Mike and Mandy Morton formed Spriguns of Tolgus as an acoustic duo at a folk night at the Anchor pub in Cambridge, England, in 1972.
[4] The album, despite a very short run of pressings, together with Hart's involvement, helped increase the band's profile sufficiently to gain attention from a major label.
In 1976 they signed with Decca,[1] shortened their name to Spriguns and recruited a new band of Dick Powell (keyboards), Tom Ling (fiddle), and Chris Woodcock (drums), which gave them a fuller and rockier sound.
[3] This was a relatively lavish attempt to break through into the mainstream, with orchestral arrangements undertaken by Robert Kirby, who had worked with Nick Drake and the Strawbs, and production by Sandy Roberton, who had overseen Steeleye Span's early folk albums.
A new band was formed, retaining Tom Ling but adding Byron Giles (guitar) and Alex Cooper (drums, later of Katrina And The Waves).
It was recorded at Spaceward Studios, produced by Mike Kemp and benefited from guest appearances by several respected figures in the electric folk world, including a return for Tim Hart on dulcimer and backing vocals and guitar work from former Gryphon instrumentalist Graeme Taylor.
[citation needed] Mandy Morton writes the No.2 Feline Detective Agency series and lives in Cambridge and Cornwall with her partner, the novelist Nicola Upson.