Nicol & Marsh

Lore & Background

Nicol & Marsh released their debut album, Nicol and Marsh's Easy Street, in 1974 on Epic Records. They also issued several singles that year, including 'I've Been Praying', 'Midnight Cat', and 'Sinking Down'. After joining forces with Richard James Burgess, the trio became known as Easy Street, releasing two albums: Easy Street in 1976 and Under the Glass in 1977.

Following the dissolution of Easy Street, Nicol & Marsh released one last eponymous album in 1978 on Polydor Records, along with the singles 'Hurt by Love' and 'Streets of the Angels'. Their partnership then dissolved. An interview with Nicol indicated that Marsh was moving in a different direction, with Nicol explaining that they began writing with other people and making too much of a departure from what was working originally, causing the album to seem too diverse.

Both Nicol and Marsh went on to have successful solo careers as singer-songwriters, guitarists, and producers. Nicol became a member of the Ashley Hutchings Dance Band, the Albion Band, and Steeleye Span. Marsh was a member of the new wave bands Twist and Blanket of Secrecy.

Reader's Guide

Nicol & Marsh represent a brief but notable chapter in 1970s English soft rock, distinguished by their transition from duo to trio and back. Their debut album, Nicol and Marsh's Easy Street, and their later self-titled album capture a period of evolving musical collaboration. The duo's significance lies partly in their transformation into Easy Street with Richard James Burgess, which produced two additional albums. Their dissolution, attributed to creative divergence, reflects common tensions in collaborative partnerships. Both members later achieved individual recognition: Ken Nicol through membership in prominent folk-rock bands such as Steeleye Span, and Peter Marsh through involvement in new wave acts. While their output as a duo was limited to two albums and five singles, their work provides insight into the soft rock scene of the era and the career paths of musicians who moved between group and solo projects. Their legacy is preserved through their recordings and the subsequent achievements of its members.

Did You Know?

• Nicol & Marsh's debut album was titled Nicol and Marsh's Easy Street, released in 1974.
• After joining with Richard James Burgess, the trio became known as Easy Street.
• Their final album, Nicol & Marsh, was released in 1978 on Polydor Records.
• Ken Nicol later became a member of Steeleye Span, while Peter Marsh joined the new wave bands Twist and Blanket of Secrecy.