Bryndle
was an authentic musical legend long before the group's first
album was released in the Summer of 1995. Bryndle was a group
of four friends: Karla
Bonoff, Andrew
Gold, Wendy
Waldman and Kenny
Edwards. The group's story is an amazing one. Bryndle
first formed in the late 1960s in Los Angeles when such artists
as Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt
and others were just beginning to emerge.
In 1970, they recorded what should have been their debut album
for A&M Records with newcomer producer Chuck Plotkin. While
it went through many revisions before being submitted to the
record company, it was never released. Only a single, "Woke
Up This Morning," written by Karla Bonoff and produced
by Lou Adler, was ever released from those sessions and it became
a regional hit in Northern California before disappearing. Frustrated
with this disappointing first attempt in the record business,
Bryndle soon disbanded.
Karla
Bonoff became a solo artist and a much sought-after songwriter
following those early Bryndle days. She scored a series of pop
hits and gold albums, beginning in the early '80s with "Personally"
and, more recently, with "Standing Right Next To Me".
All three of her Columbia albums are still in print and her
fourth album has been re-released on CD. Her songs have been
recorded by Linda Ronstadt ("Someone To Lay Down Beside
Me", "Lose Again"), Bonnie Raitt ("Home"),
Wynonna ("Tell Me Why"), Linda Ronstadt & Aaron
Neville ("All My Life") and Lynn Anderson ("Isn't
It Always Love").
Kenny
Edwards had been a founding member of the Stone Poneys with
Linda Ronstadt. After Bryndle, he returned to work with her
on her groundbreaking album, Heart Like A Wheel. He subsequently
spent many years with her as a sideman, singer, arranger and
touring band member. Edwards also became a noted producer and
was responsible for masterminding Karla Bonoff's hit albums.
He has worked with such other acts as Stevie Nicks, J.D. Souther
and Don Henley. On the 1995 Bryndle CD, Edwards made his long-overdue
debut as a lead singer and recording artist. On the second Bryndle
recording, Kenny is the co-producer of the album along with
Wendy Waldman.
Wendy
Waldman went from Bryndle to a career as a solo artist
and respected songwriter and producer. She has made seven
critically acclaimed albums and toured extensively as well.
In 1996, a "best of" collection was released on
Warner Brothers. More than 70 other artists have recorded
her songs in fields as diverse as pop, r&b, jazz, country,
Latin and cowboy music. Among her biggest records are "Save
The Best For Last" and "The Sweetest Days"
by Vanessa Williams; "Fishin' In The Dark" by the
Dirt Band; "Baby What About You" by Crystal Gayle;
"I Owe You One" by Aaron Neville; and "Heartbeat"
by Don Johnson. Waldman became the first woman to produce
country music extensively and was responsible for Susy Bogguss'
award-winning debut album, as well as albums for the Forester
Sisters, Jonathan Edwards, Matraca Berg and the Ozark Mountain
Daredevils. In addition to her writing for others, Wendy has
other projects in action. She's been working on a solo album
and has been playing live with Kenny Edwards in a project
known as "Bad Haggard."
Andrew Gold went from Bryndle to a high-profile career
as a singer, songwriter, musician and producer. He joined
Ronstadt's band, where his musical and arranging contributions
to her hits during the '70s became legendary. He was an integral
part of the band's 1995 album as much of it was recorded at
his own recording studio.
In
1991, the members of Bryndle began planning their second coming.
In August of 1995, Bryndle's debut album
was released. That December, a promotional-only single,
"Corn, Water, and Wood"
was released to radio stations. In 1995 and '96 the group
played all over America as well a tour of Japan.
Just
before a major Summer tour in July 1996, an announcement
was made that Andrew Gold was leaving the band which coincided
with his relocation to the East Coast. Fronted by Karla, Wendy
and Kenny and backed by Matt Cartsonis on bass and Scott Babcock
on drums, Bryndle decided to carry on. They touring thorough
the summer of 1997.
All
the members of the band continued outside projects. Karla's
album "New World" was re-released in 1996 and she
spent a month touring Japan backed by Kenny Edwards. In 1999,
her "best of" collection, "All My Life"
was released on CBS/Sony. Wendy's "Best Of" album
was also released that year and for the first time in many
years, she performed solo dates in the Southern California
area.
In
mid-2001, the members of Bryndle began a concentrated effort
to record and release their second album before the end of
the year. Sessions for this had begun in 1997 but for a variety
of reasons, the project remained unfinished. The target was
the holiday season of 2001, but "House
of Silence" actually began shipping from the Bryndle
store on January 3rd, 2002. Andrew Gold, who had recently
moved back to the West Coast, contributed to the project in
the last months before completion. The CD is sold in an autographed
edition exclusively through the Bryndle
Store. It's also been released in Japan.
In the summer of 2002, Kenny Edwards released
a solo album. After many years of producing and playing
with others, he turned control of this first solo album to
someone else. In addition to accompanying Karla on tour, Kenny
often plays an opening set at her shows with songs from this
collection. He's also begun playing solo shows in the Southern
California area and hopes to expand that touring area in the
future.
Sometime
in 2003, fans can expect a new Wendy Waldman CD, her first
solo release in 15 years. The date has slipped a few times
but it looks like it will be released in the middle of 2003.
She's also become a clinician for Taylor Guitars and will
be making appearances and giving performances in music stores
around the country. In the first few months of 2003, she's
had two short tours on the east coast and in Colorado. After
the release of her album, she hopes to play other dates as
well.
Karla
continues touring and her live appearance
schedule is always updated on her appearances
page on her own site, www.karlabonoff.com.
Andrew runs his own website
and he continues to release solo projects He was recently
involved in a Byrds tribute band called Byrds
of a Feather.
Wendy Waldman and Kenny Edwards' other project, "Bad
Haggard", will begin recording sometime this summer.
They've written as many as a dozen songs for this project
and they've been waiting for the time to get in the studio
together.
As 2003 progresses, it seems that the group known as Bryndle
is being put on hold as the group members pursue solo projects,
at least for the time being. There is no formal announcement
but there are no Bryndle projects or appearances currently
planned. The one exception to that is the possibility of a
live CD from the November 2002 House Concerts. These people
have known each other since the '60s and it won't be a surprise
to see them record and play together again - when the time
is right.