Peter Marsh (born 8 March 1952) is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and music producer. He was a member of the band Easy Street, which released three albums. The Easy Street single "I've Been Lovin' You" entered the Billboard chart in July 1976. In the 1980s, he was best known as the lead singer in cult new wave group Blanket of Secrecy. Marsh also worked with Vangelis, Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Godley & Creme. His songs have been covered by artists including Nick Lowe and Jimmy Ruffin. In the 1990s he recorded the album "Water Under the Bridge", which was eventually released in 2021. More recently, Marsh has worked in France. He released the albums Stop the Clock in 2014 and Back to the Beginning in 2017. A second Blanket of Secrecy album, recorded in the 1980s, was released in 2017.
Life and career
Marsh spent his early life in the Lake District, moving to London in the 1970s, where he was joined by his then brother-in-law Ken Nicol.
Nicol & Marsh / Easy Street
Marsh had a long-standing musical partnership with his then brother-in-law, Ken Nicol, during the 1970s. The duo were known variously as both Nicol & Marsh and as Easy Street, which, for some of this time, also included Richard James Burgess. Marsh first signed to CBS, with Nicol, in 1973 and subsequently signed to Polydor in 1976. Albums released in collaboration with Nicol included:
Nicol & Marsh's Easy Street (Epic / CBS Records, 1974). This album featured Pete Zorn on bass and saxes and was produced by Paul Phillips. Marsh is credited as the sole songwriter on tracks including "My Quietness", "Poor and Lonely Ones" and "Day by Day". Singles included "Midnight Cat" (1974), "I've Been Praying" (1974) and "Sinking Down" (1975), all credited to Nicol-Marsh. Arrangement on the tracks released as singles was by John Barham. The album includes a cover of "Peaceful Easy Feeling" (Jack Tempchin). Easy Street by Easy Street (Polydor, 1976). Easy Street expanded with the addition of Richard James Burgess for this album, which was recorded at Sarm East Studios. The Polydor publicity for the album involved something of a makeover for the band compared to the previous the CBS look, including hairstyles by John Frieda, who appeared on the cover in a cameo guest appearance. A single from the album, "I've Been Lovin' You" (co-written by Marsh with Richard James Burgess, Ken Nicol & Pete Zorn), entered the US Billboard Charts in July 1976. Under the Glass by Easystreet (Polydor, 1977). In addition to Marsh, Richard James Burgess and Ken Nicol, the Under the Glass album also extensively featured Kevin Savigar, a long-time musical associate of Rod Stewart. Marsh co-wrote the single track "Flying" (1977), with Nicol. Five tracks ("How Can You Take it So Hard", "Rely on You", "What Does The World Know", "Strange Chance" and "The Night of the 11th") are credited to Nicol, Marsh & Burgess), while two tracks are credited to Marsh and Burgess: "Is This Real" (Marsh, Burgess) and "I See You" (Burgess, Marsh). "Flying" was a released as a single (the B side, "Blame The Love", didn't appear on the album) and another single, "Love at Breakfast", which didn't feature on the album, was also released in 1977, with the track "Rely on You" featuring as the B side. Nicol & Marsh (Polydor, 1978). The Easy Street name was dropped for the final album in partnership with Nicol, which was recorded in the Pasha Music House, Hollywood. Richard James Burgess was no longer involved, but many renowned Los Angeles session musicians were used on the album, including Bill Payne (Little Feat), Victor Feldman (Steely Dan) and Leland Sklar (James Taylor's bass player). Tracks credited solely to Marsh included "As The Years Roll 'Round" and "Anthem of the Time". "Holdin' On To You" and "Lady of Windermere" are credited to Nicol & Marsh with two tracks, both released as singles "Streets of the Angels" (1978) and "Hurt By Love" (1978) credited to Nicol, Marsh & Bishop. The album includes a cover version of "I'll Be Back" (Lennon–McCartney).
Easy Street toured in Europe and the US and were the 1976 Runners-up of the UK TV show New Faces. The collaboration between Marsh and Nicol ended after the release of the final album. An interview with Nicol implied that Marsh was moving in a different direction, specifically appearing to refer to a growing collaboration between Marsh and Burgess.
