John Spencer
b. 1942, London, England. A highly praised songwriter in the rock tradition, Spencer has yet to achieve commercial success. He worked in book publishing before playing solo gigs at colleges and folk clubs during the early '70s. In 1974 he formed John Spencer's Louts with multi-instrumentalist Johnny G (John Gotting) and keyboards player Chas Ambler. Spencer himself played lead guitar. Performing his wry, literate and passionate compositions such as Mary Lou And The Sunshine Boy and Bye Bye 69, the Louts built up a following on the London pub and club circuit. Recording contracts were signed and broken by three labels before Beggar's Banquet issued the group's only album. Spencer's evocative, gravelly voice and the quality of his lyrics brought favourable reviews but poor sales. Soon afterwards the Louts disbanded with Gotting and Ambler pursuing other projects. Spencer formed Spencer's Alternative with ex-Gryphon members Graeme Taylor (guitar) and Malcolm Bennett (bass). This group released Mumbo Jumbo (1980) but was not heard to full effect on record until Dutch label Any Time issued OUT WITH A BANG. In the meantime, Spencer's Cruisin' had been a Swedish hit for Jerry Williams and had been covered by Texan artist Augie Meyers. With Taylor the only survivor from the original line-up of his group, Spencer recorded the tougher-sounding BREAK AND ENTRY which was issued by Irish-based Round Tower Records. The same label reissued all Spencer's earlier recordings in 1991 when John Spencer himself produced an album of cover versions of his own songs featuring Martin Simpson and Danny Thompson. Spencer is also a fiction writer, having published The Electric Lullabye Meat Market (1974), A Case For Charlie (1978) and Charlie Gets The Picture (1979).