The Idle Race were a British rock group from Birmingham, formed in the late 1960s. They are best known for their close harmonies, psychedelic sounds, and for having Jeff Lynne as a lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter before he went on to join the Electric Light Orchestra and The Move. The Idle Race released their first album, "The Birthday Party," in 1968, which, although not commercially successful, was critically acclaimed and showcased their whimsy and creative use of studio techniques that would later become Lynne's trademark.

During their brief but influential existence, The Idle Race struggled to achieve financial success, but they earned the respect of their contemporaries and a cult following among fans of psychedelic and progressive rock. Their records, such as those captured in sessions for the "David Symonds Show" and "Symonds On Sunday" on BBC Radio in 1969, represent some of the more imaginative and playful music of the era. Although The Idle Race disbanded in the early 1970s, their legacy was revived with the release of "Back To The Story" in 2007, a compilation that helped introduce their music to a new generation and solidified their position as unsung heroes of the British psychedelic scene.

Genres

Classic Garage Rock

Freakbeat

Latest Release

David Symonds Show [7th January 1969]

The Idle Race

Single - Released June 4, 2010