The Flock - Truth / The Columbia Recordings (1969-70 us, brilliant jazz prog avant garde rock, 2017 double disc remaster)

After starting its The Rock Machine Turns You On campaign in 1968, CBS continued releasing bargain compilations that consolidated its position at the forefront of contemporary US music. The striking cover of 1970’s Fill Your Head With Rock featured electric violinist Jerry Goodman in full curtain-haired reverie while the comp featured his band The Flock’s version of The Kinks’ Tired Of Waiting; hardly representative of an album that pushed the jazz-rock envelope further out than fellow Chicagoan label-mates Blood, Sweat & Tears and CTA.

With enthusiastic sleevenotes by John Mayall, 1969’s self-titled debut started with Goodman’s keening Introduction ushering in The Flock’s hefty blend of densely textured jazz-rock charged with classical and avant jazz flavours, climaxing with the epic blues of Truth. Also helmed by veteran jazz-classical producer John McClure, 1970’s LSD-inspired Dinosaur Swamps – here dubbed their Sgt Pepper’s by guitarist Fred Glickstein – saw The Flock flying further into exotic experimental areas to forge an American prog milestone. Perhaps inevitably, all these directions were already pulling the band apart when Goodman was poached for the Mahavishnu Orchestra, sealing their fate.

This collection corrals both albums, along with edits and out-takes, making for a compelling account of this overlooked gaggle.

by Kris Needs

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Introduction - 4:53

2. Clown - 7:45

3. I Am the Tall Tree - 5:34

4. Tired of Waiting (Ray Davies) - 4:39

5. Store Bought - Store Thought - 7:00

6. Truth - 0:15:24.

7. What Would You Do If the Sun Died? - 2:48

8. Lollipops And Rainbows - 4:05

9. Tired of Waiting (Single Version) - 2:42

10.Store Bought - Store Thought (Single Version) - 2:44

11.Clown (Part One) - 3:12

12.Clown (Part Two) - 4:38

All songs by The Flock except where noted

Disc 2
1. Green Slice - 2:03
2. Big Bird - 5:50
3. Hornschmeyer's Island - 7:25
4. Lighthouse (Rick Canoff, Fred Glickstein, James Taylor, Tom Webb) - 5:18
5. Crabfoot - 8:14
6. Mermaid - 4:53
7. Uranian Sircus - 7:13
8. Chanja - 2:38
9. Atlantians Truckin’ Home - 4:50.62]
10.Afrika - 4:34
11.Just Do It - 6:35
12.Mermaid (Single Version) - 2:49
13.Crabfoot (Single Version) - 2:49
All songs by  Rick Canoff, Fred Glickstein, Tom Webb except where indicated

The Flock
*Rick Canoff - Tenor Saxophone, Vocals
*Fred Glickstein - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Hammond Organ
*Jerry Goodman - Violin, Guitar, Vocals
*Ron Karpman - Drums
*Frank Posa - Trumpet
*Jerry Smith - Bass, Vocals
*Tom Webb - Sax (Disc 1)
*John Gerber - Alto, Tenor Saxophones, Flute, Banjo, Vocals (Disc 2)

1969  The Flock - The Flock
1970  The Flock - Dinosaur Swamps 
1975  The Flock - Inside Out (Vinyl issue)

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