Amen Corner If Paradise Was Half As Nice - The Immediate Anthology (2-CD)

Amen Corner, a leading Cardiff group by 1966, strong on image — Andy Fairweather Low, vocals; Neil Jones, guitar; Blue Weaver, organ; Clive Taylor, bass; Dennis Bryn, drums; Allen Jones, baritone sax; Mike Smith, tenor — had their first British Top Twenty record in 1967 at the end of the mod wave with the powerful 'Gin House' (Deram).

Their material became progressively more commercial, never fulfilling early promise. After providing Immediate with a No. 1 with 'Half As Nice', they were caught up in the label's collapse. As Fairweather they dropped the brass section and had a Top Five hit, 'Natural Sinner', in 1970, but were disillusioned, and disbanded. Blue Weaver went to the Strawbs, Dennis Bryn to the Bee Gees, and Andy Fairweather Low rested his thin voice through several years' isolation in Wales before re-emerging with Spider Jiving (A&M) in 1974.