Recording of Home's eponymous second LP began a mere month after their first album had been released. Despite, by modern standards, this obscenely short interval, the album saw the band make considerable advances both stylistically and compositionally. Upon release it was hailed by Melody Maker as one of the best efforts of the year, sold over 10,000 copies in the UK alone and missed making the top 40 in the album charts by one place. Part of the credit for the album's success lies with the more coherent and consistent sound and the excellent production of John Anthony, who had achieved critical and commercial success with the likes of Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator and Lindisfarne.
Although many comparisons can be made between Home and other bands, the group that comes to my mind when listening to this album is Badfinger. This is rather odd as ostensibly they are not that similar, it is more in the approach taken and the willingness to explore different musical aspects to produce compositions encompassing a variety of styles but maintaining an overall sound that is distinctively their own. For example, Rise Up is a happy acoustic number with a jaunty bass line, xylophone and plenty of vocal harmonies, while the opening and closing tracks of the album are out and out rockers. The biggest step forward in terms of arrangement is a much greater use of harmony vocals which are provide a smoothness to the delivery.
Wisefield is again the star of the show, laying down tasteful guitar licks and thoughtful solos over the rhythms provided by Stubbs, even expanding his repertoire to include steel guitar. Stubbs himself takes on all the keyboard duties which although not extensive do provide clarity and variation, such as on Western Front. As on the first album, he also writes most of the material, the only exceptions being the aforementioned first and last tracks on the original album, Dreamer and Lady Of The Birds, which were written by the whole band. The first of these is a fantastic opening number and it is not surprising that it was used to start live shows. With an initial cry of "Pay Attention!" things immediately set off with Wisefield's and Stubbs' Fender Telecasters fighting it out for dominance with speedy licks battling it out before cohering into harmony. Wah Wah effects are put to great use in the solo which although lasting for about 70 seconds could go on for a lot longer without becoming in the slightest bit boring. It is no wonder that Wishbone Ash were so eager to recruit Wisefield after Home split in 1973.
However, it is Lady Of The Birds that is the real triumph. Having been extensively road tested, when it came time to recording the song the band knew exactly where to take the number and what could be obtained. The opening couple of minutes sets the scene and builds tension before acoustic guitars come to the fore and Cliff Williams coaxes some unusual sounds from his bass guitar by playing it with a violin bow (undoubtedly a technique copied from Jimmy Page!) Eventually, harmony vocals echo the bowed bass riff, guitar flourishes ramp up the tempo, the bow is land down, the drummer starts hitting more than just his cymbals and the soloing begins. Wonderful! As a bonus the b-side Shady Lady has been appended to the running order. Much more in style with the music on the first album it comes as a bit of a shock after the delights of the previous track. Although somewhat of a fun, joke song (and in that respect a typical b-side) it is not a long-lost classic but nice to have for the completists amongst us. The importance of this song lies with the fact that it was the first time that Dave Skillen provided lyrics for the band, a collaboration that continued when he wrote all the lyrics for Home's definitive prog album, The Alchemist.
Although as different from the album that preceded it to the album that followed, Home is nevertheless a wonderful album from a band who deserve to be rescued from obscurity and given a higher profile than they have enjoyed since their untimely demise.
by Mark Hughes
Tracks
1. Dreamer (Cliff Williams, Laurie Wisefield, Mick Cook, Mick Stubbs) - 5:30
2. Knave - 3:45
3. Fancy Lady, Hollywood Child (Dave Skillin, Mick Stubbs) - 4:05
4. Rise Up - 3:24
5. Dear Lord - 3:00
6. Baby Friend Of Mine - 4:42
7. Western Front - 5:15
8. Lady Of The Birds (Cliff Williams, Laurie Wisefield, Mick Cook, Mick Stubbs) - 9:13
9. Shady Lady - 3:02
All songs by Mick Stubbs except where stated
Bonus Track #9
Home
*Mick Stubbs - Vocals, Guitar
*Laurie Wisefield - Acoustic, Steel Guitar, Vocals
*Cliff Williams - Bass, Vocals
*Mick Cook - Drums, Percussion
