Hi all,
some amazing pictures and information on the discussed issue can be found in this acticle:
http://www.stanlaundon.com/seventies.html
"This is The Losers photographed in 1977 and from the collection of Ian Naisbitt. They are Tony Carrington on guitar, Dave Burton on vocals and guitar, songwriter Steve Conway on vocals, Ian Naisbitt - also known as Norman Nosebait - on drums and Mick Hutchinson on bass. This is the band that went on to win the Melody Maker Rock Contest but with Eddie Guy on guitar. They then became Chris Rea's backing band for 4 years."
"Chris Rea & Ian Naisbitt in the Beautiful Losers - sometime in the mid 70's at an unknown venue. Thanks to John Taylor for this photograph."
Dave Burton, Eddy Guy, Mick Hutchinson & Norman Nosebait (Ian Naisbitt, he also wrote somee comments ot CR music at youtube), e.g.really played with Chris on his albums, while Steve Conway was the founder and leader of Magdalene. Strange the year is put as 1977, I thought Chris replaced Steve earlier, ca. 1974-75 but I have no concrete proof. As it is told that Beautiful Losers is the new name for Magdalene after Chris joined the band, it may be presumed it is in fact Magdalene in the picture.
However, there are some slight contradictions with what is put forward:
- in the interview at This Morning Show in March 2004 Chris says he was a backer, not a lead singer, of The Beautiful Losers, which were invited for the Melody Maker magazine music contest and won the possibility to sign a contract with EMI while Chris at the same time was offered a contract with Magnet
- in another interview the same year Chris says he was simultaneously playing guitar in 2 bands, not mentioning the names. And then one day it happened only he knew the words of a new band's song, that is how he became a singer not intending to be one.
- in 1987 interview for the Canadian radio Chris says he was playing 2 nights solo (???) and another 2 nights a week with Beautiful Losers, playing guitar here.
As it is nothing known about The Beautiful Losers after Chris started to record as a solo artist I can presume they failed to sign a cotract or to release an album with EMI and returned to join Chris as the members of his band. But somebody may know better.
Thanks ahead for your comments on this,
Andrey