The Onyx - Tamaris Khan (1968)

Formed in 1965, this band was put together by the remaining members of Rick & The Hayseeds, which had recently broken up, in Wadebridge, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom. Originally known as The Onyx Set, the band named themselves after an onyx ring owned by one of the band’s original members, Mike Black-Borow. As with most bands of the era, they began their career by covering a variety of beat bands and R&B bands and then gradually shifted toward their own psychedelic style. Particularly known for their five-part harmonies, the members of the band enjoyed calling one another by their middle names. They never toured in the United States, focusing primarily on the UK and Germany. They were frequently heard on BBC Radio and around Europe, but received virtually no airplay in the US. They released a total of eleven singles, one of which was under the band name “Salamander,” to try and trade in their radio popularity for record sales by using a pseudonym. It didn’t work out as well as they hoped and the band’s lead guitarist, Al Hodge, quit the band in 1970 to get married. Although the remaining members would carry on with a new guitarist, the only released one more (unsuccessful) single before changing their name to Vineyard. This final incarnation of the band permanently broke up in 1975.

Originally released in 1968, this song was written by a writing duo who penned most of the band’s A-Sides: Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett. It was backed by the B-Side “So Sad Inside” and released on Pye Records.



The Onyx - Tamaris Khan (1968)

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Lyrics:

Stories are told
Of a kingdom of old
And Tamaris Khan
Was its great Overlord

Strong as a horse
He wrote all the laws
He kept them by fire and
He kept them by sword

But then in the evening
He’d find recreation
He’d lay with the fairest
Of maids in the land
Gathered together
And blind in their pleasure
With drinking and laughter
All his to command

Ah, far beyond Samarkand
Rode his warrior band
With Tamaris leading
They plundered and tamed

Treasures they stole
An incredible horde
To his palace and coffers
The caravans came

But then in the evening
He’d find recreation
He’d lay with the fairest
Of maids in the land
Gathered together
And blind in their pleasure
With drinking and laughter
All his to command

Ah, the news was soon told
Of the plunder and gold
That Tamaris Khan
Was bringing to share
Kindly unjust
To the poor and the old
They waited for him and
The gifts he would bare

But then in the evening
He’d find recreation
He’d lay with the fairest
Of maids in the land
Gathered together
And blind in their pleasure
With drinking and laughter
All his to command