Biography
Despite its short existence, the enigmatic British progressive group Heavy Jelly was surrounded by intricate circumstances. A fabricated critique published toward the end of 1968 in Time Out, a London listings publication, first introduced the moniker ‘Heavy Jelly’. This sparked enough curiosity for Island Records and Head to each put out singles under that name. The version from Island Records was actually Skip Bifferty, a rock band operating incognito; nevertheless, their solitary track ‘I Keep Singing The Same Old Song’ gained more attention after inclusion on the well-received, affordably priced compilation Nice Enough To Eat. Head’s offering from spring 1969, titled ‘Time Out (The Long Wait)’, showcased John Morshead on guitar and vocals alongside Alex Dmochowski on bass—both previously of the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation—plus drummer Carlo Little and someone known as Rocky. Popularity of that release prompted John Curd, Head’s managing director, to trademark the Heavy Jelly name, after which Morshead and Dmochowski assembled a permanent ensemble. Early recording attempts for an album involved Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi of Traffic, yet these musicians were eventually succeeded by Barry Jenkins, formerly the drummer for the Animals, and singer Jackie Lomax. Additional disruptions ensued, leading to the abandonment of the intended album, with the decisive setback occurring upon Lomax’s decision to pursue an individual recording contract.
Albums