"Raindances: The Transatlantic Recordings 1973-1975" by GRYPHON – Including Four UK Albums - "Gryphon" (June 1973), "Midnight Mushrumps" and "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" (May and November 1974) with "Raindance" (September 1975) - featuring Richard Harvey, Brian Gulland, Graeme Taylor, Dave Oberle, Philip Nestor and Malcolm Bennett (August 2018 UK Esoteric Recordings Compilation – 4LPs onto 2CDs – Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Midnight Mushrumps..."

Described by one erudite music-press scribbler in the early Seventies as a "...13th Century Slade..." – England's hairy men of GRYPHON replaced bovver boots and mirror-ball top hats with ye olde powdered wigs, frilly velvet coats and chubby lutes sat on cushions surrounded by patchouli bowls and 16-track mixing consoles. 

Their often rhythmically complex instrumental passages crossed over into Amazing Blondel territory (an Island Records band in 1970 and 1971) and into Focus circa 1972 and 1973 on Polydor – a sort of five-piece Medieval Folk act with Prog Rock leanings and flourishes. Gryphon Music feels like Canada's Rush had a love child with England's Fairport Convention or Mr. Fox and didn't know what to do with the resulting squawler – a mishmash of soundscapes that even now defies description. 

But inside this undoubted virtuoso playing was beauty and even prettiness – and each of their four albums for Transatlantic Records came in those glorious stippled-effect artwork sleeves that made collectors like me a little unnecessary in the trouser area. Remastered from original tapes - the audio rocks (another Ben Wiseman winner), the presentation is sweet and I've seen this wee beauty online for under a tenner from some retailers. I love it. Here are the Midnight Mushrumps...

UK released Friday, 24 August 2018 - "Raindances: The Transatlantic Recordings 1973-1975" by GRYPHON on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC22639 (Barcode 5013929473942) offers 4LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

CD1 (74:05 minutes):
1. Kemp's Jig [Side 1]
2. Sir Gavin Grimbold 
3. Touch And Go
4. Three Jolly Butchers 
5. Pastime With Good Company 
6. The Unquiet Grave 
7. Estampie [Side 2]
8. Crossing The Stiles 
9. The Astrologer
10. Tea Wrecks 
11. Juniper Suite 
12. The Devil And The Farmer's Wife  
Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Gryphon" - released June 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 262 (no USA release). Produced by LAURENCE ASTON and ADAM SKEAPING - it didn't chart.

13. Midnight Mushrumps [Side 1]
14. The Ploughboy's Dream [Side 2]
15. The Last Flash Of Gaberdine Tailor 
16. Gulland Rock 
17. Ethelion 
Tracks 13 to 17 are their second studio album "Midnight Mushrumps" - released May 1974 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 282 (no US release). Produced by GRYPHON - it didn't chart. 

CD2 (79:54 minutes):
1. Opening Move (9:48 minutes) [Side 1]
2. Second Spasm (8:21 minutes)
3. Lament (10:50 minutes) [Side 2]
4. Checkmate (9:48 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 4 are their third studio album "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" - released November 1974 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 287 and December 1974 in the USA on Bell Records BELL 1316. Produced by GRYPHON and DAVE GRINSTEAD - it didn't chart in either country.

5. Down The Dog [Side 1]
6. Raindance 
7. Mother Nature's Son
8. Le Cambrioleur Est Dans Le Mouchir 
9. Ormolu 
10. Fontiental Version 
11. Wallbanger [Side 2]
12. Don't Say Go 
13. (Ein Klein) Heidenleben 
Tracks 5 to 13 are their fourth album "Raindance" - released September 1975 in the UK on Transatlantic TRA 302 (no US release). Produced by GRYPHON - it didn't chart  

GRYPHON was:
RICHARD HARVEY - Keyboards, Recorders and Krumhorn
BRIAN GULLAND - Bassoon and Krumhorn
GRAEME TAYLOR - Guitars
PHILIP NESTOR - Bass
DAVID OBERLE - Drums, Percussion and Tympanies
MALCOLM BENNETT replaced Philip Nestor for "Raindance" - Bass, Flute and Lyrics 

The 24-page booklet is a pleasingly fat and pretty affair - all four albums covers given a page each and new liner notes from long-time writer MALCOLM DOME on the British band's very English peculiarities. Those who would worry that this is sort of silly Blackadder incidental music should not feel so - there is more Prog Folk or Folk Rock going on here than the mediaeval tag Gryphon is always whacked with. 

