Doll By Doll – London: Marquee

Report on Doll by Doll's last London concert on a Friday evening at the Marquee (January 1983), in front of many of the faithful from the “optimistic days of Automatic”. The emotionally charged Leven is said to be determined to close the Doll by Doll chapter of his life, and wants to retreat to the Outer Hebrides to write new songs and return with a new persona, probably at a new label – underlined by a rocking version of the “Skye Boat Song”. Instead of old favourites and the Magnet repertoire, the band played mainly new rock songs; “Cool Skies” and “Dancing Shoes” represented “Grand Passion”, with co-vocalist and keyboard player Helen Turner in good voice; Leven himself played lead guitar. It is regretted that the band, entirely their own, never found national recognition. Tone: wistful and appreciative.