guyitho's video: The Rain - First Of May

The band was formed by singer/guitarist Clive Stubbings, bassist Tony Duckworth (ex-Junk Factory)and drummer Chris Morrell. Their first single, "Tom Paine" was self-released, but caught the ear of Medium Cool Records, who signed them up. They contributed two tracks, "Dry The Rain" and "Seven Red Apples" to Medium Cool's Edge of The Road compilation album, but their first single for the label, "First Of May" never saw the light of day due to the collapse of Medium Cool's distributor, Red Rhino Records. The band's first album, To The Citadel, was released in 1989, desicribed by Melody Maker as "glorious, honed to cut-glass perfection", and gaining comparison with The Byrds and R.E.M. in Sounds. A 12" EP, "The Watercress Girl" followed in 1991. They changed their name to Clark Springs, releasing a single, "Talking Kent State" in 1993, and contributing "She Lives By The Castle" to A Tribute To Felt in 1995.