Eggs Over Easy

Originally celebrated for igniting the full British pub rock movement, the entirely American Eggs over Easy first reached Britain in 1970 to record with producer Chas Chandler. Work at Olympic Studios progressed smoothly until mounting conflicts with their U.S. financiers, Cannon Films, halted the sessions early the following year, prompting the musicians to pursue live engagements while hunting for fresh backing. College performances took them across various regions, yet their lasting impact took shape at the Tally Ho in London’s Kentish Town, steps from the band’s shared residence, where they built their standing and sparked a whole new genre.

Booked initially for the usually quiet Monday slot at a spot long oriented toward jazz acts, the group’s growing profile drew attention from audiences and fellow musicians alike. Brinsley Schwarz members quickly became regulars at those Tally Ho appearances, often sharing the stage, and soon redirected their own efforts toward pub venues. As additional acts followed suit, momentum by early autumn 1971 enabled Eggs over Easy to arrange a multi-venue trek through Inde Coope brewery pubs across the city. They then completed a dozen U.K. dates opening for John Mayall, their country-rock approach providing a striking contrast to his prevailing jazz-blues emphasis at the time.

Their British stay nevertheless neared its close. An album had been tracked, yet no contract materialized, and work permits neared expiration. Eggs over Easy closed out their Tally Ho run on November 7, 1971, before heading back to the States. Though the unit dissolved soon afterward, they secured an A&M deal in time to commit a portion of their material to record. Brinsley Schwarz’s Nick Lowe later noted that the band maintained ready access to more than 100 songs. Only a tenth of that body of work surfaced on Good’N’Cheap, while further representation arrived via EMI’s Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock anthology.