A U.K. folk-rock launching pad, Equation propelled the careers of singer-songwriter Kate Rusby, Kathryn Roberts, and the three Lakeman Brothers: Seth, Sean, and Sam. Roberts, who had sung vocals on the Lakeman Brothers’ debut album, 3 PIECE SUITE, originally put the group together for festival dates, but overwhelming response earned them a contract with Warner Music. Songwriting disagreements led to Rusby, her replacement Cara Dillon, and Sam Lakeman leaving before the band's projected debut, RETURN TO ME, was completed. The remaining members opted to start from scratch, but sales of the long-awaited HAZY DAZE were poor and they were dropped. A much more satisfying release, THE LUCKY FEW, was released on Geoff Travis’ Blackburst label, but after 2002’s FIRST NAME TERMS, the band split up.