The band that became Writing On The Wall began as Scottish soul band the Jury in the mid-sixties, but transforming themselves like so many of their contemporaries into a psychedelic-tinged group along with their renaming in 1968. The band issued but one official studio album, the 1969 release 'The Power of the Picts'.

Like many evolving groups caught in the midst of rapid musical evolution in the late sixties, Writing On The Wall retained much of the blues influence of the music they came of age with by mixing heavy and sometimes uneven blend of psych, blues with idealistic and often abstract lyrics to form a distinctly late sixties sound reminiscent of groups like Blues Image, Cactus and Babe Ruth.

Writing's music tended toward a more somber tone than most of their peers, and the band further distinguished themselves by relocating to England to make somewhat of an impression on the British scene of that day. The band recorded for DJ John Peel in late 1968, and released their sole album on Brian Waldman's fledging Middle Earth label. Waldman also served as the band's manager, and secured them gigs in his club, also named Middle Earth.

While Writing failed to launch with their studio release, the band's live shows attracted them some attention (mostly in England), and the band managed to hold together until 1973 while touring and recording occasionally, including a second album in 1972 and the beginning of a third before waning interest and the theft of their equipment caused the groups to dissolve in 1973.

Neither of the band's other albums was released at the time, although numerous compilations and "reissues" of dubious legitimacy have been made available since. The band's debut was reissued in 2007 on Orc Records with bonus material including much of the previous unreleased studio work. Guitarist Willy Finlayson went on to stints with the bands Meal Ticket, Bees Make Honey and his own group The Hurters, as well as an appearance on Manfred Mann's 'Earthband' release. Singer the late Linnie Paterson joined Beggar's Opera, Robert 'Smiggy' Smith joined the aptly-named Blue, Alby Greenhalgh joined the rockabilly outfit the Flying Saucers, and bassist Jake Scott formed the obscure jazz group Xu-Xu Plesa.

Writing On The Wall merit a place on this webzine for their brief but historically relevant impact as a Scottish prog band working to make a name for themselves in the heartland of progressive music (England), at a rich time in progressive music.

Source : http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3265