Tempest - Under The Blossom The Anthology (1973-75 uk, spectacular tight prog rock, 2005 double disc set)

Holdsworth and Williams left before Tempest’s second album "Living In Fear". Their replacement was more than a match for any musician. Ollie Halsall was a fine vocalist and keyboard player and it is certainly a measure of the rrtan that he replaced two musicians by himself.

The recruitment of Halsall was a slight move back towards jazz (ironically in view of Allan Holdworth's subsequent jazz-orientated career with Gordon Beck, Soft Machine, Gong, Bruford, and solo). He had begun his career in Timebox, a soulpop group featuring the brilliant vocalist Mike Patto, who cut several sides for Pye and Oecca, moving from soul to psychedelia (and often showcasing Halsall's excellent vibes playing). Weary of lack of success, they changed their name to Patto, and cut a string of equally unsuccessful but absolutely brilliant jazz-rock albums, wherein Ollie Halsall became a by-word for fiery jazz soloing with an avant-garde edge.

So "Living in Fear" was no less of an album that its predessor, but was a different beast. One again, Hiseman and Clark laid down complex rhythms over which Halsall laid down some startling textures. Unlike "Tempest", it is an album which has dated well. That is not to say that the first album sounds old, but rather to say that the second Tempest line-up achieved a kind of timelessness.

After a short but interesting career (like getting mobbed at the Venice Festival in '75. In recent years, he has played mainly jazz, and is still partially recovering from a heart attack suffered in 1988. Mark Clarke went on to work with Uriah Keep and Rainbow, while Ollie Halsall formed Boxer with Mike Patto, worked on Eric Idle's "The Rutles", and became more left field than ever. But we still have the music: "Grey and Black", "Funeral Empire", "Waiting For a Miracle", and "Brothers" still sounds great today!

by Andy Boot

This two-disc set takes the full recordings of Tempest's lone two releases and puts them on one disc. Hard-rocking as any of their peers, Tempest also brought a jazzier side to their sound, no doubt in part to Allan Holdsworth's involvement. The second disc contains two previously unreleased tunes and the much in-demand BBC sessions that have been traded with great frequency (and of much lower quality) by collectors. 

by Rob Theakston

Tracks
Disc 1 
1. Gorgon (Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke, Allan Holdsworth) - 5:43
2. Foyers Of Fun (Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke, Allan Holdsworth) - 3:41
3. Dark House (Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke, Allan Holdsworth) - 5:03
4. Brothers Jon (Jon Hiseman, Allan Holdsworth) - 3:37
5. Up And On (John Edwards, Allan Holdsworth) - 4:19
6. Grey And Black (Mark Clarke, Susie Bottomley) - 2:30
7. Strangeher (Mark Clarke, Jon Hiseman) - 4:07
8. Upon Tomorrow (Clem Clempson, Jon Hiseman) - 6:44
9. Funeral Empire (Ollie Halsall) - 4:25
10.Paperback Writer (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 2:30
11.Stargazer (Mark Clarke, Susie Bottomley) - 3:36
12.Dance To My Tune (Mark Clarke, Susie Bottomley) - 7:50
13.Living In Fear (Ollie Halsall) - 4:19
14.Yeah Yeah Yeah (Ollie Halsall, Jon Hiseman) - 3:40
15.Waiting For A Miracle (Ollie Halsall) - 5:18
16.Turn Around (Mark Clarke, Susie Bottomley) - 6:12
Tracks 1-8 from LP Tempest 1973
Tracks 9-16 from LP Living In Fear 1974

Disc 2
1. You And Your Love (Mark Clarke, Ollie Halsall) - 4:19
2. Dream Train (Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke, Ollie Halsall) - 4:41
3. Foyers Of Fun (Allan Holdsworth, Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke) - 6:56
4. Gorgon (Allan Holdsworth, Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke) - 8:41
5. Up And On (Allan Holdsworth, John Edwards) - 7:39
6. Grey And Black (Mark Clarke, Susie Bottomley) - 3:38
7. Brothers  (Allan Holdsworth, Jon Hiseman) - 15:25
8. Drums Away (Jon Hiseman) - 7:26
9. Strangeher (Jon Hiseman, Mark Clarke) - 5:58
Tracks 1-2 Previously Unreleased  recorded April 1974
Tracks 3-9 BBC Radio One Pop Spectacular concert, recorded 2nd June 1973  at Golders Green Hippodrome, hosted by Alan Black

Tempest
*Jon Hiseman - Drums, Percussion
*Mark Clarke - Bass, Vocals
*Paul Williams - Vocals
*Allan Holdsworth - Guitar, Violin
*Ollie Halsall - Guitar, Moog, Piano, Vocals

1974  Tempest - Tempest (2011 remater)
1973-74  Tempest - In Concert (2013 release)
Related Acts
1967-69  Timebox - Beggin' (2008 remaster)
1968  Zoot Money - Transition
1969  Igginbottom - Igginbottom's Wrench
1970  Juicy Lucy - Lay Back And Enjoy It
1969 Colosseum - Valentyne Suite (2004 deluxe expanded edition) 
1969  Colosseum - Those Who Are About To Die Salute You (2004 remaster and expanded)
1970  Colosseum - Daughter Of Time (remaster with bonus track)
1971  Colosseum - Colosseum Live (2016 double disc set remaster)

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