Company

Extract from the biography of Lionel Azulay
1973 signed to Essex Music/Cube Records with my very talented band ‘Company’ comprising Del Palmer (www.delpalmer.com, also see his myspace from my friends list), Brian Bath (probably the most talented person in the universe and contributed to almost everything I have ever done!! Visit www.brianbath.com), Barry Sherlock and occasionally joined by Paddy Bush live on mandolin. However, in 1974, a motorbike accident brought my promising career to an early and abrupt end.
2006 Company was ’Revisited’ for a fun reunion after almost 30 years. Recorded 4 songs penned by Brian and Barry. A very enjoyable weekend - 4 guys having lots of laughs with no expectations of the outcome - some nice recordings thanks to exhaustive transferring from analogue to ProTools by Del...
Extract from the biography of Brian Bath
Eventually a new band was on the go. Del, Lionel, Barry and myself – known as Company. We get an audition at Essex Music in Poland street London. We have a lovely manager in Albert Azulay (Lionel’s Brother) who had previously, by some miracle, secured us a recording session with Ossie Burns – the early producer of The Bee Gees, although at that time making hits with the New Seekers We were very young and generally not that familiar with the recording process (apart from Barry) but were more than keen to learn. Like a lot of kids around this time I guess, I used to hook up a couple of tape or cassette machines to experience the wonders of overdubbing. Ossie fortunately liked our songs, and politely told us to rehearse, rehearse, -work hard as we could on all sides.Lionel’s family, bless ‘em , used to let us rehearse in Albert’s bedroom upstairs once, twice, sometimes every day of the week! Albert used to sleep in the same room at times,-because he was doing night work! We finally get signed to Essex Music and Fly/Cube Records. Company are scheduled to make a couple of singles and one album,- things go well, myself and Barry’s songs are chosen for the master recording session….. the backing tracks are laid down, then….. Tradegy!..... Lionel has a near fatal road accident on his motorbike on the way home from his girlfriend’s house late that night.His arm is severely damaged. He is hospitalized – the boy who when I first played with him- (one of Malcolm Clark’s early mates) would play rhythms – different on each limb, and have a conversation at the same time . Boy !I cried as much as him when this came about .
Extract from the biography of Del Palmer
There was a short time during 1972/3 when we had, what we thought was a fantastic band called Company. It was a four-piece featuring Brian (as usual) and two others who were already firm friends Barry Sherlock who also played guitar and Lionel Azulay a very fine drummer. We seemed to have a perfect balance which quickly attracted interest from several record companies. We signed to Cube records in 1973 and did several recording sessions with a view to releasing our first single. However, fate dealt us a severe blow when our drummer Lionel was involved in a serious road accident. This he fortunately survived but could not play for some years.
Some thoughts from Barry…
Yes, we were definitely a tight unit – both musically and also in the sense of having a shared vision and goal. I think all of this was due to the fact that we came from the same background and we shared the same tastes and aspirations (and sense of humour!). In terms of music, each of us had, and still has, his own strengths. Brian, in addition to being a consummate guitarist, is an absolutely brilliant songwriter – he was then, and he still is now. Hopefully, you’ll get the chance to hear more of his songs, both old and new, as time goes by. Del always was a cool bass player who could somehow manage to hold down the rhythm whilst experimenting with melodic lines at the top end of the instrument. He also has a great sense of proportion, just listen to his excellent production and arrangements on his new album – everything is there in the right measure. He is now proving himself to be a very talented lyricist and songwriter. What can I say about Lionel apart from the fact that he exudes musicality and rhythm – this guy can get a tune out of anything! I remember him at school playing boogie woogie on a beat up old piano in front of the whole class in one of the music lessons – the melody and feel simply poured out. I was absolutely knocked out by this, and even more so when I was realised he was playing by ear. I also remember Lionel playing 7/8 with one hand, 5/4 with the other, 3/4 on the bass drum of the drum kit whilst having a conversation at the same time (see Brian’s biog above). The guy is a musical genious and I wish him every success with his new album sales. And then there’s me…pretty shy really, but put me in front of an audience and I come alive, at least I used to…
21 May 2008
The Company boys would like to thank Dale Stallins for his help in setting up this page.... Cheers Mate!!..
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