The Settlers

The Settlers started out in the 60s, their first release in 1964. They were a trio for their initial albums, mixing contemporary folk covers (Dylan, etc) with folk/bluegrass. By 1969 they'd added a bass player, Geoff, who lived in the same house as Tony Hooper in Hampstead that inspired the Strawbs song "Pieces of 79 and 15". The Settlers used to perform several tracks by the Strawbs, including "Always On My Mind" and "You Keep Going Your Way".

On their largely-religious 1972 LP for Myrrh Records, released by arrangement with the BBC, The Settlers covered The Cousins' anthem to Luther King "Sing A New Song", Ralph McTell's "Streets of London", Lennon & McCartney's "Nowhere Man" and Tom Springfield's "Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace" and donated their royalties to the Tear Fund charity.

"World of the Settlers" (Decca) was originally released as "Lightning Tree" by York Records in 1972, and contains both sides of their only hit "Lightning Tree" and "Just This Side Of Nowhere" (York Records FYK505, 1971) which reached # 36 in the UK charts in October 1971. "Lightning Tree" was used as the theme tune to the TV drama "Follyfoot". The album also contains a spoken intro to "Martin Luther King's Dream" with atmospheric fuzz electric guitar in the background.