For sure as you peruse the song titles provided above - Jolly Butchers, Ploughman's Dreams and Raindances down in the Dog are very ye olde type music - but Gryphon infused the old with the new - and by the time they reached "Red Queen To Gryphon Three" - four lengthy pieces of music - they were very much in the Gentle Giant meets Trees meets Seventh Wave territories more than they were Steeleye Span for instance. The liner notes discuss the lovely Dan Pearce artwork that made their LP sleeves so distinctive and new interviews with Oberle and Gulland fill in how the band struggled and yet forged ahead (there are full LP credits on the final pages). 

But yet again the big news is BEN WISEMAN 24-Bit Digital Remasters from original Transatlantic Records tapes. These Gryphon albums have been issued before (even in Japan) but in my mind, they have never sounded this good - a timely and smart gathering together of their neglected brilliance. To the music...

Highlights include the very Rick Wakeman keyboard tale of forests, horses and dreaming of buxom wenches in "The Ploughman's Dream" on "Midnight Mushrumps" and the one true love acoustic prettiness of "The Unquiet Grave" on the self-titled debut. Speaking of the first album, it is undoubtedly the one most filled with ye olde dances on clavinets and oboes and the like ("Juniper Suite"). Those looking for Prog should go to the nineteen minutes of Side 1 for "Midnight Mushrumps" or the doomy organs of "Gulland Rock" or "Opening Moves" on "Red Queen To Gryphon Three". That beast harbours all their most admired work - long tracks filled with ye-olde rhythms mashed up with new Prog Rock Jazz Fusion flourishes on a Yamaha DX7 keyboard - all of it sounding like Elizabeth I has dropped acid and suddenly wants to expressive herself via the Clavinet, Bassoon, Recorder and Krumhorn (a bent Renaissance woodwind instrument). By the time we get to 1975 and "Raindance", there are even Focus guitar moments in "Down The Dog" and a gorgeous interpretation of that White Album gem "Mother Nature's Son" (The Beatles under another sun) - while "Wallbanger" has a Greenslade sway to its multiple keyboards funk. 

Gryphon would go on to release one further studio set - "Treason" in April 1977 on Harvest SHSP 4063. Neither number five nor the four albums that preceded it troubled any charts anywhere especially given Punk and New Wave's dominance of the mid to late Seventies scene. And always odd anyway – their music seemed even more wildly out of place on a musical map changed forever. 
Founder member Richard Harvey popped out a solo set called "Divisions On A Ground" in April 1975 (Transatlantic TRA 292) and would later pen music for TV and Cinema including Alan Bleasdale's much-loved "G.B.H." from 1991, along with "Animal Farm" and "Arabian Nights" in 1999 and 2000 respectively. 

Supporting Prog-Rock Supergroup YES on their US Tour of 1975 - Guitarist Steve Howe was so impressed with the band's instrumental dexterity that three Gryphonites - Graeme Taylor, David Oberle and Malcolm Bennett (he’d played on "Raindance") turned up on Howe’s debut solo LP "Beginnings" released November 1975 in the UK on Atlantic K 50151. The old band then returned to the fray with two retrospective CDs on Hux Records - "About As Curious As It Can Be" in March 2002 that featured BBC sessions from 1974 and 1975 and "Glastonbury Carol" in July 2003 that featured live recordings at the famous outdoor venue from 1971 to 1974. 

Gryphon were always an acquired taste (this music will definitely not be for everyone), but they were also one of those bands that have grown in stature since their demise – picked up on by Prog fanatics searching for a new fix that they might have missed first time around. 

Dancing in the rain with your frumpy Mushrumps – I'll have me some of that you saucy squire, thank you very much...

