Brett Marvin and The Thunderbolts - Recording and Performance

Recording and Performance

In 1970, Tony McPhee from the Groundhogs invited Brett Marvin to contribute recordings for a British Blues Collection on the Liberty Label, Gasoline, produced by Mike Batt. Later some of these were reproduced on the album Son of Gutbucket. Soon afterwards, the band began a 5 year recording contract with the Sonet record label that released the band’s first album, Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts. In 1971, the band released its 2nd album on Sonet, entitled 12 inches of, with a combination of blues standards, and songs written by band members.

During the early 70s Brett Marvin toured the UK blues club and university music circuit, having signed to the Robert Stigwood Agency, while appearing on television in Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Holland. In 1971 the band performed in a concert with Son House and undertook a national tour supporting Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominoes. Shortly after this, Gibson and Pitts dropped out of touring. Lewie had begun writing for the band, and his Seaside Shuffle was released as a single under the pseudonym Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs a recording that included Hine, Trussell, Randall, Gibson and Pitts. In 1972 Sonet entered into a marketing and distribution agreement for the song with Jonathan King's UK label; it reached #2 in the UK singles chart, leading to three appearances on Top of the Pops. Another single release under the Terry Dactyl name, On a Saturday Night, didn’t achieve such popularity. However, Sonet issued a 3rd album, Alias Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs, which took advantage of the success of Seaside Shuffle and included a compilation of tracks from the first 2 albums. Following this album’s release, Lewie left the band. He was replaced by David Davies (keyboards) who had been playing in the Jaw Bone Jug Band. Gibson rejoined the band, as did a new bass player Tony Proto. Consequently, a 4th album was recorded and released on Sonet: Ten Legged Friend.

The new line-up performed at the Colne Blues Festival and The Blues Band's Christmas Party. During the remainder of the 70s and 80s Brett Marvin became almost exclusively an act on the London pub music scene, particularly at the Rochester Castle in Stoke Newington, and the Stapleton Hall Tavern near Finsbury Park. In 1992, the band performed at The Town & Country Club.

In 1993, the Brett Marvin released a new album: Boogie Street, (Exson Music Ltd.), with the addition of a new bass guitarist Peter Swan. In 1998, Brett Marvin was featured on two compilation albums: Gutbucket, (EMI Records,) and Tony McPhee & Friends, (BGO Records), and released a CD version of their original LP, Alias Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs. The band collaborated with Peter Moody in 1999, resulting in the CD Vintage Thunderbolts, (Mooncrest Records - part of Trojan Records), being of previously unreleased live and studio recordings from 1970-1989. Swan left the band in 2001, being replaced by Dougie Strathie (bass guitar).