"...Fluttered..."
Entry number six in a set of
themed CD and 2LP compilations by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs (of St. Etienne) for Ace Records of the
UK (see list below).
"Occasional Rain" features 20 tracks on its CD variant from 1969 through to 1974 (the 21-Track 2LP VINYL set has one bonus track) and concentrates on that post 60ts feeling of the time - where do we go from here and just where is my Prog-inducing wind instrument?
"Occasional Rain" features 20 tracks on its CD variant from 1969 through to 1974 (the 21-Track 2LP VINYL set has one bonus track) and concentrates on that post 60ts feeling of the time - where do we go from here and just where is my Prog-inducing wind instrument?
Unfortunately, like the
compilations "Tea and Symphony" and "Three Day Week" that
went before it - "Occasional Rain" is a mixture of the great, the
good, the average and the decidedly neither here nor there. There are a lot of
flutes, off-key voices and obscure stuff that has remained buried for obvious
aural reasons - they just weren't very good.
It's hard to know why the
pointless instrumental "Nutmeg, Bitter Suite" by Ireland's Granny's
Intentions is on here or how it fits into any theme other than being vaguely
Prog or Baroque. Then you get really great Pop-Rock in the shape of the unknown
'The Exchange And Mart' - an obscure band and B-side called "I Know That I
Am Dreaming" on President Records in 1972 that no one seems to know
anything about - and should - a rare moment of brightness in a dull landscape.
So it's a very mixed bag for
me yet again. Here are the frozen dreams, ragged rains and two postcards from a
knackered-Scarborough...
UK released 29 May 2020 -
"Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs present OCCASIONAL RAIN" on Ace Records
CDCHD 1570 (Barcode 029667098229) is a 20-track CD compilation of Remasters
that plays out as follows (77:59 minutes):
1. Hidden Treasure - TRAFFIC
(1971)
2. Ragged Rain Life - DUNCAN
BROWNE (1973)
3. Home And Where I Long To
Be - CRESSIDA (1970)
4. Leit Motif - KEITH WEST
(1974)
5. Night Time - SKIN ALLEY (1969)
6. Once Upon A Time - CLOUDS
(1970 recording, finally issued 2010)
7. Come With Me To Jesus -
MANDY MORE (1972)
8. Out And In (Single
Version) - THE MOODY BLUES
9. Wasting My Time - SHAPE
OF THE RAIN (1971)
10. Nutmeg, Bitter Suite -
GRANNY'S INTENTIONS (1970)
11. Sweetness - YES (1969)
12. Station Song Platform
Two - PETE BROWN & PIBLOKTO! (1970)
13. Firefall - ARGENT
14. I Know That I'm Dreaming
- THE EXCHANGE & MART (1972)
15. Postcards Of Scarborough
- MICHAEL CHAPMAN
16. Question Of Time -
CHRISTINE HARWOOD (1970)
17. The Castle -
'IGGINBOTTOM (1969)
18. Windy Baker Street -
ANDREW LEIGH (1970)
19. Flying South In Winter -
TONTON MACOUTE (1971)
20. Innocence Of Child -
CATHERINE HOWE (1971)
Also issued 29 May 2020, a
2LP set of "Occasional Rain" on Ace Records XXQLP2070 (Barcode
029667011013) features one bonus track on Side 2 - "Waterlow" by Mott
The Hoople
The 20-page booklet is the
usual feast of rare album sleeves, promo photos, trade adverts and individual
entries for each song and artist. Remasters are by NICK ROBBINS and the audio
is uniformly superb throughout.
The problem for me comes
with much of the material. There is no doubt in my mind that Duncan Browne's
self-titled second album eventually issued in February 1973 on Mickie Most's
RAK Records is one of the great undiscovered albums on the early 70ts (I’ve
reviewed it and his August 1968 "Give You Take Me" Immediate Records
debut) - but "Ragged Rain Life" isn't one of the best tracks on it.
They could have used "In A Mist" - the long but beautiful non-album
B-side to July 1972's "Journey" single (in fact I'd have opened the
entire enterprise with this song). Michael Chapman's Harvest Records catalogue
is a huge pool of discovery, but again they choose "Postcards Of
Scarborough" from the fab "Full Qualified Survivor" album
because of a 'place and weather' theme when there are better tracks on there
like "Rabbit Hills" (see my review of the stunning 2011 Light in The
Attic reissue of this album).
The other big aspect here is
the 'flute' as the unspoken theme throughout (nearly every song features the
instrument and I know there are those who can't abide it) and while
accomplished songs from the big boys like Traffic, Yes and Moody Blues lift
proceedings sporadically - the rest feels tortured and tedious even. There are
for sure moments in the Andrew Leigh song, Shape Of The Rain and their sweet
countrified acoustic strummer "Wasting My Time" or Catherine Howe's
lovely "Innocence Of Child" that shine - but they feel too far and between.
Also the problem with vocalists (Cressida, Christine Harwood) is that their
dull voices or inexperience doesn't half kill the tunes.
You can't argue with the
quality presentation and that generous playing time. But I'd nab a listen first
before you purchase into this bad weather, because like me, you may find that
much of it is indeed raining on your parade and not in a refreshing way.
Shame...
May 2020
Titles to date in
this Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Various Artists CD Series are:
1. Bob Stanley & Pete
Wiggs present ENGLISH WEATHER on Ace CDCHD 1484 (Barcode 029667077125) -
released 27 Jan 2017 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)
2. Bob Stanley & Pete
Wiggs present PARIS IN THE SPRING on Ace CDCHD 1525 (Barcode 029667086127) - 25
May 2018 (one less track on the 2LP set)
3. Bob Stanley & Pete
Wiggs present STATE OF THE UNION: The American Dream In Crisis 1967-1973 on Ace
CDCHD 1533 (Barcode 029667092326) - released 26 October 2018 (one bonus track
on the 2LP set)
4. Bob Stanley & Pete
Wiggs present THREE DAY WEEK: When The Lights
Went Out 1972-1975 on Ace CDCHD 1542 (Barcode 029667093927) released 29 March
2019 (two bonus tracks on the 2LP set)
5. Bob Stanley & Pete
Wiggs present THE TEARS OF TECHNOLOGY on Ace Records CDCHD 1566 (Barcode
029667097628) - released 28 February 2020 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)
6. Bob Stanley & Pete
Wiggs present OCCASIONAL RAIN on Ace CDCHD 1570 (Barcode 029667098229) -
released 29 May 2020 (one bonus track on the 2LP set)
There is also
7. Tim Burgess & Bob
Stanley present TIM PEAKS: Songs For A Late-Night Diner on Ace CDCHD 1555
(Barcode 029667095921) - released 25 November 2019
