Longdancer - If It Was So Simple (1973)

Longdancer was an early 70s English folk-rock band that included David A. Stewart (later of Eurythmics fame). The group grew out of a folk duo comprising Dave Stewart and Brian Harrison. The pair played clubs and support gigs in the north east of England and in 1971 recorded a now very rare EP for the obscure local Multichord label. Frustrated by their lack of recognition and success, the pair decided a full band might work better, adding singer/guitarists Kai Olsson and Steve Sproxton to the line up. Under the name Longdancer the quartet continued plugging away on the club circuit before catching a break when they were one of the first acts signed to Elton John's newly formed Rocket Records imprint, probably due to the fact Kai Olsson's brother Nigel happened to be Elton John's touring band drummer. The band made their debut with the release of a 1973 single 'Silent Emotions'/'If It was So Simple' (Rocket PIG 1). Releasing their first album ‘If It Was So Simple' in 1973 and gaining some good exposure touring with Elton. The cleverly titled "If It was So Simple" was one of those albums that didn't make an immediate impact, but if given an opportunity, parts of it gradually snuck up on you. Longdancer clearly had its share of talents, all four members were decent singers and all four contributed to the writing chores. Musically it was kind of hard to peg them with the album including a broad array of influences ranging including America-styled pop ('Silent Emotions'), Crosby, Stills & Nash harmonies ('Trivialities'), Fairport Convention-styled English folk-rock ('Time To Pay') and even Neil Young-ish singer/songwriter numbers. It seemed the British record buying public were just not ready for Longdancer's brand of wistful acoustic rock and commercial success was not forthcoming. Kai Olsson left the band to be replaced by Matt Irving (Keyboards) and Charlie Smith (Drums). The new 5 piece line-up made a second album ‘Trailer For A Good Life' in 1974 and released a single ‘Cold Love' a track from the album with a non album B-Side ‘Puppet Man'. The Single also flopped. Longdancer split up in 1977. Kai Olsson Olsson went on to record a couple of solo LPs and an album with The Flyers. Brian Harrison and Charlie Smith played with folk singers Robin & Barry Dransfield before Smith joined the acclaimed Scottish pop outfit Blue.
Stewart went on to form The Catch, which morphed into The Tourists. He then continued his collaboration with Annie Lennox in The Eurythmics and has since become an in-demand writer and producer.