A highlight of Polydor's mid-'70s Rock Flashback series, this budget-priced compilation wraps up the best of Medicine Head's Polydor career, a period that saw them rack up three successive hits and deliver three more excellent albums -- Dark Side of the Moon, One & One Is One and Thru a Five. The emphasis here, of course, is on the hits. "One & One Is One," "Rising Sun" and the super-seductive "Slip and Slide" are all present, together with three earlier non-charting 45s, "Kum On," "Only to Do What Is True" and "How Does It Feel"; of the remaining eight tracks, the sublime "Sittin' in the Sun" peels off Dark Side of the Moon to illustrate one of the most unexpected developments in the group's history, as former Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf stepped in as bass player. As an introduction to Medicine Head, this set has few peers. Of course the absence of their earliest recordings, for John Peel's Dandelion label, does prevent Medicine Head from staking any claims as a complete "anthology"; but it does stand as a reminder of just how brilliant the band was once it hit its hit-making stride. Medicine Head has few peers. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide
Representative Albums: "Pop History, Vol. 25", "Best of Medicine Head", "The Best of Medicine Head
Biography
Formed in Stafford, England in 1968, the British blues duo Medicine Head comprised vocalist/multi-instrumentalist John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans, who played the harmonica and jew's harp. Upon their formation at art college, Medicine Head became a staple of the local club circuit, eventually recording a demo which found its way to influential BBC radio personality John Peel, who began championing the track "His Guiding Hand." Other DJs soon followed suit, and quickly the duo was on the brink of stardom.
With Peel's continued assistance, Medicine Head entered the studio to begin recording their 1970 debut LP New Bottles Old Medicine. Their focus shifted from basic blues to a more intricate sound for 1971's Heavy on the Drum, produced by former Yardbird Keith Relf; after scoring a surprise hit with the single "(And the) Pictures in the Sky," Hope-Evans left the group, and was replaced by Relf and drummer John Davies for 1972's The Dark Side of the Moon. Hope-Evans rejoined prior to 1973's One and One Is One, which launched the title track to the Top Three of the U.K. singles chart.
Now a five-piece also including guitarist Roger Saunders, onetime Family drummer Rob Townsend and bassist George Ford, Medicine Head notched two more hit singles, "Rising Sun" and "Slip and Slide," but 1974's Thru' a Five failed to chart, and the group began to disintegrate. Only Fiddler and Hope-Evans remained by the time of 1976's Two Man Band, and after one last single, "Me and Suzy Hit the Floor," Medicine Head officially disbanded. Fiddler later resurfaced in the British Lions, followed by a stint in Box of Frogs and finally a solo career, while Hope-Evans contributed to the Pete Townshend albums Empty Glass and White City. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
The group recorded six original albums, the opening trio of which were on 'Dandelion'. That label enjoyed its first UK Singles Charthit when "(And The) Pictures in the Sky" reached number 22 in 1971.[1] Despite consistent touring, often as support to acts with larger commercial appeal, Medicine Head failed to place an album on the UK Albums Chart. One of their albums was entitled Dark Side of the Moon (1972), released the year before the Pink Floydalbum of the same name. If the Medicine Head release had gained attention, Pink Floyd may have had to reconsider the title of their album. Medicine Head's track, "Only To Do What Is True" appeared on the 1972 compilation, There Is Some Fun Going Forward.
They went through line-up changes with their largely backing personnel, but did achieve a total of four hitsingles, the best-known of which are "One and One is One" (No. 3, 1973) and "Rising Sun" (No. 11, 1973).[1] Their later recordings were released on Polydor. Two Man Band was their last album, and Medicine Head finally folded in 1977.[2]
In 2005 Angel Air released the album Don't Stop The Dance. In effect it was a 'lost' album, compiling some singles from an unsuccessful period with the WWA label, and some unreleased sessions with the band as a five piece. In March 2007 Medicine Head's debut album New Bottles, Old Medicine was re-released on CD by Cherry Red Records. In May 2009 Cherry Red also released, One And One Is One - The Very Best Of Medicine Head.[3]
Post break-up careers
Since the band's break-up, both members have continued to work in the music industry. Hope-Evans appeared on many albums, most prominently with Pete Townshend, and Fiddler was a member of British Lions and Box of Frogs.[2] Fiddler has occasionally revived the Medicine Head name, to tour a show of their hits (fellow musicians have included Clive Edwards, Laurence Archer and James Fox) and to release further low-key recordings.
