A Conversation With Brian Willoughby by Aaron Badgley
Brian Willoughby is an outstanding talent. A Session musician, a gifted songwriter, guitarist, singer and for an all too brief time, a Strawbs member. He contributed to a number of their albums and tours.
He started playing guitar in his native Northern Ireland at the young age of 14. Through Dave Cousins he came to work for Mary Hopkin, whose then husband, Tony Visconti was working with Cousins and the Strawbs. An excellent live recording is available, Mary Hopkin Live At The Royal Festival Hall, 1972.
In 1978, following the departure of Dave Lambert, WIlloughby joined Strawbs until their hiatus in 1980. When the band reformed in 1983, he was there, and remained until 2004. Prior to his leaving the band and since 2004 he has released a solo albums (Black and White, 1998 and Fingers Crossed, 2004, both stunning albums). He also recorded albums with Dave Cousin (Old School Songs, 1979 and The Bridge, 1994) and with his wife, Cathryn Craig (I Will, 2002; Calling All Angels, 2009; Real World, 2013; In America,2016; St. Pancras Old Church, London, 2016). These albums are some of the finest folk albums you will hear, but I sell the albums short by saying they are folk. These albums are full of remarkable playing and stirring vocals. And, they will be playing during Strawbs 50th Anniversary weekend.
And let’s not forget The Monks.
I had the privilege of speaking with Brian recently as he (and the rest of us) get ready for Strawbs 50th Anniversary.
How did you get involved in joining the Strawbs?
I met Chas Cronk when I was playing with my band No Sweat, who were signed to Eel Pie Records, owned by The Who’s Pete Townshend. I asked Chas to send my regards to Dave Cousins, whom I’d known since my teenage years of going to see The Strawberry Hill Boys at The White Bear Folk Club, in Hounslow, West London. Dave had put me forward for my job with Mary Hopkin, in 1971, of course!
Chas reported back to Dave and I was invited to audition for Strawbs, as my other old friend, Dave Lambert, had left the band. The rest is geography!
How did you and Dave Cousins start working together?
In 1978, Dave fancied doing a tour of Folk Clubs and asked me to join him. The duo lasted many happy years, touring internationally and we recorded two albums, “Old School Songs” and “The Bridge”. We had a lot of fun as the dynamic duo!
What are your memories recording Don’t Say Goodbye?
We recorded Don’t Say Goodbye at Regent Sound, in London’s Tin Pan Alley, Denmark St. John Ford had left, to live in New York, so we had Rod Demick on bass, with Chris Parren, Tony Hooper and Richard Hudson. My favourite track off the album, is the instrumental Tina dei Fada, written by Hud.
What are your memories recording Ringing Down The Years?
This was recorded in Berkshire, by Stuart Kerrison, who had worked with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Sadly, he was a fan of sampled drum sounds and the album suffers from that. Fortunately, he liked guitars, so those sounds are pretty good. My favourite track, is Stone Cold Is The Woman’s Heart.
What are your memories recording Blue Angel?
This started as the Cousins & Willoughby album, The Bridge, recorded by my favourite engineer, Kenny Denton in West London. The core band was Blue Weaver, Tony Fernandez and Chas Cronk, with Cathryn and old friends Mary Hopkin, Roy Hill, Terry Cassidy, Jana Heller and Tommy Lundy singing on it. We added Dave Lambert, Rod Coombes, Hud and Rod Demick on some songs and it morphed into Blue Angel. The bonus track was “The King”, featuring Steeleye Span’s Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp on vocals. “The King” had been my first Strawbs recording experience, at John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park, in Ascot.
Favourite songs are “Strange Day Over The Hill” and “Morning Glory”.
Has a lot changed in terms of creative process with the Strawbs over the years?
The recording budget certainly changed, therefore studio experimentation decreased.
The musicians remained creative throughout, though.
What can you say about Alice’s Song?
It’s about my niece Alice,, who has Asperger Syndrome. Dave Cousins liked the song and Acoustic Strawbs recorded it. The National Autistic Society adopted it as their theme tune for Autism Awareness in 2002.
What is like getting back with the band every now and again?
I haven’t played with them since the 40th. and before that, since 2004, so the 50th. will make it twice in 15 years! It will be good to hear the old jokes again!
Your solo career is absolutely fantastic. Can you speak a little about your music with Cathryn?
I left the band to concentrate on my music with Cathryn and I love what we do.
Fortunately, we have built up a good fan base and we are able to tour twice a year, with some summer festivals in addition.
Are there plans for a new album?
Yes, we’re doing some shows just before the Strawbs weekend and we are currently recording new material, with engineer Steve Fearnley, in Co.Down, Northern Ireland.
How is your creative process different with Cathryn than in the past with the Strawbs or even solo?
All the songs are co-written, usually starting from instrumental melodies of mine, written in alternative guitar tunings. Cathryn will sift through the ideas and when she chooses a melody, I will show her how to play it in “straight” guitar tuning. She then writes the lyrics, sometimes with a little help from me, but generally, it’s her words and my music!
Reflecting on your career.. it has been pretty astounding, but what does participating in the 50th anniversary mean to you?
I’ve been a professional musician since joining Mary Hopkin in 1971 and I’ve enjoyed playing styles of music ranging from heavy rock, to delicate folk.
I value the quarter-of-a-century I spent with Strawbs and it’s nice to be invited back to play some familiar songs at the 50th. celebrations!
