line up 1 (1967) as Utopia

- Simon Byrne -- vocals, drums, percussion

- Henry Marsh – vocals, guitar, keyboards

- John Perry – vocals, bass  

  line up 2 (1967-69) as Toast

- Simon Byrne -- vocals, drums, percussion

- Henry Marsh – vocals, guitar, keyboards

- John Perry – vocals, bass  

  line up 3 (1969-70) 

- Simon Byrne -- vocals, drums, percussion

NEW - Casey (aka Annette Casey, aka Casie Synge) – vocals  

- Henry Marsh – vocals, guitar, keyboards

- John Perry – vocals, bass  

   line up 4 (1970-71) as Gringo

- Simon Byrne -- vocals, drums, percussion

- Casey (aka Annette Casey, aka Casie Synge) – vocals

- Henry Marsh – vocals, guitar, keyboards

- John Perry – vocals, bass  

  line up 5 (1971-72) 

- Simon Byrne -- vocals, drums, percussion

- Casey (aka Annette Casey, aka Casie Synge) – vocals

- Henry Marsh – vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Aviator (John Perry)  

- Caravan (John Perry)  

- Casey & Friend (Casey Synge)

- Curved Air (John Perry)  

- Data (Henry Marsh)

- Gordon Giltrap Band  (John Perry)  

- Iranquility (John Perry)

- Jump (Jhn Perry)  

- Henry Marsh (solo efforts)

- John Perry (solo efforts)

- Quantum Jump (John Perry)

- Sailor (Henry Marsh)

- Spreadeagle (John Perry)

- Thunderthighs (Casey Synge)

- Toast (Simon Byrne,  Annette Casey, Henry Marsh, and 

  John Perry)

- Utopia (John Perry)  

Genre: progressive

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Gringo

Company: Decca

Catalog: DL-75314

Year: 1971

Country/State: Somerset, UK / Dundalk, Ireland

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: sample copy sticker on back cover; minor ring and edge wear; three radio station stamps on cover (KCOE-FM)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5255

Price: $50.00

Drummer Simon Byrne, guitarist Henry Marsh and bassist  John Perry started their musical collaboration in the Somerset-based beat band Utopia.  By the late 1960s they’d mutated into the band Toast, releasing a Paul Simon cover as a one-shot 45 for CBS  in the UK and Jamie Records in the States:

- 1970's ‘Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall’ b/w ‘Summer of Miranda’ (Jamie catalog number 1391)

- 1070's ‘Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall’ b/w ‘Summer of Miranda’ (CBS catalog number CBS-4786)

Within a matter of months the band underwent another transition, adding Irish singer Annette Casey  to the line up and dropping the ‘Toast’ moniker to become Gringo.  Under the tutelage of producer Tony Cox, Casey had previously fronted the band Casey & Friends.  Casey soon married, becoming Casey Synge.

Hitting the road, the band eventually ended up working on the French Rivera (tough job).  Returning to the UK they continued to tour, opening for the likes of Barclay James Harvest and Caravan.  The resulting publicity led to a deal with Decca and the release of  1971’s cleverly titled “Gringo”.  Produced by Cox, the results offered up an interesting mix of British progressive and pop moves.  Featuring group-penned material, tracks like ‘Cry the Beloved Country’ and ‘More and More’ offered up an engaging mixture of complex structures, occasionally interesting lyrics, coupled with strong melodies and nifty harmony vocals (frequently within the same song). They were also capable of writing and performing straight out commercial material.  ‘Emma and Harry’ and would have sounded great on top-40 radio.  On the surface that may not have sounded particularly inspiring, but the results were actually surprisingly original and worthwhile.  All four members had decent voices, with Synge exhibiting a multi-octave range that occasionally recalled a rougher Maddy Prior (check out the backward tape segment on ‘Our Time Is Our Time’), while Marsh displayed some excellent guitar moves (a nice sample of his dexterity is found on ‘Gently Step Through the Stream’).  Imagine Caravan-lite, or Curved Air with an itch for a top-40 hit and you’ll get a feel for the band’s repertoire. Unfortunately, Decca’s growing business problems saw the band largely ignored in terms of promotional support.   In support of the album the label financed brief Dutch and English tours.  Unfortunately before the end of 1971 Perry had joined the band Iranquility.  The band soldiered on through 1972, even begin work on a planned sophomore LP, but splintered before anything else was released.

"Gringo" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Cry the Beloved Country   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 5:50    rating: **** stars

'Cry the Beloved Country' opened the album with a pretty, slightly progressive tinged ballad that showcased some beautiful harmony vocals. If you'd edited out the mid-song jam section, it would have made for a commercially viable single.

2.) I’m Another Man   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 4:15  rating: *** stars

With Casey on lead vocals, 'I’m Another Man' found the band opting for a more rock-oriented sound.   Decca/MCA tapped an edited version of the song as an UK single:

- 1971's ‘I’m Another Man’ b/w ‘Soft Mud’ (MCA catalog number MKS-5067).  

3.) More and More   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 4:40    rating: *** stars

'More and More' sounded like the band had taken two compositions and stitched them together,  The first half showcased Synge's powerful voice, but also underscored her tendency to occasionally shrike.  The second half shifted the focus to the band's instrumental skills with a far more progressive segment, before returning to the original melody.  It grows on you with time.

4.) Our Time Is Our Time   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 5:00   rating: **** stars

'Out Time Is Our Time' ended side one with a nice, progressive ballad again showcasing the band's awesome vocal tools.  The song was also interesting for the segment where Casey's vocals were apparently run backward (or she was taken over by the spirits).

(side 2)
1.) Gently Step Through the Stream   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 3:55     rating: *** stars

Opening up with some Henry Marsh heavy metal guitar moves, 'Gently Step Through the Stream' quickly morphed into a slightly lysergic-tinged tune that bounced between fragile acoustic ballad and blazing progressive meltdown.  Interesting and again their vocals were stunning..

2.) Emma and Harry   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 3:55   rating: **** stars

'Emma and Harry' featued the band at their most mainstream and commercial.  Very radio-friendly tune with sweet melodies - kind of a Gilbert O'Sullivan vibe going on.  Nice Marsh guitar solo.

3.) Moonstone   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 4:30    rating: *** stars

'Moonstone' captured the band at their most progressive.  It wasn't bad, but I found the jazzy interludes kind of bland. 

4.) Land of Who Knows Where   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 4:05     rating: **** stars

'Land of Who Knows Where' has always reminded me of a cross between a British version of The Mamas and the Papas and Maddy Prior andSteeleye Span.  Perhaps that doesn't sound all that promising to some folks, but it was one of the album highlights for me.

5.) Patriotic Song   (Simon Byrne - Henry Marsh - John Perry - Casey Synge) – 5:10   rating: **** stars

The album's toughest, rock-oriented song and an album highlight, it's sad that today the song is probably best known for the fact Eminem sampled it for 'Cold Wind Blows'.  Always wondered how he stumbled across this obscurity.

Following their breakup the band members went on to various outside projects.

- Bryne hooked up with Brotherhood of Man and went into sessions work.  

- Marsh reappeared as a member of Sailor and in 2005 got around to releasing a solo album..  

- Perry proved the most active, joining Iranquility.  The band soldiered on through 1972, even begin work on a planned sophomore LP, but splintered , then Spreadeagle, followed by stints in Caravan, Quantum, Jump, Curved Air, and Aviator.  He also recorded a 1976 solo album "Sunset Wading". 

- Synge reappeared in the dance-oriented trio Thunderthighs (interesting name for a female trio) before becoming an in-demand sessions singer.