Marvin, Welch & Farrar (a.k.a. MWF) were a 1970s British and Australian popular music group formed by Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, both members of The Shadows – as a change of direction manoeuvre during 1970 to 1973 – and John Farrar (ex-The Strangers). The distinction was that while The Shadows were famous for their instrumental work, Marvin Welch & Farrar were a trio, vocal harmony group. They have been favourably compared to US folk close harmony group Crosby Stills Nash and Young (a.k.a. CSNY) and The Hollies.
Their second album, Second Opinion (1971), produced by Peter Vince, was voted one of the best ever sounding albums recorded at Abbey Road studios by EMI Records' sound engineers in a private poll during the 1970s.
Contents
History
Marvin, Welch & Farrar was formed in London in July 1970 and comprised Hank Marvin on lead vocals and lead guitar; Bruce Welch on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; and John Farrar on lead vocals and guitar (both lead and rhythm). Reports were appearing in the United Kingdom music press by August that Marvin and Welch of The Shadows were forming a new group.
Marvin later recalled, "I thought at the time that, as the Shadows weren't working regularly, it would be nice to do something new – singing rather than instrumental, though with instrumentals as well, of course. I was talking to Bruce about it and I thought about forming a five-piece. He wasn't keen on a big group so we shelved the idea and started writing songs together. He suggested the two of us should record the songs together. I suggested adding one more person – I wanted the extra strength of a third voice and the scope it would offer".
The third member of the new group was then-unknown on the British 'pop' music scene: Farrar was a member of Australian group, The Strangers, which in 1968 had shared a bill with The Shadows. Welch had watched them from the wings of the theatre and was impressed by the young singer-guitarist: Farrar used a coke bottle to provide a slide guitar effect. When Olivia Newton-John reminded Welch and Marvin about Farrar – who was by then married to Pat Carroll, Newton-John's ex-singing partner – the duo invited him to send over some tapes, and then to join them.
Farrar remembered "Bruce had tried to phone me earlier and had left a message at my mother's house. I had been out working, and had gone home with my wife and we were both fast asleep around 1.30 am when the 'phone rang. When I picked up the 'phone and Bruce told me what he was planning, I couldn't believe it. Pat wanted me to drop everything and fly to London on the next plane, but I was desperately planning to be cool... Pat and I didn't go back to bed until the following morning. We spent the whole night smoking cigarettes, drinking cups of coffee and talking... I was trying so hard to be cool, but if the truth be known I wanted to get on the next plane, too".
The Strangers had been formed in 1961, and when founder, Laurie Arthur, decided to leave in early 1964, he was replaced by then 18-year-old Farrar. In 1968 they were a support act for The Shadows' appearance at the Menzies Hotel in Melbourne. The Strangers visited Vietnam in 1970 to play for Australian and United States troops, and Farrar spent some time in the US studying recording techniques in West Coast studios. Then came the invitation to join Marvin and Welch in London. Three months after the phone call from Welch, Farrar and Carroll were in London and Marvin, Welch and Farrar had begun rehearsing. Welch related "Originally, we planned just to record. But the enormity of John's move across the world and the good reception our album received changed that".
MW&F gigs
Stage appearances by Marvin, Welch and Farrar, and latterly by Marvin and Farrar, resulted in demands for 'old' Shadows numbers such as FBI and Apache etc. So in 1973, Marvin and Welch bowed to the inevitable and announced that the Shadows would come together once or twice a year for recording purposes only. Marvin and Farrar would still be working together, and would join with Welch and Bennett as the Shadows. The first LP by the new line-up was released in November 1973 as Rockin' with Curly Leads.
Almost all the tracks recorded by Marvin, Welch & Farrar were written by its core members, with occasional contributions from co-writers.
