I first saw the band at Weeley Pop Festival in 1972; accompanied by a 54 piece orchestra, they played a perfect combination of Rock and Classical Music, which was their early unique style.  They had formed in 1966 in Oldham, combining 4 members of 2 local bands they were John Lees (guitar), Les Holroyd (bass), Wooly Wolstenholme (keyboards) and Mel Pritchard (drums).  They spent a couple of years looking for a record contract and quietly perfecting their sound.  Heavily influenced by The Beatles they had exquisite harmonies and with three songwriters, no shortage of ideas.  Their first eponymous album came out in 1970 and was mature and self-assured and filled with the best of their early years’ songs.  A couple of heavy numbers ‘Taking Some Time On’ and ‘Good Love Child’ interspersed with delicate slower numbers; the haunting ‘Mother Dear’ and ‘The Iron Maiden’ and culminating with the song which closed their early shows ‘Dark Now My Sky’ – a wonderful invocation of both doom and hopefulness.  They went on to a mixed career, never quite scaling the heights, but with a loyal following especially in Europe where their albums regularly topped the charts.  I have always loved them, my favourite album being ‘Once Again’ their follow-up.  But this has always remained a regular on my playlists; it instantly established their ‘sound’ and was a marker in a crowded field of their individuality.