Lindisfarne’s first three albums, released on Charisma between 1970 and 1972, are all bonafide classics full of boozy, raggle-taggle charm and endearing amateurism, in a sense, yet made impregnable then and now by Geordie poet, songwriter and vocalist Alan Hull’s searing combination of canny observation, pathos, wit and vitriol.
Famously, a period of working in a mental institution before joining the band inspired his writing of the bulk of the material on the first two albums.
The Fog On The Tyne LP delivered a feel-good Top 10 single in Meet Me On The Corner and became the best-selling album in Britain for 1971.
The third album, Dingly Dell, was seen as a disappointment at the time and the band split.
Alan Hull enjoyed a successful solo career, beginning with the 1973 album Pipedream on the Charisma label. His second LP, Squire was released in 1975 by Warner Bros,
Lindisfarne re-grouped at Christmas 1977 and have more or less carried on treading the boards ever since, albeit now without the late Alan Hull – who died suddenly of a heart thrombosis on 17 November 1995 while working on a new album – or Simon Cowe or Ray Jackson.
Alan Hull Vocals Ray Jackson Guitar, mandolin, vocals Simon Cowe Guitar, mandolin, vocals Rod Clements Bass, violin, vocals Ray Laidlaw Drums
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The third album, Dingly Dell, was seen as a disappointment at the time and the band split.
