RGG September 2015 - p.34
Even though all members of REEF had west
country connections it wasn't until each
individual separately moved to London in
that the band was born Gary Stringer Jack
Bessant Kenwyn House & Dominic Greensmith
ended up living together on the outskirts of
west London and using Gary's bedroom as their
rehearsal room soon started touting for gigs
saw REEF tour with Soundgarden and by
invitation with The Rolling Stones as the band
built up a reputation as electric live performers
'good feeling' was released again (this time
through S ) and scored as the bands first of
their top
singles preceding their gold
selling debut album 'Replenish' which peaked
at * in the UK charts
Produced by George Drakoulias 'Glow' was
recorded both at London's Abbey Road studios
and Sound City in Los Angeles On the week of
it's release 'Glow' went straight to number in
the UK album charts and spawned the bands
biggest hit 'place your hands' along with other
top
singles The album also provided a
platform for the band to tour all over the world
as well as here at home with REEF headlining
the other stage at Glastonbury festival
alongside appearances at Glasgow's T in the
park and both V festivals In early
Reef
released their third album 'Rides' Recorded at
Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles (The Beach
Boys 'Pet Sounds' and Michael Jackson's
'Thriller' were also recorded here) and working
again with 'Glow' producer George Drakoulias
the band set about making a more expansive
sounding record swapping instruments on
some songs and adding new sounds on others
(David Campbell the father of the American
artist Beck for example added the string
arrangements for this work) The album
reached * in the uk and contained the top
single 'I've got something to say'
The autumn of the year
saw REEF release
their fourth studio album 'Getaway' under the
stewardship of a new producer Al Clay
(Pixies/Stereophonics) Although critically well
received this album didn't have the same com
mercial success as earlier REEF records but still
made * in the album charts and included the
upbeat hit 'set the record straight'
SEP
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