DR STRANGELY STRANGE was formed by a group of students who were on the fringes of Dublin’s rock and folk club scene during the latter part of the 60s. The Incredible String Band, with whom they were friends – and by 1968 their unique but slightly chaotic style had attracted the attention of several record companies.On Robin Williamson’s recommendation, producer Joe Boyd travelled to Carlow to see the band open for Skid Row. A couple of months later the band travelled to London and recorded the first album “Kip Of The Serenes” under his direction.
The band’s label, Island, decided to include one of the band’s songs ‘Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal’ on the 12/11d (65p) sampler album “Nice Enough To Eat” which also included tracks by successful acts Free, Traffic and Blodwyn Pig. This gave the band much increased exposure and led to a hectic two-year touring schedule. In 1970 the group released their second album on Polygram’s new progressive label Vertigo. “Heavy Petting” was met with favourable critical reviews and the band continued to gig in support of the new album.
Tired of touring, Tim Goulding quit the group to get married and devote more time to his painting. He was replaced in early 1971 by Terry and Gaye Woods, newly departed from Steeleye Span. Dr Strangely Strange played its last gig on 16th May 1971 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, sharing the bill with Al Stewart.
Terry and Gaye went off to form their ill fated but interesting Woods Band while Tim Booth returned to Dublin to play solo gigs in folk clubs and resume his career as a commercial artist. Ivan Pawle moved to Kerry to live in a caravan, locating himself not far from Tim Goulding who was already living in an old schoolhouse in West Cork.
By the beginning of 1972 the two Tims and Ivan were back together, with a couple of new musicians, for a short and successful tour of Ireland. Since then the trio have got together from time to time for various projects. “Kip Of The Serenes” and “Heavy Petting” have become sought after collectables and there were even counterfeit copies of the Vertigo album such was the demand.
The original three members of the group decided to record a third album with the help of Joe Thoma (fiddle), Bruno Staehelin (drums) and several friends including Gary Moore (guitar). The reformed Dr Strangely Strange completed ‘Alternative Medicine’ whcih further showcased and updated the band’s Irish country rock.
The Fat Angel Sings 