McCully Workshop — Genesis 1971 (South Africa, Progressive Rock)

McCully Workshop is arguably one of South Africa’s finest pop rock bands. They started way back in the ’60s, had their first hit single in 1970, dominated the South African airwaves in the ’70s, continued through the ’80s and ’90s and in the 21st century are still going strong. IN THE BEGINNING When asked about their beginnings, vocalist, bassist and producer Tully McCullagh had this to say: “My brother, Mike, who plays drums and myself would play around and record ourselves in the lounge, I was about nine at the time. We recorded a track called ‘Swinging Time’ with some other friends when I was thirteen and sent it to a record company. The track didn’t get anywhere but it was quite interesting. We grew a bit more and when I was sixteen we started a band called McCully Workshop and a whole string of other bands and I started a garage studio.” McCully Workshop has had many line-up changes over the years, but these 2 talented brothers have always surrounded themselves with superb musicians. In 1965, the McCullagh brothers, Tully (born Terence on 31st May 1953) and Mike (born Michael on 7th April 1947) started as a folk-rock trio with Richard Hyam and called themselves the Blue Three. Hyam had previously been in a folk duo, Tiny Folk, with his sister Melanie. After a few personnel- and name-changes, like The Blue Beats and Larfing Stocke, the line-up settled down (for a while) in 1969 and they called themselves the McCully Workshop because they used to rehearse in Mrs McCullagh’s garage. Vocalist Glenda Wassman later married Richard Hyam, and then formed the pop band Pendulum who had a big hit with ‘Take My Heart’ in 1976. Glenda Hyam then went on to major success with the all-girl group, Clout, who had a worldwide smash hit with ‘Substitute’, which went to #2 in the UK in 1978. Tracks: 01. Genesis — 00:00 including: a). Evolution b). Overture To Cancel Hate c). Survival And Genesis 02. (We All) Look For The Sun — 07:57 03. Stone Man — 11:17 including: a). Stone Man b). Degeneration c). Satan’s Dance 04. Red Light City —21:04including: a). Sodom b). Gomorrah 05. Sweet Fields Of Green — 28:57 06. Togetherness — 32:47 07. Order Out Of Chaos — 37:25 Personnel: Tully McCully — lead vocals, bass Bruce Gordon — guitar, percussion, lead vocals Ian Smith — trumpet, flute, flugelhorn, trombone, percussion Mike McCully — drums, percussion, vocals