Clark Hutchinson

Clark Hutchinson

Clark Hutchinson is a London-based British duo active between 1968 and 1971, made up of Mick Hutchinson and Andy Clark. Their music spans blues rock, heavy psych, progressive rock, psychedelic rock and raga rock, with a strong emphasis on improvisation and extended instrumental pieces.

Formation and style

The pair emerge from the British underground scene around the late 1960s, with Mick Hutchinson already associated with Indian-influenced playing before the duo forms. Hutchinson’s background includes playing with Sam Gopal and appearing at the Technicolour Dream at Alexandra Palace in April 1967. Andy Clark later joins him, and both musicians play multiple instruments, giving the duo a broad and often experimental sound.

Recordings

Clark Hutchinson records four LPs between 1969 and 1971. Their first album, A=MH², is recorded in two long sessions in 1969 for the Nova label and becomes an important release for the group. It consists of five extended pieces and features a raga-leaning, guitar-led approach built around Hutchinson’s playing, with tracks such as “Improvisation On An Indian Scale,” “Acapulco Gold,” “Improvisation On A Modal Scale,” “Impromptu In E Minor” and “Textures In ¾.”

The duo’s second album, Blues, is released after the group has already split. It is noted for its swinging blues-rock style and for “The Summer Seems Longer,” a slow, reflective near-ten-minute track. In 1970 the pair expand into a full band with Steve Amazing on bass and Del Coverley on drums for Retribution. That album includes “Free To Be Stoned,” “Best Suit,” “After Hours,” “In Another Day” and “Death, The Lover.” “Best Suit” is recorded live for Radio 1’s Sounds of the Seventies in January 1971.

The final album, Gestalt, appears before the group splits in 1971. It contains eleven tracks and is more subdued and reflective than the earlier records.

Reception and legacy

A=MH² becomes an instant rock classic and reaches No. 8 in the LP chart. John Peel regards it as a groundbreaking record, and the music is described as combining hypnotic instrumentals with strong Eastern-influenced guitar work. The album is also noted for its use of a wide range of instruments, including keyboards, saxophones, flutes, bongos and bagpipes.

After the split, Andy Clark works with Jeff Beck on the Upp albums, joins Bill Nelson in Be-Bop De Luxe, contributes to Nelson’s solo work as a keyboard player, plays synthesiser on David Bowie’s Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), and works with Judie Tzuke. He also plays keyboards with Sam Gopal on the 1998 release Father Mucker. Mick Hutchinson later works for many years as a producer and engineer with artists including Agent Orange, America, Anderson/Bruford/Wakeman, Ashford & Simpson, Roy Ayers, The B-52’s, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Manhattan Transfer, The O’Jays, Diana Ross, David Sanborn, Neil Sedaka and the Village People. In 1998 he releases Eclecticus as Mick Hutchinson and The Magic Dragon on Chrome Dreams, continuing his interest in electric raga and exploratory guitar music.