BAND PROFILE – The Balcony

[orig line-up]
Yorkie – bass + vocals
Paul Cavanah – guitar + bass
Peter Macassey – bass
Peter Baker – keys
Caroline Henning – backing vox
The Major – drums

The Balcony got together in the late ’80 formed by Dave ‘Yorkie’ Palmer (voc) (ex Dance Party, Egypt For Now, later Space), Mark Cowley (drms), Steve Powell (gtr). Also feat; Joe McKechnie (drms), Mark Davies (bass), Phil Lucking (brass), Mike Kidson (brass), Martin Green (sax), John Hawkins (bass), and also Narash Nathaniel.
They were a radical pot pourri of styles, with a tougher, leaner funk base. The psychedelic edge was still evident, Yorkie even managed to get 60’s guru Mayo Thompson, of Red Crayola / Pere Ubu fame, to produce the 1st single.

Later lineups included the addition of a brass section, and Caroline Henning on backing vocals. At one gig they had 3 drummers. They had a track, Too Late featured in the Chris Bernard / Frank Clarke film ‘Letter To Brezhnev’. Their 3rd single, A Cover Version was effectively banned due to its lyrical content, and was never commercially released… the band split as a consequence. The mould was never made that they couldn’t break.

Recorded John Peel session & a Saturday Live session (both for Radio 1). Changed name to Big.

Click here for an archive interview they did in Melody Maker Jan87 (courtesy of Penny Kiley).

Releases: Surprise After Surprise / The Lizard Hunt – Praxis Records 7″ single (Re-released on ‘Imprint Of Quality’).
‘Portrait’ – 10 track cassette album rel through Probe Records distribution.
Redder Than Burning Coals / Too Late / Losers – Pink Pop 12″ single.
A Cover Version / A Cover Version (Version) / Bright & Guilty World – Pink Pop (promo only)
‘Watching Your World’ – Imprint Of Quality comp CD

John Peel: The Lizard Hunt / Surprise After Surprise / She Keeps Her Secret.
Saturday Live: Redder Than Burning Coals / It’s A Wonderful Life / The Bottom Rung.