The JSD Band was an influential Scottish-based Celtic and

folk rock Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers s ...

band primarily active from 1969 to 1974 and then again briefly from 1997 to 1998. The band released five full-length albums, and numerous singles and special releases, many of which are still sought after by collectors from around the world.

The band

The JSD Band formed in 1969 and derived its name from the first letter of the first name of each of its three founding members: Jim Divers, Sean O’Rourke, and Des Coffield.Peel, John, (1971), Sleeve notes for album JSD Band Chuck Fleming and Colin Finn also joined the group rounding out the five-member lineup. Additionally, fiddle player Lindsay Scott temporarily filled in for Chuck Fleming in 1972. Initially, the band played the folk-club circuit with other artists such as

Billy Connolly Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, retired comedian, artist, writer, musician, and presenter. He is sometimes known, especially in his homeland, by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One"). Known for his ...

and

Gerry Rafferty Gerald Rafferty (16 April 1947– 4 January 2011) was a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973. His solo hits in th ...

of the

Humblebums The Humblebums were a Scottish folk rock band, based in Glasgow. Its members included Billy Connolly, who later became a renowned stand-up comedian and actor; guitarist Tam Harvey; and singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. The band was active from ...

and

Barbara Dickson Barbara Ruth Dickson (born 27 September 1947) is a Scottish singer and actress whose hits include 'I Know Him So Well', 'Answer Me' and ' January February'. Dickson has placed fifteen albums on the UK Albums Chart from 1977 to date, and had a ...

. After getting noticed for their lively electric-rock approach to traditional Scottish folk music when they won the Scottish Folk Group Championships at Edinburgh's

Usher Hall The Usher Hall is a concert hall in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,200 people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its ...

, they made appearances on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

with DJ John Peel and on BBC Two's ''

Old Grey Whistle Test ''The Old Grey Whistle Test'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''Whistle Test'' or ''OGWT'') is a British television music show. The show was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers, commissioned by David Attenborough and aired on BBC2 from 1971 to 1988. ...

'' hosted by "Whispering" Bob Harris. In 1972, they were invited to be the support band for

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

during his UK leg of the

Ziggy Stardust Tour The Ziggy Stardust Tour was a concert tour by David Bowie during 1972–73, to promote the studio albums ''Hunky Dory'', ''The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'' and ''Aladdin Sane''. Bowie was accompanied by his backin ...

. In 1971, the JSD Band released its first album entitled ''Country of the Blind'' on the

Regal Zonophone Regal may refer to: Companies * Regal Beloit, usually referred to as Regal, an American manufacturer of electric motors * Regal Cinema (disambiguation), several cinemas of that name * Regal Cinemas, a major American theater chain * Regal Cinemas ...

label. Two albums on Cube Records would follow: ''JSD Band'' (commonly referred to as ''The Black Album''; 1972) and ''Travelling Days'' (1973). Following the release of 1973's album, ''Travelling Days'', the group issued three

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

: "Sarah Jane/Paddy Stacks" (1973), "Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)/Reel Call" (1974), and "Hayes and Harlington Blues/Cuckoo" (1974). In July 1974, pressure from various sources took its toll and the band disbanded. The JSD Band reunited for a short stint from 1997 to 1998 and released two additional albums on KRL Records (a

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

-based label specialising in Scottish traditional music): 1997's ''For the Record'' which consisted of newly recorded acoustic versions of previously released material and 1998's ''Pastures of Plenty'' which consisted of new material and featured long-time friend of the group, Rob Mairs, on five-string banjo. In 2013, the band reformed and began playing again with all the original members and Rob Mairs first guesting then becoming a permanent member.

Select album discography

*''Country of the Blind'' (1971) - Regal Zonophone #"Country of the Blind" #"Cooleys" #"Childhood Memories" #"Sara Jane" #"Old Time Heartaches" #"Nancy" / "Jenny Picking Cockles" #"Wonders of Nature" #"

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962, recorded on November 14 that year, and released on the 1963 album ''The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' and as the b-side of the ''Blowin' in the Wind'' single. The song was cov ...

" #"Darling Corey" #"Morning Dew" #"Cousin Caterpillar" #"Over and Over" / "Hope" *''JSD Band'' (1972) - Cube #"Open Road" #"As I Roved Out" #"Betsy (The Serving Maid)" #"Barney Brallaghan" #"Johnny O'Braidislea" #"Going Down The Road" #"Sylvie" #"Irish Girl" #"Honey Babe" #"Groundhog" *''Travelling Days'' (1973) - Cube #"Galway Races" #"Fishin' Blues" #"Sarah Jane" #"Travelling Days" #"King's Favourite" #"The Cuckoo" #"The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow" #"Down the Road" #"Young Waters" #"The Green Fields of America" *''For the Record'' (1997) - KRL #"Sarah Jane" #"As I Roved Out" #"The Cuckoo" #""The Irish Girl" / "The Musical Priest" #"Groundhog; Johnny O' Breadislea" #"The Sunshine Hornpipe" / "The Mountain Road" #"Darlin' Corey" #"The Galway Races" #"Going Down the Road" #"Don't Think Twice It's Alright" #"Down the Road" #"Morrison's Jig" / "Cooley's Reel" #"Over and Over" *''Pastures of Plenty'' (1998) - KRL #"The Bonnie Lass of Albany" #"Unknown Polka" / "The Dancing Master's Reel" / "As I Went Out Upon the Ice" #"Pastures of Plenty" #"The Downfall of Paris" / "The Chanter's Tune" #"Shake Loose the Border" #"Seamus's Jig" / "The Monaghan Jig" #"Patrick's Island" #"The Gypsy Laddie" #"The Sligo Maid" / "The Humours of Tulla" / "St Anne's Reel" / "The Green Fields of Rossbeigh" / "O'Rourke's Reel" #"Shady Cove" #"Rodney's Glory" / "An Spalpeen Fanach" #"The Spanish Lady"

References

External links

Kinemagigz JSD Band
{{Authority control Scottish folk music groups Celtic rock groups British folk rock groups