SCARCE SOUGHT 1970 U.K. PROGRESSIVE COLLECTIBLE
GRAVY TRAIN
USA - Polydor - 24 4056
TOP FINAL COLLECTION COPY MINT CLEAN ...AND ....PLAYS CLEAN
A Beauty
The 1970 first Lp and more psychedelic GRAVY TRAIN, a highly respected progressive UK band who made at least 3 sought after albums....
scarce original inner sleeve included
GRAVY TRAIN from Lancashire UK were formed in 1970 by guitarist/vocalist Norman Barrett. They managed to get a contract with the famous Vertigo label. And their first outing aptly named Gravy Train hit the street in early 1970...They were strong enough to make two more hailed albums Ballad Of A Peaceful Man and Staircase To The Day ...
This group put out their first two albums on the great Vertigo label and is a typical release from this progressive label from those years. While not a full-blown progressive band as they have a more psychedelic feel, this is one of those early progressive albums that comes along with a fuzz guitar and no keyboard. It does contain many elements you might expect on a psychedelic rock band with heavy progressive influences -- it even has a long pieces dedicated to Syd Barrett along with some lengths in the solo s dept including delicious flutes and good interplay between all members. The singer has one of those voices that can set you back, as it is a bit aggressive but should not deter you if you are into Van der Graaf Generator, Gnidrolog or Audience... Highlights include, The New One , Dedicatuon To Syd , Enterprise , and Think Of Life .
With a blues-rock basis and a hard rocking sound that related them to other great British proto-prog bands such as Beggar s Opera and Warhorse, Gravy Train allowed themselves to be prog via the introduction of complex structures and arrangements for their compositional ideas: a big influence is Jethro Tull as it was during the latest 60s, a mandatory mention indeed, but there is also the influence of Traffic, both of them recycled with a slightly harder edge despite the featured role that J. D. Hughes sensational flute inputs. That s what you can expect from their 1970 s eponymous debut album. While the blues thing still bears an obvious presence check out Coast Road and the sung parts of The New One , the band shows that they can create very good progressive music in pieces such as The New One , Dedication to Syd , Enterprise and the robust 16 minute long closer. Dedication to Syd provides a certain aura of psychedelic fun amidst the exhibition of rocking power and prog-fashioned complexity. Enterprise is arguably the gem of the album, alternating carefully composed passages and aggressive jamming in a solid manner: Hughes manages perfectly well to keep his flute interventions from getting drowned by the storming guitar in the middle section. The long closing track can be described as a recapitulation of all three musical sources that Gravy Train has been handling throughout the preceding repertoire: blues-rock, psychedelic hard rock and prog. The odd time signatures and crafty tempo shifts that take place here and there are firmly sustained by drummer Barry Davenport, who uses his jazz-friendly sensibilities for good effect. Being as it is the most recurrent wind instrument in the group s sound, Hughes does not limit himself to it, but he also plays some damn good saxophones alto and tenor : every time it appears, the sax turns out to be an adequate complement to Norman Barrett s guitar riffs and leads, especially on the bluesier side of Gravy Train s music. Track 5, titled Think of Life , is the most lively and least demanding piece in the repertoire, something more focused on typical early 70s hard rock with a psychedelic touch. Gravy Train s eponymous album proves a more than worthy item for any good progressive and psych collection. This work shouldn t be as overlooked as it usually is, but again, we can rely on that any genuinely devoted collector will be able to appreciate Gravy Train as it deserves.
A: The New One
CONDITION: The Cover: rated: clean, M- mint TOP COPY NO DELETE MARKS Over 45 years later is still with bright colors, no alarming problems, no split seams no cut corners no bends, no writing ... about as nice as you can hope for ...clean and collectible appearance.
The Vinyl: is all glossy clean and clear M- mint looks brilliant plays perfect Clean Polydor labels too
A cool addition to anyone s music library
SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for head people...
EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING
All imperfections are noted both cover record
