Mabel Greer's Toyshop

Mabel Greer's Toyshop were an English psychedelic rock band formed in London, active from 1966 to 1968 that was the precursor to the rock band Yes. Their music was marked by a combination of psychedelic, American blues and classically influenced arrangements with poetic lyrics. Members included Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Tony Kaye, Bill Bruford, and Jon Anderson. The band reformed in 2015 with original members, singer and guitarist Clive Bayley and drummer Robert Hagger, along with Hugo Barré, Tony Kaye, and Billy Sherwood.

History

Mabel Greer’s Toyshop was formed in 1966 by composer-guitarist and vocalist Clive Bayley, drummer Robert Hagger and bassist Paul Rutledge. Hagger had previously met Chris Squire, bassist of the Syn, after having auditioned for them earlier. The Syn broke up in 1967 and Squire was asked to join Mabel Greer. Peter Banks also from the Syn joined soon afterwards. Early in 1968 Jon Anderson joined the band after meeting Squire in a Soho nightclub.^[1]

Mabel Greer worked in the London clubs and Universities around London, including The Marquee, Electric Garden, UFO and Happening 44.^[2] During this time the band met influential BBC radio DJ John Peel at the Middle Earth club in London, and they recorded some tracks for Peel's radio shows, Top Gear and Night Ride.^[3] Some of the tracks were included on The Roots of Yes a compilation album released by Banks, such as "Beyond and Before", a later version of which appeared on the first Yes album, Yes (1969). Mabel Greer also did some demo recording session with the producer Mike Leander for MCA Records.

One of the last gigs for Mabel Greer's Toyshop was in May 1968 in Highgate, London. The line-up was Squire, Jon Anderson, Banks, Bayley and Hagger.^[4] Bill Bruford replaced Hagger in June 1968, and Tony Kaye joined the band on keyboards, after which Mabel Greer's Toyshop renamed themselves Yes, as per Banks's suggestion. Bayley left Mabel Greer in late 1968.

The band reformed in 2014 with Bayley, Hagger, Barré, Kaye, and Yes producer and bass guitarist Billy Sherwood.^[5] The album New Way of Life was released in 2015 and included new music as well some songs written back in 1967 and 1968 by Bayley and Squire.

Discography

• New Way of Life (2015)
• Images (2016; remaster of 1967–68 recordings)

Personnel

Past and current members: Clive Bayley, Robert Hagger, Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Tony Kaye, Hugo Barré, Billy Sherwood.

References

Further reading

• Chris Welch, Close To The Edge, The Story of Yes, Omnibus Press, 2000
• David Watkinson, "Yes: Perpetual Change, Plexus Publishing Limited, 2001
• Peter Banks, Beyond And Before, Golden Treasures Publishing Arkansas, 2001

External links

• Official website at MabelGreersToyShop.com