"Staircase To The Day" by GRAVY TRAIN – Fourth And Final UK Studio Album From July 1974 on Dawn Records – Guests including Bobby Harrison of Juicy Lucy and Snafu, Peter Solley of Paladin, Procol Harum and Snafu with Jim Frank of Fox, Mary Zinovieff (sessioned for Fox), Vic Smith and Soul Singer P.P. Arnold (October 2016 UK Esoteric Recordings Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks from 1975 – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Last Day..."

Lancashire's hard rocking Progressive Rock act GRAVY TRAIN managed four albums across two labels between 1970 and 1973. 

First out of the blocks came their self-titled debut "Gravy Train" on Vertigo 6360 023 in December 1970 (a listed £500 rarity), the follow-up "(A Ballad Of) A Peaceful Man" on Vertigo 6360 051 in November 1971 (now a £1000 listing) and their third outing in the shape of "Second Birth" from March 1973 on Dawn Records DNLS 3046 (newly signed to the label). 

This superb-sounding October 2016 British CD reissue deals with their fourth and final Prog Rock outing "Staircase To The Day" from July 1974 - their second and last album with England's Dawn Records. In fact excepting dodgy bootlegs and a rare deleted 2007 Repertoire issue in a card digipak (itself a limited edition of 3000) - this flying creature Roger Dean artwork album has long been unavailable on an official CD remaster - until now. 

Typically, Esoteric Recordings (part of Cherry Red in the UK) have done the audio business on this rarity – chunky booklet and quality audio. Here are the tales of quick ones in the evening of life...

UK released 28 October 2016 (November 2016 in the USA) - "Staircase To The Day" by GRAVY TRAIN on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2565 (Barcode 5013929466548) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue and Remaster of their final 1974 studio album with Two 1975 Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (51:00 minutes):

1. Starbright Starlight [Side 1]
2. Bring My Life On Back To Me 
3. Never Wanted You
4. Staircase To The Day
5. Going For A Quick One [Side 2]
6. The Last Day
7. Evening Of My Life
8. Busted In Schenectady
Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth and final studio album "Staircase To The Day" - released July 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLH 1 (didn’t chart UK and was unissued in the USA). Produced by VIC SMITH - all songs written by Norman Barratt except "Going For A Quick One" by Candy Carr and Vic Smith and "Evening Of My Life" which is a co-write between Norman Barratt and John Hughes. 

BONUS TRACKS: 
9. Climb Aboard The Gravy Train (And Get On To A Good Thing)
10. Sanctuary 
Tracks 9 and 10 are the non-album A&B-sides of a 25 July 1975 UK 45-single on Dawn Records DNS 1115 (both sides written by Norman Barratt and Produced by Vic Smith). 

NOTE: "Good Time Thing" was a non-album B-side to the 8 February 1974 UK 45-single for "Starbright Starlight" on Dawn Records DNS 1058, that A-side being a track taken from the "Staircase To The Day" LP. That exclusive B-side is not on this CD, but is on the CD Reissue and Remaster for "Second Birth" as a Bonus Track – see Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2562 (Barcode 5013929466241).

GRAVY TRAIN was: 
NORMAN BARRATT – Electric and Acoustic Lead Guitar and Vocals
(JOHN) J.D. HUGHES – Keyboards (Piano, Organ etc) and Flute
GEORGE LYNON – Electric and Acoustic Guitar 
LES WILLIAMS - Bass Guitar
RUSSELL CORDWELL - Drums and Percussion on all tracks except Jim Frank on three (see Guests below) 

Guests: 
BOBBY HARRISON (of Juicy Lucy and Snafu) – Backing Vocals on "Bring Back My Life To Me", "Going For A Quick One" and "Busted In Schenectady"
PETER SOLLEY (of Paladin, Procol Harum and Snafu) – Synthesiser on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One"
MARY ZINOVIEFF – Synthesiser of "Staircase To The Day" and Electric Violin on "Busted In Schenectady"
JIM FRANK (of Fox) – Drums on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One" and Harp on "Never Wanted You"
VIC SMITH – Cowbell on "Going For A Quick One"
FAY & DORIS of THE GOSPEL AYERS – Backing Vocals on "Starbright Starlight" and "Going For A Quick One"
P.P. ARNOLD (as Pat Arnold) – Backing Vocals on "Busted In Schenectady"

