Clover is one of those bands that is remembered for its illustrious associations rather than its actual accomplishments. It was a country-rock band formed in Mill Valley, CA, in July 1967, by
Johnny Ciambotti (bass),
John McFee (guitar, vocals),
Alex Call (guitar, vocals), and
Mitch Howie (drums). This lineup made two albums for nearby Fantasy Records in the early '70s; after which
Howie left and the group was expanded to a sextet with the addition of
Huey Lewis (harmonica, vocals),
Sean Hopper (keyboards, vocals), and
Mickey Shine (drums).
Clover moved to England in 1976 at the behest of
Nick Lowe, where they made two more albums and served as the backup group on
Elvis Costello's debut album,
My Aim Is True. They returned to the U.S. in 1978 and broke up, with
McFee going on to
the Doobie Brothers and Lewis and Hopper forming the nucleus of
Huey Lewis & the News.
–
William Ruhlmann, Rovi