The Wurzels

The Wurzels, a British country-folk and novelty group, originated in 1966 when singer/songwriter Adge Cutler assembled the lineup. Their output consisted of rustic, occasionally humorous numbers drawn from the industrial and rural scenes of West Country farming communities, especially the consumption of cider, alongside reworkings of contemporary hits. First assembled to back Cutler prior to his death in 1974, the ensemble scored its breakthrough in 1976 with "Combine Harvester," a parody of Melanie's "Brand New Key." That single occupied the top position on the U.K. pop charts for two weeks and opened the door to comparable successes such as "I Am a Cider Drinker" and "Farmer Bill's Cowman." Radio visibility faded during the 1980s, yet the musicians kept issuing recordings and staging performances without pause. New manager Sil Willcox, previously linked to the Stranglers, sparked a brief resurgence in the mid-'90s via Never Mind the Bullocks, an album of British rock covers. In 2005 the veteran act appeared on a split single alongside enigmatic Brit-pop revivalists British Sea Power and have retained a strong following throughout their West Country homeland.