East of Eden

East of Eden was a British progressive rock band, who had a Top 10 hit in the UK with the single, "Jig-a-Jig", in 1971. The track was stylistically unlike any of their other work. Although some might consider this group as being a symphonic progressive band, others state that their style is mostly jazz oriented. Combining flutes, violins and tape loops to folk, gypsy and psychedelic music, the East of Eden style was always heavily supported on a pure rock base; strong and experimental. (Read more at Wikipedia)
== Links To Peel ==
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Due to the experimental nature of their musical oeuvre, Peel was initially interested in East of Eden. During the early stage of their career they were written about in International Times, and made their name by playing to underground audiences, before achieving their sole (and musically somewhat untypical) commercial success. Their music was featured in some shows from 1969 and 1970 – the play of "Northern Hemisphere" on the show of 16 February 1969 includes an early example of a Peel "wrong speed moment" – and they were booked twice for session recordings and once for a Sunday Concert. However, frequent personnel changes (frontman and electric violinist Dave Arbus left in the early 1970s) and the relative lack of diversity in their later music, compared to other experimental acts Peel was championing at the time, led to the DJ progressively abandoning their music, and after their brief heyday they were not featured again in his programmes.
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In 2012, four East Of Eden LPs were among the first 100 albums by artists beginning with E when details of Peel’s record collection were initially released via TheSpace website (see Record Collection: E). In a video interview with the John Peel Archive, guitarist Geoff Nicholson recalled Peel being "the only person who championed our sort of music."
== Sessions ==
*Two sessions. No known commercial release.
1. Recorded: 1970-04-06. First broadcast: 18 April 1970. Repeat: 11 July 1970.
*In The Stable of the Sphinx / Nymphenburger / Jig-A-Jig (listed as "It's the Porridge They're After" in Ken's book)
2. Recorded: 1970-08-11. First broadcast: 12 September 1970. Repeat: 21 November 1970.
*Scott of the Antarctic / Halloween
== Live ==
*09 August 1970: recording date unknown. No known commercial release.
#Waterways
#Moth (MP)
#In The Snow for a Blow
#Xhorkham
== Other Shows Played ==
(Please add more information if known)
;1969
*16 February 1969: Northern Hemisphere (album - Mercator Projected) Deram SML 1038
*02 March 1969: Communion (album - Mercator Projected) Deram SML 1038
*09 March 1969: Northern Hemisphere (single) Deram DM 242
;1970
*21 February 1970: Leaping Beauties For Rudy/Marcus Junior (LP - Snafu) Deram SML 1050
*07 March 1970: Habibi Baby/Boehm Constrictor /Beast Of Sweden (LP - Snafu) Deram SML 1050
*30 May 1970: Jig-A-Jig (single) Deram DM 297
== See Also ==
*Stud
*ABC Of Beauty
*Record Collection: E
*Gigography 1968
*Gigography 1969
*Gigography 1970
*Disc & Music Echo: Peel Columns
== External Links ==
*Wikipedia
*Official website
*John Peel Archive: E is for East Of Eden (video)
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