I Shall Be Released: Edwards Hand — “New York City Rain”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — August 2, 2023

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

891) Edwards Hand — “New York City Rain”

(see #151, 663, 813)

For song #911, how could I not play “New York City Rain”, a melancholy but brimming with hope soft rock classic by the exquisite Edwards Hand? “NYC Rain” is from the duo’s sadly unreleased (until 2015) ’71 album Rainshine, which David Wells says “extended the earlier Simon & Garfunkel comparisons but added an understated country rock feel”. (David Wells (with special thanks to John Miller), http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2016/09/edwards-hand-rainshine-1971-uk.html)

Oregano Rathbone calls Rainshine “very much the keeper you’d anticipate, given its provenance. Soft-rock sceptics may initially struggle with the earnest balladry of . . . but [it’s] slow-release allure is cumulatively inescapable.” (https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/rainshine) David Wells explains that:

Rainshine was recorded in April 1971 . . . under the aegis of George Martin. His vocal and orchestral arrangements were, of course, peerless … [and] David Dowd’s guitar work provided the sympathetic, laid-back feel that was required. . . . [Almost] everything was performed live with an absolute minimum of overdubs, with Rod [Edwards] on piano and Roger [Hand] on acoustic guitar. The duo’s harmonies were sumptuous . . . .  Most importantly of all, however, the new songs were superb. . . . The album was completed in less than three weeks and duly dispatched to the American branch of RCA. [Manager] Lonnie Poncher was standing by to set up a US tour, secure in the knowledge that, whereas Rod and Roger had previously requested an orchestra, they were now a tight, self contained five-piece unit. Their future seemed rosy, but . . . . RCA were extremely unhappy about the change in style from the hard rock approach of [EH’s second album] Stranded (see #813); they didn’t hear a potential hit single, and refused to release the album. “When we gave them Stranded, we were concerned that they wouldn’t like it as it was essentially a progressive rock album”, recalls John Miller. “Instead they loved it. When it came to the next album, they wanted another prog rock set – but instead we gave them Rainshine. They were horrified. They told us that America had plenty of Simon & Garfunkel-style soft rock acts of their own, and that there was no market for an English band doing the same thing. Lennie Poncher unexpectedly announced his retirement, so we had nobody in our corner, and RCA turned down the LP. George (Martin) was really shocked – he’d never had an album rejected before!” It was a sad end to Edwards Hand, who, in Roger’s words, “went out with a whimper”. John Miller was already producing in his own right, and he suggested that they form a production company together . . . . This led to the three of them opening their own recording studio, Redan Recorders, and a new career as arrangers and record producers. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that Rod and Roger did make one more album together: The Butterfly Ball And the Grasshopper’s Feast, released . . . in 1975. . . . However, it is the long-lost Rainshine that effectively constitutes the duo’s final work together: throughout their four albums that they recorded under the banners of either the Picadilly Line (see #806) or Edwards Hand, Rod and Roger were always searching for their own style. They believe that, on Rainshine, they finally found it.

http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2016/09/edwards-hand-rainshine-1971-uk.html

As to the history of Edwards Hand, Forced Exposure tells us that:

Rod Edwards and Roger Hand formed this breezy, psychedelic pop outfit after briefly recording as The Picadilly Line. Sadly, th[eir first album] album never made it to a British release as their record label folded, which subsequently took their EMI deal and UK distributor contract away at precisely the wrong time. This is therefore a genuine lost UK ’60s gem that received glowing reviews upon its release in the U.S.

https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/edwards-hand-edwards-hand-cd/FLASH.005CD.html

Marios adds some more background:

In 1968 CBS abandoned the idea of a follow up album for the Picadilly Line and looked instead for commercial success through singles. When the singles also failed to hit the charts CBS started to lose interest in the band . . . . American manager Lennie Poncher . . . offered them a US management deal [and] secured a record contract with CRT records, a new operation set up by the tape manufacturing conglomerate. . . . [T]hrough the force of his personality [he] secured the services of George Martin to produce Rod and Roger’s new album. . . . [T]hey were to be the first group produced by George after the Beatles. . . . [A]s musical director George worked closely with the duo planning, pruning, orchestrating, recording and mixing the material. . . . [T]hey also attracted the cream of the UK session musicians. . . . The reviews were excellent and a buzz was in the air but GRT had moved too soon too fast and they lacked the depth of experience of a major label. They did not have the promotion, the organisation or quite simply the men hitting the radio stations. . . .[A]lthough Edwards Hand’s [first] album garnered critical acclaim in the USA, the GRT label folded almost immediately after release of the album taking the band’s first steps at a career with it.

http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-edwards-hand-edwards-hand-1968-uk.html

Marios then discusses Stranded:

Having worked with George Martin on their self titled debut, Edward’s Hand began recording at Morgan Studios in 1970, attempting to create a harder and more progressive sound than before. There where no nervous second album vibes here! The album is comprised of evocative and intelligent progressive pop songs immaculately produced featuring Edward’s and Hand’s distinctive harmonies to the fore. . . . Clearly more confident and adventurous lyrically on this album, Edward’s Hand also had more time with George Martin during the pre-production stages.

http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2012/06/edwards-hand-stranded-1970-uk-wonderful.html?m=1

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