Brewer & Shipley
Songwriters Mike Brewer (b. 1944, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) and Tom Shipley (b. 1942, Mineral Ridge, Ohio, USA) began their careers together in Los Angeles during the mid-60s, after several years' performing as solo artists on the folk club circuit. One of their compositions, "The Keeper Of The Keys", was recorded by H.P. Lovecraft, and the song also appeared on the duo's own first album, Down On LA, which was comprised of demo tapes made for Good Sam Music and picked up by A&M Records. A competent pop/rock selection, the album led to the duo signing with Kama Sutra and greater critical success with Weeds, which featured cameo appearances by Mike Bloomfield, Jerry Garcia and Nicky Hopkins. Tarkio and Shake Off The Demon also benefited from an all-star cast, although such support did not deflect from Brewer and Shipley's close harmony, soft-rock style. In 1971 they enjoyed a surprise US hit when "One Toke Over The Line" reached number 10, but the song was banned on radio due to its drug connotations. The duo then left their Bay Area for rural Missouri, but subsequent releases lacked the charm of previous work. The partnership was dissolved during the late 70s, but Shipley later worked as a studio engineer, most notably for Joni Mitchell on Dog Eat Dog (1985), Chalk Mark On A Rainstorm (1988) and Night Ride Home (1991).
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Albums
Top Tracks
- One Toke Over The Line
- All Along The Watchtower
- Tarkio Road
- Witchi-Tai-To
- People Love Each Other
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