Watching major labels attempt to plug in to the exploding underground music scene from 1966 onwards was often hilarious as groups changed their uniforms to go with current trends and, in the time span of this follow-up to 2003’s Legend Of A Mind, their music from innocently bonkers garage-psych to convoluted greatcoat stodge. Decca did a better job than many, running the Deram and Nova labels to represent myriad strains in the sonic spectrum from folk to proto-metal.
The beauty of this compilation is not so much getting another chance to hear The Moody Blues, Genesis or Caravan, but getting weird and wonderful delights by the likes of standout Disc One’s Curiosity Shoppe, The Accent, World Of Oz or ever-startling Tintern Abbey, while being reminded what a magnificent band East Of Eden were at this time. Other names include many then trudging round the nation’s clubs, including Chicken Shack, Principle Edwards, Curved Air, Keef Hartley, Ten Years After and Thin Lizzy. It’s also uncannily revealed that The Egg invented deep house with I Will Be Absorbed! By Disc Three there is obviously a need for punk rock, but this is a mighty, astutely-compiled picture of an era which many today can only dream of.
by Kris Needs
Tracks
Disc 1
1. Genesis - In The Beginning (Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks) - 4:04
2. Al Stewart - Turn Into Earth (Paul Samwell-Smith, Rosemary Simon) - 2:52
3. The Accent - Red Sky At Night (Allan Davies, David Birkett, John Hebron, Peter Beetham) - 3:12
4. Tintern Abbey - Vacuum Cleaner (Dave McTavish) - 3:04
5. Virgin Sleep - Secret (Tony Rees) - 2:21
6. The Moody Blues - Twilight Time (Ray Thomas) - 3:18
7. Bill Fay - Some Good Advice (Bill Fay) - 2:20
8. 23rd Turnoff - Michaelangelo (Jimmy Campbell) - 2:23
9. Ten Years After - The Sounds (Alvin Lee) - 4:28
10. The Curiosity Shoppe - Baby I Need You (Malcolm Rabbitt) - 3:28
11. World Of Oz - Like A Tear (Chris Evans, David Kubinec, David Reay, Tony Clarkson) - 3:09
12. Touch - Down At Circe's Place (Don Gallucci, Jeff Hawks, Joey Newman) - 4:01
13. The End - Under The Rainbow (Colin Richard Giffin) - 3:48
14. The Deviants - Opening (Mick Farren, Sid Bishop, Stephen Sparkes) - 0:10
15. The Deviants - I'm Coming Home (Ian Bishop, Mick Farren, Sid Bishop) - 5:54
16. East Of Eden - Northern Hemisphere (Ron Caines) - 5:05
17. Sunforest - Magician In The Mountain (Vic Smith) - 4:13
18. Davy Graham - Jenra (Davy Graham) - 3:08
19. The Moody Blues - The Best Way To Travel (Michael Pinder) - 3:12
20. Egg - I Will Be Absorbed (Clive Colin, Dave Stewart, Hugo "Mont" Montgomery-Campbell) - 5:09
21. Ten Years After - Bad Scene (Alvin Lee) - 3:31
Disc 2
1. Caravan - If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You (David Sinclair, Pye Hastings, Richard Coughlan, Richard Sinclair) - 3:07
2. The Moody Blues - Gypsy (Justin Hayward) - 3:35
3. Bill Fay - Garden Song (Bill Fay) - 3:10
4. Denny Gerrard - Atmosphere (Denny Gerrard, J.J. Mackey) - 7:07
5. Galliard - Skillet (Geoffrey Brown) - 3:44
6. Satisfaction - Sharing (Derek Griffiths, John Michael Beecham) - 6:16
7. T2 - J.L.T (Peter Dunton) - 5:50
8. Keef Hartley Band - The Time Is Near (Miller Anderson) - 10:10
9. Clark Hutchinson - First Reminder (Andrew Clark, Michael James Hutchinson) - 3:00
10. Ashkan - Practically Never Happens (Bob Weston, Ron Bending, Steve Bailey, Terry Sims) - 5:59
11. Stud - Harpo's Head (James Cregan, J. Wilson, R. McCracken) - 7:17
12. Egg - Contrasong (Clive Colin Brooks, Dave Stewart, Hugo "Mont" Montgomery-Campbell) - 4:23
13. East Of Eden - Marcus Junior (Dan Drummond) - 5:09
14. Caravan - Winter Wine (David Sinclair, Pye Hastings, Richard Coughlan, Richard Sinclair) - 7:36
1. Thin Lizzy - Things Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm (Phil Lynott) - 4:30
2. Ten Years After - I'm Coming On (Alvin Lee) - 3:45
3. Khan - Space Shanty (Steve Hillage) - 9:00
4. Zakarrias - Cosmic Bride (Robert Haumer, Samy Birnbach) - 6:08
5. Bill Fay - Time Of The Last Persecution (Bill Fay) - 3:52
6. Caravan - Waterloo Lily (Pye Hastings, Richard Coughlan, Richard Sinclair) - 6:46
7. Pete Brown - Ballade For The Queen Of Outer Space (Max Middleton, Pete Brown) - 8:34
8. Darryl Way's Wolf - Steal The World (Darryl Way, John Hodkinson) - 4:18
9. The Parlour Band - Spring's Sweet Comfort (Peter Filleul) - 5:02
10. Chicken Shack - Crying Won't Help You Now (Hudson Whittaker) - 5:09
11. Thin Lizzy - Sarah (Version 1) (Phil Lynott) - 2:51
12. Principal Edwards - Triplets (Richard Jones) - 2:24
13. Curved Air - Marie Antoinette (Darryl Way, Sonja Kristina Linwood) - 6:52
14. Michael Chapman - New York Ladies (Michael Chapman) - 9:28
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