Biography
The Fox put out just a single, little-known psychedelic pop LP in 1970, bearing the playful name For Fox Sake. Shared traits linked the record to various other late-’60s British groups that relied on prominent keyboards while blending pop with psychedelic elements in differing proportions. Closest parallels appeared with the Spencer Davis Group’s output after Steve Winwood’s departure, while echoes of the pop-soul sound from Manfred Mann’s Mike d’Abo era and the Baroque-tinged pop-psych of the Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle period also emerged. The main distinction setting Fox apart from these acts lay in the comparative weakness of their material. Certain aspects of the album remain appealing, notably its robust, cathedral-toned Hammond organ lines and harmonious pop vocals. Yet the compositions stay middling and largely forgettable, even as they demonstrated breadth spanning delicate, blissful love songs, soul-leaning numbers, straightforward social-commentary pieces, and, in the nine-minute “Madame Magical,” committed psychedelic exploration.
Brighton served as the formation site for the Fox in 1968, when members drawn from several area groups joined forces. Hammond organist Alex Lane, drummer Tim Reeves, and percussionist-singer Nick Apostiledes had previously played together in the mod-soul outfit the Alex Lane Group. Reeves and bassist-keyboardist Dave Windross had also performed in the soul band Omega Plus. Songwriter and guitarist Steve Brayne, acquainted with Lane and Reeves from primary school days, rounded out the initial roster, although Apostiledes was shortly succeeded by guitarist Winston Weatherill, who had earlier worked with Gary Farr & the T-Bones. The group cut test recordings during a twelve-hour session at Radio Luxembourg Studios; the results proved strong enough that most tracks appeared on For Fox Sake, with only a few numbers re-recorded later. Interest from management nevertheless faded, prompting the Fox to disband shortly after the album came out.
Brighton served as the formation site for the Fox in 1968, when members drawn from several area groups joined forces. Hammond organist Alex Lane, drummer Tim Reeves, and percussionist-singer Nick Apostiledes had previously played together in the mod-soul outfit the Alex Lane Group. Reeves and bassist-keyboardist Dave Windross had also performed in the soul band Omega Plus. Songwriter and guitarist Steve Brayne, acquainted with Lane and Reeves from primary school days, rounded out the initial roster, although Apostiledes was shortly succeeded by guitarist Winston Weatherill, who had earlier worked with Gary Farr & the T-Bones. The group cut test recordings during a twelve-hour session at Radio Luxembourg Studios; the results proved strong enough that most tracks appeared on For Fox Sake, with only a few numbers re-recorded later. Interest from management nevertheless faded, prompting the Fox to disband shortly after the album came out.
Albums