Compiled and co-ordinated by Mark and Vicky Powell - the very "Close To The Edge" shaped logo that gave the album its title but was almost unreadable – now clearly centres Page 2 of the wonderfully indepth 16-page booklet. Alongside those photos of the five lads (the ones used inside the original gatefold), that striking Roger Dean artwork is also featured throughout the booklet, on the picture disc and on the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray. Long-time writer for Esoteric and other reissue labels, MALCOLM DOME provides the new liner notes that also include lyrics and song-writing reminiscences from band members John Hughes and Bassist Les Williams plus older quotes from founder member and principal songwriter Norman Barratt. It’s an entertaining and affectionate read for what the band clearly felt was their best album, albeit one that like the single that followed in 1975, was all but ignored. But the big news is a BEN WISEMAN Remaster from original tapes that really rocks. To the music...

Sounding not unlike a less strangulated version of Uriah Heep - Barratt takes the lead for the well-recorded "Starlight Starbright" – a chugging rocker about ultraviolet ultra-cosmic death-defying rays of light (yeah baby). Things mellow into an almost Neil Young Harvest vibe with "Bring My Life Back To Me" where our hero wanders through streets of pain as an organ and piano hammer home the anguish (feel like I’m almost dead). The pumping Harmonica and guitar-driven "Never Wanted You" makes you feel like you’ve stumbled on Savoy Brown who have just discovered anger and Prog at the same time (nice turn on the chorus). Seven and half minutes of the album title track ends Side 1 on a high - "Staircase To The Day" containing Fruupp, Genesis and even Gentle Giant in all their melodic complexity – flutes soothing treated guitars. 

Central control has been attacked in the very Heavy Metal Kids of "Going For A Quick One" over on Side 2 - where Gravy Train suddenly sounds like a mash-up of Foghat and Nazareth at times. It’s a great groove and the Bass in it jumps out of the mix. And again not a million miles away from the guitar-Rock of say Michael Chapman - "The Last Day" returns to Prog as that flute joins the guitars and cleverly introduced acoustic strums. The short three-minutes of "Evening Of My Life" opens with mournful piano and echoed vocals that hurt – our man feeling old and down – not wanting to make a sound. The album ends on the eight-minute-plus of "Busted In Schenectady" – the long-haired boys of Gravy Train not really welcome – gotta move on lads as the slide guitars get mean. And again it feels almost Rush – Rock meets complexity and comes out on top (both Soul Singer P.P. Arnold and Bobby Harrison of Snafu provide backing vocals). The two single cuts are cool too. 

A huge step up from the rather ordinary "Second Birth" album in 1973 that preceded it, "Staircase To The Day" is a very good 1974 Rock meets Prog Elements album and Esoteric Recordings have done this unfairly forgotten beast proud. Nice one...

"Maid In Ireland: The Best Of Fruupp" by FRUUPP – Nine Tracks - Eight featured on Four Albums and One Stand-Alone UK 45-Single - All Originally on Dawn Records between 1973 and 1975 (August 2020 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Compilation – Card Digipak – Ben Wiseman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Heaven's Eyes..."

Northern Ireland's wonderfully titled FRUUPP (they took their name from a mistyped Letraset sheet) put out four albums between 1973 and 1975, all of them on England's Dawn Records - home of many such hairy-men Prog Rock acts hitting the UK in those creative years. 

Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) have been heavily involved in reissuing their entire catalogue (in conjunction with the band) - their brand of Celtic-influenced Storytelling Folk-Prog-Rock put out as four CD Remasters in February 2009 – two of them with Bonus Tracks. 

And last year in August 2019 - they lumped all four together in one neat and handy Clamshell Box Set called "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" with Mini LP Repro Art Card Sleeves (see reviews for all five). 

"Maid In Ireland" is a 2020 CD Best Of culled from all four LPs with a rare stand-alone 45-single track throw in at the end. Here are the wise as wisdom details...

