Beggars Opera was a Scottish progressive rock band from Glasgow, formed in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner, vocalist Martin Griffiths, and bassist Marshall Erskine. After working together on the construction of the M40 motorway near Beaconsfield, the three founding members returned to Glasgow to look for an organist and drummer. They recruited Alan Park and Raymond Wilson, and after rehearsing they took up residency at the Burns Howff club/pub on West Regent Street in central Glasgow. In 1970, after signing with Vertigo Records, the band recorded their first album, Act One, and released the single “Sarabande,” which charted in several European countries. European tours followed, and the band found success in Germany, appearing on German TV’s Beat‑Club and performing at the first British Rock Meeting in Speyer in September 1971. For their second album, Waters of Change (1971), the band was joined by Virginia Scott on Mellotron and bassist Gordon Sellar. The single “Time Machine” from that album was successful in Germany, where the band toured extensively. Erskine left before the recording of their third album, Pathfinder (1972), which included a cover of Richard Harris’ hit “MacArthur Park.” Several personnel changes followed: Pete Scott replaced Griffiths in 1972, and Linnie Paterson replaced Pete Scott in 1973. By the time of their 1973 album Get Your Dog Off Me, Beggars Opera had been reduced to a trio consisting of Gardiner, Park and Sellar. Between 1974 and 1976, a new version of Beggars Opera recorded two albums for Jupiter Records in Germany: Sagittary, featuring Gardiner (guitar), Pete Scott (vocals), Virginia Scott (keyboards, backing vocals) and Mike Travis (drums), Beggars Can’t Be Choosers, with Clem Cattini replacing Travis on drums.
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MacArthur Park
Time Machine (1971)
The Witch (1972)
Hobo
Madame Doubtfire
Stretcher
Silver Peacock
From Shark To Haggis
Auschwitz
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