Barbara Gaskin

Barbara Gaskin ( born 1950 in Hatfield ( Hertfordshire) ) is an English singer, who in 1981 had a number 1 hit in the UK charts with her musical partner Dave Stewart. Previously, she had already recorded with the bands Spirogyra, Hatfield and the North and the Ottawa Music Company success.

Throughout her musical career, Barbara Gaskin has worked with many bands and musicians, including Egg ( The Civil Surface), National Health, Peter Blegvad ( The Naked Shakespeare), Phil Miller, Nigel Planer ( Neil's Heavy Concept Album), Jane Wiedlin ( Tangled ), Rick Biddulph and Mont Campbell ( Music from a Round Tower ).

Life and work

Barbara Gaskin grew in her birthplace Hatfield on in southeast England. From the age of ten she took lessons in piano and cello. She taught the basics of playing on the acoustic guitar and even when performed in the folk clubs around.

In 1969 she began to study at the University of Kent in Canterbury, philosophy and literature. She soon found connection to the local folk scene and was lead singer of the band Spirogyra with which she recorded three albums. The band often performed in the UK and also completed several successful European tours.

During this time, Steve Hillage and Dave Stewart Gaskin met. She has performed with the band Hatfield and the North and was a member of the Ottawa Music Company, which in 1971 called Stewart and Chris Cutler to life.

As Spirogyra disbanded in 1974, Gaskin traveled for almost three years through Asia, stimulated by their interest in Eastern philosophy. She earned her living as an English teacher, but was also active as a singer. Among the stations their journey include Japan, Java, Bali and India.

Back in England Gaskin was a member of the committee of only women band Red Roll On, where she played keyboards and sang. With Canterbury as a starting point, they appeared in the London area.

Gaskin also began again to work with Stewart. She sang in the choir on Bill Bruford's album " Gradually Going Tornado" (1980 ), to which Stewart contributed several compositions. 1981 Gaskin and Stewart had a number 1 hit with their remake of the Popklassikers "It's My Party". The collaboration of the duo that still persists today, resulted in a series of albums and singles, but of which no more - despite some further chart positions as "Busy Doing Nothing " (1983) and " The Locomotion " (1986) - the success of "It's My Party " could repeat.

Discography

Singles ( Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin )

• "It's My Party" (Broken, 1981)
• "Johnny Rocco " (Broken, 1982)
• " Siamese Cat Song" ( Broken, 1983)
• "Busy Doing Nothing " (Broken, 1983)
• "Leipzig" (Broken, 1983)
• " I'm In A Different World " (Broken, 1984)
• " The Locomotion " (Broken, 1986)
• "Walking the Dog" ( Line ( Germany ), 1992 )
• "Hour Moon" ( EP) ( Broken, 2009)

Albums ( Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin )

• Up From The Dark (Compilation ) Rykodisc (USA) RCD 10011 (1986 )
• Broken Records - The Singles, MIDI Records ( Japan) ( 1987)
• As Far As Dreams Can Go, MIDI Records ( Japan) ( 1988)
• The Big Idea, Rykodisc RCD 20172 / MIDI Records ( 1989)
• Spin, Rykodisc RCD 20213 / MIDI Records ( 1991)
• Selected Tracks (compilation ), Musidisc (France) / Disky (Netherlands ) ( 1993)
• Green and Blue, Broken Records BRCDLP -05 ( March 2009)
• The TLG Collection, Broken Records BRCDLP -06 (October 2009)