"Seven Secrets" by FRUUPP – Second UK Studio Album from April 1974 on Dawn Records (February 2009 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1974

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"...Wise As Wisdom..."

While common consensus (even amongst die-hard fans) declares that the second FRUUPP studio platter "Seven Secrets" from April 1974 wasn't quite as good as its illustrious debut predecessor "Future Legends" from October 1973 – time has told us that with six reasonably good Folk/Progtastic tracks and one ditty over at the end of Side 2 to make up the 'seven' mystical numbers in the title – door number two still holds up. 

Organised and Co-ordinated by MARK POWELL - the double centre-page spread of the 16-page booklet reproduces the album's lovely green insert - the four boys pictured beneath all those dense lyrics about Neptune sleeping as chickens wept (they do that a lot around his mitre) while Kelpie hold court and Elizabeth placidly captures your mind (saucy cow). There are other period shots of reviews, trade adverts advising that the album arrives 19 April 1974, gig posters (one of which is with Genesis in early May for the princely sum of 60p) and even an advert for the defunct format of four-track cartridges for both their debut and the newest instalment. 

PAUL CHARLES did the liner notes in January 2009 (the CD along with the other three arrived end of February 2009) and with new interviews and deep level knowledge – provides us with a very comprehensive look inside one of the Emerald Isle's more unusual bands. Charles was their 'Manager and general fixer' at the beginning and is today a published author of the Christy Kennedy mystery books (Charles in fact wrote the original liner notes for the debut LP "Future Legends"). There is also a nod towards the Stephen Houston Fruupp website. Speaking of band history...

Hailing out of Northern and Southern Ireland's notorious show-band circuit – Guitarist and Vocalist Vince McCusker of Co. Derry dreamed of bigger and better arrangements. So he turned his back on cover versions of insipid chart hits and formed his very own Progressive Rock unit delightfully called FRUUPP - taken from a Letraset Sheet that didn't have the letters FRUP used (he added the extra U and P). Don't ask me why, but I kinda like FRUUPP as a band name and always have. 

"Seven Secrets" has been hard to find on original Dawn Records British vinyl for years; the second of four albums FRUUPP made for England's Dawn Records (see list below). All their albums are held in Proggy affection by those who bought the platters at the time or witnessed FRUUPP as a band in their impressive live form (they backed up huge Progressive acts like Supertramp, Queen, ELO, Man, Focus, Hawkwind and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis as well as headlining gigs themselves). To the details...

UK issued Friday, 23 February 2009 - "Seven Secrets" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2102 (Barcode 5013929720220) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of their second LP from 1974 that plays out as follows (45:45 minutes):

1. Faced With Shekinah [Side 1]
2. Wise As Wisdom
3. White Eyes
4. Garden Lady [Side 2]
5. Three Spires
6. Elizabeth
7. The Seventh Secret
Tracks 1 to 7 are their second studio album "Seven Secrets" – released April 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 (no US issue). 

FRUUPP were:
VINCENT McCUSKER – Guitars and Vocals
PETER FARRELLY – Bass and Lead Vocals
STEPHEN HOUSTON – Keyboards, Oboe and Vocals
MARTIN FOYE – Drums and Percussion

The big news here is a BEN WISEMAN remaster from original master tapes that brings out the dense playing and upgrades the David Lewis Production which many have long felt was not up to the par of the debut.

There is an almost 10cc or even Be Bop Deluxe feel to the clever opener "Faced With Shekinah" whilst the seven-parter "Garden Lady" has impressive guitar antics as it opens Side 2. McCusker & Paul Charles also provided "Three Spires" – a returning rambler's romantic reappraisal of a hometown (Magherafelt in Northern Ireland) where I keep seeing that picture of the boys looking like an Elizabethan quartet ready for the ball as the instruments dilly and dally. You can even at times hear the influence of Man (from Wales) in "Elizabeth" whilst the short final cut "The Seventh Secret" probably seemed like a good idea at the time but now feels silly and wildly out-of-place. Overall – a good album then – and certainly accomplished. 

Hairy Ulstermen and Celtic Legends ahoy – FRUUPP were/are an acquired taste for sure. But if you were a fan – this fab-sounding CD remaster will remind you and your receding hairline why you loved 'em in the first place. If this isn't available at a reasonable sum, see the "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" 4CD Box Set mentioned in the final entry below...

The four albums in the 23 February 2009 BEN WISEMAN Digital Remaster 

CD Reissue Series for FRUUPP by Esoteric Recordings are: 

"Future Legends" – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2104 (Barcode 5013929720428) – One Bonus Track (47:25 minutes) – Debut Album released October 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3053

"Seven Secrets" – Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2012 (Barcode 501392972022) – No Bonus Tracks (45:45 minutes) – Second Studio Album released April 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 

"The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" - Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2103 (Barcode 5013929720329) – Two Bonus Single Sides (48:40 minutes) – Third Studio Album released in the UK November 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 2

"Modern Masquerades" - Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2105 (Barcode 5013929720527) – No Bonus Tracks (48:59 minutes) – Fourth Studio Album released February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070 (Produced by Ian McDonald of Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson 

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30 August 2019 also saw the UK release of "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42686 (Barcode 5013929478602) - pictured above. This 4CD Mini Clamshell Box Set gathers up the four 2009 Remastered albums (including the Bonus Track on "Future Legends" and the two on "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes") and puts them in four card repro sleeves (for the first time in the UK) inside the glossy box - "Future Legends" being the only gatefold as per the original 1973 vinyl artwork. 

There is a foldout six-leaf insert with the group's three different line-ups pictured on one side and the album/cd reissue credits pictured and featured on the other side. There are no liner notes or memorabilia pictured as there are in the individual CD reissues from 2009 and there is nothing new on this release with regard to unreleased material. But the audio is the Ben Wiseman Remasters of 2009 and with all four individual CD reissues deleted and having become expensive in some cases since – this August 2019 4CD Box Set is a reasonably priced way to get their catalogue in good presentation and quality audio transfers.