First Aid were an English symphonic-rock band that released the album Nostradamus on Decca in 1976. The album was based on prophesies of the famed seer, including his prediction that the world would end in 1986, ten years on from the album’s release.
irst Aid featured drummer Dave Freeman, who played in the 1969 jazz-rock one-off ‘Igginbottom with a young Allan Holdsworth. The other members of First Aid — guitarist/singer Alan Wormald, bassist Norrie Tennet, and keyboardist Keith Parkinson — were relative newcomers. Working with conceptualist and producer Jimmy Parsons, Wormald and Parkinson composed an album of material based on 16th century French seer Nostradamus.
Nostradamus was released in 1976 on Decca (UK, Portugal) and the following year on London Records (Japan). Original vinyl copies are housed in a gatefold sleeve with Dada visuals by one Paul Redway. The album was recorded at Decca Studios and engineered by Alan Leeming (Caravan, Spriguns, Wolf, Patrick Moraz) and Martin Haskell, who also worked on the 1977 children’s narration album The Sly Cormorant by Brian Patten.
Jazz-Rock-Soul
Tracks
1. Visions - 3:52
2. Nostradamus - 6:02
3. The Awful Truth - 2:38
4. By Royal Appointment - 1:17
5. Catherine - 3:18
6. Two Brothers - 6:46
7. Visions (Reprise) - 2:56
8. The Shape Of Things To Come - 12:43
Tracks 1,3,7 by Keith Parkinson
Tracks 4,5,6,8 by Alan Wormald
Track 2 by Alan Wormald, Jimmy Parsons
First Aid
*Alan Wormald - Guitar, Vocals
*Keith Parkinson - Keyboards
*Norrie Tennet - Bass
*Dave Freeman - Drums, Percussion
With
*Richard Hewson - Orchestral Arranger, Conductor
*Raymond Hardy - Narration
