Biography
Alun Davies ranks among the United Kingdom’s most sought-after session guitarists. He helped establish the pop-jazz ensemble Sweet Tuesday alongside childhood companion Jon Marks and keyboardist Nicky Hopkins. His most enduring association, however, came as the principal accompanist to British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, a role he maintained from 1970 until Stevens embraced Islam and withdrew from performing in 1977. Later, Davies worked with former Small Faces frontman Ronnie Lane, co-authoring the opening number “One Step” as well as “She’s Leaving” for Lane’s 1979 release See Me.
Davies began performing professionally in 1963 within a duo formed with Marks, then performing under the name Michael Burchell. The pair’s only long-player, Relax Your Mind, was overseen by American producer Shel Talmy, whose credits already included the Who, the Kinks, Manfred Mann, Chad & Jeremy, and Ralph McTell. Following a period of street performance in Paris and the south of France during 1964, the musicians returned to England, secured representation, and obtained passage on a Cunard Line vessel. Sixteen transatlantic crossings later, Davies and Marks parted company. Davies subsequently recorded for Fontana Records and traveled with Marianne Faithful, Spencer Davis, and Jeremy Taylor before rejoining Marks in 1968 to launch Sweet Tuesday. Although the group issued a single noteworthy album, it dissolved when Fontana declared bankruptcy.
Davies resumed freelance session duties and was engaged for Cat Stevens’ 1970 album Mona Bone Jakon. The collaboration proved so effective that Stevens asked him to join the touring band after completing the landmark recording Tea for the Tillerman. In return, Davies cut his own debut solo album, Waste of Time, in 1972. The set contained seven songs written or co-written by Davies, featured Stevens at the piano, and was jointly produced by Stevens and Paul Samwell Smith. Two years afterward came Davies’ second solo outing, Daydo.
Davies began performing professionally in 1963 within a duo formed with Marks, then performing under the name Michael Burchell. The pair’s only long-player, Relax Your Mind, was overseen by American producer Shel Talmy, whose credits already included the Who, the Kinks, Manfred Mann, Chad & Jeremy, and Ralph McTell. Following a period of street performance in Paris and the south of France during 1964, the musicians returned to England, secured representation, and obtained passage on a Cunard Line vessel. Sixteen transatlantic crossings later, Davies and Marks parted company. Davies subsequently recorded for Fontana Records and traveled with Marianne Faithful, Spencer Davis, and Jeremy Taylor before rejoining Marks in 1968 to launch Sweet Tuesday. Although the group issued a single noteworthy album, it dissolved when Fontana declared bankruptcy.
Davies resumed freelance session duties and was engaged for Cat Stevens’ 1970 album Mona Bone Jakon. The collaboration proved so effective that Stevens asked him to join the touring band after completing the landmark recording Tea for the Tillerman. In return, Davies cut his own debut solo album, Waste of Time, in 1972. The set contained seven songs written or co-written by Davies, featured Stevens at the piano, and was jointly produced by Stevens and Paul Samwell Smith. Two years afterward came Davies’ second solo outing, Daydo.
Albums
