Wilfred – Candle In The Wind

Wilfred – Candle In The Wind / Between The Lines

A fascinating piece of Isle of Wight rock history, Candle In The Wind / Between The Lines was released by Wilfred on Parlophone in March 1970. While the name Wilfred may not immediately be familiar, the group behind the record were actually The Cherokees, an Isle of Wight band originally formed on the island in 1957. They adopted the Wilfred name for this release to avoid confusion with another, more successful group using The Cherokees name on the mainland.

The story of The Cherokees is closely tied to the early beat and rock scene on the Isle of Wight. The band developed a strong local following during the 1960s and played extensively around the island, including a notable 1964 appearance at Ryde's Esplanade Pavilion supporting The Rolling Stones. They also recorded a locally released four-track EP in 1966 before continuing their recording career under the Wilfred name.

“Candle In The Wind” is the A-side and a melodic slice of late-1960s/early-1970s British pop-rock, quite removed from the better-known Elton John song of the same title. The track was written by John Winsley and Bob Saker, and was also recorded around the same period by the Japanese group Akai Tori (Red Birds).

The B-side, “Between The Lines”, was written by Cherokees guitarist Brian Sharpe, giving the single an additional connection to the group's own songwriting. The record was issued in the UK as Parlophone R 5836, with contemporary trade press listing it among the new singles released on 26 March 1970.

For collectors, this is much more than an obscure 1970 British single: it is a document of the Isle of Wight's developing rock scene, featuring a group that had already been active on the island for more than a decade. The Wilfred name, short-lived single release and relatively obscure history all add to its appeal for collectors of British rock, 1960s/70s pop, Isle of Wight music and rare Parlophone singles.

A particularly interesting record for anyone collecting the musical history of the Isle of Wight, Candle In The Wind / Between The Lines is an overlooked piece of British pop-rock history from a band whose roots stretch back to the island's early beat era.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Candle In The Wind

Side B

1. Between The Lines