Y Blew

[2] During the early 20th century music in the Welsh language was still largely influenced by male voice choirs, chapel and traditional Noson Lawen singing.

[3] It was also widely realised that the Welsh language culture needed to renew itself in order to make it relevant to younger generations.

[5] Maldwyn Pate had tried to start a Welsh language band 'Y Pedwar Cainc' in 1966 with fellow Aberystwyth students but their only performance in Aberafan had not gone down well with an audience surprised to hear amplified instruments.

Following a successful performance to Aberystwyth students they were invited to play in Talybont by Robat Gruffudd, founder of Y Lolfa publishing house.

The gigs where well attended, often all the young people of a small town or village coming to see the new phenomenon of a band singing in Welsh.

[6] Not having time to compose 25 or so new songs for the tours, the band translated current popular hits: We did covers from Sergeant Pepper translated into Welsh, we even did 'San Francisco' by Scott McKenzie in Welsh, and some by Cream, that sort of thing and some of our own, particularly stuff that gave the guitarist Richard Lloyd a chance.

He was a quite a good player, the style at the time was to stand right up to the amp to get feedback – Dafydd EvansThe band's only performance north of Corris was at the 1967 Eisteddfod festival in Bala.

Singer Maldwyn Pate going to New York to be a choreographer, guitarist Rick Lloyd eventually became a member of the a cappella group The Flying Pickets who had a Christmas number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Yazoo's track 'Only You'.

The ethos of Welsh speakers was based on 'Peralau Tâf', 'Y Peldyrau' (acoustic folk bands) ... that's the sort of thing that went at that time.

The lyrics reflect the psychedelic influence of pop songs of the era with lines such as: pam 'na nei di ddod 'da fi i weld y tylwyth teg a chael clywed cloc y dref yn taro tair ar ddeg (why not come with me to see the fairies and hear the town clock strike thirteen)[7] The song "Maes B" was written the evening prior to the recording by Dave Williams (keyboards) with suggestions from Maldwyn Pate (vocals).

The group where hoping for a heavier, more contemporary sound, similar to Cream or "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix a huge hit at the time.

[9] The flip side of the record is "Beth Sy'n Dod Rhyngom Ni (what comes between us)", the Blew's version of Curtis Mayfield's "You Must Believe Me".

The Trwynau Coch (Red Noses) recorded a cover version of "Beth Sy'n Dod Rhyngom Ni" on their 1980 L.P. Rhedeg Rhag y Torpidos (Run from the Torpedoes) (1980, SAIN-1186M).

[10] Also in 1987 the annual National Eisteddfod festival returned to Bala with a number of radio and magazine articles referring to "Maes B" and Y Blew.