UK released 24 July 2020 - "Maid In Ireland: The Best Of" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 2728 (Barcode 5013929472884) is a 9-Track CD compilation using the 2009 Remasters and plays out as follows (57:44 minutes):

1. Janet Planet 
2. Decision 
3. Three Spires 
4. Sheba's Song 
5. White Eyes 
6. Wise As Wisdom 
7. Knowing You 
8. Graveyard Epistle 
9. Prince Of Heaven 

Tracks 1 and 4 from their fourth and final UK album "Modern Masquerades", February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070 - produced by and featuring Ian McDonald ex Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson 

Tracks 2 and 8 taken from their debut album "Future Legends", October 1973 on Dawn Records DNLS 3053

Tracks 3, 5 and 6 from their second UK studio album "Seven Secrets", April 1974 on Dawn Records DNLS 3058 

Track 7 from their third UK studio album "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes", November 1974 on Dawn Records DNLH 2

Track 9 was a stand-alone non-album UK 45-single not on "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" LP, released October 1974 on Dawn DNS 1087, A-side

The gatefold card digipak houses a colourful 20-page booklet with new liner notes from one-time Manager and Collaborator with the Ulster band - PAUL CHARLES. There are photos of the four album sleeves with their love Peter Farrelly artwork, a few photos of the boys in questionable period clothing, witty remembrances of gigs, tours, song-writing and loyal supporters (they backed up some big names of the day, Supertramp, Man, ELO and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis at their peak). 

The Remasters are the 2009 BEN WISEMAN transfers and are full of life, beans and details. LP highlights like "Knowing You" and deep album cuts like "Decision" and "Wise As Wisdom" are clever choices and I like the way it ends on that lovely single - a short but sweet moment to finish the compilation as its a song all four band-members had a hand in writing. 

FRUUPP have always been an acquired taste, sometimes brilliant, sometimes a bit fay and twee but always touching. It could have been longer for sure, but this is an unusual compilation and so nicely put together. Recommended...

"Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" by FRUUPP – Four Progressive Rock Albums All On Dawn Records UK - "Future Legends" (October 1973), "Seven Secrets" (April 1974), "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" (November 1974) and "Modern Masquerades" (February 1975) – featuring Vincent McCusker, Peter Farrelly, Stephen Houston, Martin Foye, John Mason and Ian McDonald (August 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 4CD Clamshell Mini Box Set with Repro Mini LP Artwork, Three Bonus Tracks and A Foldout Picture and Credits Poster – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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CADENCE / CASCADE 

PROG ROCK, PSYCH, AVANT GARDE...
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Exceptional CD Remasters

Covering 1967 to 1977 - It Also Focuses On

Fusion Rock, Acid Folk, Art Rock and Underground 

Just Click Below To Purchase

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 "...Olde Tyme Future..." 

 In February 2009 (the 23rd to be exact) - Esoteric Recordings of the UK - the British reissue specialists in all things Progtastic and Avant Garde - did the audio and presentation business by Northern Ireland's FRUUPP by putting out all four of their rare and sought-after studio albums originally on the legendary Dawn Records.  

Each of those CDs came in stickered jewel cases, had 12 and 16-page booklets with affectionate, witty and highly informative liner notes from PAUL CHARLES who 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 LP). I've owned and reviewed all four and their booklets were a delight, filled with the beautiful hand-drawn artwork of Peter Farrelly, concert fliers, press clippings and tour schedule adverts with the likes of Supertramp, Queen, ELO, Man, Focus, Hawkwind and the Peter Gabriel line-up of Genesis. 

More importantly, they had new BEN WISEMAN Remasters from original tapes and two of the discs had Bonus Tracks – period rarities. Not surprisingly, in 2019 and beyond into 2020, those original four 2009 titles have been deleted some years now (see list below for full details if you still wish to acquire them), and one or two of them have gathered rather nasty secondhand prices along the way (up to a hundred squid on one). 

This 4CD Clamshell Box Set of late August 2019 is by way of a cheaper mop-up exercise – featuring four of those sexy Mini LP Repro Art Sleeves (a gatefold for the debut which will please many artwork aficionados) but with the chunky booklets having been replaced by a foldout pictures and credits poster. There is a lot to discuss, so let's have at those Folk Prog rhythms... 

