BIRTHDAY PARTY SESSIONS Gerald Chevin, Jeff Lynne & Eddie Offord

"The Idle Race are second only to The Beatles", so spoke Kenny Everett in 1968 and did not stand alone. Although they never charted, The Idle Race were highly rated by their contemporaries and produced some of the most fascinating music of the Sixties. Eccentric yet endearing, eclectic yet original, The Idle Race created melodies which floated gently, rumbled darkly or jangled along with a strange sort of menacing jollity whilst their subject matter dealt with human idiosyncrasy, mental disturbance and the more obscure angles of everyday life. On first hearing, they made accessible pop music; on second hearing, it was something far more intriguing!

Preview extract from 'Back To The Story' sleeve notes by Gill