The Sutherland Brothers began their career in 1968 as A New Generation, having some yearly success with the single "Smokie Blues Away" (which used a melody based on the main theme of Dvořák's, New World Symphony). Subsequently re-billed as The Sutherland Brothers Band, they won a new recording contract with Island Records and put out two albums in 1972. Their first minor hit was "The Pie" in 1970.
In an effort to diversify and expand their folk based sound, the Sutherland Brothers joined forces with a local rock band known as Quiver.
Quiver
Quiver were originally formed by guitarist Tim Renwick and bassist John 'Honk' Lodge (both formerly with Junior's Eyes and David Bowie), but soon comprised Tim Renwick, guitarist and singer Cal Batchelor, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer John "Willie" Wilson. Keyboardist Peter Wood had replaced Batchelor just before the band joined up with the Sutherland Brothers.
The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver
Their joint greatest success came under this name. Several moderately successful albums were released by Island Records throughout the 1970s under this joint name before they moved to CBS Records where they recorded, amongst other songs, the Top Ten hit single, "Arms of Mary", which also became a hit when covered two years later by the Canadian group, Chilliwack.
The band were just reaching their peak as the punk music explosion happened; they ended up being ousted from their residency at London's Marquee Club to make way for the likes of The Damned and X-Ray Spex. The group quickly found that its cheerful, folk-rock style had fallen out of fashion, and disbanded after recording a final album in 1979.
One of the earlier Sutherland Brothers recordings is "Sailing", which exists in two versions: one with The Sutherland Brothers alone, the other together with Quiver. "Sailing" was no success for the Brothers (despite gaining airplay on BBC Radio 1), but in 1975, it became a major hit for Rod Stewart.
