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Andwellas Dream

From: Belfast

Active: late 60s

Style: Psychdelic / Rock / Progressive

The Method Lineup (1967):
Andwellas Dream Lineup (1968-69):

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.


Discography:

• Sunday / Midday Sun
7" - CBS Records - 4301 - 27 June 1969
Produced by Rocky Shahan.


• Mrs. Man / Felix
7" - CBS Records - 4469 - 29 August 1969
Non-LP A-side.



• Sunday / Mrs.Man
7" - Columbia Records - C4-2908 - Canada - 1969


• Mr.Sunshine / Shades Of Grey
7" - CBS Records - 4634 - 14 November 1969
Non-LP A-side.
Produced by Rocky Shahan. An AMP Production, A Reflection Recording.
Irish and UK pressings exist.


• Love and Poetry
LP - CBS Records - 63673 - UK - 1969
CD - Vinyl Japan - ??? - Japan - 2004
CD - CMP Records - ??? - Germany - 2004
LP - Lightning Tree - LIGHTFLASHLP003 - UK - October 2006
2xLP - Sunbeam Records - SBR2LP5063 - UK - 2009 - foc, 8 bonus tracks
CD - Sunbeam Records - SBRCD5063 - UK - 2009 - 8 bonus tracks





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.



• Every Little Minute / Michael Fitzhenry
7" - Reflection Records - RS1 - UK - 17 May 1970 - no PS
7" - Pink Elephant Records - PE 22.531 - Benelux - 1970
7" - Columbia Records - 91693 - Italy - 1970 - PS, credited to both Andwellas Dream and Andwella
The A-side is credited to Andwella, the B-side to Andwellas Dream.


Andwella

• World's End
LP - Reflection Records - REF.L6 - UK - August 1970 - foc + poster
LP - Pink Elephant Records - 877 004 - NL - 1970 - pink textured foc
LP - Motors Records - MT 44003 - France - 1970 - foc
LP - Dunhill Records - DS 50095 - USA - 1970 - foc +poster
LP - RCA Victor - DS 50095 - Canada - 1970
LP - Stateside Records - HP-80184 - Japan - 5/1971 - white label promo on red vinyl; textured foc; insert; poster
LP - Stateside Records - HP-80184 - Japan - 5/1971 - textured foc; insert; obi
CD - Progressive Line - ??? - Australia - 2002 - also includes People's People
CD - Universal - UICY-93049 - Japan - 2006 - card foc + poster; 'Rock Legend' series digital remaster




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.



• Hold On To Your Mind / Shadow of the Night
7" - Reflection Records - RS 3 - UK - 1970 - no PS
7" - Bellaphon Records - BF 18020 - Germany - 1970 - PS
Produced by David Lewis, Andrew Cameron Miller and John Hawkins.



• Are You Ready / People's People
7" - Reflection Records - RS 6 - UK - 1970 - no PS
7" - Reflection Records - RS 6 - Italy - 1970 - promo
7" - Bellaphon Records - BF 18029 - Germany - 1970 - PS
7" - Pink Elephant - PE 22.544 H - NL - 1970 - PS
7" - Reflection/Fidias Records - NXA 341 122 - Spain - 1971 - WLP, no PS
7" - Reflection/Fidias Records - NXA 341 122 - Spain - 1971 - PS






• I Got A Woman / Hold On To Your Mind
7" - Stateside Records - HR-2742 - Japan - April 1971 - PS



• I Got A Woman / World's End (Part Two)
7" - Dunhill Records - 4275 - US - 1970 - no PS, white label promo



• Lady Love / Just How Long
7" - Pink Elephant Records - PE 22.566 - NL - 1970 - PS



• People's People
LP - Reflection Records - REF.L10 - UK - 1971
LP - Dunhill Records - DS-50105 - US - 1971 - different cover artwork
LP - Stateside Records - - Japan - 1971 - same as USA cover
LP - Pink Elephant Records - 855 011 - NL - 1971 - pink flipback cover
LP - Bellaphon Records - BLPS 19020 - Germany - 1971
CD - Progressive Line - ??? - Australia - 2002 - also includes World's End
CD - Geffen Rock Legend Series - UICY 93050 - Japan - 200? - card sleeve




Notes:
Recorded at Trident Studios in London.
Produced by Phil Gillin.
Orchestral arrangements by John Hawkins.


• Mississippi Water (mono)/ Mississippi Water (stereo)
7" - Dunhill Records - 4281 - USA - 1971 - no PS, white label promo





The Bridge

• Mississippi Water (Phase One) / Mississippi Water (Phase Two)
7" - Revival Records - 47.002 - UK - 1972? 1974?
A track from Andwella's "People's People" LP (1971).



David Baxter

David Baxter - Goodbye Dave
LP - Reflection Records - REF.L9 - UK - 1970



Notes:
Produced by David Lewis.
Music written and performed by David Lewis & Andwella (published by Andwella music).
All the effects by Cine-Sound Ltd.

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.



Compilation appearances:

• v/a - Ariston Promo EP
7" - Ariston Records - AR EP 1019 - Italy - 1971 - no PS, promo only
tracks: People's People

• v/a - Pop Non Stop
LP - Motors Records - MT 63063 - France - 1971
Six band sampler also featuring Caravan, Jackson Heights, Clinic (France), Shampoo (Belgium) & Livin' Blues (Holland)
tracks: Are You Ready / I Got A Woman

• v/a - Rubble #17
LP - Bam-Caruso Records - KIRI 099 - UK - 1991
tracks: Sunday

• v/a - Love, Peace & Poetry: British Psychedelic Music
LP/CD - QDK Media/Normal Records - 041 - Germany - 2001
tracks: Felix



See also: David Baxter, David Lewis, The Method


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.




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