Chicory Tip - The Singles Collection

Scattershot pop that missed more than it hit

Chicory Tip were symptomatic of 70s pop: a band with no discernible personality aimed squarely at Radio 1. When they and their songwriters found a formula that worked, they’d mine it for all it was worth. Hence this beautifully packaged singles collection from Cherry Red features songs with riffs played on the guitar, banjo, harpsichord and synthesizer. It was a combination of the last-named pair that hit paydirt when Son Of My Father propelled the Tip to the top back in 1972.

What’s Your Name and Good Grief Christina replicated the formula, if not quite the excitement, but RC remembers the banjo-driven Excuse Me Baby more fondly. Though it failed to chart, it enjoyed saturation airplay and is reminiscent of The Hollies jamming with The New Vaudeville Band. Hidden exactly halfway through is the musical highlight, Memory, a flop which proves that the lads really wanted to be Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Son Of My Father, by the way, was the brainchild of one Giorgio Moroder. As for Chicory Tip? They were recycled as CBS labelmates The Wombles… at least that’s one theory!

2 stars 2 stars

7T’s/Cherry Red | GLAMCD 29

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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