(Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock) Chimera - Chimera (1969-1970) - 2002, MP3, 320 kbps

An obscure band whose Peru, features distinctive high-pitched vocals somewhere between Fairport Convention and Trees. Amazingly they cut 20 tracks for the label yet had nothing released. An album's worth of material was compiled in the '80s for possible release but it too remains unissued (not anymore since this is it). Tracks like Come Into The Garden, The Grail and Sad Song For Winter showcase Bankoff's delightful vocals augmented by some fine guitar and sometimes melodramatic piano and keyboard work. It would be great to see this released.
Bob Weston later played with Fleetwood Mac, Nick South (ex-Alexis Korner), went on to play with Elke Brookes and Roy Temro sadly died some time ago. Lisa Bankoff was the groups songwriter:- "The band was managed by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, and both he and Rick Wright were featured on some of the tracks. eg. The Grail, The Game and possibly, I Met A Stranger Once. Even the Floyd's roadie Alan Styles played Sax on one track. The project fell to pieces mainly because I had a car accident shortly after the recordings were finished and couldn't walk for a couple of years. Our producer was called Mal Luker."
Reputedly, Cliff Wade and Danny Beckerman were involved in some way too, although this may be incorrect.
Lisa Bankoff now lives in Perth, W. Australia and still writes songs and plays "a little bit here and there". She and Francesca have recently written a book about their life in London during the late '60s / early '70s called "Making It! Famous Names and Silly Girls".
Compilation appearances include: Peru on Morgan Blue Town (LP) and Best And The Rest Of British Psychedelia (CD), Chimera (LP)

Lisa Bankoff - guitar (tracks 2,3,9) and vocals on all tracks
Francesca Garnett - vocals on all tracks except "Sad Song For Winter"
Mal Luker - guitar and keyboards on "Sad Song For Winter"
Bob Weston - guitar
Nick South - bass
Roy Temro - drums on "Mary's Mystery"
Nick Mason - drums on "The Grail"
Rick Wright - keyboards on "Lady With Bullets In Her Hair"
Ian Milne - keyboards on "The Grail"