Peter Geoffrey Richardson (born 15 July 1950), is a British viola player and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Caravan, Murray Head and the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
Career Richardson's father was a semi-pro musician. Richardson himself studied at Winchester School of Art. He joined the Attack in 1967, playing guitar and writing on their album Magic in the Air, and left shortly after. Richardson then joined Spirogyra in 1972, but the band broke up shortly after and he joined Caravan on viola. In the mid-1970s, he diversified into session work, including with Kevin Ayers, Café Jacques, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and The Buzzcocks. He left Caravan in 1978, but returned in 1980, playing on The Album.
Later in his career, he toured with Murray Head, Penguin Cafe Orchestra and Bob Geldof. He has also recorded with Murray Head, including Between Us (1979), Innocence (1993) and Pipe Dreams (1996). He released a solo album, Viola Mon Amour, in 1993, followed by three albums with fellow Caravan band member Jim Leverton, Follow Your Heart (1995), Poor Man's Rich Man (2000) and The End of The Pier Show (2006). In 2011 he released another solo album, Moving Up A Cloud, and in 2016, The Garden of Love.
As of 2016, Richardson continues to be an active member of Caravan, having toured in 2011 and performed on a cruise with the group in 2015.
Discography
Year Player Title1973CaravanFor Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night1974CaravanCaravan and the New Symphonia1974Kevin AyersThe Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories1975CaravanCunning Stunts1976CaravanBlind Dog at St. Dunstans1976John G. PerrySunset Wading1977CaravanBetter by Far1977Quantum JumpBarracuda1977Quantum JumpMixing1977Ozark Mountain DaredevilsDon't Look Down1977Café JacquesRound The Back1978Café JacquesInternational1979Murray HeadBetween Us1979John GloverMidnight Over England1980CaravanThe Album1980BuzzcocksWhy She's a Girl From The Chainstore1980Bob WestonNightlight1980WildlifeBurning1980Rupert HineImmunity1981Murray HeadVoices1981Murray HeadFind the Crowd1982Rupert HineWaving Not Drowning1982Murray HeadShade1982John GreavesAccident1982Julien ClercFemmes, Indicrétions, Blasphéme1983Penguin Cafe OrchestraPenguin Cafe Orchestra1983Penguin Cafe OrchestraThe Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album1984Penguin Cafe OrchestraBroadcasting from Home1985MicrodisneyThe Clock Comes Down The Stairs1986Murray HeadRestless1986Murray HeadSooner or Later1986Murray HeadSome People1987Paul BradyPrimitive Dance1987Penguin Cafe OrchestraSigns of Life1988Penguin Cafe OrchestraWhen in Rome1990ThinkmanHard Hat Zone1990Dubh ChapterSilence, Cunning & Exile1990Bob GeldofThe Vegetarians of Love1991The CrossBlue Rock1991BBC Concert Orchestra'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe1991Murray HeadWave1991RenaudMarchand de cailloux1991BlissA Change in the Weather1992Bob Geldof The Happy Club1992Chris de BurghPower of Ten1993Milla JovovichThe Divine Comedy1993Penguin Cafe OrchestraUnion Café1993Rachid TahaRachid Taha1993Geoffrey RichardsonViola Mon Amour1993Salif Keita & Steve HillageL'Enfant Lion1994Penguin Cafe OrchestraConcert Program1994RenaudA La Belle de Mai1995CaravanThe Battle of Hastings1995Murray HeadWhen You're in Love1995Jim Leverton & Geoffrey RichardsonFollow Your Heart1995Murray HeadPipe Dreams1995Nina MoratoL'Allumeuse1995John G PerrySeabird1995Rachid TahaOlé, Olé1996CaravanAll Over You1996Nick HeywardTangled1996Bruno MamanAujourd'hui1996RenaudParis/Provinces1997Frankie ValentineSummary of Evidence1997Rachid TahaDiwan1997MétisseSinge1997Justin HaywardThe View From The Hill1997Penguin Cafe OrchestraPreludes, Airs and Yodels1998Linda McCartneyWide Prairie1998Wolf MaahnAlbum1998Rachid Taha/Khaled/Faudel1,2,3 Soleils1998Rachid TahaCarte Blanche1998Bloem de LignyZink1999SadiaPieces1999Nova NovaLa Chanson de Roland1999The Uncalled FourRubbed Raw1999CaravanSurprise Supplies – Live1999CaravanAll Over You Too1999Rachid TahaMade in Medina2000Kofi DakoKologo2000Jim Leverton & Geoffrey RichardsonPoor Man's Rich Man2000Francis KendallGoodbye Rambling Man2000Penguin Cafe OrchestraSimon Jeffes Piano Music2000VariousMiniatures 2 (Music for the Millennium)2000Nova NovaPlaid2001Howard JonesMetamorphosis2002CaravanLive at Fairfield Halls, 19742002Mostly AutumnCatch The Spirit2002Michael GilesProgress2003CaravanThe Unauthorized Breakfast Item2003Francis Kendall & Geoffrey RichardsonOh Sister...2004Francis Kendall & Geoffrey RichardsonEstella in Lux2005David BlossePilot Episode2005Julian WhitfieldChristopher2005Jim LevertonBright New Way2005The Fat River BandThe Last Great Guitar Heist2005Jim LaslettLoving Should Be Easy2006Lupen CrookAccidents Occur Whilst Sleeping2006Jim Leverton & Geoffrey RichardsonThe End of the Pier Show2006Paul RolandRe-animator2007MaestosoCaterwauling2007Raphael MeadOn The Hill2007Murray HeadTête à Tête2007Darwin BayPluies Acides2008Murray HeadRien N'est Ecrit2008Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-CEmbers2008Chris de BurghFootsteps2008RenaudTournée Rouge Sang (the Rouge Sang live album)2009RenaudMolly Malone – Balade irlandaise2009MandalabandAncestors2009AmberAlbum2009Chris de BurghYou'll Never Walk Alone2010Raphael MeadRuled by the Heart2010JuanesP.A.R.C.E.2010Murray HeadLive 2009/Collection Live 20092010Chris de BurghMoonfleet2011Chris de BurghFootsteps 22011Geoffrey RichardsonMoving Up A Cloud2011Last KnightTalking to the Moon2011Mattea de LucaAlbum2013CaravanParadise Filter2016Geoffrey RichardsonThe Garden of Love
Filmography 2015: Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales (DVD)
References
External links
Calyx biography