UK released Friday, 30 August 2019 - "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" by FRUUPP on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42686 (Barcode 5013929478602) is a 4CD Clamshell Box Set with 2009 Remasters in Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves that plays out as follows: 

CD1 "Future Legends" (47:25 minutes): 

1. Future Legends [Side 1] 

2. Decision 

3. As Day Breaks With Dawn 

4. Graveyard Epistle 

5. Lord Of The Incubus [Side 2] 

6. Olde Tyme Future 

7. Song For A Thought 

8. Future Legends Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Future Legends" – released October 1973 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3053 

BONUS TRACK: 

9. On A Clear Day (Withdrawn Track only featured on the first 100 copies of the LP) [Note: originally intended to be on the album as last track on Side 1 - the song uses a part of Holtz’s “The Planet Suite” which was not cleared in time for Copyright purposes (a relative of Holtz objected) and so had to be withdrawn at the very last minute and replaced with "Graveyard Epistle"] 

CD2 "Seven Secrets" (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). 

CD3 "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" (48:40 minutes): 

1. It's All Up Now [Side 1] 

2. Prince Of Darkness 

3. Jaunting Car 

4. Annie Austere 

5. Knowing You [Side 2] 

6. Crystal Brook 

7. Seaward Sunset 

8. The Perfect Wish 

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 3rd studio album "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" – released November 1974 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLH 2. 

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. Prince Of Heaven (3:32 minutes) 

10. Jaunting Car (Single Version) (2:26 minutes) 

Tracks 9 and 10 are an October 1974 UK 45-single on Dawn Records DNS 1087. The demo for "Prince Of Heaven" lists 4 October 1974 as its release date - although trade adverts talk of 11 October 1974. 

NOTE: Prior to the album's release – Dawn Records was supposed to have issued "The Prince Of Darkness" b/w "Annie Austere" as their first ever UK 45 – but I've never seen a copy of it and even if it is listed in discographies - I've never been able to find a catalogue number either. 

CD4 "Modern Masquerades" (48:59 minutes): 

1. Misty Mountain Way [Side 1] 

2. Masquerading With Dawn 

3. Gormenghast 

4. Mystery Might [Side 2] 

5. Why 

6. Janet Planet 

7. Sheba's Song 

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 4th studio album "Modern Masquerades" – released February 1975 in the UK on Dawn Records DNLS 3070. 

For Albums One to Three FRUUPP were: 

VINCENT McCUSKER – Guitars and Vocals 

PETER FARRELLY – Bass and Lead Vocals 

STEPHEN HOUSTON – Keyboards, Oboe and Vocals 

MARTIN FOYE – Drums and Percussion 

For Album Four Stephen Houston had left and FRUUPP were: 

VINCENT McCUSKER – Lead Guitars and Vocals 

PETER FARRELLY – Bass and Lead Vocals 

JOHN MASON – Keyboards, Vibraphone and Vocals 

IAN McDONALD – Alto Saxophone and Percussion 

MARTIN FOYE – Drums and Percussion 

The glossy clamshell box set is both pretty and sturdy, but fans will love the Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves which reproduce front and rear artwork – the popular debut "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" featuring a gatefold with all that fab Peter Farrelly hand-drawn penmanship that like Greenslade, was such an integral part of the band's image. The six-leaf foldout poster features three line-up photos on one side with the LP pictured on the rear, tracks lists, credits, reissue details (including the three bonuses). The detailed booklets of 2009 are missing here which is a damn shame, but the poster and a retail price of under £22 for all four albums is a good trade off. And best of all, they are the superb 2009 BEN WISEMAN Remasters done at Audio Archiving from original tapes. 

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). To the music... 

CD1: the "Future Legends" 1973 debut opens with a gorgeous and beautifully produced string-piece that lasts 1:32 minutes. It then goes into the wild and eclectic guitars of one of their best tunes – the six and half-minute "Decisions". Featuring sophisticated vocal work ala Thijs Van Leer’s Focus and a blistering McCusker guitar solo similar in places to Steve Howe on "Relayer" (the band reckon they got signed on the strength of this one piece alone) – it is a string start. The timing-changes onslaught continues with "As Day Breaks With Dawn" – a flirty piece dominated by cymbals and piano at first only to break into a vocal/guitar romp – and then back again to ethereal and mellow (the playing and cleverness of it is impressive). 

