Dada: A Short Presentation
In January 1971, the newly-formed band Dada briefly toured the UK with Iron Butterfly and Yes, as part of 'The Age Of Atlantic' package tour (named after a compilation album from Atlantic Records). This is how the official programme introduced them.
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A ten piece band which manages to sound like no-one else is a revelation. Having witnessed the group several times, I can tell you that Dada don't fall into the ready-made trap as pale imitations of Blood, Sweat and Tears or Chicago.
Instead, they've got themselves together as a unique band, with a lot of visual excitement. Dada was put together by Pete Gage, former guitarist with Geno Washington's Ram Jam Band. "The group is the result of a brainchild I had about a year ago," he says. "At that time, there seemed to be a lot of good musicians trying to get things going without much success, and there was an overflow of good talent that wasn't being utilised."
"With all these good people about it seemed to be a good idea to form a group, so I approached each individual in the band and asked them to leave the set-up they were in."
The result was a large handful of throroughly professsional musicians who seemed to blend together in a ridiculously short space of time. The three vocalists are Elkie Brooks, Robert Palmer and Jimmy Chambers. Both Jimmie and Elkie had been doing session work before Dada, with Elkie living on a jazz reputation she had earned a couple of years back. Robert was working with the excellent Alan Bown before the offer from Pete.
Drummer Martin Harriman was with the original Jody Grind, and Don Shinn on organ has worked with the Downliners Sect, James Taylor and Denny Laine. The brass section is Barry Duggan, Malcom Capewell and Ernie Lauchlan, all jazz-based musicians fitting well into the flexible Dada structure. Newest addition is bass player Steve York, who was previously with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three.
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Although they've only been doing gigs for a couple of months, Dada have already created quite a reputation, Sounds seeing them as a band of "immense promise". And there's an album* out in January, a preview of which can be heard on The Age Of Atlantic sampler album.
The Age Of Atlantic UK Tour Programme (1970)
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The Age Of Atlantic (featuring Iron Butterfly and special guests Yes and Dada) UK dates :
- 13th January 1971: Glasgow (Green's Playhouse)
- 14th January 1971: Newcastle (City Hall)
- 15th January 1971: Lancaster (University)
- 16th January 1971: Southsea (Portsmouth Poly.)
- 17th January 1971: Bristol (Colston Hall)
- 18th January 1971: London (Royal Albert Hall)
- 19th January 1971: Birmingham (Town Hall)
- 21st January 1971: Southhampton (Guildhall)
The Age Of Atlantic sampler album track list :
- Delaney & Bonnie (with Eric Clapton): Comin' Home
- MC5: Tonight
- Allman Brothers Band: Black Hearted Woman
- Yes: Survival
- Cold Blood: I'm A Good Woman
- Led Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love
- Iron Butterfly: Termination
- Dada: The Last Time*
- Led Zeppelin: Communication Breakdown
- Dr. John: Wash Mama Wash
- Vanilla Fudge: Need Love
- Buffalo Springfield: Broken Arrow
(*) Robert Palmer is not featured on the album, having joined the band after its recording