Blue Pine Trees was the sound of Unicorn at the peak of their musical and songwriting abilities. An album that puts you in mind of Lindisfarne before they got desperate, or the Beatles if Ashley Hutchings had produced them, this is British folk-rock at one of its most idiosyncratic extremes. On the one hand, Unicorn's roots in the sounds of the American west coast are unmistakable. But, on the other, they never forget their English roots and, mindful too of their familial links to Pink Floyd (Dave Gilmour produced the best of their albums), Blue Pine Trees soars with melancholy subtlety above all of its influences, to remind us just how unique Unicorn were.
Key cuts like "Electric Night," "Autumn Wine," and the spectral beauty of "Ooh! Mother" are subjective; like a great Al Stewart album, with the Flying Burrito Brothers behind him, Blue Pine Trees might lure you in with its overall sheen, but it can continue surprising your ears for weeks. And, according to the fan club, it's not even the best record they ever made!
by Dave Thompson
Tracks
1. Electric Night - 4:52
2. Sleep Song - 4:58
3. Autumn Wine (Kevin Smith, Roy St. John, Stephen Waters) - 3:04
4. Rat Race (Kevin Smith, Roy St. John, Stephen Waters) - 4:22
5. Just Wanna Hold You - 5:04
6. Holland - 3:26
7. Nightingale Crescent - 3:36
8. The Farmer - 3:32
9. In The Gym - 5:28
10.Blue Pine Trees - 3:46
11.Ooh Mother! - 3:52
12.Volcano - 2:45
13.The Ballad Of John And Julie - 4:52
14.Bog Trotter - 4:52
15.Ooh Mother - 2:45
16.I'll Believe In You - 3:35
17.Take It Easy - 2:42
All compositions by Ken Baker except where indicated
Bonus Tracks 11-17
*Ken Baker - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
*Pat Martin - Bass, Mandolin, Vocals
*Peter Perrier - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
*Kevin Smith - Guitar, Slide Guitar
With
*David Gilmour - Electric Guitar (Tracks 1,2,3,5,8,16)
1967-76 Unicorn - Shed No Tear The Early Late Unicorn (2024 TLAK)
1967-76 Unicorn - Shed No Tear The Early Late Unicorn (2024 TLAK)