Discography (MW&F)
Albums
Live at the BBC – unissued, BBC copyright, various sessions – 1970–1972
Marvin, Welch & Farrar – LP/CD – Regal Zonophone/See4Miles – 1971/1991
Second Opinion – LP/CD – Regal Zonophone/See4Miles – 1971/1991
Second Opinion – Quadraphonic LP – Regal Zonophone – 1972
Step From The Shadows – LP/CD – See4Miles – 1986
A Thousand Conversations – The Best of Marvin, Welch & Farrar – LP/CD – EMI – 1997
Marvin, Welch & Farrar / Second Opinion (Remastered) – CD – BGO – 2006
Cliff Richard 'Live' In Japan '72 – 2LP/8-CD boxset – Toshiba-EMI/EMI – 1973/2008
'Live' In Japan '72 – album by Cliff Richard, CD – EMI (in 2009) features M&F track "Backscratcher".
Live at the Paris Olympia – album by the Shadows, CD – EMI (in 1992) features 10 songs from their MW&F era.
Live at the Paris Olympia/'Live' In Japan – double album by the Shadows, 2CD – Magic Records of France (in 2002) features 10 songs from their MW&F era.
Singles
Faithful / Mr. Sun – 7" – Regal Zonophone RZ 3030 – 22 January 1971
Lady of the Morning / Tiny Robin – 7" – Regal Zonophone RZ 3035 – 28 May 1971
Discography (M&F)
Albums
Hank Marvin & John Farrar – LP/CD – EMI/See4Miles – 1973/1991
Hank Marvin & John Farrar (Remastered) – CD – BGO – 2007
Singles
Music Makes My Day / Skin Deep – 7" – EMI – EMI 2044 – 20 July 1973
Small And Lonely Light / Galadriel (Spirit of Starlight) – 7" – EMI – EMI 2335 – 22 August 1975
Guitars used by MW&F/M&F
Marvin (acoustic): Gibson (6+12 strings); Martin D-45, D-28, Yamaha
Marvin (electric): Burns Marvin; Fender Stratocaster (Sunburst & Black); Gibson Les Paul De-Luxe.
Welch (acoustic): Martin D-28
Farrar (acoustic): Martin D-28
Farrar (electric): Fender Telecaster (thin-line with 3 Bigsby pedals); Gibson Les Paul
Line ups
Studio albums
MW&F "MW&F"/"2nd Opinion"
1970–1972: Marvin(g)+Welch(g)+Farrar(g) && Alan Hawkshaw(kb)+Clem Cattini(d)+Dave Richmond(b)
MW&F BBC radio1 sessions(unissued)
1970–1972: Marvin(g)+Welch(g)+Farrar(g) && Brian Bennett(d)+Geoff Atherton(b)
M&F "HM&JF"
1973: Marvin(g)+Farrar(g) && Alan Tarney(b)+Trevor Spencer(d)+OliviaNJ(recorder)+BBennett(perc)
Live concerts
MW&F (w/Gene Pitney or w/Cliff Richard)
1970–71: Marvin(g)+Welch(g)+Farrar(g)
M&F (Japan Tour – Cliff Richard/Olivia Newton-john/Pat Carroll)
1972: Marvin(g)+Farrar(g) && Rostill(b)+Hawkshaw(kb)+Bennett(d)
M&F (Ronnie Scott's jazz club)
1973: Marvin(g)+Farrar(g) && Dave Olney(b)+Andrew Steele(d)
M&F (Batleys Night club)
1973: Marvin(g)+Farrar(g) && Geoff Atherton(b)+Andrew Steele(d) 1973: Hank Marvin, John Farrar, Andrew Steele, Pat Carroll,. Robert Young (Bailey's cabaret club circuit) UK.
Session musicians
Clem Cattini – Drums and percussion – (1st album)
Dave Richmond – Bass guitar – (1st/2nd albums)
Alan Hawkshaw – Piano and organ – (1st/2nd albums)
Peter Vince – Piano and organ – (1st album)
Brian Bennett – Drums and percussion (2nd album/M&F album)
Duffy Power – Harmonica – (2nd album)
Johnny Van Derek – Fiddle – (2nd album)
Dave Olney – Bass guitar – live
Geoff Atherton – Bass guitar – live
Andrew Steele – Drums – live
Alan Tarney – Bass guitar – (M&F album)
Trevor Spencer – Drums and percussion – (M&F album)
Olivia Newton-John – Recorder – (M&F album)
Richard Hewson – Orchestra – (M&F album)
Robert Young (born Robert Parkes Stockport) – live percussion