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1967: Ten Years After secures a residency at the
legendary Marquee Club in London. Their success
leads to an invitation to play at the renowned
Windsor Jazz Festival, and that performance
leads to a a recording contract with Deram
(three months after being turned down by
Deram's parent company, Decca). They
are the first band signed without benefit
of a hit single. In October,
their self-titled first album is released
in the U.K.
1968: TYA are flying high, with successful tours
of Scandinavia and an invitation to tour
America. They record their second album UNDEAD
live at Klook's Kleek in London, which is
released in the summer in the U.S. and later
in the year in the U.K.
In June they travel to the US for the first
time at the request of promoter Bill
Graham. They begin a seven week tour in Los
Angeles and perform back-to-back weekends
at the Fillmore West. Their reception is
so good that Canned Heat, who they opened
for the first time they played Fillmore West,
comes to the stage saying "We don't know who those guys are, but they
deserve to be where we are" . Bill Graham seems to agree, as they are
moved up on the bill the next week.
- September Stonedhenge is recorded (3rd -
15th).
1969: February - Stonedhenge is released in the
U.K. (it follows in March in the USA).
- TYA take off for another US tour, starting
at New York's Fillmore East (28th)
- June - Ssssh is recorded.
- July - TYA appear at the legendary Newport
Jazz Festival, the first time rock bands have been invited.
- August - TYA appear at the Woodstock Music
& Arts Festival (17th). Ssssh
is released.
1970: April - Cricklewood Green is released in
the UK, following in the US on May 5
- Love Like a Man" is released, giving
TYA their first hit single in the UK.
On the 29th, they appear at the Isle of Wight
Festival.
- September: The documentary film WOODSTOCK
is released.
- December - Watt is released. TYA complete
their 9th US tour
1971: September - TYA begin their first UK tour
in 18 months. Dates are added to the original
schedule to accomodate the demand for
tickets.
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October - A Space in Time is released. It
is certified gold by December. "I'd
Love to Change the World", the band's
most successful single, is never played live.
November - USA tour #12 begins. On the 18th, TYA play to a sold-out, 20,000
seat Madison Square Garden
1972: May - Alvin Lee & Company, a collection
of previously recorded and unreleased material
is released.
- October - Rock & Roll Music to The World
is released.
1973:
- April- On the road in the US again.
- May - a second TYA tour in Japam
- June - Recorded Live is released.
The band takes the second half of the year
off to pursue other projects. Alvin Lee
and gospel-rocker Mylon LeFevre assemble
some of rock's greats, including George Harrison,
Ron Wood and Steve Winwood, and record On
The Road to Freedom
1974: January - With the release of On The Road to Freedom,
news of a TYA break-up is rampant. But the
band heads for the studio to record Positive
Vibrations.
- March - On a dare, Alvin Lee assembles a
group of musicians and singers and forms
Alvin Lee & Company to play at London's
Rainbow Theatre on the 22nd. The performance
is released as In Flight.
- April - TYA tour the UK. It turns out to
be their last appearance in the UK together
until 1983.
- May - Positive Vibrations is released, followed
by another USA tour.
- November - Alvin Lee begins to tour with
Alvin Lee & Company
1975: August: TYA begin their 28th tour of the
US. It will be 1988 when they play in
North America again.
- Alvin's third solo album, Pump Iron, is released.
Next: Alvin goes it alone
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