - bass
• Wilgar Campbell - drums

• David Lewis - vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Nigel Smith - bass, vocals
• Gordon Barton - drums
  
  
  Andwellas Dream in 1968

Bio:

Originally known as The Method, a heavy psych/blues trio led by David Lewis. When The Method played a Dublin club on one occasion circa 1967, Gary Moore subbed for David Lewis, and was seen by Brush Shiels, who would later recruit him for Skid Row.

The Method in 1967

The Method became Andwellas Dream when moved from Belfast to London and signed with CBS Records in 1968. They recorded a stunning debut LP "Love & Poetry" for CBS as well as three singles. The original drummer only plays on one track ("Felix") as he got homesick and returned to Belfast. Gordon Barton then joined the band.

"Love & Poetry" captures the moment when psychedelia was at the point of splintering into progressive and acid folk. There are various styles and moods across the record with consistently strong melodies and some killer Hendrix-esque guitar. It's rightly regarded as a psychedelic classic by many collectors around the world.

CBS released three singles including two non-LP A-sides "Mrs Man" and "Mister Sunshine" which are worth tracking down. If you buy this album on CD, make sure it includes these as bonus tracks -- not all CD issues have them.

In 1970 Dave McDougall joined on keyboards, the band name was shortened to Andwella. They moved to CBS's Reflection imprint (home to Steamhammer & Dogfeet) for subsequent releases.

But the first Reflection-related release was a privately-issued publisher's demo album of songs that Lewis had recorded solo as demos in 1969. Only two of these songs ("Take My Road" and "Man Without A Name") had previously been recorded by Andwellas Dream. Typically such albums were issued to raise a songwriter's profile in the hope that other artists would cover the songs. As far as I'm aware, this didn't lead to any cover versions. "The Songs Of David Lewis" (1970) is now very rare.

A gorgeous Hammond organ sound underpins the two albums released on Reflection. The first of these was "World's End", released in 1970, which is the better of the two. Though it is less psychedelic and less adventurous than the debut and doesn't revisit the same heights, it is more consistent, more measured and contains several outstanding songs. At times it recalls the best work of Traffic and early Santana.

That same year, David Lewis produced another album on Reflection, hippie poet David Baxter's very odd "Goodbye Dave" album. All the music on this LP was written by Lewis and performed by Andwella. These are essentually instrumentals over which Baxter recited his poems. Surely these instrumentals exist on tape somewhere?

In 1971 the original rhythm section was replaced by Dave Struthers (bass/vocals) and Jack McCulloch (ex One In A Million & Thunderclap Newman, drums). This lineup recorded the final album, "People's People" (1971) which is a step closer to the mainstream but still an enjoyable album. In 1974 a track from this album was released as a single credited to The Bridge.

After Andwella split, David Lewis released two solo albums on Polydor in the 70s.
Dave McDougall later worked with Speedy Keen (ex Thunderclap Newman). Nigel Smith was later in Khan (after their LP), Magna Carta and Pentangle.

side one:
The Days Grew Longer For Love
Sunday
Lost A Number, Found A King
Man Without A Name
Clockwork Man
Cocaine

side two:
Shades Of Grey
High On A Mountain
Andwella
Midday Sun
Take My Road
Felix
Goodbye

Vinyl Japan CD bonus tracks:
Every Little Minute
Michael Fitzhenry
Sunbeam 2xLP/CD bonus tracks:
Mrs. Man
Mr. Sunshine
Every Little Minute
Michael Fitzhenry
Take My Road [Alt. Mix] - (alternate take)
Man Without a Name [Alt. Mix] - (alternate take)
Paradise Isle
Miles Away From My Baby

Notes:
All the songs by Dave Lewis.
Recorded at CBS, Pan Sound and Recorded Sound studios in London.
Produced by Rocky Shahan
Additional arrangements by John Hawkins.
Guest: Bob Downes - flute, percussion.

Andwella

side one:
Hold on to Your Mind
Lady Love
Michael Fitzhenry
I'm Just Happy to See You Get Her
Just How Long

side two:
Worlds End, Pt. 1
Worlds End, Pt. 2
Back on the Road
I Got a Woman
Reason for Living
Shadow of the Night

Lineup:
Dave Lewis - guitar, piano, organ, vocals
Dave McDougall - keybords
Nigel Smith - bass/vocals
Gordon Barton - drums

Notes:
Recorded at Trident Studios in London.
Produced by David Lewis; executive producer Andrew Cameron Miller.
Orchestral arrangements by John Hawkins.

side one:
She Taught Me to Love
Saint Bartholomew
World of Angelique
Mississippi Water
I've Got My Own

side two:
Are You Ready
Four Days in September
Lazy Days
People's People
Behind the Painted Screen
All for You

The Bridge

David Baxter

side one:
Notes
Doors
Looking For It
Rubbish
Tibet
My Mind

side two:
...
...

A rare and fairly mysterious album. Not too much is known about David Baxter. The album is stoned psych folk, a mix of spoken word text over psychedelic rock music with lot of effects. The paranoid/bad trip vocals tend to detract from the music however, so don't pay too much for a copy! A CD reissue with the soundtrack made available as bonus instrumental tracks would be most welcome.

Help!: We need your help to complete this entry. If you can tell us more about this band then please do! We welcome any corrections, missing details, connections to other bands, where are they now, etc. We also need photos, scans, copies of releases or live or demo recordings, and any other memorabilia gathering dust in the attic. If you can help, then please get in touch.