Side One ends with the frantic/slow/frantic "Graveyard Epistle" which sounds like Procol Harum on a couple tabs of acid – a very sophisticated piece actually. We go a bit too Focus and "Trespass" on "Lord Of The Incubus" where Farrelly's vocals aren't quite Peter Gabriel even if the tune is good musically (especially the clever string arrangements). Better is the truly excellent Prog of "Olde Tyme Future" where guitar and organ blend to make a melody that would make Genesis proud. And on it goes to another all instrumental string passage of "Future Legends" that ends the album with its under-a-minute duration. And at last fans get to hear the withdrawn track "On A Clear Day" which runs to a crowd-pleasing 7:46 minutes – similar in fact to "Olde Tyme Future" in its composition (great double lead-guitar work half way in).  

CD2: 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 – 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. 

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. 

CD3: "The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes" opens with "It's All Up Now" - a complicated 7:23 minutes of beautifully produced Prog Rock which settles into a moving piano lead in and vocals – it’s very YES circa "Fragile" or Genesis on "Foxtrot". "Prince Of Darkness" has McCusker sounding like a strangulated Peter Gabriel circa "Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" where he's "...dancing with witches and fairies..." The album cut of "Jaunting Car" runs to 2:24 minutes – the 7" single version is 2:26 minutes (different mixes). The jaunty instrumental simulates Toad of Toad Hall in his motorcar out of a sunny day having a blast. Side 1 ends with "Annie Austere" – 5:17 minutes of guitar and piano that impress – but the poor-man's Focus vocals kind of ruin it. 

Side 2 opens with the album's most ambitious piece – the 10:47 minutes of "Knowing You" – all Spanish Acoustic Guitars and fey vocals from McCusker (who wrote the song). A ways in and it changes pace – ups the Prog breaks and feels like a lengthy Chris Squire solo passage. Once again that ethereal piano-playing of Houston gives "Crystal Brook" a truly gorgeous feel as he hits those high notes – clearly moved by nature and waves lapping up against rocks. "Seaward Sunset" is another Houston composition – 5:25 minutes of piano-led Prog with the most amazing playing – feeling like a great Moody Blues instrumental passage that you'd forgotten about. It ends on "The Perfect Wish" – very Greenslade. The stand-alone 7" single "Prince Of Heaven" feels like a "Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" outtake with lyrics about "...a thousand secrets..." 

CD4: With Stephen Houston having exited the band (he features on the first three albums) – his replacement John Mason (rather like Patrick Moraz in Yes) made himself known to the music of "Modern Masquerades" pretty quickly. Also along for the ride was ex Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson leading light – Ian McDonald. FRUUPP's final studio platter opens with "Misty Mountain Way" - 6:57 minutes of beautifully produced Prog Rock by Vincent McCusker which shows Mason's incredible playing chops and then progresses into his equally accomplished 7:16 minutes of "Masquerading With Dawn". Like so much of their stuff – the long FRUUPP songs come at you like YES circa 1971's "Fragile" or GENESIS around 1972's "Foxtrot" (the musicianship is fantastic). 

Side 1 ends on the monumental "Gormenghast" written by John Mason. At just shy of eleven minutes – its a mishmash of wild keyboards flourishes and choppy breaks - very impressive stuff and a real grower. Yet again Vince McCusker provided the next two – "Mystery Night" and "Why" - while he co-wrote the final selections of "Janet Planet" and "Sheba's Song" with Paul Charles. I'm also reminded of "Focus III" with those strangulated vocals and shifting rhythms – but in a good way. 

So there you have it – Hairy Ulstermen and Celtic Legends ahoy – FRUUPP were (and still are) an acquired taste for sure. But if you were a fan – this fab-sounding natty little box set reissue will remind you and your receding hairline why you loved em in the first place. Very nicely done... 

If you want the booklets exclusive to the four FRUUPP albums 

CD Reissued 23 February 2009 by Esoteric Recordings 

Here are the Barcodes to locate them on sale sites including Amazon: 

"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

"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

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

All Reviews In-Depth and from the Discs Themselves

(No Cut And Paste Crap)

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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-tracks 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 list 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 "Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975" on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 42686 (Barcode 5013929478602). This 4CD Mini Clamshell Box Set gathers up the four 2009 Remastered albums above (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 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.