Julie Driscoll: The Mod Voice of British Psychedelic Soul
Julie Driscoll is an English singer and actress who became a defining face of the late 1960s British psychedelic and progressive rock scene. Her powerful, soul-infused voice and striking image, often partnered with keyboard innovator Brian Auger, led to major chart success and enduring cult status.
Early career
Born in London in 1947, Julie Driscoll began her professional journey in the vibrant mid-60s R&B club circuit. She was discovered by manager Giorgio Gomelsky and initially recorded for his Marmalade Records label, providing vocals for the band Steampacket alongside Rod Stewart and Long John Baldry.
Breakthrough
Julie Driscoll's breakthrough arrived in 1968 through her collaboration with Brian Auger and the Trinity. Their single, a radical reworking of Bob Dylan's This Wheel's on Fire, became a smash hit. The track reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and served as the theme for the iconic BBC comedy series "Absolutely Fabulous" decades later.
Key tracks
This Wheel's on Fire — This 1968 chart hit with Brian Auger and the Trinity remains her signature song and a psychedelic soul classic.
Road to Cairo — A dramatic and driving album track from the same period that showcased her intense vocal style and the band's jazz-rock fusion.
Save Me — A standout soulful performance from the 1969 album "Streetnoise," highlighting the potent synergy between Driscoll's voice and Auger's organ work.
Take Me to the Water — This track illustrated her ability to interpret and transform folk and gospel material into a progressive rock context.
Following the success of This Wheel's on Fire, the album Open was released in 1968. The acclaimed double album Streetnoise followed in 1969, cementing the partnership's reputation for ambitious, genre-blending music. By the early 1970s, Driscoll shifted her artistic focus, stepping back from the pop spotlight to explore more experimental and folk-oriented music, including work with the band Every Which Way and later collaborations with her husband, musician Keith Tippett.
Fans of Julie Driscoll's distinctive blend of soul and psychedelia often appreciate the work of Long John Baldry for its shared British R&B roots. The progressive jazz-rock explorations of Brian Auger are, of course, intrinsically linked to her most famous work. Listeners may also enjoy the powerful vocals and mod spirit of Dusty Springfield, another pivotal voice of the era.
The music of Julie Driscoll maintains a steady rotation on specialist classic rock FM stations and dedicated online radio streams focusing on 1960s psychedelia and progressive rock. Independent music radio stations with a focus on rock history frequently feature her recordings with Brian Auger, ensuring her sound reaches new generations of listeners.
You can hear the timeless music of Julie Driscoll on the radio stations featured on our website. Discover her influential catalog, from mod anthems to psychedelic soul, by tuning into the classic rock and specialist music stations available on onairium.com.
